Page 35 of Tyriq & Teaira
I turn to my left and see a tall man standing behind the sofa. He’s not huge but has some bulk like he used to lift back in the day. His beard has hang time and it has a patch of gray on one side. He reminds me of an unc on the block back in D-Ville, a hard-working man, never been in the streets but still stands on his shit. So out of respect, I drop my arms from Teaira’s ass.
“Daddy, stop,” she says and they both laugh. She grabs my hand and pulls me with her as she walks over to him. “Tyriq, this is my daddy.”
“I’m Troy and I definitely know who you are,” he says. “Man, congratulations on that win! You proved them wrong out there and brought it home to CFU. You ready for the draft?” he asks.
“Yes, sir. I’m ready.”
“Let’s go talk back here. The cornbread isn’t ready yet.” He pats my shoulder then hugs Teaira. “I love when you play, Babygirl. And take that frown off your face. We’ll be in there in a minute.”
Teaira eyes him for a minute before leaving us in the living room. When she’s gone, he turns to me then grins. “You smoke?” he asks, catching me off guard for real.
I was expecting that question.“I blaze,” I admit.He really is an unc.
“Good. We can smoke one and talk for a second.”
We walk through the living room and pass another smaller room with bookcases then out of the door to a closed-in patio. It’s air conditioned with furniture, a big screen, and a bar. He sits in a chair and nods for me to sit in the other. Not only does he smoke but he smokes that fye. When he opens the Lit Box from High Timez, and I see the big ass prerolls, I know we’re about to blow. I wasn’t really sweating meeting her parents but there’s always a little nervousness in these situations. All of that fades away the minute his torch fires the blunt.
“What you know ’bout that, Mr. Troy?”
“I know after a week at the distillery, I need to relax. Since I only smoke on the weekend, I don’t waste my hard-earned money on no weak shit.” He passes the blunt to me. “Guest first.” I don’t hesitate to hit it and let the smoke fill my lungs. When I release it, I hit it again and pass it back to him. “Huh?” he questions with raised eyebrows.
“That’s gas,” I admit.
“All day.” He hits the blunt, and for a minute, he just enjoys his weed. When he passes the blunt back though, he turns his body a little to face me. “I just got two questions about you and Teaira and that’s it. She’s a grown ass woman and I don’t get in her affairs. I leave that to my wife,” he says and I respectfully sit up and nod. “We raised her, so I know who she is, what she wants, and what she deserves. The deserves is where I insert myself because she deserves a man who’s going to love, protect, and care for her. No exceptions. I’m not that old so I know the kind of access a professional basketball player has to women. With all of that, can you honestly say that you can just be with one woman?”
Before Teaira, I honestly couldn’t have answered his question. I’ve had access to women since I grabbed a damn ball. And when I started winning games, tournaments, and championships, my access grew too. Pussy and basketball go hand in hand. If I legit wanted to, I could fuck a different female every night. I definitely have access but that doesn’t mean shit when I only want one. I’ve only wanted her since our first night.
Speaking nothing but facts, I look him in his eyes and say, “When it’s the right woman, yes.”
“I’m going to assume that’s my daughter. If I’m right, do you see a future with her?” he asks.
It takes all of me not to tell him that a part of our future together is already on lock with our little baby but I keep it in. Teaira wants to tell them together before dinner. I’m working on the other part. My feelings for Teaira have been creeping in for a minute now and they’re only getting stronger with each minute we’re together. So I just give him the simple answer.
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Good.” He nods then hits the blunt. “Then we understand each other until we don’t,” he says and I fully understand that if I hurt Teaira in any way, he and I will no longer be cool.
“You don’t have to worry ’bout that,” I assure him. When he passes me the blunt, I hit one final time, smirking at him. Something tells me Unc might just have a little street in him.
“I’m going to finish this up. Won’t you go see if that cornbread is done,” he says smoothly.
“Bet.”
I stand and leave him to the blunt. Because I don’t have a clue where the kitchen is, I rely on my nose and ears. Teaira and her mom are in full conversation and their voices get clearer as I walk. The house also smells good as hell. I may not know what she’s cooking but I do know it smells delicious. So I keep walking. When I’m almost at the end of the short hall, I hear my name and freeze.
“And you’re sure that’s Tyriq?” her mom asks.
“I hope I am, Ma.”
“Then it will be. The smallest amount of hope is enough to cause the birth of love. It doesn’t happen overnight, but when it does and it’s meant for you? Sweetheart, it’s wonderful. The ride can also be fun.”
The remainder of her words trail off and I miss them, but whatever she said, Teaira immediately reacts. “Ma! I swear! TM-Freaking-I.”
“Girl, what do you think me and your daddy do all alone in this big house? Please! It ain’t just cooking and eating. Well, some eating.”
“Ma! Ugh! I’m going to get—” she begins and her sentence stops when she runs right into me.
Fuck! I’m caught.
