(Book 2) This Could B Us

Part 50

Prince reappears in the dining area, he comes up to the table as I'm standing, "Done?" He points to the remnants on my plate.

"Yes." The waffles were very filling, and I was glad that I was pretty much full before he started dumping all his plans on me.

"C'mon, we have some time before we have to check with Danielle, I want you to listen to something."

He's enthusiastic as he pulls me through the Atrium and into Studio A. Once I'm seated and headphones placed, he cues a song to play. Heavy on the guitar, and more rock and roll inspired, his voice is also raspier, I like the music, but unsure on the words:

Everyday when I wake up
I gotta make up a reason to make it last
Miss-mistake up, if we break up
We smash guitars and shatter glass
But till the day that we do
I'm your driver, you're my screw
Everywhere that we go now
There's a show now,
People ṗay money for the rock'n'roll
And the big wow, before we bow
You can call me C.C. crowd control
It you don't want to it's cool
(it's cool)
I'm your driver,
Empty car on a fast lane
In the driving rain
I can make you swear that you did something
What you don't know, won't hurt you so
We got a long, long way to go
Might as well enjoy the view
(enjoy the view)
I'm your driver, you're my screw
You said you were my screw
Sharing stories and cool clothes
And party toes,
This is what life is like on the road
Never too high, never too low
That's the only way to go,
(only way to go)
But right now, without further adieu
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
(you're my screw)
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
Counterclockwise, turn you round
All you got to do is listen to the sound
Music Never lies, you know it's true
I ain't even got to you know who
Forever's worth its wait when it comes to love
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
I'm your driver, you're my screw
Might as well enjoy the view
I'm your driver, you're my screw

He watches me anxiously, happy to see I'm bobbing to the beat, but I keep making puzzled faces at the lyrics, this interests him, but he lets me listen through. I try to tell myself that this song probably wasn't written with me in mind, and more than likely written years ago, because I'd hate to think I'm just his 'screw'.

It ends, I pull off the headphones just long enough to say, "I want to hear it again." I put the headphones back on and listen, giving the lyrics a less critical ear. When it finishes, I'm still at a loss with the lyrics, but he's waiting for me to say something. "I really do like it, is it going on this album?"

"No," he scrunches up his face and shakes his head, "it doesn't fit on this album, maybe Phase Two," he says matter of factly.

I watch him idly flip a few knobs and levers, he seems to be stalling, my question can't be contained any longer, "Am I just your screw?"

His face registers shock in true Prince fashion, he even pulls his head back and widening his eyes. He drops his head before shaking it, he laughs, "No, Sugar, don't read into things that aren't there," a kiss gets planted onto my forehead.

"Here, I'm reworking this one," he places the headphones back on my ears, then he kisses me, slipping just the slightest tongue. He flips a switch, I hear:

Hey, sugar
I know it's been a minute
But I gotta, I gotta get up in it

Come on
Let's talk about what you got

I know the song immediately, a huge grin crosses my face, it's an old one. I've heard the bootlegs and had downloaded a digital version at one time, but I'm liking what I hear on this new version, especially the intro in his sexy voice.

When it's done he asks, "Better?" He knows it's better, but I nod enthusiastically anyway. "Come on, let's see if Danielle is done with your things."

He has his cane today, so I'm not surprised when I'm lead to the elevator to go back upstairs to check on the progress. We stroll into wardrobe just as Danielle is zipping up the garment bag, she smiles and unzips it.

Prince inspects the seams of the first dress, "Thank you, Danielle, I appreciate you coming in again on such short notice. Stop and see Ray on your way out, he made gingerbread waffles this morning."

Danielle thanks him, then as she passes me on the way out, "It was great to see you again, Dear. Bring some more items by, I'll take care of them for you."

Prince pulls the less casual dress from the bag, "Just try this one on," as he unzips my dress.

I put it on and the fit is flawless, "She's good," I say as I look in the mirror.

"That's why she's here," he skims his hands along my sides. "Okay," which indicates his approval, and I change back into what I was wearing.

It's still super early in the morning, and I always feel at a loss when I'm there with him at Paisley, because in my mind, it's where he works. I just follow around behind him like a puppy, or wander the building, so I ask, "Do you have work to do for a couple of hours?"

He shrugs and nods, frowning, "I always have something to do, why?"

"I'm going to have Marcus bring me home, so I can work in the garden for a couple hours, if that's okay?"

His frown is replaced concern, his eyes question me, he's quiet when he says, "Okay, Sugar, but you'll need to packed and ready to go by 4."

"I'll be ready, don't worry," I promise him.

I kiss him on the cheek, grab my garment bag and head out the door. I leave him standing in the wardrobe department and make my way down the stairs. Stopping at the reception desk, Monica contacts Marcus for me. It's only minutes before I see the familiar SUV pull in front of the doors, and I see Marcus's smiling face.

Tucked into the back of the SUV, I'm still on edge from this whole morning's roller coaster of emotions. Marcus drops me at the house, even he can sense something is amiss, I'm observed carefully, but he remains quiet.

Running upstairs, I dump the garment bag on the bed, strip off the dress, and change into what I now refer to as my work clothes. I'm out the back door in just a matter of minutes of being home, only once I'm digging in the dirt do I feel the stress of the morning melt away.