Page 38 of Full Court Press

Aka my friends.

That was something I wasn’t looking forward to, because I knew I was possibly going to have to get physical with a few of them. They wouldn’t be receptive to me being with Piper, because our worlds didn’t “mesh” in their eyes. But what they didn’t know was that Piper was just the kind of girl that I loved.

Their biased mentality wouldn’t understand it, but I didn’t give a fuck. I planned to stand ten toes behind her by any means.

After securing Kiyanne in her car seat, I grabbed her bag and led Piper out to my truck, saying my goodbyes to Nana.

Once we were all secured in the truck, I pulled off and headed to the bank.

The way Piper made me feel, I was about to drop some stacks on her and baby girl today, and I didn’t care how her pretty ass felt about it.

For hours, we drove around the city, stopping at different boutiques and shoe stores. As I knew she would, Piper declined to let me spend any money on her. We debated outside of the Louis Vuitton store for a good twenty minutes before she finally dropped her defenses and allowed me to do whatever I wanted for her.

Three LV bags, four pairs of designer heels, three pairs of Jordans, six designer outfits, and five dresses later, we decided to take a break from shopping and eat something.

We stopped at Valencia’s, an Italian spot on the Avenue. Kiyanne had fallen asleep after we left the dress shop, so instead of putting her in the stroller, I left her in the carrier, and we all headed inside.

It was 3 p.m. by the time we were seated. We looked over our menus in silence before I set mine down and looked at Piper. She had been quiet for most of the time, and that was unusual for the sassy princess.

“You good?” I asked. She nodded, eyes still searching the menu. “Use your voice, baby.”

“I’m fine.”

“Why do I get the feeling that you’re bullshitting me?”

“I’m just trying to process everything, Khalil. I’m not trying to project my trauma onto you, but I can’t help but feel as if this is going to end with us soon. I’ve fallen in strong like with you already, and I can’t help but to keep my guard up, because going forward with you terrifies me.”

“Why do you feel that way?”

“Because nothing good lasts forever. I’ve never been the girl who believed in fairy tales, according to what I told you about my father. If he could fake love for my mom and me for eighteen years of my life, what makes the next man exempt from doing the same thing? You’re buying me all of these expensive things, eating me like I’m the only meal on the table, and saying everything to make a girl swoon. But how long before you get bored with me? How long before you find me useless and find someone you’re more interested in?”

I didn’t respond right away. I needed to process what she said and how she felt about this situation with us. I hated that she was already thinking our forever was going to stop because of her mistrust of men like her father.

She had abandonment issues.

My biological pops wasn’t in my life either. As much as he claimed to love my mom, he fumbled her, along with my sister and me. So I could understand why she felt that way when no one else stepped up to claim her and her moms like Drew did for my

mom, my sister, and me.

I took the menu from her hands, then held my palms out for her to take. She let out the air in her lungs and placed her palms into mine. I looked her in the eyes before I spoke.

“I understand how you feel, Mi Amor. As much as I hate that you have your guard up, I can respect it. Nothing I say will make you believe me, but I’m hoping my actions can better interpret what my words can’t.

“To be honest, the way I feel about you scares the fuck out of me too. I got a baby to raise and responsibilities that a man my age shouldn’t have. A lot of people depend on me to be this successful ball player, but I don’t care what they feel. It’s about the passion I have for the sport and being able to build a legacy for this little girl right here.” I pointed to Kiy. “And while I’m doing all of that, I also want my daughter to have a two-parent home—something I didn’t really get until I was twelve, when Drew came into our lives.

“I’m not asking you to take on that responsibility, but since I want you to accept me and what I’m giving you, and I’m choosing you, I know that comes with you also accepting my baby. If that’s too much, I understand completely. I’m telling you I’m all in. I’m hoping that with time, you’ll feel the same.”

The server came over to our table to take our orders, pausing our conversation. I knew Piper would need validation before she removed her armor. I was determined to break through those barriers and get her to fall in love with me.

After the server took our orders and left the table, I stood and sat beside her. She didn’t look at me, which prompted me to take her chin and gently turn her head toward mine. Without words, I jammed my tongue in her mouth and kissed her deeply. A soft moan escaped her lips, and she placed her palm on my face, feeding me her tongue.

“That’s how the fuck you feel, Khalil?” I heard behind me. I turned to see Nia and her group of friends standing at our table.

I sighed deeply before making eye contact with her. “Nia, get the fuck away from this table . . . right now.”

“Nigga, if my baby is at this table, then I have every right to be. Hey, ho. I see you don’t listen very well, do you?” She directed to Piper. I watched as Piper smiled with an unbothered look on her face. She took a sip of her water and took out her phone, completely ignoring Nia.

Nia scoffed. “This bitch is trying me so bad, like I won’t slap the shit out of her.” Her friends chuckled.