Off Record

/Twenty-Two/

I waited for Prince to tell me what my mom said to him once we were in the car but he never did. He only spoke about having to go back to London because his former managers were trying to sue him over breach of contract. They were fired in '88 and wanted half a million dollars severance packages.

"I told Cat not to sign with that motherfucker because he's still trying to make more money off of me. You think I'm wrong to take my tracks back?"

Cat had signed a management deal with Steve Fargnoli, one of his former managers, and the songs he'd produced for her were set to go on her debut album.

"No, you produced it so you should have a say on who benefits from it."

He had already been burned with Sinéad O'Connor, who was also signed with Fargnoli, and her rendition of The Family's Nothing Compares 2 U. It was on track to win a Grammy and he hated it. He tried to stop its release but there was nothing he could do.

"Shit just never ends, I swear. And my lawyer is acting so incompetent." He sighs, shaking his head. "I'm sorry I'm laying all this on you mama."

"It's okay baby, you can always vent to me. Trust, we've been through some things with managers and executives. If you need any help or legal advice, Karen is an amazing lawyer. She's the one that got my dad his master's back from his first three albums."

Rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb, he nods in acknowledgment. "I'll remember that if things get too heavy."

When we get back home, I put away the leftovers, except for the banana pudding. Prince was all over it. While he did that, I went in my room to get out a present I thought would be perfect for him.

As I flipped it over in my hand, I thought about my mother's words. You'll never know who he really is until he deals with his problems.

I know he has problems, we all have them. He was basically on his own after his father sent him to his aunts house—and this was after his mother sent him to his father's. I figured he could have abandonment issues, especially after making me promise not to leave. It's probably why none of his "serious" relationships lasted. He was too scared to give himself to one person. He definitely had control issues too, which is why he was so upset Friday.

Maybe this will help him see I'm all in and when I look in my future, I see us together.

Grabbing one of my jewelry boxes, I put it inside and tuck it in my pocket.

Prince is in the music room, writing in his notebook as he leans on the piano with the container of banana pudding next to him. I'm surprised it isn't all gone yet.

"Whatcha writing?" I ask as I lean against the door frame. He smiles, not looking up at me. "Are you going to let me see your journal?"

"Why do you want to read it so bad?"

"Because I want to know your deepest secrets." He says bluntly as he continues to write. I slowly make my way over to him.

"Hmm, my deepest secrets... I play it off but I'm actually scared of dogs.. Let's see, in 9th grade I let my 11th grade boyfriend touch my breast and he came in his pants. I broke up with him after that. And my deepest, darkest secret is that..I'm really in love with Terence Trent D'Arby."

He finally looks over at me, an amused smirk on his face. "Oh? I guess I'm just a runner up then?"

"Yeah, the best next thing you could say."

As he turns around to me, I wrap my arms around his neck. "You're such a bad liar."

"Those first two were true though."