After Bryson's first love--who is also his baby's mother--decides to divorce him, he returns back to his home town in Louisville, Kentucky to clear his head and get back to the basics with his music.
The last thing on his mind is getting into anoth...
~...I always saw you for what you could've been...~
"...every weekend?" Harley asked with wide eyes.
Marlena and I nodded in unison.
"Or any other time," Marlena added.
"Do you like that Harls? Do you want to?" I questioned her. Harley seemed far more interested in burying my feet in the sand rather than continue this conversation.
"Well," Harley hummed," where--what about Naomi?"
Mar shot a look at me as if I was supposed to easily tell her that there would be no more Naomi. But it wasn't that simple. Harls had become somewhat attached to Naomi and how could you blame her? Despite what she'd done, she was a good person.
How was I going to break this to Harley? Hell, it was hard at times for me to come to conclusion with myself. It bothered me a little that I no longer had anyone like her to confide in. No one who would just listen to me rant stupidly but yet not judge.
"I don't know," I stated solemnly.
"How come?"
Why do kids always have to ask a thousand questions?
"Naomi doesn't live here Harley," Marlena pitched in.
"So? She can, can't she? If she moved like mommy did."
"Harley..." I began.
Harley ignored me and began to pat away at the sand with a plastic purple shovel,"Did you ask her?"
I took a deep breath and shook my head,"No, I didn't."
And I wasn't going to.
"I bet you 50 bucks," Harley smiled cutely," if I ask her, she'll say yes."
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I decided that while I was in Miami for another day, that I would catch up with a old friend: DJ Khaled.
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"Bryson Tiller!" He called my name over-enthusiastically as I waited for him in the lobby of his studio building.
I looked up as I saw him coming off the elevator," Aye."
"Long time, no see man," Khaled wrapped me into a bear hug. I gasped for air once he released me.
"Yeah it's been a while," I agreed," since I was around I was like I should go see my nigga Khaled."
"Correction," DJ Khaled stopped me and joked," it's Billi remember?"
I laughed," Yeah, yeah. My bad."
"How's it going though?" He asked signaling for me to follow him back to the glass elevator.
"I'm doing well, I guess. Was at the beach jet skiing and chilling with my daughter this morning. How about you?"
"I'm working man. Losing this weight vegan style...but I heard you're back working too. What's up with that?"
"I'm working on my sophomore album that I've been procrastinating for so long," I told him," I got a couple of songs worked out. A few in need of some adjustments--"
"Seriously?" He interrupted.
"Very," I nodded.
"Well since you're here, let's work on some new magic. Continue making these major keys together man," Khaled suggested.
"Um..." I contemplated. I didn't really have any of my projects that I've been working on with me. I wasn't planning on getting in the booth until I was back in the Lou.
"For good times sake," Khaled pleaded," do it for Billi. Do it for the fans. The people who don't want to see you make another hit song or another platinum album. Do it for the sake of the future of music."
I let out a light smile," Alright, alright. I'm warning you though, I don't have anything so it'll be off the top."
DJ Khaled shrugged as he pressed the button to the 2nd floor from the top," We're just fooling around, and if you like it then it can be a hit. Quick major key alert: the best things always come straight off the top of your head. That's why it's so easy to forget."
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DJ Khaled clicked on the mic in the booth as I put on my headphones.
"This a little something I've been holding on to, maybe you could use it," he said to me as he began to play a beat with a fast, up beat tempo yet it had its slow parts. I liked it so I gave him the thumbs up through the glass.
"Whenever you're ready," Khaled told me.
I nodded as I tried to get a better vibe off the instrumental.
Off the top of your head, I thought.
The only thing that was coming to my head was the events that have occurred in my life over the past week. All of them included her. Naomi. It was like she was haunting me or something. She stayed on my mind even though I hated her and wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. But that didn't mean I didn't miss her--the version of her she at least portrayed to be. The one I hoped she was but wasn't. She'd been trying to call, text, and email her way back into my life since I'd left town the other day. I hadn't responded to a single thing. I left everything she had texted on read and every call sent to voicemail. I had the urge to reply sometimes but I knew better not to. She'd think she'd gotten one up on me and I couldn't let that be. But I couldn't really avoid her either, I was going back to Louisville with Harley tonight and she knew where I would always be.
Say what's real, what's on your mind, I reminded myself as I closed my eyes and took a breath. I walked up close to the mic and let the words flow:
I guess all I got is me and my niggas My daughter and my six figures Can't trust none of these bitches They come to ya with rags and then leave with all of ya riches I should've figured... Held it down and you was with it You were talented, oh so gifted The way I like my mistress But the script, oh girl you flipped it You did it! Aw you did it to me Vindictive, so unpredicted Had me damn near addicted What I saw in you was so much different Messed up all my good vision Hope you feel what you'll be missing And when you talked I listened Name another nigga this wicked...
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I think I have about 5 more chapters left, not for certain yet...
Any ending predictions?
Don't forget VMAs tomorrow 😬 vote for the Bry cause if he don't win something...🔪
