Page 100 of Just Like Summer

“I am, who are you? Kamilla, who is this…hood nigga?” Armon asked, looking past Cairo’s massive frame to her.

“Mariposa, head to your next spot. I’ll be over there,” Cairo directed, without looking at her.

“Cairo, I got it,” Kamilla objected.

“Go to your next spot. I’ll meet you there,” Cairo repeated, his tone more frigid than before. He heard her huff and her team redirect her. Sensing she was gone, Cairo closed the space between them and gritted. “Let’s take a walk, nigga.”

“I’m not going nowhere with your ghetto ass,” Armon spoke, coaxing Cairo to grab him by the back of the neck and turn him to the exit.

“If you make a scene, I’ll turn this bitch inside out, you understand?” Cairo warned. “Walk, nigga.”

Armon and his hard-bottom shoes quickened to the exit. Cairo walked him down until they were in secluded spot. He’d only spotted this spot in case he wanted to taste his woman between sets. Releasing him with vigor, Cairo watched as Armon stumbled and tripped over himself.

“Niggas like you make me sick,” he huffed, watching Armon try to regain his footing. “Corny ass niggas trying to force yourself in spaces you can’t fit. You were never going to replace me. Where the fuck you come from?”

“I’m from L.O.,” Armon spoke, dusting off his suit and poking his chest out.

“You know who I am, nigga? Poking your chest out, get that shit poked. Take your ass the fuck on before I forget I’m rehabilitated and take you off the fuckin’ map. You come around her again, I will turn you into a garden of fuckin’ weeds. You understand?”

Armon took a hard gulp. “Y-yeah.”

Cairo tapped his cheek. “Fast learner. I like that. The moment you think about forgetting, I’ll remind you why they call me C4. Step, bitch.”

Armon pulled in a sharp inhale and chose his veneers instead of challenging a man who clearly would take penitentiary chances behind her. He spun on his heels and quickly scurried away.

“I’m going to have to break that nigga’s spine,” Cairo grumbled, squinting to see what car he got into before speeding off. “Where she find this nigga?”

Focused back on the task of adoring how she floated through a space that was in awe of her as much as he was, he moved to the creator’s luncheon. All events he was invited to but didn’t think it was shit he wanted to do. But again, whatever space Kamilla was in was the space he wanted to be in.

He took his assigned seat. Every table had a blend of executives, creators – be it content, graphic designers, photographers and whoever else. Cairo chose to be sociable and collect cards and contacts for Nate to build a team. He felt it in his gut things were about to take off and fast.

forty-one

“You good?” Kwan asked, escorting her back to the room.

“Yeah, I’m good. Could you get rid of this?” Kamilla asked, walking into the room and handing him the ring she’d gotten off earlier.

“Anything you want to me do with it?” Kwan asked lowly, watching CiCi walk through the space to make sure housekeeping restocked all the necessary things.

Kamilla caught the look and nodded. “There’s probably some tracking shit in there. I wouldn’t put it past him. After everything wraps up tonight, keep your eyes on her please.”

“Didn’t have to ask. I was already on it,” Kwan stated, turning to the door where a knock sounded off. “You expecting someone?”

“That’s Rowdy. Let him in. He’s been calling me all day. I’ll be fine for the next hour and a half before we go back down. Y’all go get some lunch. Take a break,” Kamilla directed both Kwan and CiCi.

“You sure?” They asked in tandem.

“Very. I have lunch on the way,” she informed. “Let me talk to Rowdy.”

Kwan let RowdyRedd in and exited shortly after CiCi did.

“Damn, you got to screen a nigga before I get to come in?” Rowdy teased.

Kamilla sat at the table and laughed softly. “No, not unless you’re here to knock shit over and make demands.”

“Now let’s be for real. I was around when Lucci came in with a gang of Azuls and took over. I’m a crazy nigga, but I’m not ever fucking with that nigga. I saw you with C4. I need him on this last album. And before you say no, hear me out. I’ve been holding this gang space for a minute. Rapping about my past life is getting tired. I’m getting tired. I’m more than a CK. And I know how Azuls feel about niggas like me. Especially after the whole KP thing,” Rowdy shared.

Kamilla kept her poker face. “So, you’re asking me for a C4 production?”