“Talk about what?”
“Us.”
Us I laughed but didn’t mean too. It’s just the fact that she said us so confidently like she was placing claim to something that would never be.
She had the saddest look on her face. I was sure that she could tell that I had absolutely no interest in anything she had to say. Her friend stepped away and sat down in one of the lobby lounge chairs and all I could think was that she was too chunky to be wearing the leggings she had on.
I folded my arms across my chest and starred at Tori. She was cute but not really pretty. She wore too much makeup and I hated the fact that she always had some over the top weave that was way too long and those damn cat claw fake nails. Not really my thing but to each its own. She was the result of a late night party where I had too much to drink and allowed it to turn into a regular thing. She was cool from time to time but the best part about her was that she didn’t ask a lot of questions and she didn’t crowd me but that had changed recently and she was starting to act like we were a couple. Especially after she found out about Kya, I believe that’s the thing that set her off. It was like she turned into a completely different person trying insert herself into my life by placing claim on my time.
“You know I have a game tonight right?” I said reminding her that I liked to avoid bullshit on game days. I needed to keep my head clear.
“Well when then? I call you don’t answer, I text you don’t text back, you’re never here when I come by. We haven’t been together in forever so what’s up? Are you kickin’ it with someone else?” I laughed again, which I’m sure made the situation worse. If you only knew.
“Really Tori, it’s basketball season, you know how that goes.” I lied. I make time for what I want to make time for and honestly she didn’t fall into that category. The only reason why I didn’t just tell her was because she was good for a hookup from time to time but even that was getting old. Especially with the way she was stressing me lately.
“I know but it’s like you’re avoiding me all the time.”
“I’m late. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“So can we chill after the game? Aren’t they having a party here tonight?”
“I’ll let you know. Depends on how the game goes. I might just crash after.” I lied again. I had left tickets for Kya and if she came to the game then I was chillin’ with her for the rest of the night without a doubt.
“Well I can stay with you tonight if you want.”
She knew that wasn’t happening and if she had forgotten, I was sure the look on my face was a definite reminder to her that was never going to happen. I barely let girls in my dorm room and I damn sure didn’t let them stay overnight.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Okay well good luck tonight Bae. I’ll be there. Can I have a hug?” She asked and stepped towards me so I purposely turned to the side and loosely hugged her waist. She was embarrassed and pissed. I could see it all over her face as she scanned the lobby to see if anyone noticed the way she had just been played.
“I’m out.” I said and began to walk towards the door with her eyes piercing my body but I didn’t care. I knew I was wrong and just needed to tell her I was done but she was my back up plan and no matter how unfair it was I still kept stringing her along. The only reason why I didn’t stress about it too much was because she could walk away anytime she wanted to but she chose to settle for whatever time and lies I hit her with. That was on her.
The café was extra crowded most likely because by this time a day everyone was finished with their classes. On top of that all of the cheerleaders and basketball players were doing the same thing that I was, trying to get their last meal in before the game. I looked around and spotted a group of my teammates that had combined three tables so that they could all be together. There were several cheerleaders mixed in which was normal. The team and its supporters were like a clique. Cheerleaders dated basketball and football players so wherever we were they were. It was sort of an unspoken rule in our world. Me, on the other hand chose to avoid that at all cost. I usually liked to stay under the radar with the girls I kicked it with. Cheerleaders required a lot of attention and attracted a lot of attention and that was not my thing.
I went through the line, secured two burgers and fries and then made my way to the table to join my team.
“What-up-Zay?” Ethan said so quickly with a mouth full of something that his words ran together.
“What’s good bruh? We ready for that win tonight?” I asked.
“If this fool can get on them boards tonight.” Ethan said and pointed at Davis who was sitting across from him with his girlfriend Lyndsey balanced on one knee. Davis was a 6’9 230lb white boy who basically had no basketball skills what so ever when he first got recruited. He was just big and intimidating so coach brought him in and kept him on the floor at center. Davis was cool peoples though and oddly enough he was actually turning into a real beast at center.
“I got your boards right here.” Davis said and shot Ethan a bird and then finished with. “So FU.”
“You get some rebounds tonight and I might think about.” Ethan said and then winked at Davis.
The table erupted in laughter for a minute and then everyone immediately went back to their private conversations.
“Your girl coming tonight?” Ethan asked.
I took a bite of one of my burgers. “Who?”
“Kya.” Ethan said.
“I don’t know yet. I left her tickets.” I pulled out my phone and decided to shoot her a text because I hadn’t heard from her all day.
You’re coming tonight right?
“So what’s up with her roommate, she straight?”
“Straight crazy.” I said and laughed when I thought about Toni. “Nah I’m kidding she’s straight, if you can handle her. She’s a little much.”
“Much?” Ethan asked looking concerned.
“Hard to explain but she’s straight, I think you can handle her.”
“What’s up Zay, what’s up Ethan?” I looked up to see Shaunie and her friend Michelle standing next to me. Michelle leaned over and wrapped her arms around me and then slide her hands down my chest towards my waist. “How’s my favorite Blasian?” She was not shy at all about the fact that she was trying to get with me.
