Kamara
Flashback Night of the Big Game.
Donovan didn't answer my calls as Savion’s car pulled off to drive him home. I knew he was pissed off after losing the game, but pushing everyone away isn’t the answer. I dialed his number again, and it went straight to voicemail.
“Ugh!” I huffed and stuck the phone in my purse.
“Kamara, it’s getting late. You need us to take you home?” Dad asked.
“No, I brought my car. I’m going to head over to Donovan’s to check on him,” I answered.
“Are you sure? He might not want any company, baby,” Dad replied.
“I won’t stay long. I’m sorry your first box-seat game didn’t end the way you wanted.” I kissed him on the cheek, and he rubbed a hand across my back.
Luna walked over toward me, with her parents behind her.
“Bestie, I’m heading home. Donovan’s going to be on a kick for a little bit,” Luna said.
“What do you mean?”
“Whenever he loses my brother gets into a mood of shutting us out and not wanting to be bothered. It’ll blow over in a few days,” Luna replied.
I nodded feeling a knot in my stomach at Donovan shutting me out and going cold. We’ve pretty much been around each other nonstop since we became a couple and now to not hear from him or see his smile will completely rip me apart. I’ve never given myself to someone this deep and fully.
“Thanks for letting me know,” I said. All three of them hugged me and walked off to her car and left. I rubbed my hands together nervously praying he wasn’t so upset that he wouldn’t speak to me since it wasn’t so late.
Forty minutes later after driving to his condo, I pulled up to the building and tried texting him.
Me: Hey, I’m here, outside your building.
Donovan didn’t text me back, so I tried again.
Me: Donovan, are you home?
Donovan: I’m not in the mood for company.
Me: I understand but talking about it would help.
Donovan: When I’m in the right headspace, I’ll contact you.
I was growing increasingly frustrated, so I jumped out of the car and went inside of the building and tried to walk toward the elevator, but the receptionist stopped me.
“Hello, can I help you?” The receptionist went back and forth with Sutton a few weeks back.
“I’m going upstairs.”
“You don’t live in this building,” she said.
“My boyfriend does.”
“Who’s your boyfriend?” she questioned.
I cocked my head to the side with my hand on my hip.
“You know who my boyfriend is. Donovan Hunt.”
“Well, Mr. Hunt isn’t taking any visitors right now.”
Her eyes looked me up and down, like she was trying to assess what Donovan saw in me—kind of like the rest of the world. I knew we were polar opposites: I was more of a homebody, just a writer, trying to make things better for the average person; he was a big, jock millionaire with all these fans and celebrities who wanted to be his friend.
“Did he say that?” I wondered, as I crossed my arms over my chest.
“As a matter of fact, he did. No visitors for the rest of the night.” She winked and walked around me to head back to the desk.
I rolled my eyes, looked over at the elevator, and went back to my car, then drove back home.
Kamara
The next day I was in the office, reading over the latest reviews of the piece I did on the business district that the local government was trying to dismantle. I still hadn’t talked to Donovan, and I was getting more pissed by the minute that he never answered the phone for me and had totally cut me off.
Cailey walked in and pointed toward the sales figures for the newspaper. “Great numbers, Kamara. I think you should go to the hearing.”
“What hearing?”
“The mayor saw your piece and wanted to know what’s going on out there,” Cailey said.
“Really?”
“We might be able to swing an interview.”
“You think he’d sit down with me?”
“Probably, but he’d like to have Donovan do an endorsement for him as a thank you,” Cailey blurted out.
“So, he’s only interested in talking with me if my boyfriend comes?”
“Think of it as a favor for a favor. If he can bring awareness to your friend’s business that’s a good thing,” Cailey answered.
“Yeah, but I would be using Donovan and right now we’re not on speaking terms.”
“I know he lost the game last night.”
A knock came at the door and I looked up to see Luna stroll inside.
“Cailey, I left a new article on your desk,” Luna said and took a seat atop my desk.
“Good because you’ve been slacking,” Cailey said.
Cailey stood and tapped the documents on top of my desk that she dropped off and glanced up at me.
“Think about this and get back to me,” Cailey said and walked out.
“What’s wrong?” Luna questioned.
“Have you talked to your brother?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’s an idiot.”
“He’s avoiding my calls.”
“Donovan is just going through the normal thing that athletes go through,” Luna remarked. I continued researching over what I could find about the upcoming hearing at the City Council board meeting as Luna talked about her latest dating issues.
“I’m tired of all of these guys that keep wanting to get serious,” Luna said.
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Kamara, I’m too young to settle down. You should be out there dating more than one guy.”
“I might be doing that soon,” I mumbled to myself.
“If it makes you feel any better, I yelled at him about you.”
“Thanks, but I don’t want you getting in the middle of something that would hurt your relationship. I’m fine.”
“How about tonight we have a girls’ night and watch movies in our pajamas and eat popcorn, drink wine, and have ice cream?” Luna asked.
