78. Breaking Bad Bread 🍞

I thought I was dreaming as I heard the faint laughter in the distance.

"E!" A woman shrieked.

I slowly opened my eyes to darkness. I felt about the bed for my phone, but I couldn't find it. I yawned and stretched my arms before sitting up. "Where is my phone?" I put my feet on the floor, stepping on something. "Wow..." It was my phone. I tapped the screen to see that I had two text messages from A.B.

A.B.: Sorry it's taking so long. Our computer system crashed. A tech will be here in 30 minutes to fix it.

A.B.: The system is back up and running. On my way to pick you up.

That last text was sent about 10 minutes ago.

"E!" I heard Monica's voice.

My brows met as I walked out her bedroom into the hall.

"I'm serious." I heard a man say.

From the hallway, I stepped into the living room to see Monica and Zeke lying on the sofa. Her back was to his chest as he had one foot on the floor. Monica fidgeted with the ring on Zeke's pointer finger.

She giggled, "I don't believe you really want me to go with you."

"Come here." He spoke in her ear.

Monica turned around and sat in his lap.

Zeke said, "This is how serious I am."

The first sound of their mouths devouring one another made my stomach hurt.

"Ay! I'm in the room!" I looked away, using my hands to protect my vision.

I heard them quickly move.

"Jamie, when did you wake up?" Monica asked me.

"I should've stayed sleep. You woke me up with your laughing."

Zeke whispered, "You should tell her."

Then, I felt Monica's hands on my arms. "Put your hands down, girl."

I glanced at her with squinted eyes as she stood in front of me.

Zeke was sitting upright on the sofa.

Monica smiled at me. "E asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes."

"Wh-what happened to waiting?" I inquired. This was way too soon.

Monica smirked, "Umm... Well, Zeke cleared that up for me."

"How?" I was baffled. They don't even know each other like that.

Zeke walked over and stood behind Monica. "Don't worry, Jamie, I told her everything about our fake relationship and my exes, even the women I dated."

"He dated Victoria Larue. Can you believe that?" Monica asked me.

I tilted my head. "He's Zeke Rivers, Monica! I was telling you this stuff before you met him."

"He also asked me to go to Houston, Miami, and Atlanta with him."

"Do your parents know?" I questioned her.

She playfully rolled her eyes. "I'll tell them when they meet him tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Where is he staying tonight?" I put my hands on my hips.

Zeke cleared his throat. "I have a hotel room."

Monica put her hands on her hips. "E has a hotel room, but if he wants to stay here, he can. It's also none of your business where he stays."

Zeke pulled her towards him. "Monica, that's not nice."

I chuckled to myself as I walked to the kitchen.

"Yeah. You better walk away."

I quickly turned around. "Why are you talking to me like that?"

Monica busted out laughing. "Gotcha! I'm just playing with you, cousin."

Zeke released her.

I pouted, "That was not funny."

Monica hugged me. "I'm sorry. I love you."

I took a deep breath. "No, you don't. I was ready to choke you."

"I know, I know... But you came in here like 'eww. I don't want to see that.'" Monica imitated me.

"I don't want to see that," I admitted. "And I don't sound like that."

Zeke lightly laughed.

There was knocking at the door.

Monica went to answer the front door.

"I'm mad at you," I told Zeke.

He replied, "I should've asked you first, but after seeing her natural, in her T-shirt, and leggings with her hair up, I couldn't hold back. She's the one."

I crossed my arms. "You better treat her like the one and only."

"Hey, A.B.! Come in!" Monica exclaimed.

We looked to the front door as A.B. walked inside the apartment.

My heart fell to my stomach when our eyes met. I looked away, trying to remove my smile. A.B.'s scent didn't help as he greeted Zeke. They locked hands.

"What's up, Zeke? When did you get here?" A.B. asked him.

"Not too long ago."

Then, A.B. turned to look at me. "Hey, Jamie. Did you get enough rest?"

"Do I look tired?" I patted under my eyes.

"Not at all." A.B. reached towards me and removed something out of my hair.

"I don't know about y'all, but I'm starving. And since we all here, why don't we all go out to eat?" Monica suggested.

