Read Online Time to Shine by Nikki Carter - Free Book Online

flips it over and hops off the bench.
    â€œI gotta take this. Be right back.”
    â€œWho is that? Your new chick?” I ask the question before I can stop myself. I sound so jealous right now, and that is not even the case.
    Sam rolls his eyes. “No. It’s Zac. But what do you care anyway? I heard you’re gonna be boo’ed up at the Grammys.”
    I roll my eyes back at Sam, ease down into my seat, and cross my arms over my chest in a huff. I’m feeling a mixture of embarrassment and fury. Big D gives me a long, concerned, fatherly gaze.
    â€œBoo’ed up?” Big D asks. “With who? You were just with Sam at the American Music Awards. What message do you think it will send to show up with a new guy?”
    â€œThe message that Sam and I are absolutely not an item. I’m going with DeShawn.”
    â€œModel dude from the video? I bet that was Mystique’s idea.”
    I nod. “Yeah, it was, but I happen to like DeShawn so it’s all good.”
    â€œWatch Mystique,” Big D says. “I feel that she doesn’t want you and Sam together for selfish reasons.”
    â€œLike what? What does our relationship or lack thereof have to do with her?”
    â€œYou and Sam are a team. A darn great team. You are nominated for a Grammy on your very first project for Song of the Year. No matter how much Mystique claims to be on your side, you are a threat to her. Don’t diss her or cut her loose, but don’t ever forget.”
    Everyone keeps telling me not to trust Mystique, but the only ones that keep hurting me are the ones close to my heart. Sam’s betrayal stings more than Mystique’s possible jealousy at our rapid rise to fame. And my cousin Dreya tried to get me dropped from my record deal, yet I’m in the studio writing hits for her project. It sounds like there are lots of people I shouldn’t trust and Mystique is the least of these.
    â€œMe and Sam not being together has nothing to do with Mystique. He’s a liar, and he played me. Plus, it wouldn’t benefit Mystique for us to not be a songwriting team. We wrote a hit record for her too, remember?”
    Big D shakes his head wearily. “Listen, I don’t know for sure if she’s out to get you. I’m just saying watch your back.”
    â€œI thought you had my back, Big D? What’s up with that?”
    He gives me that slow and infectious smile that makes the women forget that he weighs over three hundred pounds. “I always have your back, baby girl. Me and your mama are probably the only ones you can trust.”
    Sam comes back into the room and sits down on the keyboard bench. He’s frowning now, but I can’t bring myself to ask why.
    â€œSince you can’t seem to get the song right,” Sam says, “why don’t we work on our Grammy acceptance speech?”
    I scrunch my nose into a grimace. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that I would have to walk up and receive the award with Sam. Song of the Year is an award for the songwriter, not the artist, so this is another moment that we’d share.
    â€œIf we win, we should just give our own separate acceptance speeches. You have different people to thank, and I mean we are two separate people.”
    Sam nods slowly. “Okay. By the way, I’m taking my mom to the Grammys.”
    â€œOkay . . .”
    â€œSo who are you going with?” Sam asks, but his question sounds like an accusation or a demand. He’s straight-up tripping.
    I look Big D straight in the eye and ask, “Who does this dude think he’s talking to?”
    Big D bursts into laughter. His entire body jiggles when he laughs, and his face lights up too. He loves a good joke, and I know Sam has got to be joking coming at me like that.
    Sam now seems irritated by the laughter, and there’s a reddish undertone to his caramel-colored skin, indicating a bit of embarrassment.
    â€œYou