smiling from ear to ear. I shouldâve known heâd be here if people were flying in from New York.
He jumps up and hugs me. I give him a playful poke in the stomach (which is rock hard, by the way. Heâs been working out).
âWhy didnât you tell me you were coming?â I ask.
âI wanted to surprise you. Are you surprised?â
I nod. âCongratulations, Songwriter of the Year.â
He tosses his head back and laughs. âWouldnât that be sick if we win?â
âOMG! It would be ridiculous if we win.â
Mystique comes in the room. Sheâs wearing a new weave. Itâs blonde and pin straight and it comes to her waist in the back, but itâs layered in the front. The whole look is finished off with a feathery bang. Sheâs wearing a one-piece shorts set that barely covers her entire booty. Her long legs look even longer with her four-inch heels.
She looks downright intimidating. And I think that was the plan.
Mystique glides (yes, glides) over to me and air kisses me. Sheâd have to bend down to actually kiss my face because with the heels she towers over me.
âCongratulations on your nominations,â I say.
âYou too, sweetie. The heads of Epsilon Records are so proud of you.â
Sam leads me over to the couch as Mystique goes to join Zac at the bar.
âDid you see Drama when you got here?â he asks.
I roll my eyes. Not in the mood for Dreya today. âNo. Sheâs here? Is Bethany here too?â
âYes, unfortunately for Dilly, sheâs here.â
I chuckle. âHe told you about them? Whereâs he?â
âProbably somewhere hiding from Bethany. He told me she was basically stalking him.â
âYeah, pretty much. He tried to break up with her, but he doesnât think it worked.â
I hope Bethany finds another guy to obsess over soon. Thatâs all it will take, really, for her to get over Dilly. Sheâs not really the type to chase down a guy who doesnât want her. Heâs got to be showing some interest.
Dilly walks into the room wearing his jeans and his signature button-down shirt and sweater. Thatâs his thing now. He calls it âpretty nerd swagâ. I think itâs crazy, but rappers have to have something that sets them apart.
Heâs let his hair grow in thicker, and his sideburns and edges are lined up to perfection. The contrast of his dark hair and sun-kissed light skin are very hot. I see why heâs not checking for Bethany anymore. He could have his choice of girls.
He leans over to hug me and kiss my cheek. âHey, Sunday! Congrats!â
âThank you, Dilly! You look hot! If I wasnât with Sam ...â
âBut she is with me,â Sam interjects, âso donât even think about it.â
Dilly laughs out loud. âAll right, big dog! I remember what you did to Truth. Trust, I donât want none of that. But I did ask Sunday to be my prom date if I donât have anyone else to go with.â
Sam frowns. âNah, chief. You gonna have to find yourself a young cutie. You should be able to after your single comes out.â
My eyes light up! âYouâre finally getting a single out there? Get the heck outta here! Why didnât you tell me?â
âI was going to! I just wanted to do it in person, and you act like you canât come up for air once you start hitting those books.â
I shake my head. âI havenât been hitting them hard enough. I got a B that shouldâve been an A. I shouldnât even be here right now. I need to be back in my room studying. Iâve got some reading to finish for my history class.â
âSee, thatâs why I went ahead and dropped my classes for this semester,â Sam says. âThereâs too much work to be done, and this is my time to strike. I can go to school when Iâm rich.â
My mouth flies open and my eyes widen to capacity. I canât
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