The Love That Grew

Ch. 23 Unsettled

California
March

Jashae watched Peezy read over the new lyrics she'd written while the instrumental played in the background. He looked to be in deep thought. "I can try and rewrite something else if you don't like it," she said nervously, unsure of how he really felt.

They'd been working on a few different songs, and since he claimed to be in his R&B era, she made a few tweaks to a track he couldn't quite get the feel for. Now, watching him go to the booth without responding, she was second-guessing her writing skills.

Xavier was somewhere wedding planning with Tahiri. She'd been back in LA for a few days now, and they'd been glued at the hip ever since. Jashae expected anything less, figuring months without the other was clearly hard on them both. He promised to stop by the session at some point, though no one knew when that would be.

Another member of his team, an engineer named Tracy, was there on his behalf. "Aight, T, play that back for me," Peezy requested. Following his instructions, the woman restarted the track. Peezy continued with the first verse, flowing easily as if he'd rehearsed the song a dozen times. He was a natural. Jashae was on the edge of her seat when he came out of the booth, waiting to hear his unfiltered opinion.

"Not gonna lie, Shay, this shit hard" he smiled, watching her jump up and down like a child. Just then, Xavier walked in.

"Wassup y'all?" he greeted, surveying the scene.

Jashae's excitement didn't falter as she turned to Xavier. "Zay! You made it."

Peezy dapped Xavier up. "Man, we working same shit different day. Shay just helped me finish something"

"Let's hear what y'all came up with," Xavier suggested.

Tracy hit play, and the room filled with the smooth sounds of Peezy's voice paired with Jashae's lyrics. Xavier nodded along, clearly impressed.

11 o'clock on the dot I'm in my drop top cruisin', cruisin' She sent that lil drop  I'm on the spot I'll be there before she knew it knew it

Rocking shades to hide the pain some shit just don't feel the same talk to myself before I sleep it make me feel deranged

She cut herself I ask her why, say just to feel pain. Why would you give up now? This supposed to be when them mills came

It's three in the morning you should come over and lay with me spend all your day with me matter fact just stay with me

Three in the morning you should come over and lay with me baby I won't play with you, so don't you play with me

Three in the morning she pulled up got her knockin' at the door for the get in She told me slow down bae you know that pussy too tight  it's gon take you a minute to fit in

But I'm going harder, just might put a rip in I turned her around and said I wanna rear-end I hit from the back, breakin her back, I know that lil fat because she got some grip in it

"This is fire, Shay," he said, turning to her with a grin. "You might know a lil sum."

"Thanks," she hummed at the compliment Peezy and Tracy went back to work on the track, giving Jashae and Xavier a moment to catch up.

"How's the wedding planning going?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation light despite the hint of sadness she felt

"It's coming along," Xavier replied, his expression turning more serious. "It's... a lot."