Page 16 of Full Court Press

I chuckled. “Yeah, yeah.”

We were silent for a moment before he looked at me with a serious expression on his face. “You talk to your pops?”

“He called not too long ago. Asked if he could come to my next game.”

“What you tell him?”

“I told him he could.” I shrugged.

Pops’ head bobbed. “Cool. You know, I mind my business when it comes to you and your personal life. I know Nia ain’t on her shit like she should be, but have you ever thought about going with her to counseling?”

I shook my head. “Nah. I just feel like that’s something she should do alone. I offered to go with her before, but she refused. It may be some stuff she don’t want me to know, and I don’t want to invade her privacy.”

“I get it, but maybe it’s what she needs. Her grandma, mama, or other family members ain’t steppin’ up. I know she grown and can do it on her own, but when you don’t have nobody to support you, you kind of stop caring. You may be upset about the way she’s moving, but what are you doing to help her through whatever she’s going through?”

“I tried, Pop. What you want me to do?”

“Be the man I know you can be and step up for the sake of Kiyanne. She needs her mother, and her mother needs help. Sit her down and talk to her. Convince her that she needs to be here, nurturing y’all’s baby.”

I sighed and looked off in deep thought. In my heart, I felt as if I’d be wasting my time and breath trying to get Nia to be a mother to our daughter. Nia was running from her problems instead of facing them head-on, and being the man that had too many obligations on top of taking care of a baby, I couldn’t take on Nia’s problems as well. If I didn’t have my nana here helping me, school and ball would have been an afterthought.

“I’m telling you I already did that. At this point, I’m convinced she don’t want to get right for Kiy. She wants me but not her baby.”

“Your nana said she was here yesterday, so maybe she is trying.”

“She only tries when she wants me to give her a chance or break her off. I’m telling you, her actions are repetitive. I’m tired, Pop, honestly.”

He nodded. “I understand. You’re doing a good job, man. I’m proud of you.”

“’Preciate that.”

“You’re grown but still young. You’re going to make mistakes and shit . . . You seeing anybody?” he asked.

“Nah.”

He looked shocked. “No little shorty you seeing?”

I chuckled. “I be too busy and tired to court somebody right now. I . . .” My voice trailed off as I thought about Piper’s mean ass. I didn’t know why she was my first thought. She wasn’t the type of girl I’d usually go for, but there was something about her that had my attention, and that said a lot because I was picky as fuck about my women.

“What?”

“I met this one chick. I ain’t saying I’m going to pursue her yet, but she definitely got my attention.”

“Mm. I see. Well, if you do happen to pursue her, make sure her mental straight. We don’t need another Nia around here.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m definitely not getting another one of those. One of her is enough.”

“True shit. Come on. Let’s finish this game.”

We both looked at each other and broke out into a fit of laughter.

“I think it’s best you stay retired, old head.”

He laughed, and we stood to go inside with my mind on Ms. Piper Sawyer and what she was doing at this very moment.

“It’s only the beginning of the school year, and already, I’m overwhelmed. Like, these professors just came freaking strapped this year with all these damn assignments and homework. I’m so over it already.” Braelyn prattled off every detail of her disdain for having a mountain of schoolwork. We were sitting outside of the cafeteria after getting our lunch. Since it was a nice day, we decided to eat outside and away from the people we didn’t fuck with.

I understood her plight, though.