Shifting on her feet, Tyler weighed her options. It had been almost two months since she had sung anything, and she didn’t have the urge to. Hell, even if she wanted to, Darryl made sure she couldn’t step foot into any studio in the Tri-state area. The radio stations didn’t play her music and anything she made under the Oakwood contract had been removed from all platforms. Tyler had been stripped of her title of the R&B princess of Detroit, and it all started with a song, so she wasn’t sure singing with Logic was the right move to make.
“I mean unless you scared,” Logic challenged her.
Pulling the corner of her lip into her mouth, Tyler peered at him then her best friend, who gave her a head nod. Snatching the headphones from Logic, she bumped his shoulder while heading toward Duce.
“Nigga, I ain’t ever scared.”
“Say that shit!” Pearl clapped her hands. “Wait, can she sing?”
“Hey, Duce right?” Tyler walked over to him.
“Uh, yea.” He stared at her, wrecking his brain trying to figure out where he knew her from.
“Start me right after his verse. Isolate my voice and put it on top of the beat. It'll drown out the background noise and mix well with the baseline.”
“Y-you know about music?” Duce asked with his mouth slightly open.
“I know a little something.” Tyler slipped the headphones over her ears. “Turn me up,” she mocked Logic, causing Pearl, Diamond, and Aria to fall out.
“Talk yo shit, baby girl.” Duce bobbed his head with stars in his eyes.
“Don’t make me fuck you up,” Pearl hollered.
“Oh, it’s ok for you to flirt with Lo, but I can’t do the same,” Duce simpered.
“No nigga, you can’t,” she hissed as the beat dropped.
Tyler bobbed her head as Logic's voice played in her ear. For a second, she got lost in his deep vocals. He sounded so good, and she couldn’t help but wonder if that's what he sounded like when he needed to bust a nut. Tyler wondered whether he was a shit talker or if he was the growling type. She wondered did the veins on the side of his neck pop out or did he bite his lip when it was getting good.
“You straight?” Duce quizzed, snapping Tyler out of her daze.
“Oh yea.” She cleared her throat. “Play it back.” This time she focused, and when Duce pointed at her, Tyler hummed for a few seconds and started singing.
“It could be you,” Tyler whispered, trying not to strain her voice. She hadn’t sung since Dexter damn near crushed her windpipe and her voice sounded a little rougher. Clearing her throat, Tyler peeked at Aria, who gave her a reassuring smile, and then at Logic, who was waiting to hear her sing to him.
“Push that shit out,” he joked, gaining a middle finger from her.
“It could be you, the bean, or the liq, but I'm feelin’ it. The baddest bitch for six summers straight, yea, I been lit. You in this kitchen singing to me, but are you really hip? Yea you fascinated by the booty, the voice, and these thick hips, but what about the baggage shit? Couple goals are cool, till shit gets real. Can you provide the protection, security, and love I need to help my soul heal?”
“Oh shit!” Duce jumped out of his seat, startling everyone in the kitchen. “You’re Tyler!” He held his head.
“I-I-I'm not,” she stuttered, rubbing the back of her neck.
“You are. I’ve remixed your vocals plenty of times. You’re fucking Tyler,” he bellowed. “How the fuck you in my kitchen right now? Oh shit, man I love your music and you so fucking b-”
“Nigga, shut up,” Logic groaned.
Tyler and Aria made eye contact. It was time to go. People in the kitchen started mumbling and a few pulled out their phones. Noticing what was happening, Logic stood in front of Tyler, blocking everyone’s view of her.
“Aye,” he barked. “Put the fucking phones up. Anybody that posts her or anything about tonight is going to get fucked up. She chilling and this ain’t no fucking meet and greet. If yall gone be some fucking groupies, then leave.”
“It’s fine. I’m going to leave.” Tyler pulled at the back of his shirt. “It’s ok.”
“Any objections?” He grilled, peering around the kitchen. Everyone seemed to be in agreement, so he turned to face Tyler, who was ready to make a break for it.
“Girl, this my house and if anybody looking at you crazy, let me know and I’ll put them the fuck out,” Pearl assured her before turning to Logic. “Tyler, nigga!” she whispered harshly.“You brought Tyler famous ass in my house, and I got her drinking out of a off-brand Solo cup.”
“I'm fine,” Tyler giggled, overhearing Pearl chastise Logic. “You don’t need to roll out a red carpet for me.”
