was 2:37 in the morning when we returned from the studio. Amanda wearily made a beeline for her bedroom, but before I could do the same, I had to take care of my throat. I really worked it in the studio and knew it would be hoarse in the morning if I didn’t take precautions now. I headed to the kitchen to mix a concoction of honey and lemon juice—pre-medication.
My cellphone hollered from within the depths of my messenger bag, and I sighed. Only one person would ring me at this hour. Setting my cup down on the kitchen counter, I retrieved my cellphone and answered, “Lion.”
“Why the fuck you been avoidin’ my calls?”
“I’ve got a life to live, you know?” I smarted, releasing the phone and keeping it to my ear with my shoulder so I could grab the honey jar.
“And I’m a significant part of said life! The one who makes your life happen,” he snapped. “Two calls you never send to voicemail: mine and Lydia’s. We should never have to talk to your assistant. It’s just us , you ain’t got no one else. Always ‘member that, Kia.”
I knew that, and I never forgot it. It’s just that Lion had become such an avuncular figure in my life, I had a hard time being dishonest with him. He could see right through me with this eye that could tell counterfeit from authentic. No man is an island. Everyone in life needs support, and Lydia and Lion were my rocks that would forever be there and never erode. I needed them just as Timberly and Ferbie needed me.
“My head wasn’t in the right place, okay?”
Lion made a noise between a grunt and a chuckle, “Went by his studio, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I confessed as I stirred the honey and lemon juice, trying to get them to blend together.
Lemon and honey usually took a good, determined whisking for the two to come together as one. Honey was thick and stubborn, wanting to flow at its own slow pace, in its own form, while lemon juice was without form, ready and willing to be used however one pleases—submissive. The sweet flavour coming together with sour, two complete opposites. But when the two coalesce, the ultimate taste was one that could never be replicated, not with any other ingredients. Because only extremely sweet, mixed with extremely sour gave that inimitable taste. Together, they provided a powerful healing.
“Judgin’ by your tone, I’ll take a wild guess that JK was his usual self.”
“He cancelled on me.”
“And he hasn’t fucked you yet?” He sounded shocked. “That’s…kinda off pattern for JK.”
“Yeah, well, he shagged Amy and Jamie.”
Lion laughed out. “Those two…”
Then he spoke so quietly, I believed it was a thought spoken out loud, not meant for me to hear. “He’s still afraid…”
I stopped mixing. “What? What does that mean?”
“Look, I didn’t call you to talk about JK. Wanna chit chat about your five-year obsession, do that with Manda. I called to let you know I’m comin’ to SF tomorrow. Apparently the G2K girls’ concert was through the roof. So their record label is throwin’ a celebratory party. Not red carpet, I know you hate those. But just by invite, and we’re caught up in the mix.”
“Boo! Who cares?”
With the new knowledge that lead singer of the group, Tiara, was shagging Jahleel, I no longer cared about the G2K girls.
“I don’t really care either, Kia. But they’re on the top right now, and these are the invite-only’s where we should show up, if nowhere else. Smilin’ and congratulatin’ like we give a shit. You’re a Brit, Kia. Always ‘member that. These fuckers can turn on you in a second for no reason. You gotta work twice as hard as anyone else to keep yourself up there. So put on one of your kickass outfits, slap a smile on your face, and be ready by eight tomorrow night.”
“Okay. Whatever.”
I pressed off the call and looked down at my sweet and sour coalition.
If only…
Bringing the cup to my lips, I drank it all down, my lips puckering at the
My cellphone hollered from within the depths of my messenger bag, and I sighed. Only one person would ring me at this hour. Setting my cup down on the kitchen counter, I retrieved my cellphone and answered, “Lion.”
“Why the fuck you been avoidin’ my calls?”
“I’ve got a life to live, you know?” I smarted, releasing the phone and keeping it to my ear with my shoulder so I could grab the honey jar.
“And I’m a significant part of said life! The one who makes your life happen,” he snapped. “Two calls you never send to voicemail: mine and Lydia’s. We should never have to talk to your assistant. It’s just us , you ain’t got no one else. Always ‘member that, Kia.”
I knew that, and I never forgot it. It’s just that Lion had become such an avuncular figure in my life, I had a hard time being dishonest with him. He could see right through me with this eye that could tell counterfeit from authentic. No man is an island. Everyone in life needs support, and Lydia and Lion were my rocks that would forever be there and never erode. I needed them just as Timberly and Ferbie needed me.
“My head wasn’t in the right place, okay?”
Lion made a noise between a grunt and a chuckle, “Went by his studio, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I confessed as I stirred the honey and lemon juice, trying to get them to blend together.
Lemon and honey usually took a good, determined whisking for the two to come together as one. Honey was thick and stubborn, wanting to flow at its own slow pace, in its own form, while lemon juice was without form, ready and willing to be used however one pleases—submissive. The sweet flavour coming together with sour, two complete opposites. But when the two coalesce, the ultimate taste was one that could never be replicated, not with any other ingredients. Because only extremely sweet, mixed with extremely sour gave that inimitable taste. Together, they provided a powerful healing.
“Judgin’ by your tone, I’ll take a wild guess that JK was his usual self.”
“He cancelled on me.”
“And he hasn’t fucked you yet?” He sounded shocked. “That’s…kinda off pattern for JK.”
“Yeah, well, he shagged Amy and Jamie.”
Lion laughed out. “Those two…”
Then he spoke so quietly, I believed it was a thought spoken out loud, not meant for me to hear. “He’s still afraid…”
I stopped mixing. “What? What does that mean?”
“Look, I didn’t call you to talk about JK. Wanna chit chat about your five-year obsession, do that with Manda. I called to let you know I’m comin’ to SF tomorrow. Apparently the G2K girls’ concert was through the roof. So their record label is throwin’ a celebratory party. Not red carpet, I know you hate those. But just by invite, and we’re caught up in the mix.”
“Boo! Who cares?”
With the new knowledge that lead singer of the group, Tiara, was shagging Jahleel, I no longer cared about the G2K girls.
“I don’t really care either, Kia. But they’re on the top right now, and these are the invite-only’s where we should show up, if nowhere else. Smilin’ and congratulatin’ like we give a shit. You’re a Brit, Kia. Always ‘member that. These fuckers can turn on you in a second for no reason. You gotta work twice as hard as anyone else to keep yourself up there. So put on one of your kickass outfits, slap a smile on your face, and be ready by eight tomorrow night.”
“Okay. Whatever.”
I pressed off the call and looked down at my sweet and sour coalition.
If only…
Bringing the cup to my lips, I drank it all down, my lips puckering at the
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