Page 4 of Going for Three

He lifted his hands in surrender. “My bad then. I was just trying to help.”

“Well, you’re not, so can you please leave me alone?”

I didn’t allow him the chance to respond as I marched over to my tripod. I tucked it back under my arm, prepared to get the fuck out of here now that my mood was ruined when a gentle tug on my wrist halted me.

“You just going to leave like that, Charm? I know you see me trying to shoot my shot and shit.”

His audacity to touch me a second time really set me off.

“You athletes are so fucking entitled. First, keep your hands off me, and second of all, I’m not interested.”

His head jerked back as his right eyebrow tilted upward. “Not interested? I’m Kianis Kinga, baby. All bitches are interested.”

I frowned and folded my arms. “Yeah. Well, your first mistake was thinking I’m a bitch. Get the fuck out of my face ‘cause I don’t care who you are. Jesus himself couldn’t make me fuck with you. I know your type.”

A smile lifted his cheeks, exposing that adorable dimple in his left cheek. It took all my strength to not physically react to him. After the way I snapped on him, there was no way in hell I was going to let him know that I found him attractive.

I inhaled sharply when he flooded my senses with his irresistible scent for the second time. Hooking my chin, he forced me to look up at him.

“Humph. We’ll see about that, pretty girl. I don’t know who you’ve fucked with, but I promise that nigga ain’t me.”

He winked then brushed past me and headed to the door. The bell above it jingled as he pulled it open. He glanced at me once more.

“You gon’ fall in love with me, Charm. I promise you that.”

With that final and bold declaration hanging heavily in the air, he confidently strolled out.

I didn’t want to, but I found myself watching the crowd that surged the second he stepped out front. The last thing I saw was the flash of multiple cameras. With a sigh, I shook my head and looked at my shattered camera lens. I prayed that my memory card wasn’t damaged because my vlog for the week would be lost, ultimately fucking up my posting schedule. Turning toward the counter, I decided to just get my hot chocolate. I needed a little slice of happiness to try erasing this turn of events and running into him…

Buzz!Buzz! Buzz!

I glanced down at my vibrating phone and decided to shut it off. I was trying to be lazy and relax in peace. My publicist Hurbert constantly calling was fucking that up, and I wasn’t in the mood for any of his nagging today. I sighed when silence filled the room again.

“Perfect.” Leaning forward, I snatched a slice of pizza from the Stoner’s box on my coffee table. “Let’s play ball.”

Lifting the controller to my PlayStation, I got lost in a 2K game. This was how I loved to spend my free time. You’d think I’d grow tired of playing basketball, but I never did. I had a real love and appreciation for the game, whether I was on the court or playing on a gaming system.

It was hours later when I heard feet shuffling across the floor.

“Man, yo’ ass in here playing games like shit ain’t hitting the fan right now.”

I glanced up at Jah as he came to plop down beside me.

“Fuck you talking about, bitch ass boy?” I pushed him to the side with a chuckle for emphasis.

He sat up with a bewildered look. “You don’t know?”

“Know what?” I asked, tossing a quick glance his way before returning my focus to my game.

It was the fourth quarter with minutes left on the clock. My opponent only needed a few shots to win the game.

Jah sighed. “Bro, Breeland did one of those tell-all interviews with Jaded. All your family’s business is floating around the internet.”

Only then did I stop what I was doing. Turning to him, I deadpanned, “Say word.”

He shook his head. “Check your phone, nigga. You’ll see how real it is.”

I abandoned the game to do just that. It took a minute for my phone to power on then pick up a steady signal, but the second it did, the notifications started to flood in without pause. Sure enough, Bree had done what she swore she never would. Having been my on and off again girlfriend for years, she knew more about my family than anyone else. To know she’d betray my trust for a minute of fame fucked with me.

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