@StayUpWithSha: Bet. See you then

Staysha kept hiking up the sidewalk back to Eden’s building. When she arrived at the door, the money was sent, and Staysha was in the process of gathering the dozens of people she knewwho would make sure the word got out that Trae Way MB was home and had new music on the way. Honorable mention – Eden.

Covered in Dirt by Trae Way MB flowed through the apartment as Staysha walked in. Ever since discovering him, Eden had his mixtape in heavy rotation. She slowly shut the door behind her and pulled herself together. Eden was doing a sophisticated version of the Trae Walk across the living room floor as she vacuumed the carpet.

“Can’t bury a nigga who came up out the mud. Pussy niggas swear I won’t get it back in blood,” Eden rapped softly before finding Staysha empty-handed. “What happened?”

Staysha sniffled softly. “Why would something need to happen?”

“Because you’re here with no coffee…and your eyes are all puffy and that vein is popping out of your head,” Eden shared her observations. “So, what happened?”

“Good news or bad news?” Staysha posed.

“The news that made you cry and everything else after.”

Staysha huffed, kicked off her shoes, and shuffled to the couch. When she plopped down, she looked up at her older sister with tears in her eyes. “That guy I was seeing is married and has a baby on the way.”

Eden placed her hands on her hips and squinted. “There were no signs?”

“I mean, we always met up at the St. Harlem. I didn’t think anything of it,” Staysha admitted.

“Who is he?”

Staysha bit her lip and groaned. “Rayshawn Curtis.”

Eden’s mouth dropped. “The COO of the St. Harlem hospitality group? The one who asked me to do promo. Staysha!”

“What? I didn’t know he was married. I swear I didn’t. I know, I know you taught me to look for the signs but the dick…”

“Had your head in the clouds?” Eden asked before taking a seat by Staysha and hugging her. “All the rules went out the window, huh?”

“They did. It’s so stupid to cry over, but I guess it's my fault.”

“I won’t kick you while you’re down. Considering I just finished days of moping myself. What are you going to do?”

“Move the hell on. All this gave me an idea, though,” Staysha muttered. “MRA said you couldn’t sign with any other competing agency. They never said you couldn’t sign yourself. So, what if we do some pop out here and there and build the brand up Trae Way style?”

“What does that mean? I love Big Rod, but I’m not promoting fried chicken.”

“Nooo. Not in that capacity. People online have so much to say about you being from the other side of the tracks. What about if we took them over there, to the other side? Starting with a little kickback?”

Eden released her sister and curled her lip. “I’m not going to a party nowhere in Trae Way. Nowhere. Not at Midnight, not nowhere.”

“What about a party in Cashmere Lakes with some folks from the Trae?”

“Who?”

“Just say yes.”

“I’m not just saying yes to anything.”

“You would if I told you I already got half the fee for you to show up,” Staysha shared. “And I’m also banned from the coffee shop, you’re going to have to JoyEats your latte.”

Eden rolled her eyes. “I’ll go, but I’m not talking, and I’m finding a corner. And I’m staying for thirty minutes tops.”

“Whatever you want. Now, can I go back to wallowing in self-pity?”

Eden rolled her eyes and opened her arms back up. “Yes, you can. One day you’ll choose the right man and not be blinded by dick and a bank account.”