Tone was glad that his friend CJ was enjoying himself.

He believed in random sex, that just was not his life. Sure, he had had some in his young, wild days, but he could not help that he was a hopeless romantic.

It showed that he was not about that life in his music. He may have grown up poor and done some wild things in his youth, but he did not want his music to reflect any of that street life. Enough rappers were doing that.

He rapped about whatever he was going through. When he recorded his album, it was about feeling alone, being solo. Feeling like he could not do it on his own.

He battled with depression, which was in his songs.

He battled with insecurities, which was in his song.

And he loved to love, that was in his songs.

Call him the sensitive rapper if they wanted, he wanted to show that hip hop could be diverse and about more than the bling bling, thug life, slinging drugs, shooting people, guns, and fucking girls.

"Babe, there is no other rapper out here doing what you are doing. This is going to be great for you," Riyah said to him when they made it back to her place for the night.

"I just want to be relevant, I don't need to be everyone's favorite."

"Oh, you will be." She planted her lips on his and pressed them to his, keeping them there for a moment.

"You know I need to get back home soon," he said to her when he pulled her away.

"Nooooo!"

"Come on Ri, you know I have to put in this work for this album. Some more performances, then get home and see my mom and...."

"Move in with me!" she blurted out.

"Okay, what?"

It had only been a week since they were together. Sure, they immediately went social media official with it, but this was going very fast.

"Move in with me, here. You can still do all the shows you need, but L.A. is really the place to be to meet the right people. You can't do all that in little old Springfield."

"What about Icee?"

"You're not Ice...no offense meant by that Tone. You're you. A different sound, a different look. Plus, we are great together and I want you here with me." She smiled. "I'm selfish, I admit that."

"We both are so busy...will we even be here at the same time?"

"We make our schedules so that we are!"

Back home in Springfield, he did still live at home with his mother. He had money stacked up, why not spend it on his own place?

"Okay but...if we do this, let's find a new place, together."

Riyah squealed with delight.

He hoped he was not making a mistake.

********************

After he finished doing two more shows in L.A. that weekend, he flew back to Springfield with CJ. He promised Riyah he would be back soon and they would go house hunting.

"Being with a girl like Riyah, man, I need to step up my game," he told CJ while they enjoyed first-class seats.

"What do you mean?"

"She's about that life. Been in this business for a while and she came from money. I can't be a buster with her."

"Man, if she is with you for your money, that's not cool."

"Naw, she's not like that. I'm just saying, I want to come correct with her. I need to grind harder, at least try and get on her level, know what I'm saying. I need to get that bag."

"I hear you there," CJ said and dapped him up.

"How was your little, menage a trois with the ladies?"

CJ laughed. "Yo, guess what? So the one, tall chickie, Malika, gave bomb ass head in the club Friday night. Then lil shortie Lize, I took her to the hotel, and had her riding me like a rodeo. Guess what...she called over Malika and they both were down for the menage. When I say I about freaked out of my mind."

"I hope you used protection."

"Aye, I ain't going out like that. I did what needed to be done. So then, Saturday, I'm trying to catch my breath right, get a call and guess who shows up at my room?"

"Uh...one of the ladies for an encore?"

"No! The lil quiet shorty, her name is Davita. And I know you heard about the quiet ones. Whosah! She did some things I did not know my body could do."

"Yeah, ok, again, this is wild that you fucking all these randoms."

"Hey, I didn't even ask for it, they came on to me. I can't help I'm so good-looking."

Just because girls threw themselves at him, did not mean he had to take them up on the offer. He guessed he was just built differently than other guys.

Once they touched down in Springfield, CJ drove him to his mom's place and all he was thinking about was crashing. He was worn out.

He definitely needed to upgrade his mother's place when he really got a breakthrough. The house was nice but small. Two bedrooms, small closet, and his mother's room just as small as his. Before he got his place, he wanted to make sure his mother was good.

He started to text Sarena but then decided to call her.

"Hey Sarena, it's Tone."

"I know who it is, I have caller ID."

"I'm back in Springfield."

"Boy, I know where you are, I make your schedule. Speaking of, you need an assistant. And an accountant...and...."

"I want to buy my mom a house," he told her.

"Okay, that's what's up Mr. Big Shot. And the money rolling in now, so you got this. I will find a realtor for you and get her going on what you like. But this is what an assistant is for, not a manager."

"I don't trust no one else with my business but you."

"Aaw, how sweet, but hell no. I'll send some applicants to you now that you're in town."

"Sarena, I'm moving to LA. not staying in town. What do you think about that?"

"That girl got you open, huh?" Sarena said with a chuckle. "I saw that coming. In fact, I was in contact with her people and there is a project on board for the two of you together."

"Excuse me, what?"

"Listen, I won't discuss it with you right now, because it's Sunday night and I am with my family. But be prepared to sign a lot of contracts this week. Talk to you later."

Shit was happening so fast. Buying a house for his mother. Buying a house in L.A. Now some other project in the work?

He Facetimed Riyah, maybe she knew and would tell him.

"Hey, babe."

"Aaaw, I miss you already!" Riyah said and broke down crying.

"Ri, I just left. Babe, stop. I don't want you to cry."

"I'm sorry," she said, wiping her face. "I just...I can't explain it Tone, you're just...a different type of guy. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too."

"Please hurry and come back."

"I have a lot to do while I'm here, but you know I want to be there too. I have to fly to Atlanta this weekend for a show, come out with me."

"I can't. I have to be in Paris for a concert there." She wiped her tears away. "Unless..."

"What?"

"Well, my managers said that both of our social media accounts blew up overnight because we keep posting together, and they think it would be a good idea if we did a show together."

"Perform together? Straight, I'm with that."

"No! A show, a TV show. Like a reality show."

"What do you mean, a reality show? Are you serious?"

"See, and I told them you wouldn't be interested."

Maybe that was what Sarena was talking about. No way did he need to do something cheesy like that. Did he?

A/N: Tone is blowing up but not the way he wanted. With the help of Riyah will he get the fame he wants?