“Dang girl, you know that’s basically racist.” Shaunie said to her girl and then laughed.
“How is that racist? He’s black and Asian. Blasian and I’m definitely not saying it in a negative way. Trust. He knows that.” She pressed her lips on the side of my face.
“You need help.” Shaunie said and then went back to focusing on her goal. Ethan.
“What’s up Chelle?” I asked.
“You.” She placed her chin on my shoulder so that her lips grazed my neck. “You smell good and I bet you taste better.” She said.
“Girl you’re wild.” I said and then laughed.
“I can be for you.” She said, and released her hold on me before she forced her way onto my lap and straddled my left leg and leaned back against me. I put my arm across her lap and rested my hand on her thigh.
“You’re too much for me, I have to grow up a little before I’m ready for you.” I said and rubbed her thigh. I had played around with the idea of getting with her but she was the type of girl that ran her mouth too much. The last thing I needed was everyone in my business most of the girls I kicked it with kept things on the low and that was just the way I liked it. I didn’t really care what Tori thought but with Kya that was a different story. Even though we weren’t technically together I still didn’t want her to feel like I was smashing every chick that smiled at me. I respected her enough to keep that out of her face whether we were a couple or not.
“You can handle it.” She said.
“We might have to see about that one day.” I said knowing that I had no interest in making good on it.
“I’ll hold you too that.” She said feeling hopeful.
/> “So are we going to get that win tonight?” Shaunie asked Ethan.
“We better.” He said.
“You going to the party later?”
“Yeah I’ll be there.” Ethan said, “You chillin’ with me?”
“You want me to?”
“I asked didn’t I?”
“Don’t get grown now?” She said and laughed.
“Get? Girl I am grown. Keep it up and I will have to prove it to you.” Ethan said arrogantly.
“I see you boo.” She said and laughed again.
“Well ladies I hate to cut this short but we’ve got a game to play.” Ethan said and pushed his chair away from the table. “You ready bruh?” He asked me and then stood up.
“Yeah let’s roll.” Chelle stood up and stepped away from the table so that I could stand up. I had to admit her body was banging and the way her jeans were clinging to it almost made me want to rethink my decision. Almost.
“Good luck hug?” She said and held her arms open. “Even though I know you don’t need it.”
“Every little bit counts.” I stepped towards her, leaned forward to hug her because she was so short and of course she made a point of sliding her hands under my shirt and onto my back. When I let go she smiled and said, “I'll be looking for you later.”
“You do that.” I said before I turned to walk off and the caught a glimpse of Tori standing in one of the lines watching me. I just kept moving knowing that I had just fueled her suspicions.
-----
I walked down the corridor that lead to the arena and stuck my head out looking to see if Kya was there yet. She never replied to my text so I wasn’t sure if she was coming. Damn I hope she shows up. The moment she found about Tori she stopped coming to my games even though I always offered her tickets and made it clear to her that she could always be there no matter who was in my life. I was sure she knew that but she was weird when it came to stuff like that. I knew it was more about her not wanting to chance seeing me with someone else and not about her trying to respect anyone that I was kickin’ it with. Truth be told I would never purposely disrespect her like that. No matter who I was with she would always come first.
I was pumped up and ready to play. I looked around the arena and couldn’t wait to hit the floor. Tonight’s game was going to be televised so the fans were in rare form. My number was printed on jerseys, signs and painted on faces which made me even more anxious to prove that I deserved their respect. There was just something about being in uniform on the court that gave me a rush. It was like freedom to me. It had been my escape when I was a kid and not much had changed. Nothing could faze me when I was out there, ball in hand eyes on the goal.
I was a baller at heart had always been. It was just natural to me. The thing that pissed me off the most was that Johnny was too. His natural talent for the game was about the only thing that I respected about him. He was a natural baller. One of the best but he never had the discipline to do anything with it. But to this day if you got him on the court he could school just about anybody that challenged him. When he was sober, that is. When I was younger he would take me to the gym with him and his friends to watch them play, mostly just to show off not really because he wanted to spend time with me.
As soon as I was old enough to join them. He would let me hit the court and then brag to everyone taking credit for every cross over, block, and every three pointer that left my hands. Never once had he ever given me credit for the hours of practice and training that I committed myself to.
I’m sure that had to do with the fact that I trained so hard mostly to escape him and he knew it. If I was on the courts then he couldn’t put his hands on me. The more he took credit the harder I worked trying to prove to myself and everyone else that I was the only one who deserved credit for my skills and abilities.
I was always at conflict with myself because I hated anything that reminded me that I was a part of him but I loved the fact that I was so nice on the courts. My hate for him made me the player that I am. Either way I owed him for that but he would never hear me admit it. Never!
Chapter 3
Kya Renee
“Girl this place stays packed.” Toni said.
We had just entered the arena and were standing in one of the doorways looking around. It was a Saturday game so it was a little more crowded than I was used to sense I had mostly only gone to games during the week.
