Page 64 of Just Like Summer

Kamilla bit a grin and spoke into the mic after Cairo his record. “Steal the moon.”

He offered her a satisfied smile and took the mic back. “Like that shit. Stay right here.”

By his side was where she was seated until the session wrapped for the night. Fahaad sat in the corner of the room next to Nate. Dania was slowly pulling herself from a pregnancy-induced slumber.

“Ay, Nate,” Fahaad spoke up, low enough not to alert the rest of the room.

Nate turned his attention to Fahaad. “Yeah, what’s up?”

“You his right hand. You know how heavy that’s about to get?” Fahaad asked, studying Nate’s mannerisms. He was searching for any sign that there was a weak link in the future superstar producer’s circle. Anything that would stop the trajectory before they took off.

“It’s been heavy, what you saying?” Nate questioned, giving Fahaad the same look he was giving him. “Don’t nobody in this room know how heavy it is to support a giant. How much stronger the beam that supports him has to be. I’ve seen him at the lowest, I’ll hold that nigga’s gun at the highest. Look around; everyone he has in this room is solid. I know what you’re trying to do. Make sure that this co-sign means good business for you. You cool, but I’m telling you right now, that nigga is special. You handle the business, we got him.”

“Aight, I wanted to be sure. I’ve seen how this starts and ends too many times to count,” Fahaad spoke. “Those two, I’m going to give it everything I got. It’s worth it.”

“It is. We all got the same goal in mind.”

“You know the goal comes with sacrifices. Like two weeks of closed sessions to get this album wrapped up, and I like them, but the studio ain’t no place for pregnant women,” Fahaad stated. “Tell your boy, fourteen days without his little boo. We got money to make.”

With that, Fahaad left, leaving Nate to do his job. Kamilla saw the look on Nate’s face and moved over. “What is it?”

“Closed session for two weeks. He’s going to be locked in here finishing this album,” Nate stated, expecting pushback from Kamilla.

“Keep him safe; I’ll keep y’all fed. It’s simple. Dania and I will rotate cleaning here and whatever else Fredo has for us. If this is what he wants, this is necessary,” she replied, with a bounce of her shoulders. “I’ll tell him, get my girl home.”

Nate smiled.

“What?” Kamilla quizzed.

“Nothing, get him home without issue.”

Sunk into the passenger seat, Kamilla yawned and placed her hand on the nape of his neck. “We can go home, you don’t have to worry about the beach.”

“Nahh, I promised you a sunrise, that’s what you’re getting.” Cairo let his tired body sink into the driver’s seat. “What were you and Nate talking about?”

“How y’all are about to be locked in the studio for the next two weeks. Making a plan,” Kamilla stated.

“You locked in with me is the plan,” Cairo rebutted.

Kamilla tiredly laughed. “Cai Baby.”

“Uh uh, don’t do that shit and make me listen,” he weakly protested, knowing that the nickname alone would make him soup in her hands.

“You were going to listen anyway,” she sassed.

Cairo groaned and Kamilla choose to stay quiet until she had him in a more relaxed position to finish her thought. Under the dawn’s sky, Kamilla sat between his legs, head rested on his chest while she watched the waves crash against the shore. The light of the moon shined brightly, reflecting off the water of the Los Oceania Sea.

“You know, this is a part of stealing the moon,” Kamilla started.

Cairo’s chin rested atop her curls, a deep inhale of the mango. “What is?” he muttered.

“Developmental separation,” Kamilla replied.

“What’s that?”

“The distress of big ass babies leaving their caregivers.”

“Oh, now you my mama?” he toyed.