Page 591 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Nahhhh,” she says, dragging it out. “Well, yeah. But listen. Here’s the real talk.” She counts it out on her fingers. “Walk Fashion Week this year, Paris castings, landin’ a lingerie campaign, and Fiji with my girls.”

My eyes widen, and I sit up a little, an idea smacking me in the face. “Oh shit.”

Celie’s hand drops to her lap. “What?”

“Ty’s Kate.” I snap twice, trying to pull the last name. “Fuck. You know who I mean. Ty Hendrix’s girlfriend.”

“The pretty blonde?”

“Yeah.” I point at her. “She’s opening an erotic archive in Brooklyn.”

Celie’s brows lift. “Erotic archive?”

“Sex museum, but legit. Tasteful. Not male-gaze bullshit. This is real intimacy art. I could connect you two. You could do a shoot for her space—actual prints, artwork, something sensual for the walls. Then you use the same shots in your portfolio for when you start going after lingerie.”

Celie cocks her head sideways lovingly.

“See, that’s why you my bitch. I said lingerie campaign, you heard opportunity.”

I pluck a pineapple chunk from the tray.

“Damn right,” I say around a mouthful.

She stretches her leg out.

“And then there’s Allison.”

She grins. “No more Boys…

“Whole new mattress…”

She wiggles her brows.

Which was a blast.

After spending all day at mattress stores, I learned they’re deceiving as hell.

Same as men.

Feels good today.

But what about a month from now?

Is it gonna go too soft on my ass,

or is it gonna break my damn back?

“I’m locked in this year,” I say. “Soundwave. The artists. The music. All of it.” I cut my hand through the air. “No more floating around the building like some ghost nepo baby. I know exactly how to rebuild the label.”

“Fuckin’ finally,” Celie mutters.

I sit up taller, blanket falling off my shoulders. “Bro. I have a vision. A real one. Then on top of that, I got Sunset Decay on standby. I’m gonna save Bianca’s career, if she lets me. And bet—before 2026, I’ll have both the Hendrix brothers signed.”

Celie pulls her blanket up around her. “Shit, Allie.”

“Yeah, nah. I’m not playing anymore. Raymond can fuck himself. And Callista’s song?” I shake my head. “That’s going back where it belongs too. First thing in the morning, I’m pulling every contract. There’s gotta be some kind of right of first refusal somewhere hidden in there.”

Celie looks at me, proud.