“As far as I’m concerned, all that shit is on hold until further notice. We just came off tour, my music is still charting...I’m good.”
“And Nyx? Didn’t she have some appearances she was supposed to be doing?”
“Yeah, but she had to cancel. She’s been too sick.”
“Oh okay.”
“We ain’t worried about none of that shit though. Everything will work itself out.”
“I hear you,” I said, before leaning in for the one-shoulder hug. “I gotta head out. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Alright. When you get back to the crib and get all snuggled up with Skye, tell her I said what’s up.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said before flipping him off and walking out of the building.
19
SKYE
“Oh my God, thank you so much for agreeing to do this on such short notice,” my cousin, Noni, said as she wrapped her arms around my neck. Her thick hair fell in wavy layers down her back, streaked with subtle highlights. She was dressed in an easy, put-together outfit that looked more like work than performance. “This is the last day I have to shoot this video, and my lead girl came down with the fucking flu. You were the only person I could think of that would be able to get the job done in such a crunch.”
“Mmhmm, just make sure that check hits the bank with a little something extra.”
She sucked her teeth. “Wow, that’s how you do me? You really think I wouldn’t give you a little something extra for helping me out?”
I laughed. “Relax, I’m just fucking with you. I know you got me.”
“Good. You better know.” She poked me in the side. “So, how are you feeling? I know things have been crazy.”
“Yeah, they have. But I’m good.”
“Well, you look good. Glad to see you’re not looking like what you’ve been through.”
“Yeah, me too.” I adjusted the large duffle bag that was slung over my shoulder and glanced around the space, taking in the low lighting, the concrete floors, and the sleek car positioned just off-center. It was one hundred percent a Noni G vibe. Laidback, edgy, cool. Everything felt intentional without trying too hard. “Okay, I see what you’ve got going on here. This is nice.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I worked hard to put this together. I’m trying to be more hands-on with everything.”
“I can tell. Looks like you’re doing a great job.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Of course.” I pulled her close and gave her a tight squeeze. “So, where do I need to go for hair and makeup?”
“Right back there,” she said, pointing toward a short hallway lined with closed doors. “I have a room set up just for you.”
“Perfect.” I turned to head that way, but she grabbed my hand.
“Real quick. There’s something I need to tell you.”
I frowned, her sudden sense of urgency not sitting right with me. “What’s up?”
“Brookia’s here too.”
I blinked twice, leaning my head forward like I’d misheard her. “I’m sorry, what?”
I could tell she didn’t want to repeat the words again. But she was definitely going to have to because there was no way I’d heard what I thought I did.
“I said, Brookia’s here.”
