“Well, they’re not, and that’s why I’m here,” Danielle spoke up. “We need some photo ops of you at the site of the new youth center. Groundbreaking is set for the week after next, which is good because you’ll still be in town. In the meantime, we need you to sit the fuck down and let us handle this. Try to stay out of the way, Titan, damn,” she fussed.
I was tired of hearing this shit, so I left them upfront to do whatever the fuck it was they were going to do. Somebody would fill me in later. Right now, I was going to sleep. They knew how to let themselves out.
***
groundbreaking ceremony...
I was standing in front of a crowd for the groundbreakingceremony of my new youth sports center, pretending like I wasn’t ready to go the fuck home.
Don’t get me wrong, I wanted this shit done. I wanted the building... the programs, and everything else I’d been putting money behind since I came up with the idea. I just didn’t care for the extra shit that came with it. The cameras... the speeches... the city officials smiling in my face like they weren’t going to use my name for their next campaign flyer. The Kinetiq reps were standing around in their suits like this was another stop on their corporate goodwill tour. All of it was necessary, according to Darius, my agent, but necessary didn’t mean I had to enjoy it.
I had already spoken to my Sasha, Darius, two people from Kinetiq, Briggs, who was the team’s head coach, and three reporters before the ceremony even started. By the time I spotted my mama, I was ready to use her as my excuse to get away from everybody.
She was standing near the stage with my sister and my pops, looking proud as hell. My mama had on one of those smiles that made me feel like I was eight again, bringing home a good report card while my pops stood beside her with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans, nodding at people who spoke to him.
I made my way over there, and my mama opened her arms before I could even say anything.
“There goes my baby,” she gushed.
I hugged her and kissed her cheek.
“I appreciate y’all for coming.”
“Where else were we supposed to be? This is big, baby, and I’m proud of you,” she praised.
“At least you’re doing something productive this time,” my sister joked.
“You sound like a hater,” I countered.
My pops stepped forward and gave me one of those firm handshakes he thought counted as affection. I let him have it, though.
“I’m proud of you, son,” he said, low enough for only me to hear.
I nodded. “’Preciate it.”
That was all I had for him, and he knew it. My mama must’ve felt the tension between us because she touched my chest and looked up at me just as Trey walked up with his tall ass, like he owned half the city. Technically, with the way the Generals were paying him, he probably did.
“Damn, Ma, you out here looking like somebody’s rich ass auntie,” Trey greeted, hugging my mama like he belonged to her too.
“Hey, baby,” my mama laughed. “You look handsome.”
“Thank you. It’s okay to say I look better than this nigga.” He smirked.
“Nigga, you wish.” I frowned at his dumb ass.
Before Trey could say something else stupid, Sasha waved me over from near the stage. I looked at her and frowned because I knew that meant it was time for me to go stand up there and act like I had practiced a speech I never wrote.
I kissed my mama again before walking off. “I’ll be back.”
“You better watch your mouth on that microphone, Titan Maurice,” she warned.
“I can’t make no promises.” I grinned.
She just shook her head in response.
When I got to the stage, Coach Briggs and Steele was standing with a few of my teammates. Tatum, Kobe, had pulled up too, which I appreciated even though I wasn’t about to get sentimental with them. Kobe was already looking around like he was trying to figure out which reporter was bad enough to riskhis image for, and Tatum looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in front of cameras.
“Big day, Samuels,” Coach Briggs said, shaking my hand.
