Page 12 of Full Court Press

“Hol’ up. Where you going?” Captain Asshole asked.

“The fuck away from y’all. I don’t have time for petty, childish broads who only have dick imprinted in their memories. Y’all can have this. I’m leaving.” I snatched away from him and headed out of the class. I hated that I let her rile me up like this. I was usually quiet and stayed to myself, but for some reason, this school year wasn’t the best for me. If I had to be honest, I was worried about my mother.

It wasn’t too long ago that the doctor cleared her from having breast cancer, but I was still on edge with it returning. Being in remission didn’t mean it wouldn’t come back. Seeing her lose weight, throw up blood, barely eat, and weak all the time broke my heart. She was my person, and almost losing her made me cling to her more.

I knew she wanted this for me. It was the only reason I came back to True, but dealing with hoes, assholes, and mean girls wasn’t what I signed up for.

“Piper!” I heard that deep, sexy voice behind me, but I kept walking. I was leaving this damn school. Fuck everything and everybody. I’d go back home before I dealt with this bullshit. “Hold up a minute, please.” The please and the way he said it so nicely got me to stop walking and turn to him. “Don’t leave. You know how Doc is about us working together as a team. She grades these papers based on teamwork and effort. If we all don’t put in on this assignment, that’s gon’ fuck up my GPA, and I can’t have that.”

“You can lie and say I helped for all I care. I refuse to sit around bitches that got me fucked up and arrogant niggas who think they know it all. I’m good.”

A small smirk tickled the corner of his beautiful lips, and I wanted to slap it off.

Sexy, rude asshole.

“You done?” he asked.

“Done, done,” I sassed.

“Cool. Come on. We got a paper to outline. I’ll make sure the bitches don’t have you fucked up, and the arrogant know-it-alls put a cap on that shit.” He extended his arm for me to walk back to class, and I rolled my eyes at him, mad at myself for even letting him persuade me to continue this bullshit. I bumped past him and headed back to class to do this stupid-ass assignment.

At the end of the day, he was right about maintaining his GPA. I, too, didn’t want my grade to be lowered because of people’s stupidity. As long as he promised to keep his dogs on a leash, I could tolerate being around them to do the job required of me.

Reentering the class, I could see Braelyn eyeing me, secretly asking me if I was okay. I nodded and reclaimed my seat at the table with the petty, ho, asshole group. No one said anything to me or looked my way. Whatever Khalil said to them had them completely ignoring me.

“A’ight, so, Davina and Sabrina should take the intro. Me and Piper got the body, and Mar should take the conclusion. Given what we already know about Ida, I think we should definitely dig a little deeper than the surface-level shit on Google. So our research has to be thorough enough to come up with key points and something that’s layered with truth and facts. Everybody good with that?”

Everyone agreed.

“Did she say when this paper is due? I’m going home this weekend to help my mom with my sister’s baby shower,” Davina disclosed.

Khalil shook his head. “Nah, but she usually gives us a week since we’re in a group.”

“Okay.”

“A’ight, let’s work on this outline to make it easier to write her story. Pipe, can we use your laptop to start the research? I left mine at home,” Khalil asked.

Not him calling me Pipe like we’re cool.

If he was trying to be nice to me because of this paper and his stanking-ass GPA, he could keep it. We were not friends, and I was more than okay with that.

I pulled the laptop from my satchel and set it on the table. While they talked, I typed and did a bit of my own research without them. If I had to be forced to be around them, then I was going to do shit my way.

With or without their tacky asses.

Classes finally ended.

Since I didn’t have practice or a game, I was happy I could get home to my baby girl earlier than usual. My nana told me how Nia stayed until nine last night, and she was more attentive than she’d ever been with Kiyanne.

It didn’t surprise me.

She always did this for a few days, then disappeared for a week or two. I only gave a fuck because I wanted my daughter to have a mother. She didn’t ask to be here, and if I’d known this would happen with Nia, I would have chosen a better mother for her.

On the way out of my Econ class, I spotted Piper coming out of Ms. Jones’s biology class. Today, she was rocking some black jeans that gripped her ass and hips a little too tight. So tight it had me do a double take. For the past three times I’d seen her, she wore jogging suits that didn’t show much of her frame. Her ass looked heavy, which made her pants have that little space at the top and a small dip. Not that I was paying attention anyway, but now that she had on something that complemented her curves, I could appreciate the view.

That ass was wobbling something vicious. I, being an ass man, could appreciate what I saw.

That shit with Sabrina and Davina taking shots at her wasn’t necessary. I didn’t like bullies, and Piper did nothing to deserve their mean-girl energy. The whole time we were in the group, Piper stayed quiet. I understood, but I couldn’t help but stare at her profile. She was pretty as hell. Those thighs, that ass, that smart mouth, sassy attitude, and those eyes were what had me intrigued by her, wanting to be in her presence.