by Nikki Turner
“Susan, please don’t start. I just played a hell of a game and finally can smell the championship I’ve been chasing my whole career. Please don’t ruin this moment for me right now talking about Slim. I really don’t want to argue with you.”
The look on her face said she didn’t care. “Just tell me this then, are you still using?”
Trey grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the trainer’s room where they would have more privacy.
“No, I’m not! I swear! I told you I stopped and I meant it.”
“Then what is he doing here, Trey?”
“Susan, whether you like it or not he is my friend. What do you want me to do, just turn my back on him?”
“Friend? You have to be kidding me. You call that man a friend?”
“Yes, I do.”
“That man is not your friend and you are too blind to see it … You know what, you are right. I’m out of here because I see where this is going and I don’t want to ruin your mood. Great game tonight,” Susan said as she began to walk away.
“Susan, please don’t be like that. You know I miss you. Can we please just put this behind us? Let’s hang out tonight and celebrate. Let’s do something, anything, it doesn’t matter to me. Whatever you want to do is fine. I just want to spend some time with you and try to work this thing out. You know how I feel about you,” Trey pleaded.
“I’m sorry, I’m busy. I have to meet a friend,” Susan said and then turned and walked out of the training room leaving Trey behind. Trey clasped his head in his arms. He knew that regardless of what he said, if he wasn’t telling her that he no longer associated with Slim, it would cause an argument. And that was a battle that he wasn’t going to be able to win. Regardless of their troubled past, he would never turn his back on a friend, and Slim was one of his best friends in his eyes.
Trey walked out of the training room and quickly threw on a team sweatsuit. It made no sense to take a shower now. He might as well go to the lounge to see what Slim wanted and get it out of the way. That way he could use the rest of his time trying to figure out a way to get Susan back.
“There is my man,” Slim greeted Trey when he walked into the room. Slim walked over and gave him a brotherly hug.
“I have someone I want you to meet. This is my new artist, Candi,” Slim said. She quickly caught every bit of Trey’s attention. She was gorgeous and had a body to die for. She stood five foot seven, light skin, and weighed no more than 135 pounds.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you. Slim talks about you all the time,” Candi said. She walked over to him and gave Trey a kiss on the cheek. Trey, amazed, stared at Candi. It was as if he was hypnotized by her beauty.
“You okay, homie?”
Slim’s question broke Trey out of his brief dazed state.
“Huh, naw, I’m cool, champ. Susan was in the locker room and we were rappin’,” Trey replied.
Slim broke out in laughter.
“You love playing with fire, don’t you? I thought that was dead and over?”
“It might be now for sure. She knows you were here.”
“Gotdamn! That woman still doesn’t fuck with me? Shit!”
“She is past just not fucking with you, I think she flat-out hates your ass, nigga,” Trey said laughing.
“Whatever, well I have just the cure. I’m having something at the club tonight to celebrate Candi’s welcome to the label and I want you to swing by.”
“Nigga, you must be out of your mind. I’m in the middle of a championship run. I can’t be out partying it up. This is the Finals, I don’t need any distractions. I don’t care if it’s Susan or you! That is the last thing I need.”
“I’m hurt! All I’m saying is, swing back for an hour or two and then bounce. No one is telling you to get blasted or anything. Plus I want to rap to you about something business related.”
“What’s up?”
Slim looked at Candi. “Not here. Tonight! Just meet me at the club. You don’t have to stay long. Just give me a moment to pull your coattail to a couple things and then you can bounce.”
Hesitant, Trey agreed. “Okay, but I’m not staying long.”
“Cool!”
“Now, can I please take a shower? I’ll meet you there in about an hour or so. I have to do this press conference. You know how the league is.”
“That’s what’s up. I’ll see you later tonight,” Slim replied.
Chapter 2
It had been awhile since Trey had been in Club Nikki. He looked around and noticed how much things had changed. It had started out as a pool hall, but now was upgraded to a club. Trey walked around searching for Slim. He wanted to be in and out as quickly as possible. He had a long day ahead of him tomorrow and the sooner he could get some rest, the better.
“What’s going on, Trey, great game today,” someone said.
“Hey, what’s going on, Ricky? Thanks! I see y’all have got the place looking nice now.”
“It has been a minute since you’ve been here. I forgot.”
“Yeah, I don’t get out much during the season, trying to stay as focused as possible.”
“I can respect that. What brings you out tonight then?”
“I need to get up with Slim about something. Have you seen him?”
“Yeah, he’s in the back,” Ricky replied.
“Thanks. Let me get back there so I can get out of here and get home and get some sleep. I have practice in the A.M. I’ll get up with you after the season though.”
“That’s what’s up!”
The two of them shook hands and then parted ways. Trey continued to walk through the crowd, trying to get to the back when someone grabbed his arm. He quickly turned to see who it was.
“Hello, stranger,” Candi said.
“Well, hello to you. Is your man still in the back?”
She moved in closer. “Slim is not my man. He is only a friend and my business partner. I don’t have a man but if you want to apply for the job, I’ll be glad to set you up an interview.”
