“That was hypothetical.” She smiled and rolled her eyes, making him laugh.
“You’re feeling me, Mari. It’s cool though. I’m in deep too.” He winked and lifted their linked hands, bringing them to his mouth, twisting slightly so he had access to the inside of her wrist. He delivered a kiss and brought a smile to her face. They were both in deep and that was a beautiful thing.
19
Samari glancedat the entrance to the bus, waiting after someone knocked on the door and yelled for them to come in. Niles stepped inside with a phone to his ear which he lowered long enough to mumble that she had five minutes before he would be escorting her to the stage.
After she promised to be ready, he frowned and went back to the call, telling someone he didn’t have time for their shit. That was the only thing the ladies heard before the door to the tour bus closed.
“That man always has a damn frown on his face,” Sheree said as she moved around Samari, phone in hand, smiling at her girl while Ju’rae finessed the outfit she wore. When Ju’rae first showed up, Sheree had been slightly in her feelings because she and Samari moved in sync, discussing her fit for the day as well as details on how they’d met. The two women laughed and talked about how Asao treated the sales associate who tried to throw his past in Samari’s face.
Although Sheree had every detail about the day because Samari had filled her in, Ju’rae had been there, so Sheree felt as if she were on the outside of their budding relationship until Ju’rae made a point of including Sheree in the conversation. She also actively engaged in conversation with Sheree, asking for insight on styling Samari, since her bestie would be the one who knew her vibe and style.
Now the three women were thick as thieves, lampin’ in the tour bus that was a shared space for Samari and Asao to prepare for their performances and dip away when they needed a break.
There were four tour buses in total on the property. The one they were in, one exclusively for Sol shared with his family and team, then two for the other artists who were either committed to Track Killaz, considered prospects, or guest performers.
“Are you nervous?” Samari shook her head to respond before she actually spoke.
“It’s crazy but I’m not.” She placed a hand over her exposed stomach then dropped both arms to her sides while Ju’rae adjusted the straps of the bralette layered beneath the see-through, cropped, jersey knit top. Seeing the clothes in the store and now having them on her body were two very different experiences. The baggy, faux leather pants rode low on her waist, damn near to her hips, exposing Samari’s mid-section but with the crop top they were very sexy.
“That’s not crazy. That means you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be,” Sheree said with a shrug, lifting her phone. She snapped a few photos then did another quick video for backstage footage after Ju’rae moved away from Samari who posed, smiled, and waved at the camera.
“I am and I’m comfortable with my songs. They’re me, my vibe, and I can’t wait to perform. This time feels right,” Samari admitted.
“Oh I’m sure it feelsmorethan right. This time you got your man handling business. Got y’all up in the festival palace, away from the peasants.” Sheree circled her finger in the air, referencing the tour bus.
“This is temporary. They’re rented.” Samari rolled her eyes.
“Mmhm, and like I said, all up in the palace. You’re sharing one with him and it’s like twenty other people sharing the others.”
“Sol has one by himself.” Samari shrugged, walking toward the full length mirror on the wall in the bedroom they occupied. It had a full size XL bed and private bathroom. Samari smiled from the memory of Asao making her cum in that bathroom not long before he’d left to make rounds with Niles.
The bus décor was all black with dark wood finish that matched the floors covering the entire bus. There was a lounge area in the front with two leather sofas facing each other while lining the sides, a small kitchen, and a dining nook. It was basically as luxurious and spacious as a small, one-bedroom apartment.
“Girl, that’s Sol. You knew good and damn well he was getting star treatment, but that’s not what I’m talking about. You, friend, are in here because you’re a headliner. Hell, Sol is not even that. He’s just performing as a favor to the man you’re headlining with.Yourman. This shit better feel right.” Sheree smiled smugly at her girl.
“I second all of that. Don’t downplay your relevance, Mari. Your man, your man, your man made sure you were represented in the most exclusive way,” Ju’rae chimed in.
Samari smiled at her reflection in the mirror before she cut her eyes at Ju’rae and Sheree who were watching her.
“Okay fine, I’m headlining my first music festival, my album is about to be bomb as hell, and my man is doing his big one.”
“Pop your shit, friend,” Sheree sang as she lifted her hand and tapped her fingers together.
“Speaking of your man, let’s go so we don’t miss the entire performance.” Ju’rae did one last check of Samari’s fit before they left the bus. Asao was on stage performing. She would take the stage solo after they performed one song together but Asao refused to tell her which. He’d only told her she would know when the beat dropped. She was pissed that he wouldn’t give her more than that because she didn’t want to be caught off guard, but he told her she would kill it regardless.
As soon as they were moving, Niles handed over her IEMs, which had been custom fitted the week before. She draped them around her neck. As they moved, Niles was at her side protectively, damn near shoulder to shoulder with Samari until they reached the area where people hustled around backstage. Sound teams and tech were in groups, moving with communication devices lodged in their ears, dodging media interviewing the performers as they moved on and off the stage.
“You have any questions?” Niles asked over his shoulder as he stepped in front of Samari to clear the way. Ju’rae and Sheree moved to her left and right sides. The ladies fell in step as they approached the main stage. She smiled hearing Asao’s raspy tenor delivering the lines of one of his most famous songs, “Hood Celebrity”, an underground track that’d gotten mainstream love after his album dropped.
“No, I should be fine.”
“Aight, Sao will introduce you and y’all will do your thing. You have one song together then your set. Dom’s handling that. Security will walk you to the tent where the interviews are set up. Sao will already be there. Run through that shit as soon as you’re off the stage then you’re free to chill for the rest of the day.”
Samari nodded and grinned when Ju’rae and Sheree both threw their hands in the air and yelled the chorus of Asao’s song at the same time.
He on the block
