I pour my heart out on stage. Every emotion I’ve felt for the last three months just flows out of me. The pressure I’m under bleeds from my pores with the realization that this is my last show. I give it everything I have, so hard that I cry as I speak to the audience.
“Atlanta, this is my home, and I’m so happy this is my last stop of the tour. These last few months have been some of the hardest I’ve ever faced, and I just want to say that you are strong. You are special and don’t ever let someone take away your power. This is a new song I wrote, and it’s the first time I’m singing it live. It’s called ‘Please You.’
The words flow out of me, and I have to stop a few times as I sing the song. It’s all about trying to be perfect but never being good enough. No matter how much you strive to make everyone happy, there will be someone who will be disappointed.
I sing the last line, ‘I’m done fracturing me so I can build you.’ The audience is quiet for a moment before I hear the roar of the crowd. I smile through watery eyes.
“Now that we got all the emotion out, let’s go back to your scheduled set list. Who wants to hear ‘Dirty Alpha’?” They scream and I finish out my set, leaving a mountain of baggage I’d been carrying on the stage with it.
When I walk backstage, Smith looks proud, and my mom has tears streaking down her face. “Cami, that was beautiful. I’m so proud of you, and Daddy would be too.”
I hold back my tears. I’ve had enough of that shit today as I hug my mom. Her hug is one of the best feelings in the world. The tour is over. I have my mom. I can finally breathe.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I say, and my mom smacks my shoulder.
“Cami Jean, watch your mouth.”
“Mom, did you not just listen to my whole concert?”
“Yes, and that’s something you will need to ask Jesus forgiveness for.”
Smith laughs and tries to cover up his mouth. His pupils look dark and wide, but he doesn’t look as intense as he did the last show. Is it wrong I wish he looked as feral as he did last time?
“You hungry?” my mom asks us both.
“Nadia, something you need to know about me is I could always eat,” Smith replies.
“Cami, should we get take out from Mary Mac’s?”
“Oh, Smith is going to lose his mind.” I smile at him and he smiles back. When did he get so handsome? When did he start smiling at me so much? The realization is becoming so clear that I want him, but he’s said so many times he doesn’t date Omegas. We’ll have to see about that.
With take out in tow, Franklin drives us all to my mom’s house. He has been visiting family as well while we’re here.
“Thanks, Franklin.”
“No prob—” Franklin stops mid-sentence and we all look at my mom’s house in front of us. In black spray paint over the garage door, the word ‘whore’ is spray painted.
I’ve seen my mom mad, but the way she got out of the car and the rage fuming off her is something I never expected. Multiple neighbors are outside staring at the spectacle as my mom loses her ever-living shit.
“Which one of you motherfuckers did this?” She walks out to the sidewalk and shouts down the street. “Whoever the fuck did this better pray that I don’t find out. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Smith cups her shoulder. “Nadia, I’m all for fucking up whoever did this, but maybe we should go inside and eat, yeah?”
My mom points her finger down the street one more time, giving a death glare before Smith steers us both inside the house.
Once we’re inside, and the food is on the table, Smith looks at me. “You all right?”
“Yeah, honestly, this isn’t the worst thing that’s happened.” He furrows his brow, and he looks pissed.
My mom sits down with a huff. “Smith, I apologize for my foul language. I just can’t understand what people are saying about my baby.” She looks at me and smiles. “Cami, I am so proud of you, and your dad would be, too. You’re an Omega and you have needs. Never let anyone make you feel guilty about that. You are perfect the way you are, and if anyone says different, I will send Smith to kick their ass.”
Smith chokes on his food and laughs at my mom’s outburst. “Damn right,” he chimes in and my mom nods her head. “This food is unreal.” Smith sighs as he takes another fork full of collard greens.
I’m completely stuffed, overwhelmed, exhausted and I just want to sleep for five days. “I think I’m going to head to bed.”
“I’ll walk you,” Smith says while swallowing.
“I’ll be fine,” I say and he glares at me. I stand up and kiss my mom on the head. “Night, Mama.”
