Page 5 of Going for Three

I tried to prepare myself before clicking on the video, but it didn’t work. The moment I heard her speaking about the time we’d walked in on my father participating in an orgy, I shot to my feet.

“Fuck. I don’t need this shit right now.”

“You’re damn right you don’t,” my manager Deborah’s voice shouted from behind me.

I spun around to find her standing in the kitchen fuming while Hurbert was off to the side taking a phone call. She slammed her purse on the counter, looking like she’d lay me across her knee if she could. We were the same age, so I’d definitely hit that, but that old ass name was a turn off. She was also too aggressive for my liking.

“How could you let this happen, Kianis?”

“Fuck you mean? It’s not like I told the bitch to air all my shit out.”

Deborah was little but mighty. I prepared myself as she marched over to me.

“You could’ve had her sign an NDA or something.”

I ran a hand down my face, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I just wanted to play ball, but apparently, I couldn’t do that without having the world always invested in my personal life for entertainment. Every new scandal invalidated the things I was doing on the court. No matter how well I played, it felt like my success was always overshadowed by my parents.

“What can we do to fix it?” I asked after a while.

Deborah palmed her forehead. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m at a loss right now.” She shook her head slowly. “Let me think on it.”

I wanted to call Breeland and curse her ass out, but that was what she wanted. She never had to worry about me fucking with her again. This was the final straw for me.

Hurbert ended his phone call and walked closer. “That was the owners in regards to the fight at the game last night.”

I’d successfully forgotten all about it during my day, but now, the anger was back. I swiped my nose to bring myself back into the present and crossed my arms over my chest. Jah came around the couch to stand beside me.

Deborah tossed her arms in the air. “Right… What the hell was that? You’re going to give me an early heart attack.”

“That fat ass should’ve never put his hands on my mama or got to running his mouth.”

Hurbert shifted uncomfortably and pulled at the collar of his shirt. Glancing over at the sheen of sweat on his forehead, I said, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to get on your fat ass next.”

Deborah’s mouth fell open. “You need to do something about that mouth of yours. What’d they say, Hurbert?”

I mean, even though the nigga was big as hell, women still loved him.

“That the fight wasn’t his fault. Using obscenities and insults is not a reason for someone to put their hands on you.”

I smiled. “See? Someone has some sense.”

I felt a little better knowing I wouldn’t be further penalized for that shit, but if I ever saw that nigga again, that would be another story.

@mrmostlikelytowin:I like this color on you.

Without remorse or shame, I sent Charmony’s most recent photos to her inbox with my compliment attached. For the last week, I’d been consistently dropping hints of my interest, and she wasn’t going for any of it. Instead of discouraging me, it only motivated me to go harder and apply more pressure. I knew without a doubt that she’d be mine one day soon.

I glanced up as Deborah walked up to me slurping down one of those green-looking coffee drinks people were currently obsessed with.

“Damn, you going to suck the straw down your throat, too, if you don’t relax.”

She flipped me off with a frown. “Please shut up. I’m still not talking to you.”

I shrugged. “You will at some point. I sign your checks.”

She sighed. “Yeah, don’t remind me. I’m still thinking on a plan to refute all this social media backlash. We can’t have brands thinking you’re no longer an investment.”

I waved a hand. “If anyone wants to drop me because of this shit, then let them. My parents conniving and trifflin’ ways don’t have shit to do with the way I play ball. Why can’t it be all about that?”

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