Page 92 of Full Court Press

“Because I broke up with his daughter.”

“For real?” Luke asked.

I nodded.

Tae shook his head. “But why?”

My eyes went to Is, and he subtly shook his head, telling me to keep quiet about Piper. Tae and Luke were cool, but we weren’t exactly as close as I was with Isaiah. I didn’t trust too many people with my secrets or personal business, so I knew I couldn’t tell these niggas the whole truth and hope they didn’t say shit.

“She doesn’t fuck with my daughter. Said some foul shit that got her canceled.”

“Damn. Who can hate Kiy? She’s a dope kid,” Tae said.

“Exactly. But I’m glad she showed you the real before you locked her ass down. But in other news, that nigga can’t do shit without the entire board’s vote. I remember when I first got drafted. I did a year on the starting line, and them niggas was trying to trade me too. It was either me or Jamari Mooney, and I knew I was better than that nigga. Orlando wasn’t there at the time, but this new cat came in on the board and shut that shit down. I been the reigning champ since before this nigga came in and snatched my title.” Is smirked and sipped his drink.

“It was time for you to relinquish it to its rightful owner, my guy.” We laughed. “But I’m not prepared to move. This shit is crazy, and I should have thought better about fucking with her.”

“You ain’t relocating, nigga. I’ll talk to Asanti. He knows Denico Tejada. All he has to do is drop a bug in his ear, and Orlando might be the one that gets traded.”

“Your pops knows Tejada?” Deontae asked the stupid-ass question.

Is frowned. “Why wouldn’t he? His son has been playing for their team for damn near twelve years.”

Deontae held up his palms. “You right, you right.”

“You ain’t gotta do that, bro. It is what it is,” I told Isaiah.

“You sound crazy as hell right now, my G. I’m talking to Pops. Ain’t no Phantom without Ghost, my nigga.”

“Uh, I hate to break up y’all lil’ bromance, but nigga, we ain’t no slackers on the court either. Fuck you mean?” Deontae asked, and we all laughed. My phone rang in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see Piper FaceTiming me.

“Excuse me right quick, gentlemen,” I said, standing and leaving the table. I walked to the bathroom and swiped to answer. When the video finally connected, Piper was lying across the bed naked.

I licked my lips. “Damn, that’s a beautiful fucking sight, Mi Amor.”

“Why don’t you come see it in person?” She smiled and bit her lip sexily, and I had to adjust my dick to calm the nigga down.

Since New York, Piper and I had been discreetly seeing each other every night. Even though Anais was out of the picture, it still hadn’t hit the public yet. I knew why I hadn’t said anything, but Anais’s silence was loud as fuck. I knew she was strategizing, plotting, and waiting for me to embarrass her publicly so I could look like the bad guy.

The walking cliché, as she put it.

“Say less, baby. Let me wrap it up with my people, then I’m on the way. Keep warm for me.”

“I got you. I love you.”

“Ditto, baby.” We hung up, and I hurried out of the bathroom to tell these niggas bye and head to my beautiful, caramel, naked-ass wife.

“I’ma get wit’ y’all niggas later,” I told them, going in my pocket and tossing some bills on the table. “Drinks, cigars, and tips on me.”

“Where you rushing off to? We ain’t even had a smoke yet,” Lucas said.

“Raincheck.” I dapped him up. “Oh. I’ma get at you about that shit with my sis too. You too old for her, my nigga.”

He frowned and shook his head frantically. “Yo, whatever she told you, it’s false. She only asked me for Chase’s number so she could get her hair braided.”

“Good to know y’all stories match. Let that be the first and last time y’all speak.” I dapped Tae and Is.

Is nodded, giving me a knowing look. “A’ight, brodie. Stay dangerous.”