“I understand.”
“In the meantime you still have access to your account just in case you need anything and I’ll be in touch with you to let you know when we have all of this resolved. Like I said don’t worry too much about this. It’s just a lot of paperwork which we will handle on our end and I will call you if I need anything from you.”
“I swear, it’s always something with him. I just wish he’d leave us alone.”
“I know you’re frustrated but let me handle this. I promise I’ll have this taken care of in no time. Just focus on school and try not to worry. I’ll be in touch.”
“Easier said than done but I appreciate it.”
Donnell understood and I knew that but it still didn’t make things any easier. He had seen the worst in Johnny when he originally took over the accounts after my mom passed. She had managed to keep the policies a secret from Johnny by having my aunt make the payments in her name. She used my aunts address so that everything was sent there keeping it away from Johnny but when he found out he lost it and went ballistic. He made several trips to Davis and Associates both drunk and sober neither time getting the results that he was looking for. My mother never could protect me physically from Johnny but she did financially. She made sure that I would never have to depend on him for anything after she passed and I was glad but I wished she was here instead. I was finally old enough to defend her but it was too late and no amount of money could help me shake the feeling that I let her down.
I decided to call my aunt to see if she knew what was going on.
“Hey baby.” She sounded happy to hear my voice.
“What are you up?” I asked.
“Just washing a few loads and then I’m going to start on dinner.”
“It not even lunch yet, and you’re starting on dinner.” I knew my aunt was always cooking or baking something so that was normal.
“Your sister has a game tonight so I’m going to bake a lasagna so that we don’t have to worry about dinner later.”
“Oh okay. I’ll call her before she plays. 7:00 right?”
“I think so, you know I can’t keep up.” She said and laughed.
“I talked to Donnell today.” I said and then paused to wait for her reaction to see if she knew what was going on.
“I figured he would call you soon. They sent a letter here for you.”
“I swear it’s always something with that man. I really wish he would just leave us the hell alone. If I thought giving him the money would make that happen, I’d give him every penny I swear it’s not worth it.”
“I know baby, that’s my brother and I love him but he’s got a lot of demons and he’s trying to drink them away.”
“Nobody forced him to live the life he’s living. It was his choice. He destroyed my mother and any chance he ever had of being a part of my life or Leigh's.”
“Baby your father is doing the best he can. It doesn't make it right but he doesn’t know any other way. He’s doing to you what our father did to him, trust me I was there and I know it was rough for him. Just try to make peace with it and you be a better man than he was and when you have kids you do things differently and turn things around for the Adams men.”
“I can’t make peace with it when he’s always there complicating things. It just makes me hate him even more.”
“You don’t hate him baby. You’re just angry and maybe one day you can get past that but for now just try not to let it get to you, you’re too young to have such a heavy heart.”
I did hate him. More than she would ever know but it was pointless to argue with her about it. She was too forgiving and wanted the best for everyone. Even that drunken old man who had ruined his life and thrown away his family.
“Let me know if you need anything.” I said deciding to drop the subject.
“We’re fine baby. Don’t you worry about us.”
“Make sure that Leigh knows that her debit card won't work until they get this figured out.”
“I will. She'll be fine.”
“Okay well I’ve got class so I’ll talk to you later. I love you.”
“I love you too and Xavier…” she paused.
“Yeah.”
“He does love you baby. Just not the way he should.”
“I have to go auntie.”
Yeah he loved me alright, so much so that he had sent me to the hospital more times than I care to remember with countless numbers of broken bones, so if that’s love then I guess he was an expert on it.
Chapter 12
Kya Renee
I was excited about the game tonight because I hadn’t really spent much time with Xavier and I seriously missed him. I complained all the time about him randomly showing up at my dorm but now that he didn’t have time to it actually made me sad that he wasn’t around as much. For the first time in forever he had a morning class three days a week on top of his coach changing their conditioning from late afternoon to early morning so he rarely ever stayed the night anymore but tonight I was staying with him since I only had lab on Fridays and it was canceled. After the game me, Xavier, Toni and Ethan were going to eat and then hanging out since we hadn’t gotten the chance to since New Year’s. Toni was in the same boat that I was in with Ethan and we were both dying for some time with them.
“What are you wearing tonight?” Toni asked and then flopped down on my bed.
I looked down and my clothes and then back at her. “Uh no boo, you need to do better. You haven’t seen your man in almost a week so jeans and a hoodie will not do.” She said.
“He doesn't care about all that and beside he’ll be more focused on getting me out of my clothes so he darn sure will not care what I’m wearing.”
“Well boo, I care. We will both be on point tonight so that all those little Spartan groupies will not have to question why they are with us. The writing will be on the wall. We are showing up stunner style tonight.”
“Girl please, it’s too cold to be trying to dress cute.”
“It’s never too cold to make an impression. What on earth would you do without me?” She said and then rolled off my bed, walked over to my closet and opened it.
