Page 124 of Love U Down II

“I have,” I admitted. “If I didn’t get what I wanted, it wouldn’t have been worth even bringing it up to you.”

“So when would you be leaving?”

“Don’t ask that shit like that, Myome. I don’t have a tour. Nothing is signed. I just want to know how you feel about it.”

“The same way you knew I was an artist when you met me, I knew you were an artist and what came with it, so I can’t be mad. I’m going to miss you, of course, but at the end of the day I love you. If you think touring is what’s best for you and your music and the label, then I’m going to support you.”

I nodded.

“Thank you.”

Myome took a sip from her wine glass and tilted her head as she regarded me.

“What I will say is that I also know how touring culture can get for men; so take this as my formal warning not to get fucked up.”

“Myome, I know you’re not implying that I’m gon’ fuck around on you while I’m on tour, right?”

“You wouldn’t be the first or last artist to do it, so...” She shrugged, trying to play it off, but my stomach was in my feet.

“That ain’t fucking funny,” I sniped. Myome giggled from behind her glass and took a sip. “I’m serious,” I deadpanned.

“I hear you.”

“Myome…”

“I’m kidding. I promise. I’m kidding,” she said quickly. I cut my eyes at her and she laughed. “I love you and I trust you. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be together.”

“Yeah. Okay. Don’t even fucking play like that.”

“Okay, daddy.” She blinked at me and I scoffed but lifted in my seat.

Myome lifted to meet me halfway and we kissed over the table.

“I love yo’ lil crazy ass,” I confessed.

“I’m the crazy one?” She feigned innocence.

I didn’t respond. I picked up my whiskey and took a sip. She laughed harder and the sound had me snickering myself. I coughed as some of the whiskey went down the wrong pipe, which only made Myome laugh harder.

I shook my head as I sniffed and wiped my watering eyes.

We slowly settled down and honestly dinner with my wife on the water gave me the most peace I’d had since my father’s hospital stay.

I hadn’t realized how much tension I’d still been holding until we headed downstairs, showered together, and collapsed in bed. All the underlying anxiety I’d been holding onto seemed to melt away when my wife climbed over me and welcomed me into her warmth.

When she collapsed next to me in bed, I peppered little kisses all over her face and sighed in contentment. Even when I didn’t know exactly what I needed, Myome seemed to know, and that shit would never stop amazing me.

CHAPTER 28

MYOME

Iglanced over at Drix when he set a hand on my knee, his head bobbing to the music playing. He looked good, lighter and more relaxed. I reached over, massaged the back of his head, and watched him smile.

His smile faltered and I looked forward.

Fuck.

My father leaned against my car in the label’s parking lot.