Page 37 of Going for Three

He shook his head. “I thought I taught you better than this. All these little bitches do is take, take, take. A baby is going to bleed you dry.”

“It’ll be no different if I don’t have one because you and Ma do that all on your own.”

My nostrils flared as my heart started to race. I did not need this right now. I had a game to play.

“I don’t have time for this shit. Keep your judgments to yourself like you have the right.”

I turned around to leave, but his voice halted me. “And what’s that supposed to mean, Kinga? I am always going to call you on your bullshit. You’re fucking up big time, thinking you can marry a girl like that.”

I was in his face before he could finish getting his words out. “It means you have some right to step to me about my bullshit when you’re covered in your own. Every time I turn around, it’s a story floating around about you, a picture of your mistakes for all the world to see. You’ve never given a fuck about how me or my mama felt. You’ve always done what you wanted, leaving me to drown in your fucking shadow, so even when I do the right thing, it’s not enough.” I chuckled. “Charm is honestly the best thing to ever happen to me. If I didn’t have her, this shit wouldn’t even be worth it. Just leave me alone because there is nothing you can say to change shit. We’re already married now.”

I showed him my ring in case he didn’t understand.

My father clapped his hands. “If you want to prove you’re not like me, then you’re going about it the wrong fucking way.”

I spun around, ready to head to the tunnel, but he kept yelling after me.

“Get back here when I’m talking to you. Kinga! Get back here.”

I stopped walking, hating that I even had respect for this man. He didn’t deserve it. He was trying to judge me when he was imperfect himself. I knew I had to be better for my son. This cycle couldn’t continue. I tensed when I felt him walk closer.

“You think you’re so much better than me, but you’re doing the same thing I did—tanking a promising career, being careless with your money, thinking you’ll always have enough to provide for your family. I carried y’all on my ego and jumped into something long term with a woman I barely knew. You think it feels good to always be painted as the bad guy when no one knows what a spiteful bitch your mother truly is. I’m not saying it’s right, but my happiness matters, too. Set yourself free before it’s too late.”

My hands tightened into fists as I tried to regulate my breathing. He was saying a whole lot of nothing. I saw Coach Atkins up ahead, trying to get my attention. It was time for the game to start, and my thoughts were all over the place. Gone was the confidence I’d had a few minutes ago. I draped my towel over my head, dropped my chin on my chest, and walked off without saying a word.

I couldn’t understand why my parents were so opposed to me getting a happy ending. Was I inevitably setting Charm up for failure? Were they right, and would I ultimately fail her by making the same mistakes my father had? I walked onto the floor, so lost in my thoughts that the lights of the arena blinded me. It felt like all eyes were on me as cameras flashed and the crowd erupted into applause. I was supposed to be king of the court, yet as I stood there I felt like the king of nothing.

Instead of going home,I found myself at Breakers having a drink. Thankfully, it wasn’t packed, giving me the opportunity to drink away my sorrows in peace. I played like shit tonight, and it cost the team the game. That game determined if we were safe for the playoffs or not. The loss meant we had to win our next game to secure our spot, and my head wasn’t even in it for real.

I tossed the bourbon in my glass from one side to the other. I could smell the scent of my mother’s cigarette as she chastised me and Charm. I heard my father tell me how the family man thing was a mistake. I shook my head, still unable to shake the heaviness of coach’s disappointment after I played terribly. It took everything in me not to break down in tears, but somehow, I held it together, giving lackluster interview responses to get them people out of my face.

I was in shambles right now. All I wanted was to be celebrated for the good I was doing, but the people who mattered most to me were ruining it. Up until we told them, I didn’t even doubt my ability to handle my new roles as father and husband. That seed of doubt was spreading quickly and tainting everything with its life sucking tentacles.

“Hey, handsome,” a familiar, sultry voice spoke from beside me.

I shook my head with a frown. “Man, you must be out of your mind thinking we have anything to say to each other after that stunt you pulled.”

I lifted my glass and drained all the liquor inside before waving to the bartender. It was definitely time to take my ass home. The last thing I needed was to be seen out with this broad.

She gently placed her hand on my arm. “No, please stay, Kianis. I’ve been praying for the chance to run into you and talk about it after you blocked me on everything.”

I snatched away from her. “As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing to discuss.”

“I know it might seem that way, but at least let me apologize. I was super emotional, and you weren’t talking to me. I thought the story would make you come back, but it didn’t.”

I laughed with a shake of my head. “Of course, it didn’t. I’m not a fucking child, Bree, and I don’t play mind games. All you did was show me that I can’t trust you.”

Finally, the bartender came over. “Bring yo’ ass on. I’m trying to wrap this up.”

I set my phone on the bar to take my wallet out of my pants. The screen was lit up, and Bree’s nosey ass snatched it up quickly.

“What the fuck is this?” she asked referring to the maternity photos that I’d set as my screensaver. Every time I unlocked my phone, a new one came up in the rotation.

I sucked my teeth. “Man, mind your fucking business.”

She folded her arms over her chest, refusing to give me my phone back. “So, what? You’re a family man now?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Now, give me my shit so I can get the fuck on through.”

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