Page 66 of Full Court Press

I never contacted Nana because I felt as if she hated me, too.

But I watched.

I saw when the Detroit Vipers drafted him, watched all of his games, and watched his rise to fame alongside his idol, Isaiah Walker.

I also saw that he had a fiancée.

She was pretty, very flamboyant from what I’d seen on social media, and everything a star basketball player would go for. Fake boobs, big behind, and collagen.

And Kiyanne?

So gorgeous and big now, and I hated myself for not staying by his side to watch us and her grow together.

I felt the tears stinging my eyes but hurriedly shook them away.

I had no time for regrets.

I had my dream of owning a multimillion-dollar magazine company and had moved on with my life. While I didn’t have a man I claimed, I dated occasionally, and that was enough for me.

I cleared my throat and put the tickets back in the envelope. “Nice. How did you get these?”

“I know people.” She winked. “So I need you to get fine tonight because we’re going to see your boo in real time!” she said in excitement.

“I’m not going to that.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I’m not. Take Chardon. I’m sure she’d love to go with you.”

“First off, Char is out of town with her new boo, and secondly, this is your opportunity to see Khalil again. This will be a monumental reunion you will regret if you don’t show up.”

I frowned. Tashina only knew a little bit about me and Khalil’s relationship. I was very vague about the details surrounding our relationship because I didn’t want to keep reliving the heartbreak. I told her we dated and broke up because I had to return to Michigan to care for my mom. She knew I was sad about it, but that was as much as I was willing to expose.

“Are you forgetting he has a fiancée?”

“Girl! Forget that fake-ass Malibu Barbie! He don’t want that ho. You can see it all over his face in those pictures. You shittin’ on her ass effortlessly.”

“Shina,” I said in a warning tone. I may have been the owner and editor-in-chief of Pulse, but I made sure that anyone who worked for me remained professional. Tashina sometimes forgot where we were, per usual.

She covered her mouth. “Oops. My bad, Ms. Sawyer.”

I cut my eyes at her. “Anyway. As much as I’d love to join you, I simply can’t. I have to finish this piece by tomorrow evening for publication. Speaking of, did you speak with Brent about the new web design?”

“I’m right on top of that, Rose!”

I bit the inside of my jaw to keep from laughing at her.

That was an epic failure.

“You get on my nerves so bad.”

“You love me. Please come with me. I don’t have anyone else, and this is a major opportunity to snag me a baller, annnd it could be beneficial to you to snag a few interviews. Please?” She pouted, clasping her hands together in a praying manner.

I sighed heavily. “I’ll think about it.”

She jumped up from her seat. “That’s good enough for me. Be ready at eight. I’ll pick you up. See ya! Call me if you need me!” Then she was out the door.

I closed my eyes again and released the nervous breath I was holding in. I turned my chair to look out at the afternoon sun from my floor-to-ceiling windows.