Still, I don’t like the idea of coming up with an idea and someone else putting their name on it. That sucks, for real, especially since I can’t even sing on the track except in the background.
Big D gives me a fist pound. “What’s your name, lil’ mama? You a real business woman, ain’t you?”
“Sunday Tolliver.”
“All right then, Ms. Sunday, you keep doing what you doing, and I’ma be writing you checks. That’s fo’ sho’.”
I give Big D a nod and a tight smile. “That’s what’s up.”
“Come on over here, Sam, and do your magic,” Big D says.
Sam sits down at the controls, makes a few adjustments, and then gives Dreya and Truth the signal to start again. They go through the entire song, and the track is bumping. Dreya’s vocals leave a little to be desired, but it’s whatever. Me and Bethany are dancing like we’re in the club, and even the laid-back Shelly is getting her groove on.
“That’s it right there, Daddy,” Shelly says to Big D.
Big D pats me on my back and gives me a fist pound. “I think we’ve found a little gold mine.”
Is he talking about the song or is he talking about me?
4
After the recording session, Dreya decided to play wifey and stayed with Truth at the studio, leaving me and Bethany to find our own ride to the house. Luckily, Sam is on his way out.
“Can we ride with you?” Bethany asks.
“Sure, but I have to make a stop first.”
My face tightens. “What kind of stop?”
I’m not about to get caught up in anyone’s illegal activities. So if he’s making that kind of stop, I’ll catch a cab.
“I need to get an apple juice slush at Sonic. Is that all right with you?” There’s a little gleam in Sam’s eye that makes me think he knew what I was thinking.
“Yeah, an apple juice slush is cool.”
Bethany and I follow Sam to his car. I watch Bethany graze his body with hers every opportunity she gets. She stays in groupie mode all day and all night. Sam’s not even a star, but something on him must smell like swagger.
Sam walks around to the passenger side of his car, a red Explorer SUV, and opens the front door for me. I guess he’s not impressed by Bethany and all that junk she’s carrying in her trunk, because clearly he wants me riding shotgun. And the door-opening gets him extra points with me.
Bethany looks a tad bit salty, but she climbs in the backseat when Sam opens the door for her as well. I give him the eye as he walks around to his side, and on second appraisal, he’s not that bad looking. He’s wearing black-framed glasses (not sunglasses, regular glasses) and now has on an Atlanta Falcons cap pulled down low. It’s a quirky look, like Lupe Fiasco or somebody, but he working it.
“So where do y’all stay?” Sam asks as he starts the SUV.
“Decatur, off of Candler.”
He nods and pulls out of the driveway. I wait to see if he’s got any opinion about where we stay. It’s not the hood, but it definitely ain’t the lavish life. But Sam’s face isn’t giving anything away, so if he’s got an opinion, he’s keeping it to himself.
Sam drives into the Sonic at the end of the street and pulls into a parking spot. “Y’all want something?”
“Yeah, I want a cherry limeade slush and Tator Tots,” Bethany says.
“And for you, Sunday?” Sam asks.
“Nothing. No, thank you.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
Sam shrugs and says, “Okay, fair enough. Maybe next time.”
Next time? There’s going to be a next time?
Sam orders the drinks and Tater Tots for Bethany. I almost change my mind and order a drink, too, but I’m really not thirsty.
“Sam, how’d you start working for Big D?” Bethany asks.
“A friend told him about my skills, and I went into the studio one day and showed him what I was working with. Next thing you know, I’m the main studio engineer and I’m producing tracks.”
“You’re so good at it,” Bethany says. “I bet you could be making a lot of money if you had your own spot.”
“One day, I guess. Right now, Big D pays me well and I’m making a lot of connections.”
The Sonic girl brings the order out to the car, and Sam pays her. He watches the girl as she walks away.
“You like what you see?” I ask.
Sam laughs. “I’m sorry. In the summer she always wears short shorts. I guess I was just reminiscing.”
I shake my head. Boys are disgusting. Even if they do know how to open car doors and bake lasagna.
I lean back in my seat, intent on being quiet the rest of the way to the house.
“How’s it feel to make your first hit?” Sam asks when we stop at a red light.
“It was easy.”
Sam chuckles. “That was easy to you, coming up with a hook? Where have you been all my life?”
“I don’t know. Are you working with some artists?”
“A few, but nobody with that it factor, you know. Just the same ole same ole. Nobody that’s gonna blow up. Except Truth. He’s gonna be off the charts.”
“Do you think we can blow up?” Bethany asks from the backseat.
Sam glances in the rearview mirror and nods. “Y’all definitely could.”
“You still in school?” I ask Sam.
“Yeah. I’m a senior at DSA.”
“DeKalb School of the Arts?” I ask. “That’s hot. You must be talented for real.”
Sam blushes a little. I guess I’m embarrassing him. The fact that he’s blushing is actually kind of cute, because at least he doesn’t have a big head.
“I sing and play piano and cello,” he replies.
“Cello?” Bethany falls out laughing in his backseat. “Are you serious?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t listen to her. I love stringed instruments. That’s cool.”
“Do you play?”
“Nah, but I wish I did. I took a few piano lessons when I was little, but my mom couldn’t afford to keep them up. I think it would really help me with my songwriting if I knew how to play.”
“I give lessons.”
I laugh out loud. “Are they free lessons? I’m trying to go to college, so I don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around. Actually, I don’t have any extra cash lying around.”
“For you, they’re free.”
“Are you flirting with me?” I ask. “Trying to get at me with some piano lessons?”
“Nope. I just think you’re talented.”
I’m cheesing now, from ear to ear. “Okay, then. Oh, wait. Turn right—this is Bethany’s street.”
Sam turns onto her street, and asks, “Which one is your house?”
“Second