Page 76

Before I left the studio, I gave Shelby my sign on information to all my social media handles. She promised to hire a good PR team and told me to lay low for a few weeks. We had to figure out another location to record at. Shelby let me know that now the paparazzi and social blogs would try their hardest to dig all kinds of shit up on me since my name was attached to Soulful.

Shelby let me know that I would have to lay low while my new team got things smoothed out for me to move around more freely. I agreed and left the studio with a lot of shit on my mind and heart. I wasn’t ready to talk to Soulful right now, I had too much to sort out right now. I headed home, my eyes searched everywhere to make sure no one was hiding in the damn bushes. My phone was overheating from it ringing back-to-back.

I finally answered for Ju’well, while pulling my keys out of my purse.

“Bitch! Where the fuck that hoe live! Me and Praylah ready to pull the fuck up!”

“Wait, you got Praylah with you?” I got a little jealous, I missed the hell out of Praylah but was so proud of how far she had come along. We talked on the phone every single day, but I hadn’t seen her because she was on the other side of town living with her parents and going through this behavioral program and therapy to help her with her Bi-polar and depression.

“Yes girl, Honor over here too mad cause I’m making her go to physical therapy tomorrow.” Ju’well smacked her lips just as I got my front door opened. I inhaled deeply, relaxing to the smell of lavender and vanilla. I had bath and body work candles and wallflowers to keep my house smelling a certain way when I walked in. Most of the time, I got home late from the studio and needed to just inhale something that would calm my nerves and put me at ease.

“Praylah just popped up, she even brought Heaven. I was trying to call you ahead of time but you weren’t answering, so don’t go starting that jealous shit. We end up taking pictures, I get on the gram and see this lil bitch popping big shit on the shaderoom!” I smiled because my girls were always ready to ride. It pained me that, I was going to have to lay low for a while and not move around how I normally would. That meant I would be seeing them less as well.

One thing with this fame and being in the music industry is that the attention was constantly on you. You had to be some perfect ass person just to not be looked at in a negative light. With me, my fans would eventually learn that I was a real ass down-to-earth woman. I was not perfect, and I wasn’t about to be walking on eggshells trying to succeed at perfection.

“Girl she ain’t gone be a problem, Soulful is gone handle that shit.” I slipped out of my sandals, enjoying the way the carpet felt against my swollen feet.

“Yea alright! If I see the bitch, I’m whooping her ass.” Ju’well smacked her lips and Praylah was in the background telling her how everything doesn’t have to be met with violence. That was one thing that would never change about my best friend, and I loved her for who she was. She always believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt. She didn’t like to hurt people she loved to help them even if they did wrong.

I heard loud banging at my door and just knew it was my baby Soulful. I should have been answered his calls by now, but I really needed time to think. I told Ju’well that I would call her back. Tossing my phone and purse on the couch, I went to open the door and got pissed instantly.

Devin stood at the door with blood shot red eyes. He had his hands behind his back with his bottom lip tucked into his mouth. From his posture and the way, he was looking, I could tell that he was high as hell.

“Devin, you don’t need to be here at my door. It’s late and I’m tired as hell.” I stepped further out and closed the door behind me. We were both now standing on the porch of my duplex.

“I thought you fucking loved me, Era.” He gave a drunk hiccup and looked away from me like he was ashamed of himself.

“I did love you, but it stopped the moment you fucked a bitch at your studio.” I placed my hand on my hip.

“All paid niggas cheat Era. That football-playing nigga that you call yourself fucking on, gone break your heart too. Why not stay with me and work some shit out. At least I know what I’ve been missing, at least I’ll appreciate you more and shit man. You gotta understand what the fuck I’m saying.” I shook my head no and held in my laughter. Devin looked stupid and pathetic as hell standing here right now.

“Devin, you got to leave, before I call the police on you.” I warned, hoping my threat would sober him up faster but it didn’t.

“I ain’t going nowhere, I’m coming in there with you. I’m gone fuck that baby right out yo stomach, I’m replacing that baby with mine.” He moved close and I held my arm out stopping his ass from moving any closer.

“Devin, I swear. I always have been nice and good to you, even when you have done me wrong. I’m tired and I got a lot of shit going on right now. We are over, nothing will ever be with us again. Stop coming to my shows, stop calling my phone and the main important thing that you need to fucking stop is popping up at my house! You are going to see a side of me that you wished you never saw.” I seethed.

“Too bad he won’t ever see that shit, since you, my girl.” I froze at the sound of Soulful’s deep ass voice. I looked past Devin, and Soulful had a gun in his hand. My eyes went big, as I quickly looked around to make sure none of the media people that Shelby warned me about was around. Thank God, I didn’t see anyone.

“Soulful tuck that gun, it’s not even that deep.” I made my way to his side trying to grab his hand that held the gun.

“Watch out.” He snatched his hand back and laughed menacingly. This was a side of him that I knew nothing about. While he looked so sexy and dominating, I feared just how far he would take things.

“Think about our careers, he damn sure ain’t worth it.” Soulful eyes focused back in on Devin who was smiling hard trying to taunt him.

“Yea, Mr. Hurtz… she ain’t even worth it.” Devin nodded his head towards me. Soulful half smirked and tucked his gun back into his pants.

“She worth it like a mutha fucka my nigga. That’s why I pulled up to her house to come get her. Move her in with me, get her all cozy and well taken care of. I just think that a nigga like you won’t learn from me beating yo ass. A nigga like you won’t learn his lesson until he chilling in hell.” Soulful stepped from standing next to me, moving even closer to Devin.

“Era, go pack your shit, me and this nigga gotta have a talk.” I swallowed down hard; I was hesitant to leave Soulful’s side. The look he gave me, made me move my damn feet and listen to exactly what he had instructed me to do. I closed the door behind me and stood next to the door trying to eavesdrop on what was being said.

I couldn’t really hear shit but them talking in hushed tones. Sensing that Soulful had it under control, I quickly made my way to my room and packed up a lot of clothes. All my lotions and perfumes and the things I liked to use at home I put inside of my MCM backpack. When I got done packing, I started taking things to the front door for Soulful to carry out. On my third trip from my bedroom, Soulful stood by the door, I noticed he had already carried some things out.

Feeling overwhelmed and like things were starting to spiral out of control. I walked right into his arms and held him tight around his waist. He embraced me tightly and rubbed my lower back. I looked right into those deep set of pools and kissed him softly.

“You gone be good baby, trust that shit. We gone figure all this shit out. Let’s go and get you settled at the crib.” He opened up the door and I gasped at the sight of Devin. He was sprawled out snoring with what looked like a broken nose.

“That nigga was tired, Era. Let him rest on your doorstep.” He grabbed my hand and walked me right past him mumbling that he was doing the nigga a favor since he was drunk as fuck anyway.