Page 8 of Kove and Xiah
When I left, I cut ties with pretty much everyone. Balling for CFU was cool. I walked on, came off the bench and showed the fuck out. The coaches didn’t buy into pushing my career because I wasn’t the type to live or die to be on the court.
I fucked off at practice if I showed up, hardly ever rode with the team or engaged with the group shit, and didn’t kiss ass with the coaches. I still put double digits on the board every game. Me and my boy Riq collectively were responsible for eighty percent of the points each time we hit the court. My stats outshined their All-American players who spent time with top trainers and elite AAU teams across the country.
The coaches labeled me as disrespectful, saying I had no respect for the game, but needed me for the wins so they tolerated my presence. They viewed me as the hood nigga with skills who wouldn’t make it past college,ifI graduated. Therewas no way they were pushing for me to be drafted, whereas Tyriq would be going first round.
After I received my degree, I’d fully planned on taking my ass back to D-Ville. When an agent reached out to me about playing overseas, I never intended to accept the offer. I told him to suck my dick and left it at that. If I didn’t walk on as a Royal then I planned on chilling. Basketball was something I was good at but not my world.
I had love for it but not enough to be fucked up behind not moving to the next level. The night I dropped a body because Yoel and I got into it with some East Street niggas changed everything. The minute one of them pressed steel to his forehead, the decision was made. I pulled the trigger and dropped him before he could body Yoel.
My brother was pissed and felt the guilt of allowing me to carry that type of weight. It was my decision, not his, but he wouldn’t let it go. Staying in D-Ville meant I wouldn’t do shit with my life. That might have been true, but it was also my decision to make. Yoel wasn’t having it. He demanded that I accept the offer to play overseas or he would be taking the time for a body I dropped.
Yoel and I were damn near twins and also had the same height and build. He was in possession of the gun I used that night and the ink that a witness had identified on the arm of the shooter who pulled the trigger. He could make that happen. I refused to let my brother do twenty for the blood on my hands, so I hit up ol’ boy, told him I would accept the offer, and dipped.
When Sovoya reached out a couple weeks ago asking to represent me, I was confused as hell about how she even knew who I was. I didn’t entertain her conversation until she let me know Tyriq was the one who co-signed my name as a potential Royals asset. I hit his line and he kept it simple.
“You got two championships over there, it’s time for you to come get one with me.”
I booked a flight and brought my ass home. I wasn’t sure how my brother would feel about it, but this time the decision was mine, not his.
I brushed a hand over my head. “He knows I touched down but I haven’t filled him in on why yet. I’m about to head that way though.”
“Look, I know he had his reasons for wanting you to dip back then. It was the only way he knew how to handle it. The decision fucked him up bad, Kove. On some real shit, it’s time…”
For me to be back where I belong…
“Yeah, he’ll be cool.”
“Yeah, he will be.”
“You coming through later?”
“Nah, my baby girl is sick and she likes to be up under me, so I’m inside tonight.”
I grinned at the thought of Riq having a wife and daughter. Especially considering his wife was older and they’d started out as fuck buddies. Life will check what you think you want and hand you something completely different. Three years ago, Riq was stressed the fuck out about being drafted and Teaira popped up pregnant right in the middle of everything he was dealing with. That nigga crashed out but they made it work.
“Damn, so you’re deep up in the family shit.”
“Hell yeah, that’s my heart. Shit, both of ’em.”
“I fucks with it. I’ma pull up on y’all soon though.”
“Aight, bet.”
I was about to end the call but remembered the reason I hit him up. “Ay, you got a barber in town you trust? I was gonna hit Fadez but they’ll be closed by the time I get to the city.”
“Yeah, I see Nyla over at She’s Elite Cutz. She’s nice as hell with the clippers and has a private suite where she handles her celebrity clients. You trying to go today?”
“If she can get me in, yeah.” I brushed a hand over my head.
“Aight, give me a minute to hit her up. If she has an opening, I’ll send you her information.”
“’Preciate that.”
“You know what it is. Cradle to the casket.”
“Cradle to the casket,” I returned and ended the call to get dressed so I could head out. Even if I wasn’t able to get a cut, I was heading home to see my people.
Riq camethrough with the hook up with Nyla. She had a cancellation, so ten minutes after my call with my boy, I was in an iDrive heading her way. She had me right an hour later and I added her to my list for when I couldn’t get home to hit up Fadez. After my cut, I showered, threw on jeans, a basic T-shirt, and Jordan low retros so I could head out.
