Page 40 of So This Is Love

“Post about what?”

“The body butter! You posted it and now everything is out of stock and it’s only been like two hours!”

Bryce smiles, clearly amused. “You’re cute as hell when you’re mad. Your pretty face all scrunched up.”

I ignore the compliment, focusing on my frustration and not the little somersault my belly just did at his words. “This is not funny!”

“Laila, ” Bryce says calmly. “I’m sorry I posted about it without telling you. The body butter you gave me is amazing, for real, and I wanted to share it with other people cause I know they’ll fuck with it too. I should have given you a heads up first and that’s on me, but this is a good thing right?”

“Yes, but that’s not the point,” I try to argue.

“I’m sorry to do this but I reallygotta go. I promise I’ll call you later, aight?” Bryce says as someone in the background calls his name. “Oh and don’t be mad about the flowers.”

The call disconnects before I can respond and not even a minute later the doorbell to the building is buzzing with someone at it. I walk over to the intercom to see who it is. I didn’t think we had any packages coming, but with the way today is going, anything is possible.

“Hello?”

“I have a delivery for Laila Eden,” a chipper male voice replies.

I buzz him in the building and wait for him to come up the elevator. When the elevator doors open I see the flowers first. A beautiful bouquet of pink peonies.

“Laila Eden?”

“That’s me,” I reply.

The man hands the vase of flowers to me and gets back on the elevator. The vase is surprisingly heavy so I walk back into the office and set it down on my desk, pushing the long forgotten box of cinnamon rolls out of the way.

I cradle one of the peonies in my fingers, in awe of the beauty of the perfectly formed petals and then I see the card, nestled in the middle of the flowers. I pick it up and open it to read the message inside.

If no one else has given you your flowers for

all your hard work, allow me to be the first.

You’ve done an amazing job and

I hope it’s everything you want and more.

-B

13

Sonny

I’m not nervous.

If anything, I’m the opposite.

Calm, relaxed, maybe even a little excited.

Dez gathers his crew together before the start of the show to do his usual pre show ritual, prayer and shots. We stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder, and Dez leads the prayer, giving thanks for the opportunity to perform and the blessings that have come our way. At the end we all raise our shot glasses, filled with his signature liquor, and down the contents.

The first stop of this tour is Baltimore, Dez’s hometown. Then up and down the east coast before he continues on to the rest of the country over a three month timespan. I was shocked to hear that Dez wanted me to join him on tour, but even more shocked that he wanted me to kick it off with him. The first few stops on a tour really set the tone for how the rest of the dates will go. To be asked was an honor and so I couldn’t turn it down, much to everyone’s surprise.

I spend the last bit of my time before I go onstage, alone. A moment of quiet, provided by my noise canceling headphonesand the last bit of the hot tea that I requested. I take a few deep breaths to get my mind right, sliding the headphones off and setting them down on the table in front of me. Then I stand and exit the dressing room.

The energy in the arena is something I can’t even begin to explain, but the feeling sinks into my bones, welcoming me back like an old friend. The bass of the music, the feelings of anticipation running through my veins, the roar of the crowd all of it blending together, welcoming me back with a warm embrace.

I take my place still hidden from view as Dez finishes his song and then begins my introduction.

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