Page 103 of Full Court Press

Piper took a seat on the ottoman in front of her. “There’s no real explanation or anything to justify my actions, pretty girl. When your brain hasn’t fully transitioned from childhood to adulthood, you tend to make some mistakes and bad decisions. Leaving you and your dad was one of those mistakes and bad decisions for me. A lot of bad things happened before I made the split-second decision to leave. Me and your biological mom didn’t see eye to eye, and it caused things to spiral out of control.

“Since I couldn’t control my emotions, I ran away from the only good things in my life besides my mom, and I can’t express how deeply sorry I am. But I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to make it right with you too.” Tears slipped down Piper’s cheeks, and a soft cry slipped from her lips. I grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it before massaging it to soothe her.

My mind took me back to the times when Piper would spend the weekends with us, and even when she’d just come to visit, the first thing she’d do was go to Kiyanne. I would sit back and watch how she loved on my baby and always wished it was her I had a baby with instead of Nia. That was why it hurt so much when she left us at such a critical time in our lives. When she explained to Kiy how she hadn’t fully transitioned into her grown woman status, that made me a bit more understanding of why she ran.

As for me, I had to grow up fast because my biological father, who I rarely ever talked to, wasn’t there for my sister and me like he should have been. So that made me the man of the house before I fully became a man. I was more advanced than her, and that was why I moved so fast when I finally felt something real.

I looked to Kiy, and she did something I didn’t think she would ever do. She wrapped her arms around Piper and held her tightly. “It’s okay. I understand, and I forgive you.”

Piper cried harder and hugged her back just as tightly. Piper rubbed Kiy’s hair and rocked her from side to side. I sat back and folded my arms, happy that my baby chose to accept her.

Kiy pulled back first and wiped Piper’s tears. “I do have three conditions, though.”

Damn, baby girl. Not three.

I laughed inwardly.

“Anything. Just say the word, and I got you.”

“That you don’t ever hurt my dad again, buy me a car when I turn sixteen—preferably the one you have now—and do every TikTok with me from henceforth.”

Piper laughed aloud. “Done!”

“Then this stepmom thing will work out just fine.” Kiy folded her arms and gave a curt nod. “TikTok time!”

“Not now, baby girl,” I protested.

“It’s fine, baby. Go find you some business. If my girl wants me to do TikToks as my punishment, then she got it.”

I tossed my palms up and stood. “Fine. I’ma go talk to my people. Y’all got one hour, then it’s back to business.”

“Yeah, yeah, go.” Piper waved me off as I smiled and walked off with my heart full, optimistic about my future with my first love.

I speedwalked down the corridor leading to the main stage of the Brandy Lemon show. Security flanked my sides, along with Piper, Royce, my PR agent, and Camila, my social media rep.

Camila called me this morning to tell me that Anais had been posting me all over social media, making it seem as though we were some happy-ass couple and how she was headed to the show to basically do what I was going to do, only her intentions were fake and false. She was going to spin this narrative like everything was good between us.

Not today.

I was about to shut all this shit down.

The fact that she came on Brandy’s messy-ass show was bad enough.

Piper stopped me before I went on stage. “Don’t be hostile, babe. I already gave the photos to production, so whatever she tries to say to smear your name, you mention the photos, and they’re going to post them on the big screen.”

“I got you, mama.” I kissed her lips then walked out onto the stage. The crowd gasped. I could hear the whispers and see the shocked looks on Anais’s and Brandy’s faces.

“Oh! We get a surprise guest today. Everyone, help me welcome the seven-time basketball champ and this year’s MVP, Khalil Grey!” The audience applauded and screamed. I saluted them then took a seat next to Ana.

Ana looked nervous.

As she fucking should be.

“So what’s up, champion? How are you feeling?” Brandy asked.

“Never better, B.”

“Well, I’m happy to have you here. I know your team recently contacted my studio to do a show, but your fiancée already contacted us to give us the tea on the upcoming nuptials, and what’s next for the MVP.”