The Beautiful Katastrophe

(XXVI) Summer Night Clouds

     I was letting out slow breaths in my sticky dark room as I pretended to be asleep.

"Umm..." Prince paused.

My back was to him and I was internally screaming, not being able to hear what Michael was saying in the phone.

"It was bound to happen...... Well, first, how are you?.....Good....Yeah, I know." Prince was smiling. I could hear it in his manner.

That was a good thing.

"Okay, good. But another thing, why are you calling my lady so late? Do you know what time it is?"

Oh, God. His tone was hardening up.

"However you want to put it. It's not a decent hour-"

I couldn't comprehend anything but I heard Michael's voice coming through the phone which meant they were talking over each other.

"The sun hasn't come up yet and you know she's in the bed. You think this is an appropriate time to call someone else's woman?" There was a sour trace of sarcasm in his dialect now. "No, my brother, that's called pillow talk..... Okay."

I was pinching my thigh.

"Mmhm.... Mmhm.... Uh-huh...... I know that.... Yeah, Michael, but you have to understand that there are boundaries when it comes to things like that.... I don't want any problems, either."

My eyes flew open.

5:20 am.

"Trust me.... Respect," he said, snickering. "Yeah, it's fine.... I know you do.... No. But she has that nurturing effect on everyone. It's her personality. After meeting her, everyone thinks she's their best friend—no offense........ I don't really care to know," he said, laughing now. "But go ahead.... What do you mean? ..... Wow... Hmph.... Wow. I had no idea.... No, no. Like I said... You hide it well. I guess that puts things in a much better perspective.... I am. Very much. And I'm overprotective. I've waited a very long time to be—" Prince laughed, again, loudly. "Um, it'll be out this summer..."

Oh, god. Michael must've been asking about the movie.

Prince was still laughing. "You tryin' to get that exclusive, huh? ... Too bad.... No. I think you're high... What kind of drugs did they give you?"

Geez, Prince!

"I was nominated for two, actually, and you won in both categories..."

American Music Awards? Their conversation seemed so random.

"Fine.... I'll allow it but try anything and I will come looking for you."

I could hear Michael laughing but my heart was still racing.

"When?... She's busy but I'll tell her to call... I don't know if I'm going. But we'll see. Maybe I'll see you there. I don't know... I'm being nice... You're welcome." Prince laughed. "Yup... Take care."

Finally, I could breathe with ease.

"Excuse me?"

Crap.

"I think the meds are really gettin' to your head... I'm not about to have this conversation with you." Prince's voice was louder now.

"You can't buy her. A bracelet doesn't mean shit to her. If you want to talk about this, we can meet face to face when you have a clear head."