Hoops & Harmonies

60.

Monica and Angel had been up early, sipping coffee and enjoying the quiet before the day began. It had been a busy week since their return from Belize, and Monica felt a deep sense of contentment. She and Angel had settled back into their routine, the kids were flourishing, and their household felt more harmonious than ever.

Angel stretched her arms above her head and turned to Monica, who was sitting beside her on the couch. "So, any plans for today? I was thinking of hitting the gym later, maybe shoot some hoops with Melo."

Monica smiled, enjoying the casual ease between them. "That sounds good. I've got a few calls with Ant later about the upcoming performance, and I want to check on Rodney's progress with his song. He's been glued to the studio every night."

"Yeah, I noticed," Angel laughed. "He's really into it. You've inspired him, you know."

Monica chuckled softly. "I think Timbaland might have had something to do with that. He hasn't stopped talking about how cool that session was."

"I'm just glad we could give him that opportunity," Angel replied, a satisfied look on her face. "He's got talent. I can't wait to hear what he comes up with next."

Just then, their peaceful morning was interrupted by the familiar buzzing of Monica's phone. She picked it up from the coffee table, seeing Ant's name flash across the screen. "Speak of the devil," she muttered before answering, "Hey, Ant, what's up?"

"Morning, Monica!" Ant's upbeat voice came through. "I've got some exciting news for you. You ready for this?"

Monica's curiosity was piqued. "Always. What's going on?"

"So, the Chicago Music Fest is coming up fast, and I managed to secure a prime spot for your performance," Ant began enthusiastically. "It's going to be huge—biggest crowd yet. We're talking national coverage, major influencers attending, and a streaming deal with one of the platforms."

Monica's eyes widened. "Whoa, that's incredible! I knew this show was going to be big, but I didn't realize it was going to be that major."

"It's a huge opportunity, Monica," Ant continued. "We've got to make sure everything's on point. We'll start rehearsals next week, and I'm working on locking in a few guest appearances to spice things up. I'll keep you posted on that."

Monica leaned back on the couch, processing the magnitude of the news. "This is amazing, Ant. I can't wait to get started. I've been itching to get back on stage and reconnect with the fans."

"Good to hear! We're going to make this show unforgettable," Ant said confidently. "I'll send over the full schedule today. Oh, and one more thing—you've got a promotional shoot tomorrow. I need you there at noon."

"Got it," Monica replied. "I'll be there."

"Alright, talk soon," Ant said before hanging up.

Monica set her phone down and turned to Angel, who had been watching her with a curious expression. "What's the big news?" Angel asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm headlining the Chicago Music Fest," Monica said, her voice filled with excitement. "It's going to be huge—national coverage, influencers, streaming. Ant says it's the biggest show of my career."

Angel grinned, clearly thrilled for her. "That's incredible! I knew this performance would be special, but wow, that's next level. You deserve this, babe."

"Thanks," Monica said, feeling the warmth of Angel's support. "I can't wait to get back on stage. It's been too long since I've had a performance this big."

Angel reached over and took Monica's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're going to kill it. I'll be right there cheering you on."

Monica smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude. "You always are. I couldn't do any of this without you."