End Zone Love (Connecticut Kings Book 4)

by Love Belvin

  He coughed for a spell. Trent’s hands squeezed mine tightly as he stood over me like the archway of a bridge. He was such a giant. A giant emotional mess. As I scanned the opulent room, so many others had been crying, too.

  Shank continued when he was ready and could breathe. “After today, you don’t worry about nobody. Nobody! Don’t focus on who didn’t do what. That Jade girl got enough love to drown you in.” His shaky arm lifted and he pointed to the camera. I could feel Trent tremble around me. “And you let her. God knew the type of woman you needed and gave you her.”

  I felt Trent’s bearded chin on the apex of my head. His body was heavy, but not unbearable. I could handle him. I could take it all from him.

  “Anyways. If you seeing this, I’m already with my Maker. I know this because your pastor said if I believed in my heart and confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, I would have eternal life. Now, that could be a problem for you. Why? Ask yourself if you’re taking care of my April.”

  “Shank!” April yelled behind the camera.

  “Nah, baby. He know. Him and Trick. I’m with my heavenly Father, who’s gonna let me haunt their little asses if you lonely, broke, or laid up with another man so soon. They know!” Shank’s adamant anger landed him in a coughing fit. The room exploded into laughter at his last line, covering the break.

  “It’s time for your medicine,” April chided off camera.

  Shank’s arm went up in the air, demanding that she hold on. “One more thing… One more thing.” He swiped his running nose with a tissue. After a beat, he resumed. “Me and April got this bet going that ya big ass gone wanna bunch of babies. That little lady ain’t tryna wreck her nice figure, pushing out no football babies of yours. If you lucky, you’ll get one, special like you always been. If she ain’t lucky, y’all have a damn football team.”

  The room found humor in that one, too.

  “On a last note: If it ain’t that little Jade ya marrying, my bad.” The room burst into a raucous round of applause and cheers. I chanced a peek up to my friendly and very emotional giant, issuing a haughty smirk on my tear-stained face. But my neck changed course when I heard the rasped whisper under the clamor of the room as Shank continued. “Never cheat, never lie, and never let go. Hot dogs, rice, and ketchup all the way,” Shank squealed.

  April screeched then burst into a snicker before cutting the camera. The April now, just a few feet away from Trent and me, held her head as she cried into her hands. I wished I could comfort them both, simultaneously.

  “Blowing in the winds of Macen Beach, ba-by,” Trent blubbered lowly over my head where he rested his chin.

  I pushed my hands up and wrapped my arms around his neck as he squatted over me. “Yes. Macen Beach, baby,” I murmured so he could hear.

  Trent’s hands pushed down to my belly where he now clasped, but gently. And like earlier in the Bishop’s Office, I embraced it, relishing his touch. We’d been to several doctor’s appointments between his crazy schedule and I watched his silent desire to touch what was his. As much as I wanted to do right by him, my stubborn spirit didn’t welcome him to do it.

  “Shank, baby!” Alton shouted behind us. “We love you!”

  “Rest in love, Shank-dog!” Jordan followed up.

  Stenton whistled his salute with his fingers before clapping his support. Even Eli, the owner of the Connecticut Kings, and his wife clapped with emotion-filled expressions. It reminded me of how rooted their relationships all were. Of course, they’d be moved by this video. Shank had been in Trent’s football world at every turn until his death. It was just too bad he couldn’t be here today to see this monumental step in his nephew’s life.

  My watery eyes went to April, who stood, gawking at the now blank screen. Somehow, she turned to pay a cursory glance our way. Doing a triple take, she saw I’d been gazing her way and faced me. If I could’ve moved from Trent’s tight grip, I’d’ve hugged her. Thanked her for the timely gift. April never told me what the video contained, but said it was footage Shank would have wanted shown at Trent’s wedding. Her wordplay was incredible, because she never said he’d actually made it for his nephew’s wedding. Suddenly, I wondered if there were more videos Shank made before his death for special occasions like this. Quickly, I decided I wouldn’t ask. Some of life’s best gifts are surprises like this.

