Page 85 of Love U Down II

Alan started the track from the beginning and I listened to it all the way through before starting it over and listening to it a second and third time. Then I paused the track, gave my notes, and started to rework the instrumental.

It took an hour for me to get the instrumental where I wanted it, due to working with Alan. I was glad that he was taking aserious interest in producing, so I didn’t mind answering any questions he had. Once we got Shade in the booth, he was good and flowing. We didn’t have to do too much to his vocals. We just had to adjust his flow a little bit and make sure we could hear him clearly.

We got the whole song produced, mixed, and mastered in four hours.

After we finished, Alan said he was going to go home to sleep and Shade yawned and collapsed onto the couch.

“You just gon’ sleep in the studio?” I asked.

“Nah. Your wifey had beds put in two of the upstairs offices in case any of us got too fucked up to drive home and shit, so I’ll probably head up there and get some rest.”

“My fucking wife.” I smiled and shook my head.

“I told you. She’s been making some good changes around here. She’s cool people.”

“I know.” I saved the final cut of Shade’s song. “She’s… amazing.” I couldn’t even think of another word. I slid my flash drive into the soundboard. “You want to tell me about this week-long promotional run she has everybody on?”

“Sure.”

Shade kicked his feet up on the table and gave me the rundown on everything my wife had running and how cool he thought Kevo was since he’d apparently popped in twice in the few weeks I’d been gone, which was insane considering I figured I’d never see him after our first meeting. I expected him to do everything remotely but apparently he’d either had a change of heart or Myome had a million dollar mouth piece.

I was willing to bet my life on the second option.

After giving me the rundown, Shade left me alone in the studio. I started an unfinished song I had saved, went over the lyrics and flow I’d already started, moved some stuff around, andhopped in the booth myself for what felt like the first time in forever.

When I finished the song three hours later, I dropped it at the end of my album, cleaned up the studio, and headed home.

I turned our alarm off from my phone and let myself in without turning on any lights. I took a long hot shower in the downstairs bathroom then went upstairs as quietly as possible. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept in my own bed, or with Myome for that matter, and when I climbed in beside her and she rolled into me, I felt like we melted together.

I smiled in the dark while she slid her leg over mine. It was insane how instinctual it was.

“I love you,” I whispered and kissed the top of her head.

Her arm slid up around my neck and I reached up to grab her hand in mine. I let my eyes flutter shut and just enjoyed being wrapped in her warmth for a little before I reached for my phone on the bedside table. I double checked that it wasn’t on silent.

Then I stared at the screen and took a deep breath.

“Berlin?” Myome’s little voice had my head lowering so I could look at her.

“Hey, baby.”

“You’re home.”

“I’m home.”

“How’s your dad?”

“Good.” I lowered her hand to my lips and kissed the back.

“Good,” she echoed.

She tilted her head back and I leaned down to kiss her briefly.

“Get some sleep, baby.”

“It’s late?”

“Or early,” I offered.