Page 92 of Raising Love
I rolled my eyes at the screen and kissed my teeth. “Scott, don’t give that man rope, please.”
“Good company you are definitely in,” Leo added, patting Scott on the back. Then, looking directly into the camera, he said with a grin, “Be home soon, Ivy League.”
I scoffed, my grin widening as I hit the button to minimize the video frame. “He can be such an attention whore.”
An attention whore that I loved. And since he’s started whispering his little nickname for me into my ear while buried very deeply inside of me, I didn’t hate it as much anymore.
A lot had changed since that fateful day I returned home to find Leo in the kitchen cooking and a slew of roses made out of LEGOs in my bedroom. It’s literally been amazing—both romantically and professionally—two areas of my life I didn’t think could experience any kind of amazing-ness after unexpectedly becoming Levi’s guardian.
The Free-Throw Nation column I thought was a weak consolation prize for what I really wanted—an anchor position at the network—was booming and doing far better than I ever expected. My column was referenced by the who’s who in sports media, constantly cited for insightful commentary and quoted in newscasts. It got to the point where I felt a little pressure every time I typed my random thoughts, but it was the best kind of pressure.
My YouTube channel had grown beyond my wildest dreams, so much so that the network gave me a separate vlogging channel just for my very random sports commentary. I was being paid to be myself, something I didn’t think was possible.
And because my visibility increased professionally, my personal life had become a story in itself. People were fascinated by the way Leo and I became guardians of Levi. Our journey caught the attention of brands that now sent us sponsorship offers because of our engaging content—and our relationship.
A relationship Leo made public every chance he got.
Which, honestly, I didn’t mind at all.
Life was so different now. It was unlike anyone’s I knew. It was, honestly... great.
I logged into my social media account, preparing to go live on Free-Throw Nation’s account. I was scheduled to talk about last night’s game—Ballers versus Hawks—and now that I knew about Leo’s final comments during his interview, I was certain the viewers would bring it up.
Leo never missed a chance to show his affection, whether it was verbal or physical. Since moving back to Greene Gardens, he’d become a full-on family man. He went to the games, then came straight home. There was very little partying or clubbing for Leo Vanguard these days. Watching him keep his promise to prioritize family was one of the sexiest things I’d ever witnessed.
Once everything was set up, I pressed the red circle to go live, running my fingers through my hair before gathering it into a messy bun.
These days, I didn’t bother spending hours perfecting my appearance for casual live streams. Sure, for in-person events or high-profile outings, I’d put in the effort, but my fans loved me as I was—even preferred it. Knowing that took a lot of the stress out of always needing to look "on point."
“Hey, everyone, Ivy here,” I said to the camera, smiling brightly. “Coming to you live from my office, as always.” I giggled. “With the freshest takes from last night’s electric game! Thank you for tuning in, wherever in the world you’re tuning in from. Let’s get into the excitement of the hardwood, are you ready?”
Comments immediately started streaming in as I clicked through my notes, smiling at the familiar buzz of engagement.
I didn’t think much about my life before Levi anymore. When I missed that life, it was only because I missed Kendra. Those feelings hadn’t subsided, but I’d learned how to cope with them. Sometimes, a random social media post would pop up and send me into uncontrollable tears. Other times, I’d get the urge to call her before remembering I couldn’t.
There was even a voicemail she’d left me years ago that I still listened to when missing her felt unbearable. It helped.
“First off,” I said, glancing at the camera. “Can we please talk about that incredible performance from the Bronx Ballers last night? And I know someone here is going to say I’m biased, but—” I held up a finger—“you can’t deny they truly brought their A-game, okay? But one player really stood out. Of course, I’m talking about Leo Vanguard.” I winked. “His strategic plays and unstoppable energy were key to clinching that win. So, let’s break down some of those highlight moments!”
Leo didn’t waste any time asking me what we were doing when he moved back to Greene Gardens.
“You want a relationship?” I asked one night over bowls of cereal we were sharing in the middle of the night.
We’d taken a break from having sex, which we’d been doing almost every hour since his return. A bowl of cereal and an island between us was the only thing keeping us apart.
“Don’t you?” he replied, shoveling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “I thought women preferred that.”
I snorted. “I’m fine either way.”
Leo dropped his spoon into his bowl and looked at me. “Look, woman, do you want to be my girlfriend or nah?”
Of course, I said yes.
And it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“Looking at the third quarter,” I started, easing back into the live stream after composing myself. “Leo made a game-changing steal followed by a fast-break dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy. This moment was pivotal, shifting the momentum in favor of the Ballers.”
Leo had been working hard. The season had just started, but his determination to lead his team to the championship was palpable. I believed in him and his vision, and I was confident he and his team could achieve it.
