Page 123 of Just Like Summer

“I’m feeling like I’m surfin’ through the sky,” Kairo recited his grandfather’s lyrics.

“Ahh shit, you know KP, huh?” East asked.

He frowned. “I am KP.”

East looked up at Cairo who nodded in agreeance. East put the pieces to the puzzle together and stood in a amazement. “You bagged KP’s daughter? Okay, OG.”

“KP’s daughter is the A&R you want a contract from. So cool it,” Cairo stated, heading into the restaurant. “But yeah, that’s my lady.”

“And my momma and I don’t play that. On Azul,” Kairo-Palmer spoke up, mugging East. “You want me to beat you up?”

East chuckled. “Definitely your kid.”

“Grab a table, keep your eyes on him,” Cairo stated as he roamed deeper into the restaurant. “You let him get away from you, you’ll be rapping in a mall between your shifts at the Shoe King.”

“And they better be good raps too,” Kairo-Palmer replied, leading East to the arcade. “You got pennies?”

Cairo laughed to himself as East dug in his pocket and pulled out some change. He moved through the space until he reached the kitchen where Pepe was wiping down his prep station. “Ay, Azul, what’s good?”

Pepe popped his head up and grinned. He took three full steps and wrapped his arms around Cairo. “C4!”

Cairo matched the energy and hugged him back. “Good to see you, blue.”

Pepe released him and lightly punched his shoulder. “Good to see you, nigga. I see you big and scary now.”

Cairo laughed. “I didn’t have shit to do but lift weights. This spot is dope as hell.”

“Yeah, well, there’s a small little lady who had a vision bigger than I did,” Pepe spoke up, pointing to the menu overhead. “C4 special is the biggest seller. Make sure you marry her.”

“I’m getting there,” Cairo stated. “She really looked out.”

“More than looked out. Anything and everything attached to you is thriving,” Pepe stated, looking out the window. “I’m just happy I get to watch it. You know a lot of us don’t make it out. We got to look out.”

“For sure,” Cairo nodded, watching East and his son battle. “It’s the least we can do for all the lives we destroyed.”

“Nigga, we?” Pepe asked with laughter in his voice. “You blew niggas up.”

“Eh, faulty wiring,” Cairo said with a shrug. “So, I saw that investment you’ve been paying back even after she said it was good. I had the bank send everything back. Put it back into our neighborhood.”

“How ‘bout we do that shit together? Lucci Day is coming up, I’m trying to flood the whole hood with that C4 special,” Pepe offered and Cairo nodded. “Still got the food truck. I’m just not selling drugs out of it no more.”

“I’m down. Matter of fact, put it all on me,” Cairo stated as Fahaad walked in.

“Aight bet,” Pepe stated. “Handle your business, I’ll have the food out.”

The two exchanged another brotherly hug before Cairo exited the open kitchen and went to greet Fahaad, who was watching East and Kairo-Palmer battle it out for first place. East switched controllers with the toddler mid-game to give him the lead.

“I got an email with a contract,” Fahaad stated.

“How does it look?” Cairo asked.

“I forwarded yours to you. His looks unreal. Three albums with a chance to renew after completion of the third. A return of master’s after seven years of each album. Proceeds for all tours not under El Jefe’s umbrella. Out the gate, he’s set up to soar. It’s just up to him if he’s going to leap,” Fahaad stated.

“How much are you asking for?” Cairo asked.

“Same shit I offered you, fifteen. I’m not trying to be rich and greedy. I want to watch y’all succeed and know I did everything in my power to help y’all get to your moon.”

“I appreciate it. Truly,” Cairo replied, before getting East’s attention. “Ay, Kai, East come on.”