  The deejay started the next song and all I could do was stand stock-still, using my girl as a crutch to stand. How were they able to pull this off? I couldn’t believe April had been sitting on this for so long. My sweaty eyes went to her. She was looking at Jade, a message was being sent back and forth between the two. With the wave of my hand, I called her over.

  Wiping her wet face, April toddled over to us. She looked good in a silver gown with jewelry all over it. Her short, tapered cut was sharp. The bleached blonde spikes at the top of her head worked for her. With the ballooned weight and all, April was still that fine piece Shank finally bagged years ago. Now, she was the closest thing to a mother I had. Not even my grandmother rode for me like April—with Shank and after we lost him.

  “How long you was gone sit on this?” I asked, laughing to cover my tears.

  “Boy, until today!” she fussed, waving her arm to the empty screen. “You saw that’s what that man wanted. It’s what he talked about!”

  Before I could say anything else, Jade grabbed her from beneath me, pulling April into a tight hug, using her one free arm.

  “Thanks so much, April. This meant the world to me. For us,” she told my aunt.

  My right hand threaded through her soft, small fingers so, she couldn’t go anywhere. I reached down and hugged April with my left hand, too.

  “Thanks so much for this, man.”

  “Trent!” April yelled while giggling. “You gone crush this lil ole thang! She can’t breathe between us!”

  April pulled back to check on Jade, who smiled while fixing her hair.

  “Don’t matter,” I told her. “She used to me all over her…smothering her. Her hair gone get fucked up later on tonight anyway.”

  “Trent!” Jade’s mouth formed an O. “That language.”

  “Oh, girl!” April waved. “He’s excused. Can’t you tell the man’s tipsy? It’s his wedding day.” She laughed.

  I went to hug her again. “Sorry, April,” I whined like a kid, and could hear them both laugh. Jade’s sounded smothered. “Thank you, April!” I kissed her on the cheek.

  When I pulled back, I caught someone standing and staring a few feet away. What’s crazy is, out of almost three hundred guests, this one got my attention. Maybe because my moms stood next to him, looking on. I tossed my chin to him, and Trick made his way over by himself.

  “Oh,” April reacted. I could see the shock in her eyes. “I’mma go over here and check on Cora Mae.” Jade acknowledged her before she took off.

  “Hey,” Jade greeted him.

  With that usual scowl in his eye, he looked down at her and blinked a few times. I knew that look. He was uncomfortable, but trying to warm.

  “Hey, Jade. You look real pretty today.” He nodded. “Congrats.”

  Jade smacked her hands together. “Thanks, Trick! Thanks for being a part of our day.” He nodded, his hands going to the back of his waistband to lift his sag as he looked over his shoulder to my moms. She didn’t move, but kept looking over at us. “You mind if I have just two seconds with him before handing him over to you?” she asked cheerily while glued to me.

  Trick shrugged, looking out of place. Jade thanked him before turning to face me. She lifted on her toes, bringing her arms around my neck. My head reached down to her face.

  “I feel like God kissed me today.”

  That had a goofy smile spread on my lips. “Me, too.” My face went tight as I thought more about it. “But more like fist bumped me.”

  She giggled, but I understood this was a serious conversation.

  “And he whispered something to me.”

  “What’s that
?”

  She combed her little hands through my beard. “He reminded me that though our parents weren’t the most dedicated or nurturing, He passed us to people who were able to buffer their shortcomings. Shank, April, and George don’t have kids of their own, but contributed greatly to our development. We have to acknowledge that and thank God.” Our eyes locked. “No focusing on the lack today. Just gratitude for the big, little, and in between things.”

  It took me a minute to process the life in those words. My wife was ministering to me, telling me to be on guard and ready to win. That messed with my buzz, but the revelation was so worth it.

  “Amen, little one.” She kissed my lips then with seductive eyes—at least, that’s what I saw—she backed away, leaving me to my uncle.

  Taking a deep breath, I shifted my eyes to him. I had no idea what dude was coming with. He tossed his chin to me before stepping closer.

  “Yo, man. I ‘on’t even know what the fuck to say—how to say this,” he started.

  I cocked my head to the side, opening my arms in a welcoming manner. “Just spit it.”

