Keep Your Friends Close (A Makaveli’s Prince Novella) Page 3

  Tiana looked at the display on her cell phone screen before picking up.

  “What’s up with you?” she answered, letting a smile creep across her face. “Yeah, I’m working on it,” Tiana said in response to the question on the other end. “I think I can work something out, just give me a couple of days. Uh huh, yeah, okay, I’ll let you know how it plays out. I miss you Boo.”

  Tiana hung up the phone and slipped it back under the gown that was draped around her neck. She looked in the mirror to see how her hair treatment was coming along. She thought she caught a look from one of the bitches in the salon and shot a stare back.

  Tiana sucked her teeth and turned her nose up. Bitches were jealous, she thought.

  Cameron stepped out of the booth and listened to the playback as Tony Watts made tweaks to the track. The others in the room, the ones who made the real decisions, didn’t say anything.

  “We’ll let you know,” Tony Watts said.

  Cameron’s hopes sank. He was sure that was a no and he felt like one of the candidates from American Idol who got told it was the end of the road. But he wasn’t ready to end his biggest shot at a record deal like that.

  “Hold up, play the track back again,” Cameron asked. Tony Watts responded to a nod of approval from the back of the room.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “My style is raw, the track is raw. It needs something to accent it. One second.” Cameron stuck his head out the door. “Laila, get your ass in here a minute.”

  “What’s happening?” Laila asked as the heavy soundproofed door closed behind her.

  “I need you in the booth to lay down a hook with a sickly sweet melody to it.”

  “What?” She was caught off guard.

  “You got the pipes, I heard you this morning.”

  Cameron led her into the booth and she reluctantly put the headphones on and pulled down the microphone to her height. He gave her a wink and then a friendly pat on ass before walking out.

  He knew she could sing but this was a gamble. He had no idea if she could create from scratch. If she fell flat on her face so did he. But if she pulled it off he’d come off looking good.

  Fifteen minutes later Tony Watts was adding the hook into the track and other vocals to accompany the rap verses. A couple more minutes and he hit the playback key once more and they listened through the completed track.

  Cameron looked around.

  “I told you. That track is the shit now. Right?”

  There was little reaction from the rest of the room but Tony Watts smiled at him.

  “You’ve got some balls kid and maybe a little flare for understanding the production side of things.”

  “So?” Cameron asked expectantly, looking to the back of the room again.

  “We’ll let you know,” was the response again from Tony Watts at the mixing desk.

  “Thanks for the shot,” Cameron said, understanding he couldn’t push any harder without risking pissing them off. He shook hands and then found his way back out of the studio.

  Walking back to the car with Laila he was a little pissed but bit his tongue until he slammed the door shut.

  “They not gonna pick me up.”

  “You don’t know that, the track sounded great. If that joint came on in the club I’d be up on the dance floor,” Laila said with reassurance.

  “It is what it is,” Cameron replied, trying to shake off the disappointment that they hadn’t signed him there and then. He knew that was unrealistic but he’d wanted it so bad. “You hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  “Then I’ll take you to this little place I know and after we gon’ get drunk and go to the club.” Cameron’s mind was set on partying his blues away.

  “What about Tia?”

  “No disrespect, because she’s your sister, but we done.”

  “No, I mean I should probably call and let her know where I am.”

  “Right,” he’d misunderstood, “If she wants to know she’ll call you, right? How about tonight we keep it stress free, just me and you having a good time?”

  They ate and watched the sunset pour its colors into the Miami skyline. Cocktails with the same colors followed and it wasn’t long before they went on to a nearby club. The music was loud and the time for talking had passed.

  Cameron couldn’t help but put his hands on Laila’s body as they danced.

  “It’s been too long! I ain’t had a good time like this in too damn long,” Laila shouted above the loud music. Cameron hadn’t either and smiled back as Laila threw her head back to the beat. Damn she was hot, he thought. Things couldn’t really go anywhere with Laila could they? She was Tiana’s younger sister, the younger sister of his former fiancée. He tried to shake the urges from his head but she kept shaking her body in ways that had him wanting to eat her up.

