Page 51 of The Only Shot that Mattered

The kiss they shared sealed their fate, and Kenna had a hunch that their engagement wouldn’t be a long one at all, and that was just fine with her.

“Aw,come on, Uncle D. You’re cheating like a mothafucka,” Alanzo called out, his chest heaving heavily.

“Alanzo!” Both Kenna and Annalise shouted from their spots at the table next to the grill.

It was too late, though. Kenna and Damien’s youngest daughter, the surprise baby, had already started mimicking Alanzo.

“Muddafucka, Mommy. Muddafucka.” She clapped her hands and gave Kenna a toothless grin.

Kenna shook her head and tugged her up into her lap.

“Sorry, Titi,” Alanzo said with his deep voice, waving his hand in apology.

“Who you think you are, anyway, kid?” Damien asked as he dribbled the ball between his legs.

“Kid? Uncle D, I’m grown,” Alanzo asserted.

Skylar, who was on the outside court with the two men, snorted. “Boy turns eighteen and suddenly thinks he’s grown.”

“Grown enough to whup your ass on this court,” Alanzo teased.

“Zo!” Kenna groaned.

“Ass, ass, ass!” Her daughter cheered from her lap.

“What am I going to do with you, Ruby?”

“I do with you?” Ruby asked, lifting her tiny hands and smooshing Kenna’s cheeks together.

“Mama! Caleb stole my chalk,” Kayla, their oldest baby by three minutes, shouted.

Kenna looked at her nine-year-old twins and sighed.

“I did not! You just be lyin’,” Caleb argued. “Mama, tell her to stop telling fibs.”

“Both of you cut it out now,” Annalise called, her voice soft but stern.

Kenna eyed Annalise wearily. The older woman’s health had been slowly declining over the past six months. She was a stubborn old woman and refused to tell them what was wrong, but she assured them she was keeping up with her doctor appointments and would tell them if anything was seriously wrong at the right time. It was a fight Kenna had given up on because Annalise wouldn’t budge, no matter how she tried.

They had eaten long ago, and the family game of basketball had picked up right after that, but it was time for Kenna to end it. She was ready for everyone to leave so she could put her kids to sleep and love on her husband. Cam and Terry, Cam’s husband, had done the old dine and dash and left long ago, which she appreciated for once.

Slowly, she stood and passed Ruby off to Annalise. “Terrorize your gigi for a bit.”

“Oh hush. She is the sweetest baby ever,” Annalise fussed.

Kenna smirked. Ruby was spoiled rotten and the reason Kenna had to get her tubes tied since Damien had long ago forgotten how to pull out.

“Scram, kids. It’s time for some one on one,” Kenna said, waving Alanzo and Skylar off.

“Okay, Mama K. Get him.” Skylar cheered her on.

“Fuck him up,” Alanzo called out. Kenna cut her eyes at him while Skylar slapped him upside his head. “Sorry!”

“Hey, man. Why are y’all always against me?” Damien asked.

“Mister three time champ? You deserve some humbling,” Skylar teased.

Damien waved his eldest daughter off. “That was a long time ago.”

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