Page 46 of Full Court Press

“Do me a favor, and don’t. I don’t need your protection. You don’t even know her, yet you calling her names and putting shit in her head so you can try to fuck! Desperate-ass fuck nigga!”

“A’ight, Lilo.” He nodded and looked off before putting his eyes back on me. “When this spell she has you under wears off, I’ll be here to tell you I told you so. Then we gon’ hug it out and fuck some real bad bitches.”

I could see the amusement in his eyes, but I also saw a hint of anger. At this point, I knew our brotherhood would be no more. I could see behind the façade he put up. That ugly-ass, green-eyed monster was lurking, and I never saw it until this very moment.

I gave him a menacing glare, then walked off. It was fucked up, but I knew our friendship was over. Even though I wouldn’t fuck with him like that no more, I was still going to keep him in my periphery.

As the saying went: always keep your enemies closer.

The gym was filled with spectators, scouts, cheerleaders, and families to witness one of the most intense games I’d ever seen. We were playing the Detroit Pharaohs, and since the moment the game started, I’d been yelling and screaming.

As I’d stated before, I was never a sports girly, but since dating Khalil, I’d been to every game, per his requests.

I sat in the second row behind our team with Gennel, Robin, Jess, and Braelyn. All of us were cheering and yelling because this game was intense. I wanted to cheer for my hometown, but I didn’t want to play both sides.

The score was eighty to eighty-nine, with the Pharaohs taking the lead. I could see the intensity in Khalil’s eyes. Something was off with him. Ever since I told him what happened the other night, it seemed as though he’d withdrawn from his crew. I knew him and Lamar’s chemistry on the court had been compromised because they barely passed the ball to one another.

I didn’t like what was happening between them, because I felt like I was to blame for how they were acting toward each other. If I hadn’t told Khalil what happened, they would have possibly dominated the Pharaohs. In every home game we had, we always came out the victors, but tonight, we were down by nine points with only two minutes left in the final quarter.

Khalil dribbled the ball up the court.

His muscles flexed with a serious look on his face.

When his opponent tried to go in for the steal, Khalil faked left and let the ball fly from his hands at the three-point line. We all watched the ball soar through the air until it landed in the basket, hitting nothing but net.

“Whoooo!” I yelled, jumping up in excitement. Although I knew we might lose this game, I was still proud of them for never backing down.

“This ho,” I heard Sabrina mumble since she was just a few feet away with her dance squad. I tried my best not to let her and her rat pack of friends get to me. Since dating Khalil, it’d been nothing but sidebar insults and eye rolls. I was never the type to let anybody’s words get to me, but Sabrina had been trying me since I got here.

“Who is she talking about?” Robyn queried.

“Her mama,” I replied with a smirk on my face. Sabrina glared at me but thought better of replying. I had no idea why she wanted to rumble with me when she knew I knew all her dirty little secrets—secrets that would ruin the fake reputation she’d built here at True. There was only so much I would take before everybody became privy to her letting her mother pimp her out to grown men for money.

“Piper,” Braelyn whispered as she nudged me with a smirk on her face.

I shrugged, turning my attention back to the game.

By the end of the game, I watched Khalil saunter over to the chair and plop down. We lost by three points. From his body language, I could tell he was disappointed, and I wanted nothing more than to comfort him.

Gennel stood. “I’m going to pull the car around. Pipe, are you coming to the kickback with us?” she asked.

“I’m riding with Khalil. I’ll meet y’all there,” I told her.

“Okay. Go comfort your man. He looks defeated.” She gave me a soft smile, then she and the girls left. I waited on the bleachers and watched the team shake hands with their opponents while everyone began to clear the gym.

Khalil’s eyes found mine, and I put a smile on my face and waved. He winked at me, shook the last person’s hand, and finally stepped over the first bench until he reached me.

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my lips. “You here to interview me?” We both chuckled.

“Actually, I am, but I don’t know if I should. You seem like you aren’t in the mood, and I’d hate for you to give me your asshole energy again.”

He chuckled, and I smirked.

“Nah, you won’t ever get that energy again.”

I tugged at one of his freshly done braids. “How are you feeling?”

He sighed and sat next to me. “Disappointed.”