Page 73 of Full Court Press

We had plans to go back home on Thanksgiving and tell our families all at once, but on November 1st, 2015, Piper ran and was never seen again.

“I called you. I reached out, but you never answered or returned my calls or letters. I knew I hurt you, and I’m sorry for that. I sent the annulment papers, but you never signed.”

“Why would I sign them when you were mine? I didn’t answer or reach out because I knew what the fuck you were going to say and do.”

“But now you’re trying to marry someone else,” she said solemnly. “You would have to divorce me first before that happens.”

I scoffed and looked away, trying to reel back my emotions. This shit was overstimulating me, and there was yet another obstacle I had to face. The last obstacle was to free myself from the hold this one woman had on me.

“I don’t know why I expected you to fight me on this. I didn’t sign them because I wanted to see if you’d show me that I wasn’t a fucking fool for you. That I didn’t make a bad decision when I put that ring on your finger. But I see you’re still that scared-ass, indecisive little girl you were when we met.”

She tossed her arms up in frustration. “What do you want me to do, Khalil!”

“Fight! The fuck? Show me that you actually gave a fuck about me.”

“For what? It’s clear you hate me now and going to marry someone else! I loved you too, Khalil. I love you so much it hurts. All I can do is apologize for my actions and pray that you can forgive me for hurting you.”

I stared at her pretty, round face. She was still as gorgeous as she was at True. Only now she’d matured and was fucking irresistible.

Just the thought of another nigga touching what belonged to me had me incensed. I couldn’t be mad, though. I had my own shit going on with Anais, but if Piper showed me that she wanted this life with me, Anais would be a memory.

“If any of the shit between us was ever real to you, you’d fight for me, Piper.” I stepped closer to her. “But somehow, I don’t think you ever truly loved me, so I won’t hold my fucking breath. I’ll have my lawyer draw up the divorce papers. You should have them in the next forty-eight hours.” With that, I walked away from her and went back inside. Instead of going to talk to Orlando, I made a beeline and went to the bathroom. I had to calm myself down and suck down my emotions before I went back out there.

I prayed Piper would be gone by then.

Knowing her, she would be, and that whole conversation would feel like a fucking illusion.

48 Hours Later

I sat at the head of the conference table, looking over the graphic designs for the ad section of our magazine. Not only was I in charge of the editorial pages, but I was the one who made sure every detail of the paper was correct and put together well.

I was the executive over graphics and editing, on top of getting celebrity interviews.

While I sat looking over the designs, I said nothing, but my mind was going a thousand miles a minute.

I was unfocused after seeing Khalil the other night.

His sad, angry eyes and his hard, saddened tone had been plaguing me since I saw him.

The words fight for me ran through my head a thousand times, and I didn’t know if I should or even wanted to. It wasn’t because I didn’t love him. I was still very much in love with my husband, but when I thought about all the shit we went through in college, I didn’t want to relive the scrutiny that came with it.

Now that we were adults and had our dream careers, the shit would be ten times worse. One thing about those tables: they always turned. Now that he was in the spotlight, could he handle the backlash of calling off his fake engagement if he did happen to forgive me? What about him revealing that he was already married?

“Piper?” My head lifted to the voice of my partner and best friend, Robyn Smith.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Are you okay with the prints?”

“Y—” I cleared my throat. “Yes, these are good. Q, what do you think about the final edits on the Kema and Knowledge interview?”

“You did your big one, per usual, queen. Ready to press go whenever you are.”

“Then let’s do it. If that’s all, I think this meeting is adjourned.” I slid the prints back over to Hanna, our graphic designer, as they all stood to leave the room. Robyn stayed behind just as Braelyn walked in with a basket of muffins and sparkling cider.

“Hey, ladiessss!” she exclaimed, cheerful and loud, as she always had been.

I smiled at how her beautiful, dark skin glowed. Pregnancy certainly agreed with her. This would be her and Xander’s third baby. Xavier was four, Malaysia was three, and now she was in her third trimester with baby girl, Kiari. I swear, that man couldn’t stay off my friend, but she didn’t mind, because he spoiled the hell out of her and their babies.