“I thought you had a date.”
“It can wait. Besides, you’re more important,” Luna said.
“No, don’t change your plans because of me. I have too much work to do here anyway,” I said.
She understood and left my office. For the rest of the day, I focused on what I could control—my work. I threw myself into the job.
Once everyone left for the day, I yawned and noticed it was going on eight at night, and I’d been at the office since eight that morning. I packed up the rest of my work and went home to curl up in bed and watch my favorite movie, Coming to America, for the hundredth time.
Kamara
A week later, I was sitting in the back of the room, watching as people went back and forth, debating whether it was a good idea to push all the local businesses out of the area. Abigail was there, along with Terry, who had surprisingly come to support me. He told me that most of the homeless would end up having to move out of the area if this passed.
“I own the local clothing store in the area, and this would destroy my business,” said an older woman, standing with a younger girl next to her. They looked alike so more than likely, she was her daughter or niece.
Earlier, a few people had started talking about why the mayor wasn’t there when he was requested. I asked Cailey when I started the story how deep I could go and whether she’d support me. So far, things had erupted to all-out protests.
“We demand you vote to oppose this now!” the woman said.
“Thank you for your information. As the council members on the board, we have to do what’s best for the businesses and the community. As of now, this is up for debate and we’ll hold a vote,” Chairman Dewin said.
“That’s not good enough!” a guy stood and shouted, holding a sign that read: We aren’t moving. Earlier, he’d spoken about his record store, which was in the middle of t
he mall blueprints.
“This is getting out of hand,” Abigail whispered to me.
I had my notepad out to keep updated on everything that was said for my article.
“What happened to Rodney? I thought he was coming today,” I said.
“I told him to stay behind and watch the shop,” Abigail explained.
“We're going to hear everyone out, but we need order,” Chairman Dewin said.
“I can’t believe they're seriously going through with this,” I muttered.
“I can. The council is only out for money. Forget the rest of us little people,” Abigail announced.
I nodded.
The chairman spoke again, and a few minutes later, they dismissed everyone for the day, saying that they would reconvene in a day or two. I had enough for my follow-up article, but I wanted to try to get the mayor on record if possible. I stood and turned to leave, with Abigail and Terry next to me.
“Terry, what are you going to do if they vote to approve?” I asked.
“I’ll need to find another place to stay,” Terry responded.
“Maybe the shelters have space for you,” Abigail said, pushing the front door of the Capitol Building open.
We stepped outside to a massive group of reporters and photographers. All of them rushed toward us and stuck microphones in my face.
“Kamara are you still dating Donovan Hunt?” a reporter asked.
“No comment.” I knew how these guys could twist anything you say.
“We have him out on a date with an ex. Sure looks like he moved on,” another guy brought up.
I didn’t know what he was talking about. He shoved his phone in my face. I saw a photo of Donovan, smiling with that Tabitha lady from the grocery store, and my face couldn’t hide how I was feeling.
“She said, ‘No comment,’” Abigail said and pushed them away to get us to her car. I’d driven in with her today and left my car at the newspaper.
“He’s the highest paid player in the league, you can’t expect him to be a one-woman guy,” a female reporter said, smirking.
“How about you report on the real issues in the world, and not someone’s love life?” I shot back and got inside Abigail’s car.
That only made them even hungrier for more because they swarmed her car and threw question after question at me about his performance at the big game and made comments about how men like him couldn’t commit. I pulled my phone out and went to social media, and I saw some people had tagged me in photos of him out with other women, but they seemed like older pictures because he had blond hair back then.
Abigail pulled off into traffic, and I sat staring out the window. I hadn’t talked to him since the night of the game, and I was waiting for him to get in touch with me. I knew he was feeling bad about losing the game—especially to Julian—but to cut me off and go cold was a new low that I hadn’t expected.
“Ignore those reporters Kam, they’re just trying to get you riled up,” Abigail said.
“He texted me last night that he was coming over but never came. Now I see why.”
“We’re going to drop Terry off and go out tonight,” Abigail said.
“I have too much work to do, Abigail.”
“Forget work and forget him, tonight is all about you having a ladies’ night with your girls. Call up Luna and Sutton.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“For one, Luna’s his sister, and Sutton’s his publicist.”
“So, they're still your friends first and foremost.” Abigail pulled over to the front of her coffee shop and let Terry out.
“They are, but I don’t want it to be awkward with us.”
“It won’t be.”
“Text them and see,” Abigail said.
I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and texted them both in a group message.
Me: I need a night out.
Luna: Strip club?
Sutton: I’m down.
Me: I was thinking of a regular club.
Sutton: We can go back to the club we went to last time.
Luna: Are you sure about this, Kam? A lot of celebrities and photographers hang out there.
Me: I’ll be fine.
Sutton: I saw him yesterday.
Luna: I told him he fucked up.
Me: Let’s not talk about him for the night. Abigail is coming.
Sutton: He said he was going to call you.