A.B. nodded his head without taking his eyes off me.

Due to the need of privacy, we ate at an upscale restaurant called The Trio. We were given our own room on the second floor of the restaurant.

After getting our beverages and appetizers, the waiter left.

"Congratulations," A.B. began, "I pray that this is the start of an amazing relationship that will last for a long time."

"Aww, thank you, A.B." Monica tap his shoulder with her head.

Yes, she is sitting next to A.B. while I'm sitting across from him. She did it on purpose.

"Thank you, man," Zeke spoke.

"Do you have any advice for us?" Monica asked A.B.

She trying to be annoying on purpose. That should be her name - Monica On Purpose.

A.B. shook his head. "No. If anything, I should be asking you and Zeke for advice."

"I thought you'd never ask." Monica took a sip of her drink.

See what I'm saying? I yawned.

Everyone looked at me.

I said, "Excuse me."

Monica looked at A.B. "My advice for any future couple would be to have serious conversations often. If you can joke around and have fun, that's good. You want to be able to have easy conversations. It's the hard conversations that let you know if you are really compatible with that person. You find out what ticks a person off. Can they think things through without being so quick to get upset? Can they explain their thoughts to where you're not guessing their next move? Can you handle your difference of opinions?"

Monica looked at Zeke. "E and I have always had small chats, but one day he asked me a serious question about life. From there, every chance we got, we talked about deep stuff from religion to politics; money and marriage. Even when I had concerns about being a regular person and he being a celebrity, E gave me the truth. He told me what to expect from others. More importantly, he told me what to expect from him. He didn't hold back. Pretty soon, we became inseparable."

"Sounds like y'all already married," I mumbled.

A.B. looked at me and slightly shook his head as if I should keep my comment to myself.

Zeke said, "Thank y'all for coming out to eat with us."

I looked over at him. "Are you excited to meet her parents?"

"I am."

Monica asked me, "You don't mind staying at your parents house tonight, do you?"

I chuckled, "Nope. I'll let them know I'll be at their house until Thursday."

"So, what's new, A.B.?" Zeke asked him.

"I, uh, purchased a strip mall with big-name tenants. My projections are pretty promising."

"You really about that business," Zeke continued, "I told my brother about you, and he's starting to rethink getting back into real estate. Back when he was selling records, he bought a few houses. He ended up losing them all, because they were bad investments. I told him about your style of buying small and not taking too many risks at one time."

"That wasn't always the case. My old partner was more of a risktaker which forced me to be like that. Now that I'm more solo, it's best for me to have patience... with everything. It's not everyone's style, but it's helping me a lot." A.B. took a sip of his drink. "What's new with you?"

Zeke clasped his hands together. "I'm currently going from city to city to get ready for the second season of my show."

"The Power House?" A.B. asked, "That's great news."

"Thanks. I didn't think the network would respond so quickly, but the season finale tripled the first episode's numbers. It's bigger than The Voice, America's Got Talent, and American Idol even."

"I think a certain somebody had a hand in that," Monica looked at me.

Zeke said, "Jae A.B.'s performance was what the world was waiting for."

"You made history, cousin."

Zeke added, "That along with all the scandals at RiSe Records made people want to tune in. Under normal circumstances, Aja Frost would've performed the song with her."

Her name was the last thing I wanted to hear. "It wasn't her song to begin with."

"True," Zeke stated. "It's your song, and it suits your voice." He took a sip of his drink.

I blurted out, "I'm suing RiSe Records for buying my song from Jasmine Jayleiona Saner - a scam artist."

"Who?" Monica asked.

A.B. looked at me with concern in his eyes.

"Jamie, don't," Zeke advised.

I spoke to him. "It's in my contract. And the fact that RiSe knows who they bought it from, but acted like they were unaware gives me the extra right to sue them."

"Is that true?" Monica asked Zeke.

Zeke said, "If you sue RiSe, you risk being dropped from them. Not only that - this will get ugly and expensive, too."

I raised my voice, "Do you think I care about that?"

Monica held her hand out to me. "It's okay, cousin. E, just wants you to think about this. We're all gonna support you."

