Caught Me Dreaming 3

By Sophia Jenkins

Up and coming singer Shanisha "Neeci" Lee and her man Sha'quan have been through a lot. Just when they think they finally have it together, they get hit with some more.  Neeci is working hard to build up her music career, and Sha'quan is doing everything he can to help her. But when tensions rise between them, Neeci finds herself looking to another man for what she needs. With a life-changing, career-making opportunity on the horizon, Neeci feels like she will do anything to make it happen. Maybe even ruin her relationship with Sha'quan in the process.  While trying to make it happen, Neeci finds herself at a crossroads. Will she make it work with Sha'quan or will the good-looking, smooth-talking Jyrese come and steal her away? Neeci has decisions to make. Who will she be making sweet music with, and who will she be leaving on a sour note?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophia Jenkins
• Release date: May 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386131465

Book preview

Chapter One

Being Sha’quan Long has its upside and its down. I mean, on the one hand, I got this fine-ass, talented-ass woman who’s probably about to take over the world with her music. On the other, I’ve got some real money problems. For a while, it’s just been about my girl—Neeci—and her music career, but in the meantime my money ain’t stacking up like I need it to. I’ve got shit I’m tryna do.

Shit’s been crazy our whole relationship. It's been problem after problem. The fucked-up thing is, it ain't even really our fault. Shit just keeps happening. She lost her job, got her guitar stolen, and I took a huge chunk of my savings and bought her a new one. Then, some chick popper up, talking about how she had my baby, which turned out not to be mine. We’re tryna do this living together shit, but she can’t break her lease, so she’s still kinda staying at her spot. She’s working on her career, but I’m tryna make shit happen, too. I just gotta find the money.

Neeci’s in the other room, working on her music, and usually I’m all about that shit, but right now I ain’t tryna hear it. I’ve counted my money about ten times, and this shit just ain’t doing what I need it to do.

Neeci’s in there playing that fucking music way too loud, so I get up to tell her to keep the shit down. When I go in the room, she’s writing and listening to a track, so I try to get her attention, but she ain’t listening to me. I go over and cut the shit off myself, and she finally looks up. It’s like she didn’t even know I was in there.

Yo, I was just getting a melody, she says. What the fuck?

I’m tryna do some shit in here, I say. I can’t think with all that fucking noise.

Noise? How the fuck you gonna call my music noise? That’s fucked up.

Whatever, man. I’m tryna concentrate. Put on some fucking headphones or something.

That’s all you had to say, what the fuck is the matter with you?

Sometimes people just need quiet.

Fine.

She plugs in the headphones, puts them on, and goes back to tryna write, but I can tell she’s pissed. I just go back in the room and try to balance the bank book. Look, I get it, she’s got pressure too. It ain’t easy tryna make it in Baltimore, but I got big plans, too, and it’s gonna take a lot to get it. Shit, I’m thinking about getting a second job.

I know I shouldn’t have taken it out on Neeci, but I can’t talk to her about this shit. Ever since we got together, I’ve been handling shit. I’m not about a stop now. I ain’t gonna be no nigga she leaves behind when she gets on, like some loser. Imma make a way for both of us. If I gotta start back boxing or some shit, I will. The stress is making me wanna go out, but I don’t wanna do no dumb shit. Imma just figure something out. We’re gonna make it if it kills me.

Chapter Two

Man, Sha’quan is tripping. I don’t know what his problem is. First, he was just quiet, and I tried to give him his space, but then he came in like a motherfucka snapping. When he gets like this, he just doesn’t know how to talk. Well, he’d better get that shit outta his system, because Shanisha Lee ain’t for that shit. I can’t have him fucking up my vibe. I’m tryna write a hit, for us.

I know shit has been a lil’ stressful lately, but I need his support. It’s a lot of pressure on me, but I’m getting close. Things have been going good, and when I get in this festival, this could really be it. That’s why I’m tryna record these songs on my laptop. I really don’t want to pay for the studio unless I’ve got to. I’ve got this software on my computer, so I can edit and shit on here, so I should be cool.

I finally settle down and concentrate long enough to really work on the song. I actually make it through a good one and lose track of time. I see something outta the corner of my eye and turn to see Sha’quan tipping into the room. He has some food in his hand and a pitiful look on his face because he knows he wrong. I don’t even realize how hungry I am until I see the food. I feel like being petty and not taking it, but shit, I’m hungry, so I take the plate from him without saying anything.

I start eating while he stands there, looking dumb. I’m not gonna let his ass off the hook that easy, so Imma gonna make him say something first. He starts off with, Is it good?

I just look at him. That ain’t what he needed to say. He needed to say that he’s sorry, and I ain’t saying shit until he does.

He stands there a few more minutes, and then he says, My bad, Neeci, I was tripping. Don’t be mad, aight? I just got some shit on my mind.

Maybe you should just say that instead of being an ass.

I know, and I’m sorry, aight? You forgive me?

I just sit there looking at him and chewing my food. I still don’t know if Imma let him off that easy. He tries to use them big hazel eyes on me, but I ain’t gonna let that work. Then, he leans in for a kiss. I lean away from him, so he comes at me from another angle and catches my cheek.

Leave me alone, Sha’quan. I ain’t over that shit yet.

He keeps playing and shit, kissing and rubbing all on me. That shit’s working, but I’m tryna play it off.

He reaches and takes the plate outta my lap and then starts kissing on my neck. I block him from getting to my spot. He starts kissing on my ear and saying, I’m sorry, baby. C’mon, don’t be like that.

I’m getting weak because that shit feel good.

I’m still tryna fight it, but not as hard as before. He finally makes his way to my lips and holds my