Page 86 of Full Court Press

I reached over and grabbed my phone, seeing Anais’s number on the screen.

Why the fuck was she calling me at five in the morning? Her ass never made it out of the bed before sunrise.

I sent her to voicemail, sat up, and rubbed my eyes. Swinging my legs to the side of the bed, I located my briefs, slid them on, went to relieve my bladder, then went in search of Piper.

I promised that if she left this time, there would be no more chances.

I wouldn’t lie and say a nigga wasn’t impressed by her efforts to win me back, but I was still emotionally traumatized about letting her back into my heart. I loved her, no doubt, but I needed to get reacquainted with the Piper of today. I didn’t know if she’d changed, but I was willing to give her a chance to prove that she wouldn’t run when shit got rough.

After ten years, Piper’s pussy was even more powerful than it was back then. I knew once I dipped back in her shit, it would be a struggle to stay mad at her.

If I chose her, shit would most definitely get rough.

When I entered the living room, I saw her leaning on the wall by the sliding doors, wearing a bathrobe, and looking out at the rain with a mug in her hand.

Her long, curly hair was wild, and her face held a solemn look. Her eyes came to me. When she didn’t speak and diverted her gaze back out the window, I moved over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

I pushed her hair to the side and kissed her neck. “Why you up so early? What’s wrong?”

She shook her head lightly. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Us.”

“What about us?”

“Our future. . . If you’re going to choose me and make me suffer or choose her and return the heartbreak.”

I turned her face to me and pecked her lips. “I’m choosing you, baby. I won’t lie to you, though. My first thought when I didn’t see you lying next to me was that you ran again. But when I saw you were still here, I was grateful and happy that you were. I know I’ve been giving you a hard time, but I’m exhausted from fighting the way I feel about you. I love your ass. Even after you broke my heart.”

She sighed. “I know. I came here and did all of this to prove to you that I’m here, and I’m invested. I’m not running anymore, Khalil. I don’t want to come in making things complicated for you, but as your wife, I feel as if I have to exert some kind of force if I want to get a different outcome.”

I frowned and stepped around her to face her. “I see what you’re doing, baby. So just say what you’re really trying to say.”

“I want her gone today.”

I froze. Not because I didn’t want Anais to be gone, but because there were things at stake if I chose to get rid of her. I knew the saying that hurt people hurt people, but I didn’t want to hurt Piper. Not like that or at all. I knew I was being an asshole because she honestly did fuck me up when she left, but now that she was back and doing everything to get me back, I wouldn’t play with her like that.

Regrettably, I told her, “I can’t do that yet, Pipe.” She pulled away from me, but I pulled her back. “Listen to me⁠—”

“No. I feel like this is going to be a bigger situation than when we were in college.”

“I know. And to keep it real with you, it will be, but I need time to figure this out. I didn’t expect to see you again, and I was going to send the divorce papers, but being around you made me realize how much I missed you.”

“Did you propose to her to try to get over me?”

“You want the truth?”

“Of course.”

“I proposed to her because her father encouraged it. I’m a man who has his own mind, but at the time, I was thinking in business terms. Marrying her would have given me leverage to be the first pick for any endorsement deals and to take his seat once he retires. In return, she still gets taken care of and is able to do whatever the fuck she wants, being a kept woman.”

Piper scoffed and shook her head. She didn’t say anything for a long moment, and it made my heart thump in my chest.

“Talk to me, Pipe. You thinking about leaving me again?”

“No, Khalil. I agreed to fight for you, and that’s what I’m going to do. I know this road won’t be easy. I’m not giving up, but I also can’t fathom the thought of her touching you, claiming you, and you giving her the same in return.”