  Trick looked back at my moms, who was swaying from hip to hip as she waited. He turned back to me. “Yo, there’s some shit going down that I been meaning to tell you—I wanna tell you, but I just ain’t know how.” He shook his head, eyes sweeping his feet below. “First of all, congrats on ya beautiful day. You and Jade look mad happy. You deserve dat, homie.” I saluted him. “Look, man, I know we had our differences, but I ain’t the bad guy. I had a lot of growing up to do: before the bid, in the pen, and after I came home.” Trick kept brushing his chin with his fingers, uncomfortable.

  “I’ll just keep it trilly: I told Shank I ain’t like feeling left out coming up. I felt like he treated you more like a son than a nephew, and treated me more like a little cousin than a baby brother. I ain’t gone front; I still do. But now I see why. I was a damn knucklehead, running the streets. I ain’t wanna listen after I got my fist wet-wet and money in my pockets for my first two pairs of Jays. I was fuckin’ outta control. You…” His head flew back and Trick took a deep breath.

  Divine stopped over, slapped my shoulder, and handed me a drink then took off. Trick and I watched him ease back over to a small group of people, looking thirsty for his attention. Like the smooth dude he was, he slid back into conversation with them like he never left.

  Mauve…

  I chucked it back, feeling dude’s sixth sense. I needed this. Couldn’t fully believe Trick was talking to me and…humble with it.

  “I just get it now.” His thumb tossed over his shoulder. Moms… “I made life a fuckin’ obstacle. Shit was rough for you, know what I mean? I get it now. Brenda got some shit with her, but she my sister. Nobody ain’t fuckin’ with her. Shank ain’t here, so I stepped up. There’s a lotta shit you ain’t in the know of, and I need to put you D. I know you ‘bout to kick off ya honeymoon and shit, but when you get back, hit me up so we can politic. A’ight?”

  He finally stopped.

  “So,” I widened my stance, legs moved further apart. “…let me get this straight—you know, I done had a few,” I explained Tis you peace-ing it up with me?” I really needed to know. Mind too fogged from the countless drinks I juggled since walking my bride in here. More than that, Trick just confirmed everything Ezra explained as to what his beef was with me all these years. “You saying you wanna end this beef that I never understood?”

  Trick sniffled a laugh, fighting a smile. It wasn’t in him to be sitcom television with his expressions, and neither was it mine. So, I wasn’t expecting an apology or request to be cool on a jumbotron.

  “Look, man!” He swiped his nose, tossing his eyes out somewhere before looking at me again. “All I’m saying is shit been fucked up between us and Shank wasn’t down for it. I promised him we would work it out. I said some fucked up shit to you at the hospital that wasn’t called for. You wanted to see about ya earth, and was flexin’ ‘cause you felt like she was ignoring you. I get it. My dumb ass was in my own feelings ‘cause I ain’t know what to do with her.” He smacked his teeth. “I was trippin’ on some shit that ain’t have nothing to do with you.” He looked over his shoulder at my moms again. This time he waved her over. “And this shit with Brenda need to be addressed. She ‘bout to go. I told her to come say something to you.” I watched her on her way. “And don’t expect much. She ain’t off her shit tonight. That’s why she going home.”

  She weaved through a small crowd, but made it over to us. At first, she didn’t say anything, just sported a smile that was dull. Her hands were folded at her pelvis and she gave Trick more eye action than me.

  Trick cocked his head to the side. “Brenda.” Then he tossed it over to me.

  My mother looked at me and her eyes got friendlier. “Hi, Trenton.” There was a pause because her actions were awkward. “Your wedding was real beautiful.” Trick nodded beside her, his eyes to the floor as he listened in, egging her on. Felt like I was in the twilight zone. First, Trick having friendly conversation with me, admitting he was wrong. Now my mother was trying to talk to me, even though it seemed like she needed help. “You look handsome.” Her head bounced. “Look a lot like your father—even though I ain’t seen him in many moons.” She put more energy into the FYI, as though she needed explaining. Too late. He already has. “You taller, though. Way taller and thicker. I told Jade I would come. I’m happy you found a wife.”

  Trick leaned into her and whispered something in her ear. Her head bounced up and down again with recognition.

