Page 62 of Full Court Press

“I know, Ma. I’m on it.”

“How is she?”

“Sleeping. They gave her a mild sedative to relieve her from feeling the pain.”

Ma shook her head and scoffed, eyes going to Piper, who stood behind me in silence. “Hello, Piper. What happened to you?” Ma asked, going to her side. Piper snapped out of her daze, looked at my mom, eyes coming to me, then back to my mom.

“Nia and I had a fight. She attacked me at the Halloween party.”

“What? This wench is off her fucking rocker. While her baby is unsupervised, she’s out fucking partying? I hope you beat the shit out of her.”

“Yeah,” Piper whispered. “I should go.”

“Baby.” I stepped closer to her.

“Just let me think, Khalil. Please. I’ll call you to check on Kiy later.”

She hurriedly walked away, and although I desperately wanted to go after her, I couldn’t leave Kiy right now.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “She’s going to leave me.”

Ma shook her head. “She won’t. Don’t think like that.”

“She is. I always knew Nia was going to try her. I should have shut that shit down better, but I didn’t think she would try to fight her. Not only is Nia the problem, but she got into a fight with Sabrina Murphy, too.”

Ma’s eyes came to me. “Tiera Murphy-Chisholm’s daughter?”

I nodded. My moms and Drew had several dinners with the Chisholms over the years. They were the ones who suggested I go to True in the first place. They knew I’d make their school look good on paper because of my academic achievements throughout my school years, not to mention my skills on the court. Drew and Sabrina’s stepfather, Micah, ran in the same circles, so I only knew of the rich girl, Sabrina, not the baby prostitute that Piper said she was.

“You love her?”

Without hesitation, I replied, “Explicitly.”

“It’s only been a little over two months, Khalil.”

“I know that, but that didn’t stop me from falling for her. Piper’s different. She’s genuine, funny, giving, and smart. She makes me feel shit I never felt before, and the way she loves on Kiy, . . . I can’t see myself with anybody else but her. She can’t leave me.”

“Give her some time, baby. I imagine this is a lot of stress on her, as it is for you. If she loves you, she will be there waiting for you. Sometimes we mistake passion for love. That passion can even be possessive, all-consuming. Be sure that you’re not confusing the two.”

I let her words resonate for a moment. The only passion I felt was my feelings for Piper. I wasn’t confused about the way she made my heart beat rapidly every time I saw her face, nor was I confused about my need to be everything she needed. There was no mistaking that, in just a little over sixty days, Piper barreled into my heart and made herself comfortable.

“There’s no confusion, Ma. I love her.”

She rubbed my back and kissed my cheek. “I see. Let’s go in here and see my baby.”

I nodded as we walked back into the room, my head spinning and my heart heavy.

I refused to let this be the end of us.

Three Days Later

Kiy was released from the hospital yesterday. After receiving instructions on treating her burn, I stayed with her all day yesterday to monitor her. For the most part, she was fine. The only time she cried was when I had to apply the ointment to her arm and wrap it. Otherwise, she was still her happy self.

It was now Monday, and I was headed to the friend of the court to file for full custody. The coach gave me time off from practice after I explained what had occurred, then called the dean to explain why I had to take a leave of absence.

I had Jalen and Keith collect any missing assignments from my classes and bring them over so that I wouldn’t fall behind.

These past few days had been a damn whirlwind, and I prayed that this ache in my heart would end soon.