Fireworks 1 and 2

Chapter Sixty-One

    The VMA experience was overwhelming, even excluding the Rihanna factor. Drake received two VMA wins. After the first win, he was noticeably more buoyant. The entire evening, he was very affectionate. If he wasn't holding Mia's hand, he had his arm around her shoulders or his hand resting on her thigh. His boys, who'd been assigned seating in a different row, caught up to Drake after the awards show was over.

    Ryan clapped Drake on the back. There were a lot of hugs, knuckle bumps, and OVO squad chanting.

    OB cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Them OVO boys the business, man!"

    "Are we doing an afterparty?" Ryan asked him. "With those wins, an afterparty is a must."

    "They have parties going on here locally," Mark pointed out.

    OB rolled his eyes. "Pfft. Do their parties ever stack up to our parties?"

    The entire crew shouted up to the ceiling, "Nope!"

    Drake laughed and nudged Ryan in the arm. "Set it up. Text the individuals who to be invited." He turned and cupped Mia's face in his hands. He lowered his head and kissed her.

    When they pulled back from the kiss, she blinked up at him. "I half-expected you to call me onto the stage. I thought I was going to have to deck you."

    He threw his head back and laughed. "Believe me, I thought about it."

    She widened her eyes.

    He stroked the side of her face. "You underestimate yourself. You have a great voice. Great lyrics. The audience in Toronto and the audience at Jahron's L.A. show loved you. You're ready. You don't have anything to worry about."

    "But can you give me advance notice, so I can mentally prepare?" she asked him. "Instead of springing it on me at the last minute?"

    "I'll give you advance notice from now on," he said, wearing a devilish grin that contradicted his words.

    She narrowed his eyes at him.

    "Hey, lovebirds," OB called over to them. "If we're going to throw a last minute party, preparations need to be made!"

    Drake continued staring down at Mia another moment before turning, keeping his arm around her. "All right, OVO boys are out!" he shouted. He turned to Ryan. "Make sure the staff at the house knows a party is happening. We're going to need food. Text Future since he'll be deejaying. Let 40 know, although this is his day off."

    "He's probably still in the studio though," Ryan said, his fingers already moving across the LCD screen on his phone.

    As a group, they walked out of the arena. Chubbs had his cell phone up to his ear, communicating with the limousine driver. Drake spoke in low tones with Ryan, telling him who to be sure to invite and who specifically not to invite. He kept his arm around Mia's shoulders the entire time.

    "Oh, look who it is," a deep male voice greeted.

    Everyone in the crew turned their heads simultaneously, Chubbs moving to guard Drake before he even knew who'd spoken the words.

    Mia's breath caught in her throat and her grip around Drake's waist tightened.

    Trevor Riley stood at the curb with a nasty sneer on his face. He was dressed flamboyantly, in a deep blue tuxedo with a black tie. And coincidence would have it that Vanessa was the woman hanging on his arm, dressed in a black cutout dress that was more suitable for a stripper pole than an awards show.

    A muscle in Drake's jaw twitched and the look in his eye hardened as Trevor and Vanessa approached them.