Book Read Free

Encore (Stereo Hearts Book 2)

Page 30

by Trevion Burns


  “We’ve already talked about it,” Aria said, stroking Yoshi’s tie. “You’ve been at the top of his list since before Kings and Queens was released.”

  “There’s a list?” Michelle looked at the camera, astonished.

  “Of course there’s a list.” Yoshi looked at the camera, too. “To all my fellas out there, if you and your girl don’t have a list… it’s not gonna work, my man.”

  Michelle burst into laughter again.

  “Be real with yourself, all right? Your relationship will be better for it. Just a little tip from one pimp to another. You’re welcome.”

  Michelle took hold of Yoshi’s shoulder. “You are so crazy.” Her eyes moved to Aria. “How do you put up with him?”

  “Copious amounts of alcohol,” Aria said.

  Michelle bent over at the hip, the microphone in her hand nearly falling to the red carpet as she tried to compose herself. “No, seriously… seriously. I think you two are the first Hollywood couple to ever be nominated for a Grammy, in the same category, on the same night. My God, how does it feel? I mean, this night is already special as it is, but this must make it extra special!”

  Yoshi and Aria shared a look. They both went to answer, but nothing came.

  “Or is it not a celebration at all...?” Michelle dragged.

  “Dun, dun, dun…” Yoshi leaned into the mic.

  Michelle gave the camera a playful look. “Is there a little friendly competition going on? A bit of a lovers quarrel?”

  Yoshi squeezed Aria’s side. “Nah, man. Not at all. Whatever goes down tonight, we’re good. We’re happy.”

  “What if neither of you wins?” Michelle asked. “Still happy?”

  Yoshi lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a whole different conversation.”

  Michelle threw her head back and roared. “Well, regardless of the outcome, you’ve both had one hell of a year,” she said, composing herself, her eyes full of joy as they bounced back and forth between them. “Yoshi, you started your own label, Aria Records.”

  “I did.”

  “And, less than a year after you signed Aria to that label, of the same name, she’s nominated for a Grammy. She’s moving even faster than you did when you first started out. I mean, do you guys sleep, or…? Do you eat? How are you doing this?”

  “Here’s the thing, Michelle. We’re from Brooklyn,” Yoshi said.

  Michelle collapsed into laughter again, seeing where he was going.

  He looked straight at the camera. “It’s Brooklyn in the house tonight, ladies and gentleman, and we hustle. If you’re not rolling with the pack, you’re getting left behind. We keep it pushing.”

  Still laughing, Michelle began reading off the cue card in her hand. “Yoshi, Producer of the Year, Best Pop Song, Best Male Artist, Best Album. Aria, Best New Artist, Best Album… I mean… did you guys leave anything for anyone else?” Michelle angled the microphone to Aria.

  Aria shrugged. “I’m just really happy.”

  Michelle sobered, her shoulders falling and her lips poking out. She tilted her head at Aria with a syrupy smile, looking on the verge of tears.

  Yoshi’s eyes had gone serious, too, as he searched Aria’s, pulling her in tight. “I’m happy too, baby.”

  “Oh my god, I just can’t. You two are so cute it makes me sick. I can’t. I won’t.” Michelle gave Aria her shining eyes. “Aria, you’ve got your first ever performance on the Grammy stage tonight. How are you feeling?”

  “Scared,” Aria answered. “But blessed. Honestly, I just feel so blessed.”

  “Absolutely.” Michelle moved the microphone to Yoshi. “And Yoshi, you’re closing the show with a, highly anticipated, reunion performance with The White Keys.”

  “Yeah, I haven’t been on stage with my boys in a while--not since the Super Bowl, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

  “I’m still not over you surprising us with The White Keys during your Super Bowl performance. Just epic…”

  “I couldn’t take the big stage without the guys that helped me get there,” Yoshi said. “They had to be up there with me. No question about it.”

  “Rumors have been going around that the Super Bowl might ask you back this year. How do you feel about that? Think you’d be up for it?”

  “Well, they haven’t asked me back,” Yoshi said. “So I’ll put that rumor to rest right here, but if they wanted me to… of course. It’s the Super Bowl, man.”

  “A lot of people believe the Super Bowl is where your love story with Aria began. Is that true?”

  Yoshi met Aria’s eyes. “Oh, it started way before that.” They shared a laugh. “You have no idea.”

  Gus appeared, as always, out of nowhere, tapping his watch at Michelle.

  And Michelle jolted, reaching for Aria with a clawed hand. “They’re telling me to wrap it up, but I can’t let you guys go before we hit this rock.” She took Aria’s left hand and angled it towards the camera, allowing the diamond ring on her finger to gleam at it. “Hit the rock, Jose, hit the rock!” Michelle beamed to her cameraman, who stepped forward and zoomed in on the ring.

  “Eighteen carats, baby, what you know about that?” Yoshi beamed, as they all fell into laughter.

  “Really, you two,” Michelle sighed. “Congratulations. Congratulations on everything. It couldn’t have happened to two better people. Good luck tonight, both of you!”

  Michelle kissed both their cheeks goodbye. She and Aria held on to each other’s arms until they couldn’t reach anymore.

  Aria came back under the warmth of Yoshi’s arm, kissing his cheek gently as Gus led them to the next correspondent on the press line.

  Just as they were saying hello to Entertainment Tonight, they heard it.

  “Flava Flav!”

  In fact, everyone on the red carpet heard it, and for a moment, everything stopped. All eyes flew toward that sound, anxiously anticipating the train wreck that awaited.

  When Aria and Yoshi’s eyes landed on Flava Flav, dressed in a bright yellow tuxedo, a yellow top hat, with his signature yellow clock hanging from around his neck, strutting down the red carpet while flashing his gold plated teeth, they burst into laughter. Not because Flava Flav was channeling Big Bird on the red carpet…

  But because Carmen Rodriguez hung from his arm, appearing to be trapped in a place between disgust and complete misery, trying to smile at the cameras even as her lips quivered in contempt.

  Yoshi pressed his smiling lips to Aria’s ear, eyes shining as he whispered, “Don’t you just love seeing karma in action, Bo?”

  Aria turned and met his eyes, accepting the gentle kiss he placed on her lips. “No.”

  Yoshi raised his eyebrows.

  “What I love… is you.”

  A slow smile spread on his lips, and his voice broke with emotion as he answered back, softly, “I love you more.”

  News and Updates:

  Trevion's Mailing List

  trevionmichelleburns@gmail.com

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTrevionBurns

  Also by Trevion:

  Stereo Hearts Series:

  Stereo

  Encore

  The Romanovsky Brother’s Series:

  Taming Val

  Claiming Roman

  Loving Leo

  Finding Gary

  The Almeida Brother’s Trilogy:

  Lila's Thunder

  Thunder Rolls

  Lightning Strikes

  Stand Alone Novels:

  Dead or Alive

 

 

 
hare



‹ Prev