Page 10 of Call and Response

The feature had been an enjoyable experience to record, fun to perform, and had put money—goodmoney—in my pocket, and would for the foreseeable future, but it wasn’t…me.

It wasn’t the type of time I was trying to be on, not anymore. It was more in line with the kind of shitty relationship music I used to make with Josiah; the kind of shit he still made now. And to his credit, people ate it up.

Toxic was hot right now.

In musicandcharacter, apparently. It was wild to me that Josiah had bounced back from the borderline criminal scandal that gave me no choice but to separate myself from him.

Not because it was a scandal.

Because I couldn’t rock with what he’d done.

But that was behind me now—wassupposedto be behind me, at least.

Right now, I was in a moment, getting to perform the kind of music that made me feel like myself again, like I hadn’t in a long ass time.

And damn if Audra’s voice wasn’t making me feel somethingelseI hadn’t felt in a long ass time, too.

Not the time for that.

Not even a little.

But it was impossible not to recognize that Audra was sexy as hell—full-bodied, sultry-voiced, pretty-faced, and just… so damn self-assured that I gravitated to her, needing to be closer.

Especially as we transitioned into songs that weren’t as intense in tone—the PJ Morton song, another of hers I was supposed to do ad-libs and background for, and aCuresong that felt much different singing with her.

“Knock Knock”was about a dude trying to talk an ex into a bit of late night creeping, unresolved feelings be damned.

Like I said before…toxic.

With Audra singing Josiah’s parts, though, it turned the song into another conversation. Instead of coercion, it was more like… a negotiation.

We both won and we both lost.

But it was balanced.

And it was smooth as hell—a better dynamic than the original ever was.

Particularly with Audra’s subtle lyric changes.

Soon as I hear that knock-knock

I’m ready to get on top and ride

Whenever you want it, fuck the clock

I’m waiting for you to come inside

Looking me right in my damn face.

Right in the face.

She had to knowexactlywhat she was doing, exactly what it was doing to me.

There was nothing else the little smirk she was wearing could mean.

Still.

I knew better.

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