Page 63 of Full Court Press

Three days.

It’d been three days, and Nia still hadn’t called or shown up after the bullshit she pulled.

It had been three days since Piper walked out of that hospital, and she hadn’t answered any of my calls or texts. Since I was tending to my daughter, I couldn’t pull up on her like I wanted to, but today, she was going to see me.

After getting dressed, I headed downstairs, grabbed my keys from the table by the door, then stepped into the living room where Nana sat watching the news while Kiy lay asleep in her swing. I could smell food cooking, and I knew my moms was in the kitchen making breakfast.

“I’m headed out, Nana. I’ll call y’all to let you know when it’s done.”

“You’re not going to eat?”

“I can’t eat anything right now. I’ll stop and grab something while I’m out.”

“Okay, baby.” She took my hand. “You’re doing the right thing, baby boy.”

“I know. I’ll see y’all later,” I said solemnly, then planted a kiss on her cheek. I then walked over to my baby and kissed her forehead. “I love you, princess.” She stirred a little but didn’t wake up.

Once I made it to the door, I pulled it open, only to find Nia standing there, looking like she’d gotten into a fight with Mike Tyson and lost. Her eye was swollen, she had scratches all over her face, a knot on her forehead, and a busted lip.

Anger instantly settled into my veins, and without thinking, my hand went around her neck, and I lifted her off her feet.

“You got a lot of fucking nerve coming to my house like shit sweet.” I sneered. She clawed at my hand, but I refused to let her go. I could hear hurried movement behind me, but I was too angry to care.

“Lilo! Let her go!” I heard my nana yell.

“Sweet Jesus. Khalil Jameer Grey! You put her down right now!” my moms yelled, yanking my shoulder. I let her go, and she dropped to the ground, gasping and coughing.

“Kha-lil! I-I can explain!” she coughed out.

“You can’t explain shit to me, you neglectful, deadbeat-ass broad! Get the fuck away from my house before I strangle your dumbass!”

“She attacked me first!”

I gritted my teeth. I swear, I didn’t know what happened to the girl I used to know. It was as if I were staring at someone I didn’t recognize. When I met Nia in high school, she was cool as hell, quiet, and sweet. We used to be the best of friends.

I protected her when people bullied her. I fought for her when her abusive-ass stepfather used to beat on her. But the moment we crossed that boundary, it seemed as if she went completely insane. The mask was off, and I saw the real her emerge overnight.

“You are really stupid, Niana. I didn’t see this shit before, but I see it clearly now. The fact that you think this is about my girl beating your ass is retarded as fuck! Get away from my house. Last warning.”

“No! I was only going to be gone for a second. Sabrina called me and told me she was there. I was only going to talk to her, but things got out of hand. I didn’t know my grandma wasn’t keeping an eye on her!”

“Talk to her for what!” I roared. “Wasn’t shit y’all needed to talk about!”

“You broke up with me and then started flaunting a new bitch in my face! I was okay with you being single and playing with these other bitches, but then you started parading that bitch in my face like what we have means nothing! I wasn’t about to let you replace me when I’ve been wanting my family back!”

This girl is fucking delusional.

“That’s enough!” Moms stepped in front of me. “Nia, it’s done. I’m not allowing you to continue to hurt my son, my granddaughter, or yourself. You need to go get some help, sweetheart. Your negligence could have killed an innocent baby, and all you’re concerned about is who he’s dating?” Ma stepped closer to her. I could see Nia shrink before her as Ma took her by the hands.

In a soft tone, she said, “You don’t see yourself like you should, Nia, and that’s the problem. I know it’s hard, but you have to admit it to yourself and come to terms with the fact that you are not okay. I’ve known you since you were seventeen and have never seen you act this way.”

Tears the size of raindrops slid down Nia’s cheeks, but I wasn’t moved by them. But I did acknowledge the sudden shift in her demeanor.

Ma continued. “If you want to hold on to at least a friendship with Khalil and try to do right by Kiyanne, then you have to stop what you’re doing and get some help. Do you hear me?”

Nia sniffled and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I swear I’m trying. I just. . . When he told me we should just co-parent, I didn’t know how to take it. He was the only good thing in my life, and seeing him with someone else hurts.”

“I know, but your mental health and peace are worth much more than anything else.”