Najee tapped into the live and sat back in the driver’s seat. He was parked outside of his crib and wasn’t quite ready to headinto the house yet. Like always, her viewer count was well into the hundreds, and he was a bit envious that they got to see her all dolled up, but he wasn’t hating.
She was wearing one of her ginger wigs that held juicy curls, and from her background, he could tell she was at home. Orielle had been on there for much longer than she anticipated, talking about music, her inspiration behind some of her new music, and telling a story about how she used to win all the talent shows back in the day.
“Pretty ass,” Najee said, smirking when she rubbed her glossed lips together while squinting at the screen.
Her sultry, warm voice flowed through his speakers as she responded to a comment.
“I haven’t covered a Whitney Houston song in a while,” she responded, before lyrics toYou Give Good Lovefilled the truck.
Orielle didn’t even sing the song to her full potential. She sang some words here and hummed others there with ease. Her soft, buttery tone made Najee want to close his eyes for a second. She was serenading him, and she didn’t even know it.
Figuring she’d been on long enough and hadn’t peeped him joining, Najee typed a comment and shared it.
It’s time to celebrate, Pretty Girl.
He smirked when her eyes lit up, and she tried hiding her grin behind her hand. Najee didn’t give a fuck who was watching and could see her comments, and clearly neither did she.
“Y’all... some people are so demanding,” she said, giggling. And then the reason behind his comment hit her. “Wait! Oh, my gosh, y’all. I have to go. I’ve just been on here running my mouth and duty calls.”
Her viewers flooded the comments with laughing emojis, heart eyes, and questions about who she was talking to. A few caught Najee’s comment and asked who he was and what were they celebrating. They wanted to celebrate, too. If they knewwhat Najee was talking about, they would surely change their minds... or not.
“Life,” Orielle answered, smiling. “It’s so amazing if you let it be. I’ll talk to y’all later.”
She blew them a kiss and ended the live. Najee swiped out of the app, and before he could lock his phone, Orielle’s name popped up with an incoming call.
“Helloooo,” she sang when the video connected.
Najee grinned. “What’s up, baby?”
“You tell me, sir. I just checked my text messages and saw the picture. Congratulations, my love. That partnership was yours before the contract was even drawn up.”
She didn’t know how true that was. Luke had told him the same thing.
“Thank you,” he said, running a hand over his waves with a boyish grin. “I ain’t can’t lie, I was a little nervous but only because it’s new.”
“And that’s normal,” she replied, nodding. “Naturally, our brain reacts to new things and environments. Just know you deserve this.”
She spoke her words with such conviction that Najee felt them in his chest. Orielle needed him to feel them, because it was the truth.
“You really fuck with a nigga, huh?” he asked, making her playfully roll her eyes.
“Duh. You haven’t noticed that by now?” Her question was rhetorical, just like his. She stood from her couch and walked to her bedroom. “Was everyone excited? You have to show me some more pictures.”
“Yeah. Real proud to be working with me too.”
“As they should be. I know how much this means to you, and I’m so proud of you.”
He saw the genuine joy on her face. The way her cheekbones lifted and eyes softened was wearing him down. Orielle wasn’t the type to hand out empty praise. If she said she was proud, shemeantit. It didn’t matter if she knew a person or not; she was happy for anyone out there accomplishing their goals and chasing their dreams.
“Yeah? You gon’ show me how much real soon,” Najee said with lust in his eyes.
Orielle chuckled. “Mhm. I got you. We need to go out and celebrate for real. Or let me cook you dinner.”
“That’s what I was getting around to. We going to dinner later this evening, and I want you to come with me.”
Orielle blinked. “Who is we?”
Najee couldn’t help but laugh. As he grew to know her better, he realized that although her two careers required her to be social, she wouldn’t be if she didn’t have to be. This wasn’t one of those moments, though. Orielle simply wanted to know who was all going to be there so she wasn’t walking into any drama. Theirfriendshipwas still fresh, and she’d gladly decline if she felt like she’d be uncomfortable.
