Justin looked back and forth between Lance and Mahari. “Shit. I could’ve sworn I heard him say we can take it outside. That’s only a few steps away.” Justin rose to his feet and got in his little brother’s face. “I’ll follow you out there since you got some shit to get off your chest.”
Sitting deeper in his chair with his hands clasped together, Mahari watched to see how things would go down. Since they were kids, Justin and Lance always fought. Lance didn’t like being told what to do while Justin was only trying to provide him with guidance. In Mahari’s eyes, nothing Justin ever told Lance was wrong, but Lance was the type who had to experience it to learn from his mistakes.
After seconds passed and neither of them did anything, Mahari spoke. “Lance, back away. We all know you don’t really want it with Justin, and Justin, we know you don’t want to hurt your brother. Either we can get back to work, or y’all can leave so I can figure out who to send this beat to.”
Without waiting for Lance to respond, Justin mushed his head and demanded, “Get your ass back in the booth, and I don’t want to hear any pushback. Ladies, you can leave. We have work to do.”
Mahari smirked at Lance as he dragged his feet and did exactly as Justin told him. It was one of the hard parts about working with family and having them involved in your business, but it was also one of the rewarding parts. If it were up to Mahari, he would’ve let Lance leave and fuck up. He was tired of holding his hand and pushing him to do the right thing, but he understood why Justin did.
Three hours passed before they took another break. Without the distractions and with the right mindset, Lance was a beast in the booth. Mahari was proud of his cousin and couldn’t wait to get the track out for the world to hear.
Rising to his feet, Mahari and Lance slapped hands a few times before embracing in a brotherly hug.
“That shit so fire, Mahari!” Lance complimented with his fist to his mouth. “I’m not gon’ front; I would’ve been pissed if someone else copped that beat from you. It’s hard as fuck. When the beat drops, that’s what’s really going to have people going wild.”
“Hell yeah.” Justin agreed, bobbing his head as they listened to the playback. “The two of you are dangerous together. This the one right here.”
Mahari rubbed his beard, impressed with the playback himself. “I appreciate y’all. The way Lance rides the beat is exactly how I envisioned it. I’m glad you weren’t a goofy and didn’t mess it up.”
Lance gave Mahari the finger. “I would’ve bought it back if I had to.”
“Yeah, I hear you.”
The sound of Lance’s phone ringing caught Mahari’s attention. Lance looked at it and expelled a frustrated sigh. Mahari didn’t need to ask who it was, but he kept his comments to himself.
“Aye, let me get up out of here before Aspen gets home from her last shift. I haven’t seen her in three days, so I know she’s about to let my ass have it.”
“Three days?” Justin whistled. “I would never leave that type of room for my woman’s mind to wander.”
“I’m saying.” Mahari agreed.
“She’ll be a’ight. She knows where home is, and that’s all that matters. I’ll get up with y’all later.”
Lance left, leaving Mahari and Justin alone. Justin tipped his head to the side with a sinister smile pulling at his lips. Mahari swayed his head from side to side. His loose locs hit his cheeks with each sway.
“Don’t start your shit, Justin.”
“What?” Justin feigned innocent. “All I did was look at you.”
“You have something you want to say, but don’t speak on it.”
“I’m not, but we both know what it is, Mahari.”
Mahari didn’t respond. He sat back in his chair and started back working. He wasn’t in the mood for Justin’s theatrics, so he buried himself in his music.
If Mahari could live at the studio, he would. Whenever he was in his head, creating was the best thing for him to do. It soothed his soul in ways nothing else could. The first time his father, Mason, got him a drum set and Mahari beat on it, it was the beginning of what would become his life. After that, Mason slowly started introducing Mahari to different instruments, taking in which ones he truly liked. He saw something in his son and poured into him. Often, Mahari gave Mason credit for who he’d become and how far he’d come.
It was going on midnight by the time Mahari decided to leave the studio. Justin had left hours ago to take his girl out, leaving Mahari to get lost in his world. As he was locking up his studio, Creed, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Observing hissurroundings, he headed to his car and pulled his phone out to see his sister, Mahaley, calling.
“What are you doing up, Hay?” Mahari answered while swiveling his head around. Usually, he had security follow him out, but he assured them he would be good on his own. Still, it didn’t stop him from making sure no one was lurking in the shadows.
“I was finishing up my book and decided to check your location. When are you leaving the studio?”
“I’m getting in my car now. When will you release this book?”
“Probably in about a month. It must go through the editing process, and I want to give myself enough time to market it correctly.”
Sinking into his leather seats and listening to the purr of his engine, Mahari grinned and asked, “Have I told you how proud I am of you?”
