Page 93 of Defending the Post
“Does it matter? You will have plenty of opportunities to get to know him,” I said, and he narrowed his eyes. Marquise scoffed before he kissed my cheek.
As we migrated into the suite, Anissa smiled in my direction. I’m sure we were going to have a private conversation about my family connection. The suite had a bar and comfortable seating. As the crowd filled the arena, I could sense their energy. Taking my seat at the end, Jhae sat next to me and nudged my elbow.
“Maalik is your uncle? You do know he is kinda Anissa’s ex,” she whispered, and I shrugged.
The door opened, and the room turned to find Toni. She stepped inside, and we all peered over at each other.
“Marquise sent me a text message, his jersey, and a limo, inviting me to the game,” she said.
Toni stood in the doorway with confusion on her face and no one held any answers but me. When Marquise left the prison this morning, he called me in tears. He had finally faced his true villain, and I supported him through the phone. Winston was the monster he remembered and thought Toni was.
“Come in, Toni,” Anissa said, and they embraced as Toni cried into her arms.
After the national anthem, Khaira found her way to me. I lifted her in the air, taking in her smile and sensing the love in the room. “Are you ready to go on tour in two weeks?” I asked Khaira, and she giggled.
“On tour?” Mrs. Shaw-Jefferies said, and I located her eyes as she leaned forward in her seat. Shit, Marquise didn’t tell her, I thought to myself.
“Marquise is the opening act for Jhae’s tour. He added a tour bus, and he has planned to take the girls and Toni,” I said with no confidence.
“Tour bus? He is performing the intro of the first song,” Jhae said, tossing her hands in the air.
Anissa squeezed the bridge of her nose as she tilted her head down.
“I can’t go on tour. I have clinicals this summer. Is this the surprise he was talking about?” Toni said as she peered up at me.
“I’m not spending my summer on a tour bus,” Ivey said with a crinkled nose.
“Wait... why is Marquise opening the show, and he is not dragging my children across the country! Kal!!!! Marquise is making plans again,” Mrs. Jefferies said, and I turned my attention back to Khaira.
She smiled at me, and I shrugged.
Epilogue
Trophy Ceremony
Two Years Later
Erin
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Marquise as I pulled on his hands to pause his steps. He pulled me to him, wrapping his long arms around my waist.
“Yes, I’m sure. Erin, you are my everything.”
I scanned the red and white chapel with two hearts hoisted on top. I pursed my lips at the flashing lights and the fake green grass outside the door.
“This place has so many memories,” Malcolm said as he stood next to us in the parking lot.
“I would love to remember them. Care to share the tape?” Jhae asked.
Malcolm and Marquise broke into a hard laugh as Jhae rolled her eyes. Before he secured another championship trophy last night, he asked me to marry him. I cried away the light makeup on my face as I accepted mid-court. What I didn’t know was thatMarquise meant right now. We boarded the jet last night after the game.
“Strong marriages are made here,” Malcolm said, as he trailed behind us.
“With the help of therapy,” Jhae murmured.
Inside the chapel was as dated as the outside, with its red worn carpet and white columns. On the wall were stock photos of happy couples in worn picture frames.
“We will plan the wedding of your dreams, but this is more a rite of passage. Consider it the pre-wedding,” Marquise said, and I chuckled.