I crossed my arms. "If I let this slide, I know I'll be next. Y'all don't know the things I see and hear. I haven't had nightmares in years, and this industry is giving me nightmares. I've listened to everyone, and I've tried to be optimistic and put my worries aside, but it's like I'm crying for help and no one hears me."

"I've warned you as much as I can," Zeke continued, "if you can just wait until your contract ends--"

"Then, I won't be able to sue," I interjected. "Y'all are not listening. I thought I wanted to be a famous singer and songwriter, but there's so many rules. I never had this many rules when I was Jamie Sawyer working at Music Bravos."

"That's because you didn't pay them any attention," Zeke retorted, "No one is free. It costs to live and it costs to die. It costs to believe in something and it costs to believe in nothing. If you just find a space where you can thrive, then you can make it. The more people you have in your space that you can depend on, the safer you are. You have that with me."

I argued, "You talk like you're supportive in all aspects. Zeke, you only support me to be what you never became. Since day one, you've put the blame on your brother and your father as if they ruined your career. I wish I had family who were aware of the business that could protect me from people who only prey on others to get ahead. Your family did you a favor."

Zeke chuckled, "Jamie, why can't you just listen?"

"Because I'm not a child. I'm a grown woman."

Monica asked me, "You want to go the restroom?"

"No."

"Let's go to the restroom, Jamie." Monica stood up.

A.B. spoke, "Everyone just breathe for a minute."

I bit my bottom lip.

Monica said, "I think we should get our food to go."

"I agree." A.B. nodded his head.

In the car, I sat in the passenger's seat with the to-go plates in my lap.

A.B. drove out the parking lot of the restaurant onto the road. "Do you need to get your things from Monica's house."

"No," I told him. "She can take my things to my parents' house."

I decided to close my eyes the rest of the drive. I swear it wasn't even five minutes later before I felt the bag in my lap being taken away. I looked up to see that we were at the pond.

"Here's your food." A.B. put a to go container in my lap. Then, he handed me plastic utensils.

He bowed his head and prayed over the food. When he finished, he removed the lid from his plate.

"We're going to eat here?" I inquired.

"The food is still hot, and we need to start over."

"Start over?" I asked him.

A.B. took a bite of his steak. "It's been an eventful day, but instead of focusing on all of that, I want to focus on you."

"I'm not understanding."

He asked, "Specifically, is there anything you want to talk about?"

I looked down at my to go plate. "I don't think I'll be able to focus on one thing, because it's everything."

"Everything like...?"

I sighed, "My cousin has never... NEVER jumped into any relationship. She'll date a guy, but a boyfriend? I've only known her to have about three or four boyfriends, but they were long relationships - years. The longest was 6 years and the shortest was 2 years back in middle school. She didn't even like Zeke like that. I was the one that pointed him out, because he was always hanging with our celebrity crushes."

A.B. chewed his food.

"Then, she claims she did all this research and background checks on him. He's a celebrity. All his dirt is on the internet." I rolled my eyes. "Little do they know, her parents are not gonna like him and his parents are not gonna like her."

A.B. asked, "Did Monica say something that you didn't like?"

"Yeah! Like all of a sudden, she's a relationship expert. Then, she gave you advice at the restaurant. You're not gonna use it. I wouldn't use it. Me and you talk all the time, and we're still single." I shook my head. "She doesn't know anything."

A.B. pointed at my to-go plate. "Are you going to eat that?"

I took the lid off. "I mean when I really think about it. They belong together. They're both delusional. And you know they only care about appearance and money. Like, you never told me how much money you have, but Monica found out you're worth 200 million dollars. "

A.B. coughed. He picked up his drink and sipped through the straw.

"And did you hear him talking about his brother so casually? I've never seen him so lively. Zeke gives at most two notes. Today, he was on 10."

A.B. tried to suppress his cough.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah. My food went down the wrong pipe."

I started to eat my steak and broccoli.

"Don't mind me. What else is on your mind?"

I thought before speaking, "I think I'm broke."

"Broke?" A.B. asked me.

"I haven't seen any money since I signed to RiSe."

A.B. grew concerned, "Have you talked to Rochelle?"

I smiled, "Yeah, but not about that. This is why I know I need to sue them. Who knows what they could be doing behind my back."

