Page 55 of Beautiful Noise
I spent the morning and early afternoon ordering room service and adding new poems to my journal and site, while Ezren did video calls with his producer Clay and with an up-and-coming artist, Leijah. Even if he could handle an impromptu performance, she wasn’t willing to risk that she could.
Ezren and Leijah became background noise while I remained busy, weaving together words that solidified emotions I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. The idea of Ezren being an important fixture in my life felt too cozy. If I had learned anything in the past year, it was to never have expectations and you would never be disappointed. That didn’t, however, mean I couldn’t live in the moment. Occasionally, I found myself smiling insanely wide while Ezren crooned the melody of the song I learned he’d co-written for Leijah, coaching her through parts to enhance her already beautifully soulful voice.
Together, they elicited a plethora of emotions, making me slightly jealous but I also understood this was business for Ezren. Music was his life, his love child, I could only be so grateful to experience it adjacently. I had the same experience and jealousy watching him create and perform in his personal studio. His love and connection to the notes and lyrics was such a beautiful thing.
As perfect as my morning and afternoon had been, I couldn’t fully enjoy my time because lurking in the recesses of my mind was the reminder that I was only an hour’s drive from the life I ran away from. Being here in Houston meant my past had collided with my present.
My name was still very much in circulation online and the persistent calls and texts from my parents hadn’t simmered since my life imploded on social media. My mother had sent several threatening texts about how I could choose to live my life the way I wanted but not if myfoolishnessmeant tarnishing my father’s name and career goals.
I hadn’t talked to my parents in almost a year. How was I to know my father was campaigning for the position as president of the Houston school systems? There was no sinister plot which entailed exposing my life for the world simply to derail my father’s career aspirations. However, my parents truly believedthat to be true of their only child. That I could be so hateful, careless, or selfish that I would purposely get in the way of my father’s plans to become President of HISD.
The last communication I had with either of my parents was a call to my mother when I ended things with Darren. In a regretful moment of weakness, I reached out, hopeful that she would see past our differences enough to help until I was able to get my feet on solid ground.
My mother doubled down and not so kindly let me know adult decisions rendered adult consequences and unless I was ready to beg their forgiveness and admit the error of my ways, she wouldn’t provide a dime or kind word. Being home in Houston did not create warm and fuzzy memories.
At some point I must have drifted because the low rasp of Ezren’s voice had me smiling into the pillow just before the soft feel of his lips landed on my cheek, coaxing me from my restful state. I peeled my eyes open to find him watching me intently.
“Are you done?”
“Yeah, I’m done. I apologize…”
“You’re working. Don’t apologize.” I lifted and sluggishly moved my legs over the side of the bed before extending my arms above my head for a good stretch.
“Work is done and now it’s time to play.” His smile was charming and mischievous at the same time. Those beautiful browns glinted with amusement. “I called SipLicity and they have two sessions tonight. Four to six and eight to ten. I figured we could go to the second one. That will give us time to grab dinner…”
“Out?”
He smirked when my panic ensued. “Yes, out. But this time, I know better than to throw you to the wolves.”
“Which means?”
“I have a reservation. We’ll dine in one of their private rooms and I’ve arranged for us to come through the access entrance.”
“Access entrance?”
He nodded slowly. “It’s how security details keep tabs on clients without causing a scene. We can be in and out and no one will know, but let me be clear. I’ll walk you right through the front door and not give a damn about who sees us. I’m not hiding you or us from the world, Ri.”
“You should. I’m pretty sure my presence in your life is damaging to your career,” I muttered, lifting from the bed.
“I’ve been accused of producing children with women I’ve never so much as met, breaking up families by sleeping with mothers, daughters, and sisters, and of being a sex addict. Do you honestly believe whispers of dating a woman who works for a living instead of plotting a come up by attaching herself to my bank account will damage my career?”
He had a point, but still…
“Okay, maybe not damage your career, but possibly ruin your chances with future muses.” I flashed a smile and he groaned.
“I guess that means the role of my muse is now permanently yours.” He winked and lifted his phone, groaning once he had a visual of the caller. “I need to take this. You have about twenty minutes to get ready.”
Before I could debate, Ezren left the room rattling off, “I hope you have good news.”
Luckily last night, I’d washed and flat ironed my hair, so all I had to do was decide what to wear. With consideration that regardless of Ezren’s precautions I needed to look my best, I removed the graphic tee and leggings I’d traveled in, selected black, ripped, wide-legged jeans, a thin, white, cotton boyfriend button up with a lace bra beneath it. I was limited on shoes so I decided on black sandals. I quickly washed my face, brushed myteeth, and added a lightweight tint to give my skin a fresh glow, which I finished with bronze body gloss.
Simple but photo ready, because let’s face it, being with Ezren meant being scrutinized. And even if he didn’t care about the image that was already circulating, I did. That first night at dinner with Ezren I was caught off guard. It wouldn’t happen again if I could help it.
After adding thin, oversized, gold hoops to my ears, I grabbed my purse and joined Ezren in the living room where he was standing with his back to me, body tight, barking out commands.
“I pay you to figure this shit out. Figure it the fuck out,” he growled and ended the call. His head dropped and a hand tugged at his beard, expressing his frustration.
“Everything okay?” Ezren stilled for a minute. His eyes found me over his shoulder before he turned to face me completely. A smile surfaced on his face while his approving gaze traveled the length of my body.