Author's Note: Mature themes ahead.
==
1987
BRENDA
I sat Indian style reading a book on our messy bed at Michael's condo. Weight of familiar person shifted right on the covers. Not once did I even look and a smile crept onto my face. Within seconds, I felt the book trembled out of my hands. Michael had placed the soft kiss for my neck. I chuckled through closed lips and turned to hold the face shadowed by a fedora.
"I've missed you." he whispered to me.
"I can tell." I squinted, but grinned mischievously. All my lust shattered at the view of Michael's pink socks before long. A fit of giggles erupted from within me.
"Why didn't I notice your socks this morning, babe? That's so cute!" His face had turned beet red from adorable embarrassment at this point.
"Dammit!" he cursed slickly under his breath.
I rolled my eyes and scooted over the bed for Cranberry juice in the kitchen. Soft laughter escaped occasionally. I returned seconds later with the bottle in my hand. Michael pouted almost shamelessly, which made me giggle even more.
"I prayed you wouldn't notice." Michael's voice shrunk jokingly this time. "I'm actually kind of...well...'
I titled my head watching him struggle. "How do you feel right now? Say it."
"No, I'm a gentleman. You deserve that." he tried to act appropriate.
A sneaky grin crept onto my face as I crawled toward my man. Despite his quiet protests, I knew better than. With every second closer, his voice stopped objection. I gentled knocked off the cap on his head and found that familiar position on top of him.
Sunset glowed around us outside his window and almost descended on smoggy California. Pearly whites of his usually beaming smile never perked up. Rows of his teeth only clenched just before I kissed him passionately. The large hands I knew tangled gently within my curls as expected.
My voice whispered against his ear after I slowly lifted my head. "Was that nice, Daddy?" He locked our hands and kissed my knuckles with closed eyes in his favorite darkness. Moonlight just raised over the sky now. My man could only response with another kissed on our locked hands.
I'd calmed my previous actions, simply resting my head on his chest. He complied and brushed my mane of curly hair with his palm, singing when he thought I'd lulled to sleep. I was now caught between laughter and overall swooning at this moment. My eyes nearly bucked as soon as Michael hit a perfect falsetto this late at night.
Looking in my mirror, took me by surprise.
I can't help but see you, running often through my mind....
__
MICHAEL
The next morning, my heart dreaded leaving Baby Girl as usual. I trucked through another day of rehearsal before the tour finally began weeks from now. Bass of speakers and the band around me for hours rang through my ears like a morning alarm afterwards.
Behind Raybans, I faked another one smile after another. Bill and Frank took their spots on each side of me whenever I walked around to say goodbye. Just when I finished up and began to walk out, Jolie rushed through the heavy double doors with a distraught expression on her face.
I squinted, immediately concerned. Frank and Bill remained at my sides.
"What's wrong?" I asked my personal assistant. She barely stopped panicking right now. Before Jolie could say anything else, footsteps hurried closer and closer to the soundstage. I didn't know what to think my eyes bucked seconds later.
In the ray of spotlights all around, Tatiana stood right across from us. I could've fainted honestly, but somehow balanced. Mental cursing ignited through my brain. I shook my head once more and pushed up the Raybans.
I could only nod watching Tatiana before walking out at last. Her voice rang, but I didn't even care. I slammed the limousine door shut and a chauffeur escorted me to Brenda's penthouse. I'd planned for a buyer send clothes from my condo in the next few days.
__
The elevator doors chimed open and I looked around smirking while music rumbled. Slightly annoyed, I called out to her.
"Baby? Are you here? We need to talk." I replied.
My heart pounded waiting for the music to stop. Boots strutted in here and she never even smiled out of concerned. All I noticed was the stare behind her glasses. Before I could blink, we were left in total silence.
"What happened?" Frank just called." Brenda folded her arms.
"Tatiana showed up after rehearsal screaming for my attention. I didn't say anything and just walked out before coming over. I don't wanna be alone, girl."
"Need anything?" she asked.
"You." I sighed. "I don't wanna see anyone but you right now. Brenda only held my hand for the moment and led to her kitchen.
A fresh water bottle rested my usual end of a kitchen table. I rolled my eyes, but smiled through frustration watching her sit down. Steaming hot tea rested on her side of table. I reached out her hand once more and smiled again with tears I hadn't noticed. Never did I speak for my baby to understand. I'd grown weary after these interruptions.
Regardless of my need professionalism and modest behavior, I didn't know what to think anymore.