“Let’s see.” She said and then began moving clothes around in search of god knows what.
“Whatever you find better go with my Uggs because I’m wearing them no matter what you say.”
“You make my life so complicated sometimes but I love you anyway.” Toni said and then returned to searching my closet.
She finally settled on a pair of dark skinny jeans, a grey long sleeved v-neck, and a multi colored fringed infinity scarf and then hung the outfit on the hook that was on the back of my closet door.
“Will you please consider wearing these she said and held up my honey colored lace up combat boots that kind of reminded you of little house on the prairie.
“I’ll think about it.”
“My work here is done.” She said feeling satisfied.
“What about you?” I asked before she left my room.
“Black leggings, black boots, grey and black Aztec cardigan.” She said with a smile and then swiped her bangs from her face.
“The one you got for Christmas?” I asked remembering one of the sweaters that Toni had gotten as a present from her sister.
“Yes ma’am.” She said and now I’m off to study for my History exam so that I can enjoy my night guilt free.
“Game’s at seven what time are we leaving?”
“Six fifteenish I guess.” She said over her shoulder and the sashayed of in her usual diva manner.
It was almost 3:00 so I sent Xavier a text to tell him good luck tonight and that I couldn’t wait to see him later. I liked to send my game text early so that I knew he would get them before the game. I had been doing this since high school and aside from a few moments when we weren’t speaking because he had done something stupid I rarely ever missed sending them even when he was with someone else. It was our thing and I really didn’t care h
ow anyone else felt about it.
Good luck tonight. I’ll be there cheering for you. Do your thing out there tonight two-two. I love you!
I plugged my phone in so that it would be charged for tonight and then decided to follow Toni’s lead and try to study until it was time for us to leave. I sat at my desk for about twenty minutes but my bed was calling so studying quickly transformed into a nap and before I knew it my eyes were closed and I was drifting off, so much for that.
Xavier Lee
We had just finished our team dinner and were sitting around the locker room chilling until game time. I was already dressed so I was stretched out on the floor with my headphones on listening to music. Most of the guys were laughing and joking around but I usually just chilled before games. I needed to get my head right and most of the team knew my routine by now so they just left me alone. I had my eyes closed and the music was so loud that I couldn’t really hear anything that was going on around me so when Trey kicked my foot to get my attention it startled me.
I turned the volume down on my phone and pulled my headphones off my ears. “What’s up Trey?”
“Coach is looking for you. He’s in the hall.”
“What does he want?” I asked and then extended my arm towards Trey for him to help me up.
He pulled me from the floor and I adjusted my uniform.
“Not sure he just asked me to get you.” Trey said and then turned to walk off.
I walked outside and saw Coach standing by the door writing something on his clipboard and when he saw me he looked up and smiled but I could tell something was up because he looked nervous. His face and top of his head were flaming red and he looked stressed.
“What’s up coach?” I asked and then crossed my arms.
“Your dad’s here at will call asking for a ticket. He told them that you were supposed to leave one for him, do you know anything about that?”
“No and I didn’t. So he can just leave.” I said feeling annoyed.
“I figured, but I just wanted to check with you to first.” Coach said looking me right in my eyes attempting to read my mood. “Alright, I’ll take care of it. Get your head in the game this is a big one tonight. He said and then slapped me on my shoulder.”
“I’m good coach.” I said, “Is that it?”
“Yeah that’s it, you go get ready and I’ll handle this.” He said.
“As I walked off I heard him on the phone telling someone that there wasn’t a ticket waiting and then I walked back in the locker room instead of waiting to see how the rest of the conversation went. I wasn’t in the mood for Johnny’s bullshit tonight and I really didn’t care what happened at this point.
Chapter 13
Kya Renee
The arena wasn’t as packed as usual even though this was a big game for them but I was sort of glad. Their fans had a tendency to get really loud and crazy so I was hoping that the seats around us would be empty. When Toni and I stepped inside the first thing I noticed was Ethan’s parents at one of the concession stands so we walked over to speak.
“Hello girls.” Ethan’s mother said as soon as she noticed us and then took turns hugging Toni first and then me. “You girls look so pretty tonight.” She said and smiled.
“Thank you.” I said.
She searched both of us from head to two again and then said. “I love those boots Kya. You think an old lady like me can wear those or are they strictly for you younger girls?”
“No ma’am you could definitely were them. I think you should get some.” I said with a grin and she could she dressed better than I did. Well now anyway since college had transformed me into a jeans and leggings kind of girl.
“Some what?” Ethan’s dad asked after he finished paying for their drinks and then joined us.
“Some of those cute little boots that she wearing.” Ethan’s mother said pointing towards my feet.
“For you?” He asked with a puzzled look on his face.
“Yes sir, she could definitely rock those.” Toni said and then smilled at Ethan’s mom.
“I don’t know honey, you might want to leave that to these pretty young ladies.” He said playfully.