  Eventually, he told himself fuck it. What happens happens. He and Tiana were done.

  Soon Laila was pressed up against him, sliding her body up and down. This girl knew how to dance for a nigga, he thought.

  It felt like it was just them and the music. Everyone else might as well have not been there as they worked themselves into a sweat. The music slowed a little as Gyptian’s ‘Hold You’ played. This was about as much as Cameron could take. He was going to bust a nut right there in the club if he didn’t do something about it. He had to take Laila home. To do what, he wasn’t sure yet.

  “Laila, let’s go,” Cameron said, taking her by the hand. She smiled and followed him from the dance floor and out of the club. She was more drunk than him and nearly fell off her heels as she tried to keep up with him.

  Cameron tried to clear his head when they got out into the fresh air. It wasn’t really any cooler than the air conditioned club but he hoped he’d sober up enough to drive. He couldn’t afford to get pulled over for a DUI.

  Cameron reached over in the Mustang to put Laila’s safety belt on for her. As he did she kissed him. At first he was surprised but he wasn’t sure why, they were both hot for each other. But any hesitation in him faded fast and he kissed her back. It was as good as he’d imagined. Her lips quenched his thirst but only for a moment. They sat back in their seats for a second, their ears drumming from the loud music.

  Cameron was working up the courage to say something to Laila about what had just happened and she laid back in her seat about ready to pass out.

  “Laylay, what are we doing?” Cameron asked, using her nickname for the first time. She smiled at that.

  “We were having fun and now you’re taking me home.”

  She was too drunk to have the conversation Cameron wanted. He watched her close her eyes and knew she wasn’t coming around again. He fired up the engine and pulled off with the window down in an attempt to keep himself sharp.

  Less than thirty minutes later he pulled into the driveway and carried Laila into the house. He wasn’t surprised to see Tiana when he came in the door. Surprisingly, she didn’t say anything. Usually she was on his ass for just about everything. She just watched as he carried Laila on up the stairs to her room.

  Cameron was almost pleased that Laila had passed out. It made things much easier. He put her on her bed, stood a glass of water on her bedside table and went to his own bed. Even so, he knew things would be different between them in the morning.

  THREE

  Laila sat at the breakfast bar in the massive kitchen, nursing her hangover. Tiana put a plate of toast, a coffee and a couple of aspirin in front of her.

  “Take them. You know you’ll feel better,” Tiana told her sister.

  “God I hope I do, my head is ready to burst. Now are you gon’ sit or do something because I don’t know if I can handle you just standing there like that.” Laila could tell her sister was impatient about something but her brain wasn’t functioning fully yet.

  “I ain’t gon’ beat around the bush, I just wanna know if you’ve convinced Cam to do this next job.”

  “He talked ab
out it,” Laila answered with disinterest.

  “And?”

  “Seems he’s getting scouted by a label. You know he took me to the studio and had me do some vocals on a track.” Tiana’s eyes narrowed. It was bad enough she’d had to ask for Laila’s help to push Cameron in the right direction but now Tiana was reminded that Laila sang better than her. Cameron had never asked for her musical help. She could be so competitive with her sister.

  “They made him an offer?” Tiana asked.

  “Not yet but they gon’ get back to him and whichever way it go he’s got his mind fixed on moving on with his life.”

  “I know,” Tiana said with exasperation, “but I told you to fuck a nigger and fix his mind for him. We got big money coming if you get your ass in the game.”

  “Please girl, I told you I ain’t messing with him like that.”

  Tiana sucked her teeth.

  “Then why are you fuckin’ with him?”

  Laila said nothing and took a bite of toast.

