Hop, Skip, and a Beat

By Tierra Carter

Melanie Louise Waters, a successful entrepreneur, is dating the famous rapper JD aka Johnathan McCray, but to her he was "Hop". He earned that nickname when they first started dating 10 years ago. They were both 30 years old and she's stuck by his side the whole time.

"Lulu", as Johnathan calls her, is one of the best things that has ever happened to him. He keeps her grounded and makes him a better man.

Melanie and Johnathan go through both good and bad times but they always stick together. They both battle heartache, fans, family, paparazzi, and even themselves.

Find out what happens in this story of fame, fortune, love, success, and family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781794859654

Book preview

Hop, Skip, and a Beat

Chapter 1

'He found me', I thought to myself. It had been over 3 months since I've last seen him. I moved houses ever since he left. We were living in his house in Highland Park in Dallas, but I decided it was time for a change. I moved to the Palos Verdes Estates in California. I forgot how bad the traffic was here. I didn't tell him where I moved because I figured he would find his own spot. He left and we were still on bad terms. We had the biggest argument the day before he was supposed to leave for tour.

I'm dating the one and only, Johnathan McCray, aka JD. We met through a mutual friend at a Lloyd concert. My friend Malaysia had some connections and introduced JD and I backstage before we met Lloyd. When we first met, I could feel his powerful aura. His presence was so strong, it broke me down in the humblest of ways. Something about him just made me feel so safe and protected. My friends like to describe me as a powerful person as well, so they thought that Hop and I were gonna be a good match anyway. He was so passionate about his work and he was always grinding. He never turns a blind eye toward anyone. He is extremely generous, and that's another quality that I love about him.

JD is now a famous rapper and he left to go on tour in Europe and Asia. We had been together for over 10 years. We both started from the bottom. I knew him when he was just starting to come into the rap game. I was already established when we met. I own a makeup brand franchise called Mel Cosmetics. I have multiple stores across California, Texas, Colorado, New York, and Florida. They all are doing well and is bringing in a lot of income. We had so many fans and people rooting for us and anxiously waiting for us to get married. Being a celebrity couple was always a challenge, but both of us were down for it. We knew what the risks were by being in the limelight. Paparazzi follows us everywhere when we go out together, and JD is still polite to them. I just keep my mouth shut so I don't say anything rude to them.

The night he left we had an argument. I thought we were over but part of me is so glad that he found me tonight. I missed him terribly. I wasn't expecting to see him at all, so seeing him standing in the middle of my house excites me.

There he stood looking so fine in his button-down T-shirt. His shirt was blue, and he wore black jeans with black and blue high tops. His jewelry wasn't too extravagant, but it was simple. He had on a gold watch and a blue hat on his head. He held another bouquet of roses for me. He was 6'5 and chocolaty in all his glory.

It's crazy how you can go forever without seeing someone that you were super close to and your feelings go away, until you're in their presence again. All of the emotions and feelings that I had with JD came back instantly.

It's been forever since I've seen him and looking at him reminded me how blessed I was and how stupid I was to ignore him. He kept calling and texting me, but I was ignoring him. My pride was in the way. Hey Lulu. Without you... he started.

...I'd be so lost. I love you Hop! I cried. Lulu and Hop were our nicknames for each other ever since we first started dating and we would always say that saying every time we were together. It became part of our routine.

I started calling him Hop because when I was around him my heart would Hop around and skip a beat. He started calling me Lulu because I'm majestic, glorious, radiant, and fun.

We embraced each other in a big hug and kiss. I didn't ever want to let go. We both apologized for our fight that happened before he left tour, and for me being selfish and ignoring him.

Hop, how did you find me?, I asked him curiously.

You know I have my connections, plus the media is always up in our relationship. I hope you didn't expect to be in the dark about your location. Aye look Lulu, I'm happy that I got you back. I thought you didn't want to be with me after that fight. I felt like I lost you forever. Please don't ever do that to me again. I would really be so lost without you, you know that. Being around you again for the first time in so long makes me overjoyed. I fully own up to the responsibilities if I did you wrong or ever hurt you in the past. I'm sorry if I made you feel any less than your worth. You're worth so much and more. I love you so much. He expressed.

Thank you Hop. I accept your apology and I love you too. I've been holding down the fort while you were gone, even though I moved. I'm glad to have you back even though sometimes you can be a giant pain in my ass. I explained.

Nah Lu, don't even try it. You know you were missing me when I was gone. I know I missed you. He kissed me.

