Page 8 of Cause When You Love Someone
“Simone, we all know between the three of us, I’m not the one who’s afraid of earning my keep. There are friendsfor everything, and I’m not the one to hype up bad behavior. Freeloader.”
Amidst their bickering, my phone started ringing. I grumbled reading my mom’s name on the screen before I placed it face down on my lap.
“I don’t know why you’re ignoring her,” Sage commented. “If you don’t answer, she’s going to call me.”
“You don’t have to answer either.”
His chin slipped into submission. “She pays me to answer her calls, Clarke.”
“Ipay you, Sage. She can wait. That’s her problem. My mom thinks she’s the talent, and she forgets she is my manager.”
Right as Rock pulled up to my condo, my phone went off for a third time with a text message from my publicist.
Piper: C. Rose! Do you live to make my job hard? You showed your behind, and it’s on film!
Me: No face, no case *smiley face*
Piper: Clarke.
Piper: People aren’t as dumb as you think.
Me: Maybe, but can they prove it?
Though I was grateful, I was surprised at how long it took for the video to hit the blogs. Ever since I joined the cast of the hottest reality show available to stream, my moves became the subject of think pieces.
Some days, I still didn’t know how I felt about the way my life turned out. What started off as posting videos of myself performing ballet and contemporary pieces to hip-hop music, blossomed into millions of followers and endorsements. However, a torn ligament and thirty pounds of weight gain redirected my dreams. One day, I was in a dance studio, and the next, I was beating ass on television. Back then, resentment over my failed dance career powered my rage. Nowadays, I couldn’t pinpoint what kept me in the industry.
“Hey, Javier!” I greeted my doorman as I entered the building.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Rose.” He tipped his hat. “Earlier, a few fans stopped by pretending to be guests of yours. I had security clear out the lobby.”
“Thank you. If they return, give me a call please.”
In addition to loving the bohemian-themed décor throughout my place, I loved the staff that worked in my building. No one ever crossed personal boundaries, and most were kindhearted.
The journey up to my house was quiet, but the instant I unlocked my front door, my ears were soiled with profanity.
All my bold energy deflated when the sight of the biggest pain in my ass filled my sight. Anytime I came home and my mom was in my house, I thought about getting Javier fired. The only thing that kept me from acting like a diva was knowing how persuasive my mom could be. I had dealt with it all my life.
“Mom, I keep telling you it’s rude to pop up at my house.”
“Girl, I keep telling you, I don’t give a damn. I’m the mama.”
Designer threads covered her surgery-enhanced shape, and her long hair was pulled up into a ponytail. As much as her honey-toned skin glowed, I knew her power came from making me feel low. People called us twins any time we were in the same room, but other than matching brown skin and a dimple in our chin, we were nothing alike. Some days, I would rather be an orphan than share anything with her.
I got comfortable on my vintage TEDDY sofa and watched her stomp a hole in my Persian rug.
“Sage!” she bellowed. “Why would you allow this idiot to vandalize property in broad daylight?”
From across the room, I saw Sage’s light skin turn red as he looked between the two of us. The conflicted expression on his face caused me to sit up.
“Sage can’t control me, and I don’t pay him to watch me,” I interjected.
My mom rushed toward me. “You need to pay someone to do it. Your silly ass got robbed in a club weeks ago, and you’re running around the city like a ghetto bitch!”
“I went to brunch,” I replied in an even tone.
She smirked. “Now we both know eating is the last thing you need to go out and do.”