We looked at one another.

"A.B., I have nothing to lose."

He was quiet.

I went back to eating.

"Jamie, I don't think that's the answer... to your problem."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"There has to be a major problem. Do you not like RiSe Records or living in LA? What's eating at you?"

I took a deep breath. How do I begin to answer that? Could I be completely honest to someone who has rejected me? Yet, I think he's the only one that I can really trust to share this with.

A.B. took my hand and caressed it.

"Zeke thought it was okay to have a fake relationship. We lied to his parents and brother. We would've lied to the world if I didn't end it. I'm mad at Zeke, because he didn't do enough. When my song got stolen, he was ready to sweep it under the rug just like now. If it hadn't been for you connecting me with a lawyer, who knows what kind of contract I'd be in. Then, Ricky puts me in this boot camp that felt like military boot camp. Even though, I'm no longer in it, it's like PTSD. My schedule is always crazy, and when I'm on the go - the only time I truly enjoy is being in the car with Maximo driving or sleeping. On top of that, the Rivers' house is a bit creepy. There's a room that when you talk, you can be heard down the hall. The one person I thought would be my best friend in music used me, lied to me, and took another song from me."

"Aja Frost?" A.B. asked.

I nodded my head. "When Zeke brought her up, I was ready to knock his drink off the table."

"I'm glad you didn't do that." A.B. continued to caress my hand.

I hesitated before saying, "Ricky Santana, I once liked him because of Zeke, but now I think Zeke is blind to who Ricky really is. Ricky uses women. He has a way of making you feel comfortable, only to treat you like a pet that he can control. And I've always had my concerns about Anaya. Then, she talked down on me and I really started to dislike her. Zeke was saying she was a control freak, but I think she and her twin brother are the same. They both want to control others... Zeke keeps pressuring me to stay in this contract, but I don't see the benefit in it or singing anymore." I took my hand from A.B. "I don't have anything more to say. I've made my decision, and I'm not changing my mind."

A.B. put his to go plate under his seat. "I'm not trying to change your mind. I just want you to get everything off your chest. If you want to hear what I have to say, I can tell you."

"Go on," I allowed him.

"I have a question... Do you blame Zeke for everything or just some things?"

I explained, "I know I made the decision to go to LA, but I was under the impression that he would take care of me."

A.B. asked, "Did he specify how he would take care of you?"

"He said he would take care of my rent until my lease was up, which he did. He said our fake relationship was a way for me to get benefits."

"What were the benefits?"

"Getting a record deal... keeping other men from trying to talk to me. I pretty much live rent-free and get what I want or ask for, and I got my own room in his house."

A.B. quizzed me, "Can you say that he did what he said he would for the most part even after the fake relationship ended?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Jamie, I need you to be honest."

"It was the bare minimum."

A.B. disagreed, "I don't think that's the case. I think Zeke did as much as he could from his position. Had the fake relationship been more public, Zeke could've been in more rooms with you instead of only hearing about what went on from you. Do you get that?"

What is he? Team Zeke?

"Jamie, I'm not siding with him. I'm just an outsider. At the same time, I think he tried too hard to make you successful. That can add pressure to a person which I know you felt you'd be letting him down if you didn't finish the course."

The sun was starting to set, and my mouth was dry. I picked up my cup and sipped what was left through the straw.

"You have every right to be mad at RiSe Records, Zeke, me, anybody... Just try to eliminate the headache before it turns into a migraine. How do you eat an elephant?"

"I know. One bite at a time." I turned to look at A.B. "You know what gives me a headache, though?"

A.B. joked, "Not eating all your food."

"You."

A.B. nodded his head. "I accept that."

"I'm only messing with you. Thank you for listening."

A.B. rubbed my shoulder. "Anytime. Are you sure you don't want to get your stuff from Monica's house?"

"I guarantee you she'll bring them to me. Between the two of us, she's the bigger softy."

A.B. started his car. "Is that so?"

"Depends on the situation," I admitted.

As A.B. drove, I worked on eating the rest of my food. I pulled out my phone and text Monica take my stuff to my parents' house. I can't wait for tomorrow.