  Tiana was pissed. She needed Cameron back on the hustle. She needed the money but the way things had gone between them she knew she was on the outside now. Laila was her only chance but Tiana knew she could only push her so hard before she’d end up turning her against the plans she had.

  “Morning ladies,” came Cameron’s voice as he entered the kitchen.

  “Hey,” Laila replied, her head resting in her hands. Tiana turned her back, disappointed he didn’t appear to also have a hangover. She gathered herself and turned back to him with a smile on her face.

  “You guys have a good time last night?”

  “The club was jumpin’ right? You should have been there.” Cameron turned to look at Laila and winked at her out of Tiana’s line of sight.

  He was treading a fine line flirting with Laila in front of her sister but for some reason he didn’t care. He had his eyes fixed firmly on Laila.

  At last he was breaking the bonds of his relationship with Tiana and it felt so damn good. So damn good to feel the joy and excitement that came with someone new, someone real.

  “I’m feeling good about the session in the studio yesterday. I’ve got a feeling we hit the mark. Did Laylay tell you she lit up the mic too?”

  Tiana bit her tongue at his use of her sister’s nickname. Jealousy was flaring inside her. Cameron used to be her man. There had been a time when she’d had him on lock.

  “I was just saying,” Laila answered as Cameron poured himself coffee from the pot.

  “You should talk to Tyrone,” Tiana said. “I know he’s got something lined up and you’d have the money to…”

  Cameron cut her off.

  “I told you I’m done with that. Right about now I just want to enjoy the moment while I wait on this record deal. Nothing else on my mind.” He glanced over at Laila, knowing that was a lie. “I’m packing to go up to the cabin for a few days. Y’all gon’ come?”

  “Where?” Laila asked.

  “You know, out of the city. There’s this cabin, I know a guy and… well, it doesn’t matter but the point is it’s a change of scenery.”

  “Sounds a little country.”

  “Hell no! We gon’ kick back, get high and wait on what’s coming,” Cameron countered, “Busy days ahead if they green light studio time or an album for me.”

  “You going sis?”

  “Nah, but you go.”

  “Sure?” Laila asked, forgetting for a second her sister actually wanted her alone with Cameron.

  “Sure, I got business to handle the next couple of days anyway.”

  “Get yo’ hustle on then, I’m leaving in forty-five minutes.” Cameron took his coffee and left the kitchen.

  Lake George was a four hour drive north in good traffic and with Cameron’s foot a little heavy on the gas. Laila slept off her hangover for most of the journey, not waking up until they had passed Orlando.

  “You good?” Cameron asked as she came round. Still groggy from sleep she self-consciously put her hands to her head to check her hair and then to her mouth. “Don’t sweat it, you weren’t drooling but you were snoring,” Cameron said playfully.

  “What? I was not,” Laila said back just as playfully. “So where this cabin at?”

  “It’s right on the lake, real peaceful. You’ll see. It’s only about a mile further to go.”

  “So how come you got this place?”

  “It’s not mine but,” he paused, assessing whether he could trust her, “the crew uses it as a safe house if the heat gets too much. This probably gon’ be the last time I come up here since I’ll be done with the street life soon enough. I’m kinda glad you came.”

  Cameron looked across at Laila with fondness in his eyes. He could tell he was really starting to feel something for this girl.

  He slowed the Mustang and turned right. They left the main road and followed a dirt track. Cameron was careful not to bottom out the vehicle on the uneven surface. Both sides of the track were thick with trees and other foliage and it felt good to be in the shade. After about a half mile the trees cleared and the edge of the lake became visible.

  A final turn took them into what was clearly the parking area of the cabin which stood before them.

  “This is it,” Cameron said as he cut the engine.

  Laila got out and stretched.

  “It okay if I go look around?”

  “Sure thing, I’ma bring the bags right in and fix us some drinks.”

