Page 105 of Full Court Press

“Yeaaa, mon!” she exclaimed, swirling her hips and doing a little dip.

“Bring ya ass. And tell my mother and father-in-law to clear theirs too. It’s been long overdue for a meeting.”

“Indeed, it has.” I kissed her forehead then wrapped my arm around her. We all filed out of the building and to the awaiting SUV. I could see Anais across the parking lot, screaming at her security about allowing me to embarrass her.

I shook my head and kept it pushing, finally realizing I’d dodged a major fucking bullet. I didn’t see the signs before because the dollar signs were the only focal point. I wasn’t a praying man, but I thank God that I ran into Piper that night at the gala. Since then, she had done what was necessary to show me that I wasn’t in this alone.

We still had a little ways to go, but I was confident that this time around, we’d make it to the end of time.

“You’re going to be fine, babe. Relax,” I told Khalil as we pulled up to my mom’s house. I held in my laughter looking at him over in the driver’s seat sweating bullets.

Before she invited us over, I called and told her that I was bringing her son-in-law to meet her. It was funny to say that Justina cursed him from here to Texas and back again.

She wasn’t loud or angry but very stern and direct about how he went about marrying me without her blessing. That alone had Khalil scared to see her in person, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Man, ain’t nobody scared of yo’ mama.”

“Good. Let’s go inside then.”

He scratched his head. “She-um-she ain’t got no gun, do she?”

That made me laugh.

“I thought you weren’t scared?”

“She cutthroat. I see where you get that fire from. You can cut a motherfucka in half with that sharp-ass tongue when you get mad. Both of y’all are like the calm before a storm.”

“I can agree, but I’ve calmed down a lot since college. The old me would have come out on that stage and dragged your little mistress by her little ponytail.”

He laughed. “And I wouldn’t have stopped you.”

“You know better.” I chuckled and kissed his lips. “My mom is harmless. Just a little hurt that she wasn’t privy to her only child getting married, but I’m positive she isn’t going to dwell on it.”

“Yeah, okay. Let me get in here so she can bite my head off ’cause I’on believe shit you saying right now.” We both laughed, and he got out to open my door and grabbed the gift bag he had for my mom and Parnell. I took his hand, and we strolled up the walkway to the front door. I used my key to get inside and called out to her.

“Ma, Parnell! We’re here!”

A few seconds later, Parnell came from the back of the house, all smiles, walked up to me, and hugged me.

“Hi, beautiful.”

“Hey! This is my husband⁠—”

“KG! What up, man!” Parnell exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug. Khalil chuckled. “It’s crazy how my daughter been married to a basketball star all this time and ain’t tell me a thing.”

“Parnell, don’t start. You’ve been sitting courtside at almost every home game.”

“It ain’t the same as knowing he’s part of the family, doll face.”

“It’s cool. I’m here now, so that’s all that matters. I got something for you.” Khalil reached inside the gift bag and handed him a leather case with Parnell’s name inscribed on it. He opened it, seeing the Cuban cigars inside. “Piper told me you liked cigars, so I had those flown in straight from Cuba.”

“Oh, man. You didn’t have to do this but thank you. It’s nothing like a good cigar and a shot of cognac after a hard day’s work.”

They both laughed and shook hands.

“Ahem.” My mother cleared her throat, and we all turned to her coming down the hall.

“Hey, Mommy,” I greeted, moving to her side and kissing her cheek.