“Says the man wearing distressed jeans and a baseball cap.” She said and frowned.
He did look like a slightly older version on Ethan with the way he was dressed all the way down to the loosely laced sneakers that he was wearing which reminded me of Xavier.
“I’m just kidding honey. You can wear whatever you want and you’ll look absolutely beautiful in it.” He said and then kissed his wife on the cheek.
“Good save.” Toni said and then laughed.
“Where do you think my son gets it from?” He said and then winked at Toni.
“Enough of this.” Ethan’s mom said and then smiled. “Let’s go find our seats, you girls are sitting with us.” She said linked her arm with Toni’s and then proceeded to walk off.
“Honey they can’t just sit in someone else’s seats. We’ll have to see where their tickets are.” Ethan’s dad said clearly being ignored by his wife.
“You just sit with us until someone has a problem with it and then they’ll have to deal with me she said to Toni and then smiled at me.
They lead us to their seats which happened to be a couple of rows behind the team and lucky for us no one was sitting in the four seats next to them so we all took our seats and watched the team who was in the process of doing their warm up. Twenty minutes later the game began and Xavier was doing his thing on the court.
The game had been really intense and with about a minute left before the half they were tied at 58. There had been so many fouls called including two technical fouls that both teams were in the bonus and every player on the floor was in attack mode. I had been watching Xavier play since our freshman year so I knew a lot about basketball and I had even more knowledge about how to read him while he was on the court. He was aggravated and getting to the point where he was playing with more frustration than skill. He and Ethan were the main shooters on the team and the entire half they had been guarded so closely that they barely had twenty points between the two of them with the majority of their points coming from the foul line.
The clock had run down to about 20 seconds and Ethan had just inbound the ball to Xavier who caught it and immediately sent it right back to Ethan. The only way either of them could free themselves for was shot was to keep the ball in rotation. Xavier ran out wide and planted himself at the top of the key which prompted Ethan to send the ball back to Xavier without really looking at him hoping to get it to him without the opposing team realizing what he was doing. As soon as Xavier caught the ball he attempted to release it for a shot but just as it left his hands for a three pointer one of the other players nailed him right in the chest which sent him flying backwards with so much force that he landed on his back with his head forcefully hitting the floor. I jumped up and threw my hands over my mouth.
“He’s fine Ky. Calm down.” Toni said and stood up next to me.
“Look sweetheart he’s getting up, he’s okay.” Ethan’s mom said and then stood up next to Toni.
Trey and Ethan each grabbed one of his hands and then pulled Xavier to his feet. He stumbled a little before he lifted his arms above his head, grabbed his right wrist with his left hand and then lowered them both on top of his head. He turned his back was to us with Ethan and Trey both in front of him talking. Xavier nodded his head as if agreeing to something but he seemed okay so I took a deep breath and sat back down.
“It doesn’t get easy does it?” Ethan’s mom said and then squeezed my hand.
“Oh they’re tough they can handle it.” His dad said and then winked at me. “You girls worry too much.”
Xavier took his place on the foul line and while he waited for the ref to throw him the ball he grabbed the side of his chest where the player plowed into him. I figured that he was hurt but he would never sit out of a game unless his coach or trainer forced him to. Thank goodne
ss it was almost halftime. Xavier made all three of his shots before he set up at half court next to Trey. The other team inbounded the ball and a few seconds later the buzzer sounded for halftime so I sat patiently waiting not really focused on anything around me.
Toni and Ethan’s parents were deep in conversation about her class load this semester and I occasionally joined in but for the most part I just listened and worried about whether or not Xavier was okay. When the team finally resurfaced out of the locker room Xavier immediately sat down instead of shooting around like he usually did but he seemed okay. The second half started and it was even more intense than the first but Xavier’s team managed to pull out a win, I was just glad it was finally over.
“Well ladies we have to be getting home. We've got an hour’s drive ahead of us so we're going to say hello to Ethan really quick and then head out. I'm sure you girls have plans for later so we'll get out of your way.” Ethan's mother said before she hugged Toni first and then me.
“It lovely seeing you girls again.”
“You'll have to come visit us at the house sometime soon.” His father said. “It'll give me a chance to use my new grill.”
After we all made our way to the floor Ethan’s parents said a quick hello to their son and a few of the other players. They both had a quick chat with Xavier about his collision and then left before the team disappeared into the locker room while Toni and I planted ourselves in the floor seats near the locker room entrance and waited for them to shower and change. About forty five minutes later we could see some of the team entering the arena but decided to stay seated until we saw Ethan and Xavier. Ethan was the first one out walking with Trey while Xavier was just behind them moving extremely slowly.
“You okay?” I asked when he reached us.
“Yeah, just sore, they think I broke a rib.” He said and then placed his arm around my shoulder opposite the side that he had been hit.
Kya & Xavier: It's Always Been You (Life As We Know It Book 1) Page 16
