Page 100 of Sing Your Secrets

“He’s a damn fool.” Petey rolls his eyes and pops his middle finger in the air, conveying his sentiment about his so-called homeboy. “And so am I. I had no idea you and Reese were—”

“We were trying to keep it to ourselves because of Mac.”

“Right, right…well, I spent a long time working through the haze of years of bad decisions and stupid mistakes. I felt like a new man and I just wanted to start over. I guess I forgot that when you walk away, other people’s lives move on. Reese has a new life and she’s happy and I didn’t stop to think that…” He flicks his fingers back and forth anxiously. “She wasn’t waiting around for me to pull my head out of my ass. She made a new life.”

“Seems that way.”

“She told me how she feels about you, and I’m happy for you guys. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.” I see his tortured smile before he runs his hand over his face. “There’s only one Reese, and there are no second chances.”

“Thank you.” I hold out my hand again, this time less of a greeting, more of a truce. Petey clasps his hand over mine, eagerly. “I appreciate it.”

“Cool, man.” Petey looks around The Garage. “This place looks about ready to go. The new colored lights look hella good. We’ve got some nightclub vibes.”

I laugh. “Reese’s idea. She didn’t want to make big changes, but she said we needed a little pizazz.”

“Good call.”

“Speaking of which, are you still gifting this place to her, or did you change your mind?”

Petey’s eyes furrow. “Of course. I just have to make sure it’s not a money pit first. I don’t want her taking on a bunch of debt. Why would I change my mind?”

“Because she’s with me…”

A cloudy look fills his eyes, like a storm brewing. “Have you ever heard Reese sing?”

I shake my head. “Actually, no.”

“That girl’s voice,” he mutters. “She’d sweep the Grammys if she’d make an album. She’s got Adele’s power, Beyonce’s style, and Mariah’s range.”

“Why doesn’t she sing?”

“Because Reese has known exactly who she is and what she likes since she was twelve years old. She wanted to run the studio like Mac. That was always the game plan. When we put Depth together, she was on her way. When we moved to Atlanta, she’d stay locked in the studios, just watching and learning. Producing is tough for women to break into, especially in hip-hop if you don’t already have an in…but she was so determined.” Petey shakes his head. “But I bled her energy dry. Instead of working on her craft and pursuing her dreams, she spent all her time carrying my ass. She was my girl, my manager, my muse…she didn’t have time for herself.”

“But she left, didn’t she? Atlanta?” She left you.

“Yeah—and then what was rough became hell. At the end of things, I think hating me made her also hate the version of herself she was with me. She thought being wrong about me made her wrong about everything. Mac told me with you, she’s her old self again—happy and confident. You inspired some sort of comeback for her.”

I can’t help but smile, because honestly, I feel much the same. Something came alive in me when I met Reese. “What does that have to do with The Garage?”

“I feel like I stole a part of her life,” Petey says, grazing the diamond stud in his ear with the pad of his thumb like a dog with a nervous tick. “So, I’m trying to give a part back, maybe. I don’t want her to lose herself again.”

“She won’t,” I say firmly. I won’t let her.

“You don’t have a problem with it, do you?”

“Not at all. I think it was always inevitable I’d end up working for Reese. It seems like the natural order of things that eventually, she’d own my ass.”

He laughs hard. “Damn straight. That girl is all kinds of fire.”

It’s insane that we’re bonding like this. Petey was on every mental vision board I’d ever created. He’s my idol. He’s had everything I’ve ever wanted—including my girl. I didn’t think we’d find common ground like this. But peace feels better than a feud. I’m glad he came with an apology versus an ultimatum to back down. Because I’d hate to have to fight my hero.

“Hey, you want a drink?” I duck behind the long bar and pull out an unopened bottle of Jack Daniels. “You like Jack and Coke? Single or double?”

“I’m actually not a big drinker, man.” He pats his jeans pocket and I can see the outline of what looks like a very thick cigarette. He cocks one eyebrow at me. “You partake?”

* * *

“What’s weird about stars is that they’re only outside,” I mumble, watching the ceiling of The Garage which seems to be moving. It’s nice. I could lay flat on this comfortable concrete floor forever. “Stars should be for like…for inside too.”

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