Page 105 of Just Like Summer

“I know,” he sighed. “I know, I just …fuck!”

He started slapping his face before turning to the wall and attempting to hit it across the wall.

She pushed him back and looked at Cairo, “get me EMS and Sincere.”

“K,” Cairo spoke, not wanting to leave her alone.

“He won’t hurt me. Go get Sincere and EMS. Please.”

Cairo rushed out the room, finding EMS and directing them to Rodrick’s room. Next stop, he wrapped his knuckles across Sincere’s door. A cloud of smoke greeted him before Sincere looked him up and down.

“Ah shit, C4, nigga. What’s good? Ay, I didn’t do shit,” Sincere started.

Cairo passed over the greeting and the jokes of who he used to be and got straight to the point. “Kamilla needs you.”

There was a zap of energy that moved through Sincere as he ran out of his dressing room. His hardbottom-covered feet clacking across the floor to urgently meet her halfway. “What you need?”

“Rowdy can’t do his set. I need you to handle it. Whatever artists you can pull on stage, do it. I’ll handle the overhead for it. I’m going to the hospital with him until his girlfriend gets here. You got me?”

“You know I got you. Handle that shit,” Sincere said before spinning on the red soles and going to do what was asked of him.

Kamilla looked at Cairo. “I have to handle this.”

“I’ll meet you there, handle your shit,” Cairo said.

An hour later, Kamilla sat in the hall, her eyes closed and leg bouncing. Cairo placed his hand on her knee, “Breathe.”

She pulled in a deep breath and pushed it out. “Rodrick is bipolar. Lucci made a deal to keep him signed – rehab and medication. He was doing so good. About to retire and settle down with his long-time girlfriend. Rodrick was the only CK to show up to dad’s funeral. He was the only one from the other side to check on my momma. I hate he did this. I hate he did this. I can’t stand it.”

“He’s going to be alright,” Cairo assured, his tone calm and even offering her comfort even in this in between place they were in. “Where is his management?”

“I’m very sure the management got him the drugs. I should’ve known when he got rid of his last management team.” She opened her eyes and swiped her face free of tears and makeup. “All I want for him is to get better and stay better. This industry is all some of these guys have. Afraid to go back to the streets, afraid to be washed up. That man in there is good. I just want him to see it.”

“If you’ve told him and took time to show him, he knows. That’s why you’re the only voice he can hear through that noise. You’ve always been able to cut through the noise. Don’t hold this weight, K.”

“That’s hard to do. I’m already holding a lot.”

“You know I’m not going nowhere and I’m all ears. When you’re ready,” he spoke softly, leaving his ego at the door.

Kamilla gave him a loaded expression as if there was something dancing at the tip of her tongue. Before she could form her lips, the nurse appeared.

“Ms. Palmer, he’s asking for you.”

Kamilla stood and looked at Cairo. “Head back; go have fun. I’ll be here for a while.”

forty-three

“Don’t come in here with that crying shit,” Rodrick started, upon hearing her heels come around the corner.

“I’d like you to know you look like hell and I am very upset with you, Unc. And I have the right mind to snatch that IV out your arm,” Kamilla grumbled, plopping down in a seat near the bed. “You see how cute I am and I have to sit here with you? I can’t believe it.”

Rodrick tiredly laughed at her sarcasm. “I’m sorry, Mila. Your pops would’ve killed me.”

“Unfortunately for you, he’s not here to cuss you out. And I don’t kick a man when he’s down. I love you and I’m not letting you self-destruct because you’re afraid,” Kamilla quipped.

“Oh, we talking about being afraid of shit, huh?” Rodrick asked, looking over at her. “I ever tell you how I ended up in red and your pops ended up in blue?”

Kamilla stole the extra blanket at his feet and wrapped herself in it. “That’s not one you’ve told me.”