Page 1 of His Starr Player

The music blaredthrough the speakers of the club. I was in a VIP section with most of my teammates and their plus ones. We had bottles coming all night. It was the Friday before practice resumed. Not only would tonight be a bonding experience with the new girls, but we would have a fun time in the city I’d loved my whole life.

“Jay! Come on over,” Cinnamon called out to the rapper in a section close to ours.

Cinnamon Jones was our point guard. She was a great playmaker and always adjusted calls on the fly. Her quick wit made her a key player on our roster. We considered her a veteran on the team. The Vipers drafted her two years before me.I looked up to her for mentorship a lot. Plus, she knew how to have a good time.

The man she’d brought into our section was well known in the music industry. CCG Jay was a successful Cade Cove rapper on the CCG label. CCG stood for Cade Cove Gangstas. Their origin came from a couple of dope boys wanting to do more in their life than sell drugs. They were comprised of several rappers, singers, and other musician types. They brought a lot of attention to our city, especially after Jay’s latest album went viral on social media. He even had everybody doing a dance to his song.

Jay stood about six feet and some change. I was six feet even, and he had a couple of inches on me. He had his locs styled in neat barrel rolls. His skin was a darker complexion, and he had gold teeth. I think the grills were permanent—not my type of vibe. He was fine as hell regardless, though.

“Ladies, this is my cousin, Jay. Most people know him as the legendary hitmaker, CCG Jay. Couzzo, these are my teammates.” Cinnamon introduced us all.

“What’s happening, ladies? Y’all enjoying the club?” he asked as he licked his lips.

“I can’t speak for anybody else, but I’m having a blast!” Livy shouted drunkenly. She had knocked down six shots and felt every drop of the liquor in her system.

Livy Redd was a rookie on the team. She was a cute, light-skinned girl from Mississippi. She was a country bumpkin but could play ball like a grown ass man. She was a stallion like Meg, with legs that were perfect.

The club was dim, but the colorful lights transitioning to the beat of the music lit up our section perfectly. I could see Jay eyeing us all individually, as if he was trying to choose who he wanted to pursue for the night.

When our eyes locked, he licked his lips and closed the distance between us, completely disregarding the conversations he’d had with the other ladies. As he got closer, I downed the shot in my hands and reapplied my lip gloss.

It had been damn near a year since the last time I’d had some good sex, so if he played his cards right, I might let him put me through the mattress tonight.

“How are you doin’ tonight, beautiful?” he asked. The scent of his minty fresh breath was a welcomed surprise against my cheek.

“I’m good. This isn’t my usual scene, so I’m just going with the vibes.”

“Fa sho. I feel you.”

I chuckled. “You’re always at somebody’s club. You’re always viral on social media.”

He nodded. “Yeah, you right. I got an image to uphold. I’m sure you know a little about that, huh?”

“I do.”

He placed his hand on the small of my back and dipped his head down so I wouldn’t have to strain to hear him over the music. “I can’t lie. You’re beautiful as fuck, mama.”

“Thank you. You’re handsome as well.”

“I ’preciate you. I’m trying to get to know you for the night.”

I laughed. “Is that right? What would you like to know, Jay?”

“How that pussy taste.”

A Gunna song transitioned to a Bigxthaplug song. Bigxthaplug was one rapper we kept in rotation during practice and played during warmups, so when he came on the beat with his signature “Aye!” we rapped along to the music. We went word for word until the DJ transitioned to a song by GloRilla. I was grateful for the interruption because Jay’s statement had given me the ick. I hated men who didn’t have any game or finesse. I could tell he was used to bitches who folded just fromhis status as a celebrity. I was a woman who could go years, and had gone years, without a man. I liked to be romanced and courted—many people in my generation had no clue how to do either.

“You were fine as hell rappin’ like that, mama.”

“Thanks.” I chuckled.

“I don’t know if you heard me earlier, but I’m really feeling you. You want to head out with me after this?” he asked. His hand returned to the small of my back.

I tried to sidestep him, but the section had gotten crowded.

“I don’t think so. I’m not the type to fuck on the first meet,” I explained in the best tone possible.

His smirk had turned into a frown. “You one of them?”

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