Motivation of Memories: The Second Book of the Labors of Love Series

Smoke and Mirrors

Prince's POV

The flight was easy, the hotel is nice, the venue looks great, everything is perfect. Sound check went well and we're all just sitting backstage waiting for showtime.

"You think we're gonna fill all the seats?"

"Shit, I hope we fill all the seats." I chuckle.

"How do you think this is gonna go?"

"It'll be great. Detroit is always ready to party." Andre smiles leaning back in his chair.

"Yea, you remember that one time those triplets came back and..."

"Miko! You trynna get him beat up?" Andre says hitting his shoulder and pointing at Genevieve. I give Miko a look telling him to shut up.

"You act like I don't know he's had sex."

"I mean we know you know. We just also know you haven't and we don't want you to be... uncomfortable."

"Why would I be?" The guys all look at each other as she waits for an answer.

"I dance and sing this music don't I?"

"I mean.." Andre starts but she stands up shocking him out of his sentences.

"Hell, everybody in this bloody room knows what we do behind closed doors so someone tell me what's so uncomfortable?"

"G, I didn't mean it like that."

"What did you mean den? Yuh chat tuh mi like mi a child. Yuh nuh need fi cova mi ears, mi a grown woman." She taps her foot angrily. I can tell she has more to say but before she says it she just leaves.

"Damn, Miko!" Andre says frustrated.

"Me?! You the one who told her she was uncomfortable!"

"I don't know why y'all niggas in here arguing and I have to fix this shit!" They look at me and the realization sits in. Apologies are mumbled across the room and all I can do is shake my head and leave to figure out where she went. I start by knocking on the girls dressing room door a little ways down the hall.

"Come in!" Someone calls out from inside. I open the door and scan the room.

"Genevieve been in here?"

"She came in to get her water a second ago but she didn't say where she was going after."

"Ugh, we don't have time for this!"

I ran through the hallways looking for her. I check ever nook and cranny and I don't see her anywhere.

"Genny babe! We gotta get ready for the show!"

I open the door to the back of the building and there she is leaning against the tour bus drinking her water.

"Mama, we have to go."

"They haven't called us yet. I'm fine." She growls.

"Genevieve you know they don't mean any harm."

"But harm was done."

"I don't see what the big deal is."

"I know you don't." She says angrily sipping from the bottle. My first instinct is to just leave her out here and hope she makes it to the stage. It the first show of the tour and I need everyone to focus. My second instinct is to calm my woman and try to understand her. Something is bothering her deeply and I can tell but I don't know what it is.

"Mama, I just want to understand."

"People always assume when you don't have sex it's because you're uncomfortable or no one wants you. It's purely a lifestyle choice for me. Me and Apples talk about her love life all the time. It doesn't bother me and wish people would understand that."