Page 93 of Love U Down II

“I was gon’ pull up on you.”

“Just you or you and Merch?” I asked.

Rome chuckled.

“Me and Merch.”

“I figured.”

“Come on, man. You still holding on to swinging on him?”

“I didn’t swing on that bitch. If you gon’ accuse me of some shit, make sure it’s the right shit.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Tell him I can do a seventy-thirty split for physical and digital media with him taking the thirty but I’ll give him fifty on merchandise. He’ll do his own wardrobe. I can provide the cash for transportation, production, security, a DJ, and a band.I’ll negotiate performances and features and he’s expected to submit a song for the label’s EP due in a week.”

“You got all that?” Rome asked.

“Yeah. I’m down,” Merch said immediately.

“A’ight. I’ll have something drawn up. Come through in a few hours.”

“You at the label?” Rome asked.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m on my way out there right now.”

“A’ight.” I chuckled. “I’ll reach out to our lawyer and see how fast he can get the paperwork drawn up.”

“See you soon then.”

I hung up without saying goodbye and jumped back into work.

I played a few songs with the guys and we picked out some we liked and wanted to look further into until I got the email from my lawyer with the stipulations Merch and I discussed typed up. I went out to the receptionist desk and printed two physical copies so we both could have one and headed back in the studio. I signed in each of the places I needed to sign while my dumbass friends cracked jokes and tried to freestyle over a halfway done beat.

Rome and Merch showed up almost an hour later. I hopped up to hug my brother and took a seat while Merch stood in front of the door looking awkward and stupid.

“You letting Rome bully you into a contract?” I asked.

“What? Nah. I want to be with your label.”

“You’re saying that shit but you better mean it, Merch.”

“I mean it. Seriously. I think we can do some good shit musically together.”

“A’ight. Just give me a few and we’ll get you signed today.”

“Thanks, man.”

I didn’t respond to that. I held the contract out to him. He took and I leaned back in my seat while he read it over. I swayed side to side in my chair and my eyebrows fiddled together when the light reflected off something next to Shade’s foot.

“Ay. What’s that beside your foot, Shade?”

“What do you mean?” He looked down and shifted his foot to the left then right while he stared at the floor.

“Right behind it, almost beneath the sofa.”