“Is that right? Well what does the interview process require?”
She gently kissed him. Her sensual touch was enough to make him fully aroused.
“I’ll tell you what, meet me on the dance floor before you leave and we can discuss it further in detail. I know you have business to attend to with your boy.”
Right on cue, the DJ started to play Snoop Dogg’s hit song “Sexual Eruption” as if he heard their whole brief conversation.
“I’m a firm believer in why wait until later for something we can handle right now? Slim isn’t going anywhere.”
The two of them headed out to the dance floor. Candi didn’t waste any time gyrating her body against Trey. It wasn’t long before the two of them were passionately kissing. It was as if the two of them were having sex on the dance floor. Trey broke away. He couldn’t take it anymore. He barely knew her but knew one thing, he wanted her and at that moment he couldn’t have her. He had other things that needed his attention. Plus, it wasn’t right. His heart belonged to Susan and having sex with Candi wouldn’t be the way to prove he had changed his ways and grown to become the right man for her.
“What’s wrong?” Candi questioned.
“Nothing, I have to catch up with Slim. I’ll find you before I get out of here.”
“Make sure you do,” Candi replied.
Trey headed to the back. Slim was sitting down at the table playing poker.
“If it isn’t the superstar, what’s up, baby?” Larry said as he got up to greet Trey.
“What’s happening, fellas,” Trey said.
“You were on fire tonight. It looks like you are finally going to get that ring, homie. You can finally get that monkey off your back.”
“That’s the plan.”
“I know that’s right! What are you doing out? Shouldn’t you be getting some rest?” Larry questioned. “Game five is right around the corner.”
“I’m not staying out late. I needed to
get out for a few so I figured I’d come down here and check out the spot. I figured why not celebrate a little bit. Plus, I needed to rap to Slim for a quick few.”
“I know that’s right!”
“Look here, fellas, y’all are going to have to excuse me for a minute while I rap to my man about a few things,” Slim said.
“What about the game?” Larry asked.
“Nigga, your money isn’t going anywhere. I have all night to take it. I’ll be back,” Slim replied as he started to get up from the table.
“Come on, Trey, we can talk in my office.”
“Office? What the fuck are you talking about?”
Slim started laughing. “A lot has changed since you were last around. You got to remember you’ve been out of the loop for a while. I bought this place a couple months ago.”
“What, you’ve gone totally legit?” Trey probed.
“Yes, I told you I was. I’m done with all that street shit. The record label is starting to take off and now I’m going to get the club the same way. It won’t be long before I’m bringing in some serious money the right way.”
“I’m shocked!” Trey replied.
“Come on, Trey, can you give me some credit? I’m not asking for a lot, but damn at least give me a little bit.”
“My bad, my bad! It’s just all a little shocking, you know?” Trey extended his hand out to Slim. “I’m proud of you.”
Slim slapped him five.
“Well to your office we go. Show me the way, champ,” Trey replied.
Slim turned and headed out the room with Trey following closely behind him. Once they reached Slim’s office, he closed the door behind him. Trey surveyed the office. He started to really take Slim seriously. Maybe he had turned his life around.
“I’m impressed! I must say, I really am,” Trey said.
“Thanks, that means a lot to me. Yeah, Candi set up the deal for me. She is my partner in this little venture.”
“Oh, really? I thought you said you just signed her.”
“I did, to the label. I never knew she could sing at first. We met on a personal level in the beginning and our friendship grew.”
“Your friendship, huh? Is that all she is? I mean, is there something else going on with the two of you?”
Slim easily saw through the bush Trey was trying to run around and knew exactly what he was getting at. “It’s cool, homie, do you!”
“What are you talking about?” Trey questioned.
“I know you like the back of my hand. And your eyes are wide and bright. I could see that at the arena. It’s cool. We are only friends and business partners, Trey. Who she fucks, is who she fucks. That has nothing to do with me. As long as she keeps this place packed and people buy her album, that money will pour in and that is all that matters to me is the bread. Now, if you come between that, then I’ll have a problem,” Slim said and started laughing.
“Cool!”
Slim laughed harder.
“What’s so funny?” Trey asked.
“Nothing!”
“Tell me,” Trey shot back at him.
“I just find it funny how you were bitching about possibly losing Susan for good not too long ago and now you are in here asking about Candi. My how quickly things change; Susan seems like a distant memory if you ask me.”
“Nigga, Susan and I aren’t together. She left me, remember? I’m free to go at whoever I want to.”
“You don’t have to front for me. I’ve known you all my life. So I know better than to believe that bullshit. I know Susan has you wrapped around her finger. Your ass just doesn’t know how to tell new pussy no. That has always been your problem. That’s the reason why y’all aren’t together now.”
“Yeah, whatever! We aren’t going to go there because it was more to it than just that. Don’t forget, I know your ass, too, and I know you want something so let’s cut the bullshit. What’s up?”
“First, hear me out before you say anything.”
“Okay, what’s up?”
“I need you to throw the game on Saturday,” Slim said.
Trey started to laugh. “No, seriously, what’s up?”