  “And your baby… Congratulations. I’m proud of you.” She gave little eye contact, but didn’t sound forced.

  If not for the fact I never knew of her getting high, neither could I sense it in her eyes, I would’ve thought my moms was drunk or lifted. She was almost like a puppet or a little kid.

  “A’ight,” Trick spoke to her. “They over there waiting on you. Text me when you get in, and don’t forget to eat something before you knock out.”

  My moms nodded. Her eyes were on me, as though making sure I was good. This was way weird.

  “The house still in good condition,” she made sure I heard.

  My neck jerked back at that. Since when did she even mention the house to me? Hell, I would have to think long and hard to recall the last conversation I had with her.

  Trick reminded her again people were waiting on her, and then she took off.

  “Everything good with her? She good from the strokes?” Now, I was concerned.

  Trick took a deep breath, rolling his eyes, but not in an annoyed way. A “stressed out to the max” one.

  He shook his head. “We gotta kick it when you get back. Just know I’m holding her down. Brenda ain’t the Brenda she used to be. A lotta the shit you been catching ain’t because of you.”

  The crowd roaring to a new volume had both of us snapping our necks to the dance floor. Frankie Beverly and Maze was blasting through the speakers. “Before I Let Go” was one of Shank’s jams.

  “This one’s for Shank!” the deejay told the crowd as he cut the record, rewinding the intro. “Ahhhhh now! I know we can get a tribute from his family on this!” He dropped the volume again. “C’mon, Shoot ‘Em Up!”

  Apparently, someone had tipped him off to who Shank was. Trick looked at me and gave a dry chuckle. I didn’t know what he wanted to do, but I was about to grab another glass of champagne and show my ass on the dance floor. Jade married me. I had every reason to celebrate. I saluted him with my index to my forehead and took off.

  As soon as I did, I found a waiter with a tray of champagne. I dropped the empty glass Divine hooked me up with and grabbed a flute. This night was like a space between reality and some other dimension. To be honest, the head space I was in was so crazy, talking to Trick after all these years didn’t seem real.

  What was real was finding my little one on the dance floor with Kyree, dancing. Being reckless, I grabbed her at the hips pulling her into my crotch. She
gasped, shocked by my roughness. I smiled down at Kyree, who caught on to why his moms was yanked, but didn’t pick up on my rough handling.

  Then Lex walked up on us, reaching for Kyree.

  “You mind dancing with me?” she asked Ky with playful sad eyes. “My husband’s had enough of the dance floor for the night, and I still wanna cut up.”

  Jade and I laughed. I knew Ezra wasn’t much of a fast dancer. He’d slow dance, but that was it for him. Kyree nodded, telling his mom’s he’d be right back. Lex backed away dancing with a new partner. I didn’t stare, but was reminded she was pregnant again. She didn’t look it at all. Ezra was convinced it was another baby girl. With the way he was spot on about Trick, I wouldn’t put much past him. Being on point was his thing.

  Now that I had Jade alone, I dipped my knees to match my cock with her plump cheeks and grinded on her. She reached back and grabbed me by the neck, swaying with me. My one hand gripped her thigh in the long gown as we danced. Then I took her by the hand and spun her around twice, getting a good look at her sexy shape. Her belly was small, but big enough for the world to know she was mine in more than one way.

  The deejay blended in Chris Brown. “Take You Down” was my ish back in the day. I remembered dancing to this at one of the legendary parties JJ and I threw. My hip movements got deeper against Jade. Her little arms went in the air and she was spinning it for me, inviting me to it. I bit my lip and popped my hips to bounce on her. With one hand in the air, I rode her little ass, enjoying her. Someone—I had no clue who—took the empty champagne glass from my hand that freed me up to grab her hips and rolled my pelvis against her. I could hear people hyping me all around.

  That’s right…

  This was my wedding day to the most amazing chick God could have ever sent my way. I was giving a show tonight. A tap on my shoulder got my attention. It was my big cousin, Red. He threw me a face I understood off the bat.

  “They don’t want it with a Bailey, lil cuz,” he barked. “Don’t break the wife on ya wedding day. I see you done did some damage to her already.” He tossed his head back and hooted, “Shoot ‘Em Up!”