  Laila skirted around the two story wood clad construction and found the path to the lake. It was only about fifty yards through the trees until she hit the jetty. The edge of the lake couldn’t really be called a shore since that suggested some kind of beach or access into the water. Here that was denied by the abundance of plant life and mangroves that thrived in the shallow muddy edges of the large lake.

  The jetty was about fifty yards long and reached out to where the water was clear enough to launch small boats. Laila found a floating platform at the end for sunbathing and wondered if they’d be safe to swim or whether there were any alligators. Nevertheless, she slipped off her pumps and hung her feet over the side into the water. After the long journey it felt good to relax.

  She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and then it chirped twice. She pulled it out and checked the message. It was Tiana, a reminder about doing what was needed to get paid. She turned it off and slipped it back into her pocket. She didn’t want another disturbance. This place already seemed too good for that. Laila wasn’t one for roughing it but a break from the pressure of civilization was needed.

  A moment later she decided it was time to check out just how civilized the accommodation was. She stood up and walked back to the cabin with her pumps in her hand.

  “Are there gators?” Laila said, as she entered the cabin and found Cameron in the kitchen.

  “What? Nah, you’ll be safe if you fittin’ to go for a swim but I figured you’d wanna eat something after that ride.”

  Laila was hungry and it pleased her when Cameron slid a plate of food across the counter top, along with a pineapple rum cocktail.

  “Damn, you know how to feed a woman,” Laila said, taking a second mouthful.

  “It was either learn or starve, you know how your sister is.” They both laughed a little.

  “You know what, let’s forget her for a while,” Laila said after a moment of silence. “I even turned my phone off.” She took her phone out and put it to one side just to make the point.

  Cameron smiled at that. He’d put Tiana out of his mind in a hot minute if it was that easy. It wasn’t but Laila had a way of making him feel it was worth trying. He took his phone out, switched it off and put it next to hers.

  After they finished eating Cameron gave her a tour of the place. Upstairs there were two bedrooms, one of them en suite. The two rooms shared a balcony overlooking the lake. On the ground floor there was a spacious kitchen-dinner and a comfortable living room. The only thing missing was aircon but each room had a ceil
ing fan. Cameron already had them circulating the hot and humid air.

  Laila unpacked. It didn’t take long for her to make herself at home.

  Cameron sat out on the porch and put his feet up as he rolled a blunt. The late afternoon sunlight reflected off the water and he was ready to get faded. As he lit up music began playing.

  “Hope you don’t mind?” Laila asked, looking in the direction of the music.

  “Hope you don’t,” Cameron fired back as he blew out a chest full of smoke and held the blunt out to her. She took it and sat down on the seat beside him.

  “Neighbors won’t mind?” Laila asked, looking at the blunt after taking a hit.

  “No neighbors.” They both laughed. “I’m serious, ain’t no neighbors close enough to worry about. We can smoke all we want, make as much noise as we want. This place is how life should be.”

  Their conversation drifted back and forth but with the help of the weed it felt deep and truly heart to heart. Cameron had never had it like this with a girl. Something about Laila made him so honest about everything. With her he didn’t feel the need to front and he’d quickly come to respect her because she was smart. She was so different to Tiana in all the ways he hungered for.

  Tiana had played him but he just felt he could trust Laila. He poured out his heart to her and she listened. She cared. He wasn’t accustomed that with Tiana. These days she was only interested in the street thug in him for the money that he made. Laila wanted to know who he really was.

  Without thinking he reached over and caressed her hand. It was nothing much, gentle, loving. It felt comfortable. Laila didn’t react. She continued watching the birds flocking over the lake as the sun came down. They were finding a nesting spot for the evening.

  Then she caressed him back. The previous night in the club they may have been physical but not this intimate. So much was clear with such a simple touch.

  Laila adjusted her position. She leant over and rested her head on Cameron’s shoulder. Her hand found his thick bicep and then caressed his chest. She started to sing out the slow soulful lyrics to ‘Ready For Love’ which was drifting out from inside on the night’s air.