Me: He lied and was out with another woman.
Luna: I’m kicking his ass.
Sutton: What woman?
Me: Not important.
Luna: Meet us at the club. I’ll get us a booth in VIP.
I closed off my messages and sat back in the car as she drove to my place to change.
“Once you get your head full of alcohol and relax, you’ll forget about your troubles.”
“Let's hope so.”
Two hours later, I was drinking and dancing next to Luna in the VIP section. Whatever was in the drink she bought me was doing its job and helping me forget all my worries. I took another sip and waved for the bottle girl to bring me two more. I’d decided to let loose tonight and let my hair down. I was wearing a red halter top, black leather shorts, and knee-high boots. It was appropriate for the way I was feeling—hot from dancing and drinking. The DJ dropped the newest Rihanna song, and all four of us got up, snapping our fingers.
“Let's go downstairs to the dance floor.” Luna had her hair in a ponytail, and she wore red lipstick and a short gold off the shoulder dress and Sutton had on a leopard catsuit with a V-neck that stopped at her belly button.
“I plan on taking somebody home tonight,” Abigail sang, twisting her hips from side to side. She was wearing a long black dress with a split on the side, and her hair was straightened with a part down the middle.
“Show us what you got, Kam,” Luna called out, booty bumping me.
I laughed and bumped her back, then started popping my hips and moving my hands up and down my body. Luna, Sutton, and Abigail cheered me on and moved with the beat of the song. They joined me as we became the stars of the dance floor. After three more songs, they started to walk off, but I kept going.
“Keep moving your hips like that and you’ll make a man worship at your feet.” I heard a voice speak in my ear. I giggled and felt his arms around my waist.
“What’s your name, sexy?”
“Kamara. What’s yours?”
“Julian.”
He spoke and I froze, then turned in his arms. He smirked.
“I’m actually done with dancing.”
“Come on Kamara, this doesn’t have to be awkward.”
“It does because you don’t know how to keep your mouth shut.”
“Damn, baby you hurt my feelings.”
“You have feelings?” I questioned and he tightened his hold around me.
“I can have whatever you want me to have, sweetheart.” He kissed the side of my cheek and all of a sudden I felt myself being yanked backwards.
“OMG!” I almost fell on the ground, but someone caught me, and I looked up to see Reuben. Which only meant Donovan was the one that yanked me.
“What the hell do you think you're doing!” Donovan shouted.
“I’m dancing with my date,” Julian lied and I looked at him perplexed.
“You're on a date with him?” Donovan asked me and I opened my mouth to speak and I got stuck.
“She is and we were having a good time before you interrupted,” Julian said. I got out of Reuben’s arms and marched back over to them.
“Donovan, I haven’t spoken to you since the night of the game. You have no right asking me who I’m dancing with.”
“Kamara stay out of this,” Donovan demanded.
“Kamara let's go back to my section so we can finish that talk about our night cap,” Julian lied again, and Donovan pushed me behind him and punched Julian in the face.
“Donovan, no! Reuben, do somet
hing!” I screamed, trying to break them up, but Reuben stood back and crossed his arms, ready for Julian’s friends to try and jump in. I dropped my head into my hands. “Where is Savion?!” I yelled and went to pull Donovan back. He jerked out of my hold. “Donovan, stop this mess!”
“Get the fuck back!” he shouted, and I jumped, frightened at the look in his eyes. I knew he wouldn’t hit me or anything, but he wasn’t the Donovan I knew that was funny, sweet, and caring.
“You know what? I don’t even care,” I said and started to walk away.
They threw punches back and forth.
The DJ had already stopped the music, and security was coming over to calm everyone down.
I walked over to our booth and grabbed my purse. Luna and Sutton were not there, and I saw Abigail talking with some guy.
“Abigail I'm leaving.”
“Why? What happened?” Abigail asked, jumping up.
“Ask your friend down there.” I pointed to Donovan and Julian held back by security yelling at each other.
“Let me take you home,” Abigail said.
“No, you stay, and I’ll catch a cab.”
“I’m not letting you catch a cab this late.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Let me tell him I’m leaving. Meet me out front,” Abigail said.
I started to walk out of the section and downstairs past the chaos when I saw Luna and Sutton, trying to calm Donovan down.
“Kamara! Kamara!” I heard my name being called, but I ignored them and stood outside of the club. I started to walk toward Abigail’s car when a flash of light was in my face.
“Kamara! Over here, Kamara!” a guy screamed and I pushed his camera out of my face.
“Leave me alone!” I screamed.
“Did you sleep with Julian to get back at Donovan?” A question was thrown at me and I balled my fist up ready to knock the camera out of his hand.
“Kamara, here's your chance. Tell the people how you're dating two rival players?” he asked, and I started to speak when I felt a presence from behind.
“Kamara get in my car,” Donovan said.
“I’m riding with Abigail.”
She's All I Need(A Sports Romance) Page 12