I smirked and buried my face in his neck and took in his scent. He smelled like Mahogany Teakwood but so much better. Ugh, I missed him.

One thing that I always admired about Hop was that he always knew when to draw the line between work and family. He is a huge family man; family is important to both of us. Hop has three brothers and three sisters. He's the baby out of all his siblings. Personally, I have three sisters and one brother.

We've always talked about having a family of our own. Imagine how happy he is gonna be when he finds out I'm 3 months pregnant. I've been wearing bigger clothes and staying in ever since I found out. I took a pregnancy test the next day after he left.

Hop, you know how we've always been talking about having a family of our own one day? I asked.

He slowly nodded his head and looked into my eyes. That's another thing that I noticed about him when we met. He's very attentive. He's not afraid to look you in the eyes when you're having a conversation, nor is he afraid to speak his mind on issues he feels is important to him. He gives good advice, hugs, kisses, he's super humble, and he's an extremely passionate lover.

I took a step back and rubbed my belly. I pressed the shirt around my belly and looked at him, waiting for his reaction. He was silent for a few seconds and then he engulfed me in the biggest hug ever. He spun me around and smothered me with kisses. When he set me down on my feet again, he immediately started giving kisses to our baby.

Lulu, I don't want to wait any longer. You've continuously showed up and out for me, and us. You've been there for me since day one when I was nothing and you've never changed or switched up. I appreciate you for that and I love you so much. Will you marry me? He cried.

My emotions were all over the place, but this moment was perfect. I couldn't control the tears from falling down my face. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a huge diamond ring.

I nodded my head so fast that I think I gave myself whiplash. He slid the ring on my finger, and we embraced with a passionate kiss.

How long have you had that ring? I asked him with tears in my eyes. I gripped the sides of his face, staring into his eyes.

I’ve had it ever since the night of our argument. I planned on proposing but you know how things went down that day. His voice whimpered off and he look saddened.

Hop and Lulu forever! I cheered. I tried to lighten up the mood and forget about the argument.

We rocked from side to side in each other's arms, silently.

Hop? I asked.

He nodded his head and gave a kiss to my shoulder. Without you I'd be so lost. I cried.

His hand rubbed small circles on my back, and he replied, No Lulu, without you and our baby I'd be so lost. It's all of us together forever.

This night couldn't be any more perfect than it already was. I got my Hop back and our little Hop was on the way.

Chapter 2

A Month Later

Come on Lulu, we gotta get these orders shipped. I know you're pregnant, but time is money., my mother ordered. Ever since the news about Hop and I's engagement and baby, orders from my store have increased dramatically. Both of our families were busy trying to help me out with the orders, while Hop was working on his album.

It was currently 3:30 in the afternoon, and I was hurrying trying to get the last of these orders in the packages so that they could get shipped out. Hop's aunties and cousins were at our house, along with my family. We were all sitting in the living room working on the orders, waiting for Hop to come home from the studio. We had to be at the airport in the next two hours.

Hop and I are going back to Dallas for a few days to visit his mom, Farrah, and break the news that we were engaged and expecting our first child together. I'm sure she already knew because the news spread everywhere. Going out in public was becoming stressful, with paparazzi around. Flying to Dallas was going to be uncomfortable for me because this was going to be the first time I've flown on a plane since I moved to California since Hop went on tour.

Hop rushed home to tell our families goodbye, and to pick me up. We have everyone hugs and kisses and left. Once we landed, left the airport, and got a quick bite to eat, we headed to his mom's house. Hop had the brilliant idea of not getting our bodyguards to come with us on this trip because in his words, everyone knows me out here. My people will protect us if something happens.. It made no sense to me, only because he hasn't really been back out here since his tour. I haven't been back out here since I moved to California.

Hop and I pulled up to the gates of University Park Estates where his mother lived, and punched in the code. The gates opened and we drove through the neighborhood until we reached his mom's house.

The dizziness hit me suddenly when I took my seatbelt off, I couldn't move. A wave of nausea flew over me, making me quickly get a barf bag from the middle console, and hurl. Hop rubbed small circles around my back. Are you okay Lulu? He asked me. I nodded my head slowly.

Hop reached over and took the bag out of my hand, got out of the car, and put it in the trash can outside his mom's house. I reached into the deep depths of my purse and got my travel mouthwash, that I always kept on me, and swished it around a few times.

Hop was getting our bags out of the trunk, and I saw his mom step out onto her porch. He