“I’m serious. I need you to throw the game. Right now, every one knows you are on fire so y’all are a heavy favorite to win. If y’all were to lose the game think of how much money the person who bet on you to lose would win. Like the Super Bowl last year, one guy bet one thousand dollars on the Giants and when they upset New En gland he was paid well over a mil. This is easy money. I’m not saying lose the series, just the next game.”
Trey stood up.
“You have to be out of your fucking mind. This is my life you are talking about. I can’t believe you even have the balls to ask me something like this.”
“Let’s be serious, you have what, a year or two left tops? And you know it. There are no more big paydays coming your way. Who do you think you are kidding? We can make ten to fifteen million tax-free dollars easily off one damn game. I’m not asking you to lose the championship. It’s one game. You’ll still have two more games after that to win a championship and get your ring. It actually will probably make the odds even better and we can bet on that game also and make more money. But for us to do it, you’d have to throw the game Saturday.”
“Fuck you, Slim! For real, F-U-C-K you! I can’t believe you are asking me to do this shit. Here it is I get into an argument with Susan over whether you are my friend or not and you ask me to do this. I mean, my dumb ass was just going to bat for you and you prove me wrong and validate her point by asking me to risk my livelihood over a couple dollars. I have money. I have enough money to last me a lifetime. And you might be right, maybe I do only have a year or two left. Who the fuck cares? That is what I got a degree for, life after basketball. But ALL of that goes down the drain the minute I agree to do this bullshit. Again I say, FUCK YOU!”
“Did I say that when your ass needed me? When you nearly broke my door down for some fucking pain pills because you couldn’t take the pain and the team doctors wouldn’t give you any more? Did I turn my back on you? No, I found a way to make it happen because I knew you needed me and you always had my back. We go back how long, over twenty years, and I ask you to do me a solid and you can’t. How dare you question my friendship? I’ve always shown and proved it.”
Slim paused. “But your ass is going to sit there ready to bitch up. You didn’t give a shit about your career then but now all of a sudden you do. It’s funny how then all you cared about was playing and I made that happen. I kept your ass on the court. I found the pills, got you a supply, and then made a way for you to beat their damn piss test, too, so they’d think you were clean. I did that. I did all that for you and you tell me fuck you. Nigga, that bullshit career you have. You owe all that to me. Even that bullshit-ass degree, I’m the one who bought your professors to make sure you stayed on the court. I’m the one who made that rape charge disappear in college when that bitch tried to set you up. I’ve always had your back. Go run and tell Susan’s ass that! She doesn’t know half the shit I’ve done for you so I didn’t prove that bitch right in any way!”
Slim calmed himself down then continued. “Don’t you think I’ve thought this plan all the way through? Every fucking angle, every possible snag, all of it. I’ve thought it through to make sure there is no possible way we can get caught, just paid.”
“Damn, you went there. It’s cool. I see where we are at with things. I know the mistakes I’ve made in my past, Slim. I accept them, but I’ll be damned if I continue to make the same fucking mistakes over and over again. Have you ever wondered why I haven’t been around you that much lately? Why I’ve stayed away from you? This is the exact reason why. But I thought, maybe, just maybe you possibly grew up and changed. I guess I was wrong. I guess you are the same selfish nigga you have always been and probably always will be. Oh, and FYI, you didn’t do all that shit for me. You did all that shit for you. That’s the way you do business. You help folks out so
they forever stay in debt to your ass. Well guess what, I don’t owe you a damn thing. So again I’ll say for the final time, fuck you!”
Trey turned and walked out of the office slamming the door behind him. As he was making his way through the crowd, Candi spotted him. She tried to catch up with him, but Trey was on a mission to get out of the club as fast as possible.
Chapter 3
Trey walked into the house and threw his keys down on his coffee table. He was pissed. He never would have imagined Slim would ever cross that line. Anyone who knew Trey knew that nothing would come between him and his love of the game. Basketball was all he’d known since he was a child. Trey took his suit jacket off and threw it down on the couch, then loosened up his tie and went into the kitchen to pour himself a drink just as his doorbell rang. Trey made his way to the door to see who it was. Surprise filled his eyes once he looked through the peephole.
“What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?” he asked after he opened the door.
“You sound as if you aren’t happy to see me,” Candi replied.
“I didn’t say that, but I mean it is a little strange that you show up at my door. Especially since you shouldn’t even know where I live. It’s not like you’ve been over here before or anything.”
“Well are you going to invite me in or are we going to continue to have a conversation in the hallway?”
“Please come in,” Trey said, moving out of the way so she could enter.
Candi entered Trey’s penthouse condo and sat down on the sofa.
“Well to answer your question, I liked our initial interview so much I thought we’d have a private affair. I tried to catch you before you left but you were in a hurry so I just followed you.”
“Is that a habit of yours? I mean, do you always follow men out of the club to their homes? I don’t know about that. That sounds kind of stalkerish if you ask me,” Trey said, laughing.
“Oh, you find that funny. You wish I was stalking you. I don’t have to stalk any man. You should feel lucky, better yet privileged, that I was concerned about you.”