“I hope ya boy got us good seats. I need a good view of my future husband.” I immediately thought about the fact that I had never replied to the text that Xavier sent asking if I was coming to the game. Oh well too late for that now.
“You need to pump your breaks and slow all that down. I will not facilitate you cheating on Ant.” I said and then cut my eyes at her. Even though I really would. Ant wasn’t one of my favorites and I knew that Toni could do much better.
“I am not a cheater boo but I need to make sure I have a next to move onto before I let go of what I have.” Toni flipped her auburn weave from her shoulder with a devilish grin.
“You need help, some serious help. I just can't with you.” I shook my head knowing that it was pointless to try to talk sense into her. When Toni was on a mission lord help whoever got in her way.
“Take a picture with me.” Toni said as she located the camera on her phone. “Turn this way so we can get the arena in the background.” We both turned so that our backs were to the arena and posed for several shots before we agreed on one. Or rather Toni picked the one she liked and then I just gave up arguing with her about it.
“Send those too me.” I said as I scanned our tickets so that I could find our seats. I knew they were near the floor but I wasn’t totally sure where. Each player was given four family tickets per game. Xavier's mom had passed when he was sixteen and he literally hated Johnny so he would never invite him. His aunt and sister could rarely make the hour drive so he always offered the tickets to me which I hardly ever used. Me, him and some random chick under the same roof wasn’t exactly the best combination. I knew Xavier didn't care but I tried to avoid being in the same place with him and any of his so called girls. No sense in hiding the fact that I couldn’t handle seeing him with someone else so it was just easier for me to deal by staying away.
“I see you Zay, that's what's up? We got the bomb seats! I guess your boy does have the ability to do something right.” Toni said when we finally found our seats.
We made our way down the aisle and took our seats which were near the floor about six rows behind the team. I looked around, the arena was full of blue and gold. The scene was so different from our school because Toni and I went to an HBCU so the faces in the crowd were definitely different from what we were use too. This place was full of blond hair and blue eyes hidden behind paint to match the player’s uniforms and numbers. They were holding up hand painted signs and banners showing love for their favorite players and the game had not even started yet. I smiled when I noticed how many of them had twenty two on their faces, chest and signs.
Xavier had been an all American player since his freshman year and had played in tournaments all over the country so when he was offered a full ride at one of the biggest DI schools in North Carolina it just made sense but then he shocked everyone when he turned it down accepting an offer from a local DI school that was much smaller. Their program was equally good just on a smaller scale without all of the national exposer.
His reason on record was that he needed to be there for his sister who had just started middle school. Their mom was gone, their dad was an asshole and even though is aunt was raising his sister he wanted the freedom to be there for her. His words exactly ‘the bigger school, the bigger commitment’ which was something that he just didn’t want to be tied to. He said he didn’t need the type of commitment that would prevent him from being there when she needed him. True enough but deep inside I always felt like I had something to do with it also. Our schools were fifteen minutes apart which meant that we could see eac
h other whenever we wanted which worked out to be all the time.
“Aye, there's my new boo.” Toni had her eyes glued to the players on the floor who were currently in the middle of their pre-game warm up. “Let me see that program.” She said and snatched it off my lap.
“Okay let's see number twelve Ethan Evans. Ethan?” She made a sour face. “Who names their son Ethan? Correction, what sane black woman names her son Ethan? I guess I can work with that and with all these number twelves painted everywhere he must be half way decent.”
“Oh my god, you are too much. Did you ever think that maybe he has a girlfriend already, or maybe he likes white girls? I mean his name is Ethan and look around here, this place is full of them.” I laughed at myself for saying that out loud. I pointed to a red head that was sitting a few seats down from us who was wearing his number. “That might be his girl right there.”
Toni looked at the girl and rolled her eyes. “Well whatever his deal may or may not be I am here to change his mind. He looks too good to waste all that on somebody who doesn't know what to do with it. Ya feel me?” Toni smiled at me in a way that let me know that there wasn’t anything I could say or do to change her mind.
I shook my head, “Lord help that boy. He has no idea what he's about to face.”
“Amen.” Toni said.
The buzzer sounded and both teams made their way to their chairs. I smiled when I noticed that Xavier was watching me. He gave me a head nod before joining the team huddle and a few minutes later he was on the floor doing his thing. I loved watching him play. The way he moved on the court was so natural and sexy as heck I might add. It was like the court was his sanctuary and he was totally in control and at peace. It's the only time I had ever seen him completely let go. Well while fully dressed that is!
“Girl, after watching that I think I want to have his children. There is something so sexy about a man that can ball.” Toni said. She was checking notifications on her phone so she wasn't looking at me. The game had just ended and Xavier's team had lost by two points with a last minute shot at the buzzer. Both teams were leaving the floor heading towards the locker room but Xavier took a detour and came rushing up the stairs towards where Toni and I were sitting.
Kya & Xavier: It's Always Been You (Life As We Know It Book 1) Page 4
