Page 9 of Hired By My Rich Baby Daddy

Unc laughed as he walked over and set a cup of orange juice in front of me. “That’s why they picking ’em carefully. Chill out, nephew.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” I stuffed a piece of bacon into my mouth.

PB looked at me over his mug and started cracking up out of nowhere. “That nigga got yo’ ass good last night.”

I sucked my teeth. “Yeah, but guess what? He somewhere mad, and he can’t make me unfuck his bitch. So, I’m still that nigga. Besides, he hit like he just learned to do that shit last week.”

PB’s laughter died down. “Yeah, aight.” There was a slight pause as he stuffed a spoonful of pancakes into his mouth. “But who were the women you had over here last night?” He nodded toward the hallway where the girls had just left.

“Man, I don’t even know their names for real.” I shrugged and went back to my plate.

PB shook his head, grinning. “You really need to settle down, bruh.”

“Nah. You know me. I ain’t on that and ain’t never gon’ be on that.”

“Man, you a trip.”

My phone buzzed again. Derez’s name lit up the screen, and I put the call on speaker.

“It’s official,” Derez said, getting straight to business like always. “The six winners are locked in, contracts signed, NDAs handled, and everything is clean on our end. Tomorrow, we kick it off with a studio session, then dinner later that night. Saturday, we’ll get behind-the-scenes footage at your video shoot, and then you’ll be taking them with you to your clubappearance. Sunday, it’s brunch, and then we’ll be sending them on their way. I need you locked in and on your best behavior for the entire three days. That means being patient with these people, staying engaged, and having no attitude. Be humble and approachable, Ozy.”

I sucked my teeth, not tryna hear the same speech again. “I hear you, man. I got it.”

“I’m serious, Ozy. This could change the whole narrative surrounding you if it goes right. Be on time tomorrow, be present, and for the love of God, be nice.”

“I said I got you. Damn, nigga.”

We hung up, and PB stood, stretching as he checked his phone. “I gotta bounce. Got a meeting across town.”

He took a few steps before stopping and turning back toward me.

“Whatever we decide to do with Reesie, we can’t let King get caught up in her shit,” he said, his voice more serious than it had been all morning. “I know we tired, but that’s still our nephew.”

“I know that.”

“I’m just saying, O. Mama ain’t here to pick up the slack no more. It’s just us.”

That shit hit heavier than I wanted it to. Mama had always been the one to swoop in whenever Reesie fell apart. She’d grab King, pack him a bag, and keep him for however long it took for things to calm down. Now, there wasn’t anybody left to do that but me and PB.

Anytime I went on tour, we were both tied up, so neither of us had seen lil’ man in months, but we still talked and FaceTimed him when we could.

“No matter what happens with her, King ain’t gon’ go without.” I meant that.

PB stared at me for a second before nodding. “Aight. That’s all I needed to hear.”

I dapped him up, right before he headed out.

I sat there thinking about Reesie some more, even though I didn’t want to. I thought about us sharing a room growing up and how she used to sing background for me way before I ever had a deal. She had been good at it too, better than most people ever knew.

Before the drugs, Reesie had been the one pushing me to take music seriously. She used to sit on the floor with a notebook in her lap, helping me fix lyrics and telling me which songs sounded like bullshit. Somewhere along the way, I had become the one trying to save her, and I couldn’t figure out when everything had switched.

I pulled out my phone and sent her five thousand dollars through Zelle, then typed a message behind it.

ME: This needs to be the last time you ask for a handout. This goes toward rent, clothes, shoes, food, or whatever King needs. Get yourself together, Reesie. I mean it this time. I love you and need you to do better for your kid. I’ma try to come see y’all in a few days.

REESIE: I will. I swear. TY.

Some days, it felt like I was trying to hold water in my hands, when it came to her.