Page 8 of Shooting his Shot

Akari groaned, shaking his head. On the court, everybody called him the Star. It was a given to be the man he was... so talented.

"You know I don't like that name. Hell, everybody knows I don't like that name, but I don't have a woman in my life. I have too much going on, and I don't need a woman to be down my back every time I have a game. There are groupies."

I fought back a laugh at his words. "Trust me, I know. They dick ride you a lot."

He guffawed. "Man, chill that out. I'm not about to say nothing else to you."

I threw my hands in the air. "Sorry. Sorry, I'll chill. But what is the real reason you're not in a relationship if any?"

"Truthfully, I don't have the time for it. I've had several relationships, but they all ended the same way. They didn't trust me, and I'm big on trust. I can't be in a relationship with someone giving them my all, and they don't trust a word I'm saying when I'm telling them I'm not doing anything wrong, and they don't believe me. It's like some woman wants you to come out and say, yeah, I'm cheating on you. Nah..." He chuckled unamusingly. "Been there, done that. I'm good off it. Why are you not in a relationship?"

I lifted one shoulder and dropped it back down, not knowing how to answer that question.

"I don't know. There had been men in my life. I just never wanted to stay in a relationship too long. You know?" I sighed, knowing I was babbling and not giving him a real answer. What would be the point, anyway? Why would it matter to him? "I don't do relationships because I don't want to one day be happy, and a man decides to up and leave me," I voiced truthfully.

Akari was silent, and so was I. What else was there to say after that?

"I guess both of us need to work on something in our lives."

I took a shuddering breath and nodded. "Yeah... one day. But I know I won't be in a relationship anytime soon, so I am happy with not working on that."

He cackled. "You are too much."

"I’m just calling it like I see it."

We grew silent again and started back cleaning up the room. It didn't take long to bag up all my old stuff.

"What are you going to do with everything?"

"Everything will be going in the trash."

He looked like he wanted to agree with me. "Word."

Once we were finished with my old bedroom, we exited and headed down the stairs. We stepped out of the house, and Ilocked the door. I shivered, pulling my jacket closer to me. It was too cold outside today.

I stood next to my car, peering up at him. "Thank you for stopping by to help me clean up. It was appreciated."

He smiled. "It's all good. If you need help in cleaning, all you have to do is call me, and I'll come by."

That was something he didn't have to worry about me doing. "I don't want to take up too much of your time. Plus, you have practice and basketball stuff to worry about. I can manage."

Akari gave me a tight smile. "I heard you say all of that, except okay, I'll do just that."

I tilted my head to the side. "That's cause?—"

He stepped closer to me, stopping what I was going to say.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

I didn't have an answer to that, so I remained quiet.

"That's something I'm going to have to break you out of."

I chuckled. "You can try, Mr. Star."

He groaned. "I'm about to let you go before we get into an argument."

I laughed. "It wouldn't be the first time. It's cold out here, anyway, and it looks like it's about to rain."

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