“You don’t know him! You think just because he agreed to studio time that everything is fine and dandy? You practically put him on the spot, in front of cameras on HIS big night! Of course he agreed!”
“I just thought-”
“Stop saying that Naomi! You didn’t think about Kier or me. And quitting your job? Naomi, have you lost your mind?!”
“You’re the one that’s always telling me to go after what I want, Sibley!”
“Yes! On your OWN terms, and within reason!”
“Well fine! If you don’t want me here, why did you invite me?”
“Naomi, please. I invited you to join me well over a month ago. I invited you to SISTER TIME, and you chose not to accept the invitation. Now you show up with a guitar and oversized glasses thinking you’re about to pluck your way into a deal. He doesn’t produce the type of music you write. I haven’t even mentioned you and music to him.”
“You don’t talk about me?”
“No, Naomi, not really. I just wanted a break from your drama, so no, I’m not sitting around with him discussing you.”
“Well fuck it out! I’m out, I have no problem leaving.”
“No, you are not!” I yanked her back as she darted towards the door. “Because this impromptu visit may have cost me somereal shit. So, if he offering you some studio time, take it. After this, I’m not indebted to you anymore. I want to build a sisterly relationship, that’s it, and that is all. And if you can’t do that without telling me what you did for me, we are done!”
“Fine!”
“Fine! Hell you gon get mad at me and you’re the one starting shit!” I yelled after her.
Naomi disappeared into the guest room, slamming the door harder than she needed to. She had her damn nerves, slamming doors and shit like she was at home. Naomi was dramatic, and that was the exact reason I didn’t follow her. There was nothing left to say without making it worse. Besides, my mind kept going back to Kier. The look on his face and the fact he didn’t give me a second to explain.
I reached for my phone, then stopped. Calling him right now wasn’t smart. He needed space, and once again, I needed to sit with what was happening without letting my mind wander. I headed to our room, removing my accessories, dress and taking the pins out of my hair. The only thing that would calm me in this moment was a nice hot shower. The shower helped, but not as much as I wanted it to. I climbed into bed hoping sleep would do what logic couldn’t. Instead, I spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, drifting in and out while replaying the evening over and over.
Around 1:30 in the morning, I made the mistake of picking up my phone. I told myself I was just checking the time. Instead, I opened social media. The algorithm wasted no time reminding me who I was dating.
Clips from the album release flooded my timeline. Pictures of Kier smiling beside artists and executives I’d never met. I scrolled past most of it until a familiar face stopped me.
Maya.
The video had already accumulated hundreds of thousands of views.
“Now Kier, this is not who we’ve seen you with all Summer. What’s TEA? ”
I rolled my eyes before pressing play anyway. It was only a few seconds long. Maya stood close enough to Kier that there wasn’t much space between them. She laughed at something he said, reached up and adjusted the chain around his neck, then rested her hand against his chest for a second too long. Kier smiled, said something I couldn’t hear over the music, she fell into him laughing, leaned to say something in his ear; then the video cut.
What the Hell
Objectively, I knew it wasn’t enough to mean anything. Unfortunately, social media didn’t operate on objectivity. Reading the comments made it evident.
‘The chemistry between them is crazy.’
‘Sis better watch her back.’
‘Mmh, Issa no for me.’
‘Dude trade em out fast, what happened to the other shorty??’
‘I don’t care who he hittin, long as Legacee album is coming. Ayee’
I locked my phone and tossed it onto the mattress beside me. I hated that I’d watched it. I was pissed that I’d read the comments. And I hated myself even more for wondering if everyone else had seen something I hadn’t seen. I watched him at the release party, none of that happened. Was it AI? I tried to gas-light myself into acting like I didn’t see what I knew Isaw. Maybe it happened at the party after I left. Maybe he was so upset that he fell into what was familiar to him. Maybe they had sex at the after party and that’s why he isn’t here. How was everything turning upside down so quickly? Maybe I was doing what I always did and turning one uncomfortable feeling into a catastrophe. I rolled over and squeezed my eyes shut.
Kier came in around 3 in the morning. Just the sound of his footsteps moving through the house made my heart drop. I didn’t get up. Instead, I tracked his movement while my heart thudded vigorously. When he walked into the room, I sat up a little, and he paused when he saw me awake.
