Page 96 of Beautiful Noise

I’d offered to fly her out whenever she wanted, to date she hadn’t accepted the offer. I had a feeling her refusal had something to do with her husband.

“I was thinking maybe Kori could come…”

“Until your husband learns to love without conditions attached then she’s not stepping foot in your home. You, however, have an open invitation to visit her at ours whenever you like.”

“How is what you’re doing any different than what her father is doing?” Her tone was clipped, but again, I didn’t give a damn.

I laughed arrogantly. “It’s very fucking different. I’m protecting the woman I love; he’s controlling the one heclaimsto love. When you’re ready for that ticket, let me know.”

I ended the call and tugged Kori by the waist until she was wrapped in my arms. “You good?”

She exhaled a sigh. “Yeah, I just wish she would stop trying to force the issue. If the goal is to fix our relationship, then she needs to stop trying to make me understand his refusal to be a real parent.”

“She’ll figure it out or she won’t. Either way, I got you. Don’t argue with her though. Because every time she pisses you off, it makes me want to pull up.”

“You’re gonna pull up on my mother?”

“Nah, I’mma let Gwendolyn handle her, but I will pull up on your father. I owe that muthafucker anyway.”

“I don’t want either of you pulling up. If they figure it out, great, if not, I’ll be okay.” She frowned a little and leaned into me. “I don’t want to talk about my parents.”

“Shit, me either, but I’ll do whatever you need to ensure that beautiful smile of yours is always in place.” I leaned down and kissed her, staying put until I felt her smile under my kiss.

“I love you,” she said quietly and I grinned.

“So I’ve heard. Word on the street is the hottest chick in the game is wearin’ myname…” I tilted my head and kissed the spot on her neck where my name was inked.Ezren. A reminder that Eccentric was for the world while I was only for Kori. It was dainty, discreet, and a promise of what we were.

“Bey got a chain; I got a needle. I might want to rethink this.” She brushed her fingers over my name.

“You get whatever you want. I’ll buy you an entire gotdamn diamond mine if it will make you feel how real this is for me.”

“Not necessary. I feel it in other ways.” Her eyes lowered and I laughed.

I lifted Kori around my waist. “How about we go feel it together?”

“I’m working.” She arched her brow but didn’t put up any valid effort to stop me when I started moving us toward the empty suite next to where Leijah was recording.

“And you’re leaving soon. We had a deal. You work on your career, which means you get to travel the world and make people fall in love with your lyrics. I work to make sure you keep falling in love with the man you’re coming home to.”

Kori was going on tour with Leijah and I had to finish some last minute recordings for my album followed by my own tour. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work, but we would definitely figure that shit out. Until then, I needed every minute of her time before I had to share her with the world. I also wasn’t complaining because she was existing in her moment, which was a beautiful thing. To see her shine made me so fucking proud. I also knew I was about to be tired as fuck because wherever my lady was, I was going to be.

Nothing about my life was the same buteverythingin my world was right and she was the reason!

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