4. Banks
I stood in front of my wall, trying to figure out where to place the fine line sketch I’d anonymously bought from Leilani. It matched the art my mom had bought for me when I first moved into my house, so I thought it was the perfect way to support Leilani while slowly remodeling my home.
My house was my first big purchase with my first MLB check.
I could’ve easily allowed my parents to buy me one, but I wanted to do it for myself.
It was located on the outskirts of Camden Cove, away from the busyness of it all.
Contrary to others, I preferred to be to myself and out the way.
My peace meant everything to me, but it was tough having it when I was in the spotlight.
So, when my house hit the market, Justin sent it to me, and I put an offer in without a tour.
The location and five acres had me sold.
If the house needed any work, I could easily put time and money into it.
The realtor hit me up for a tour the next day, and I closed by the following week.
Five bedrooms and four bathrooms were more than enough for me in my farm style home, a home I one day wanted to fill with a family of my own.
The vibration against my thigh indicated a notification. I pulled it out to see Leilani was live on FameVsYou. Without thinking, I tapped on it to watch her. I plopped down on my white sectional and kicked my feet up on my wooden coffee table.
Leilani was in her element. The camera was placed directly in front of her, showing off her breathtaking features.
She was beautiful on the screen, but in person, she hit differently.
When I met her at the pop-up, I couldn’t stop staring at her from the moment I walked in.
I didn’t mind giving my fans love, but I wanted to be close to her.
Seeing her up close and personal had me replaying the moments over and over again in my mind.
Her overall covered body swayed to the sound of GIVēON playing in the background.
With her locs piled on the top of her head in a messy bun, Leilani strategically dragged her pencil over the paper.
A box of crayons and colored pencils were next to the cup of red wine on her oversized table.
She seemed oblivious to the people flooding her comment section, asking her questions as her healthy, heart-shaped lips mouthed the words to the song.
Her head shot up at the sound of me requesting to join her live. Leilani stalled for a moment with her lips tightly pursed together. She tapped her fingers along her table before finally accepting.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I greeted, smiling.
“Good morning, Banks. To what do I owe the pleasure of you joining my live?”
“I think the pleasure is all mine to virtually be in your presence.”
She waved her finger at me with a gentle shake of her head. “Don’t you start that and throw my vibe off.”
“Start what?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You never answered my question from the other day. You basically left me on read in person.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Are you always this quick and funny?”
“Are you?” She pointed her pencil at the screen, lips curving upward. “See how you’re still avoiding the question.”
“That’s an answer I’ll have to inbox you.”
“Mm-hmm. Your silence speaks volumes, Boss. ”
“Didn’t I tell you to call me Banks, Leilani?”
“Well, it seems like you’re giving me Boss right now, so I find that more suitable.”
“You got jokes. I already told you I like that. You better stop playing with me.”
“Who said I was playing?”
Leilani snickered and started back drawing. I intently watched her, taking in the way she held the pencil almost at the very tip and how her brows were lowered toward her nose as she took her time drawing. She was free handing whatever it was, and I couldn’t wait to see the outcome.
My attention went to the comment section.
Viewers were eating our banter up, saying we were the interaction they never knew they needed.
Many were asking questions about how we met, while others were commenting on how good I looked with my shirt off.
Her numbers were rising with each second.
It was rare that I was on live, especially with someone else, so they were eating it up.
“Leilani?” I called out and rose to my feet.
“Hmm?”
“Where should I hang this up?”
I turned my camera around, and Leilani’s mouth was agape. She opened and closed it several times before speaking. “So you were the anonymous buyer for that sketch. Thank you. That’s one of my favorites right there.”
“What were you feeling when you drew it?”
Leilani briefly closed her eyes, lips forming a circle as she slowly blew through them. “Uncertainty.”
“Why?”
“It was a day I couldn’t get anything to speak to me.
I trashed everything I started, and I grew frustrated with myself.
That frustration turned to uncertainty, so before I could allow it to turn to doubt, I picked up my pencil and let my heart talk.
It was then I realized all the projects I started before came from my mind and not my heart.
It looks like a jumbled mess of lines, but it’s nothing but pure emotions. ”
A bunch of hearts flooded the screen once Leilani was done talking. Viewers were giving her the praise she deserved. Her answer was deep. I’d been in that place before.
I turned the camera back to me and expressed, “I feel it. It’s hard when your mind tries taking over your heart. I go to the cages by myself when I get like that, so I think it’s dope as fuck you were able to let it out through your creativity.”
“Thank you, Banks.”
“Oh, I’m Banks now?”
She bobbed her head and gave me a closed-lip smile. “Yes. I can tell that came from your heart.”
“It did. Now, are you going to tell me where to hang it?”
“Are you going to answer my question first? Answer for an answer.”
“Give me your number so I can give you that answer.”
Once again, hearts flooded the screen. There was something about Leilani I desired, and it wasn’t sexual either. She was feeding my soul in ways I didn’t know I was hungry for. Her aura was attractive. With the industry I was in, that was hard to come by in women.
I could see the conflict behind Leilani’s eyes as she pondered on my demand.
Before she had a chance to answer, women started filling the comment section, talking down on me.
I had a feeling it was coming. They were warning Leilani to stay away from me, saying I wasn’t trying to do anything but add her to my roster while also posting links to blogs about me.
All I could do was shake my head. There was no need to try to defend myself when people had already formed their opinions of me long ago.
Out of nowhere, Leilani ended the live. I went to inbox her when an incoming call from Paisley came through.
“What’s up, Pai?”
“What was that all about?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Banks. I tune into almost every one of Leilani’s lives, so get to explaining.”
“Damn. Why am I being interrogated today?”
Paisley smacked her lips. “Banks Devon Callahan.”
“Not the full government name. I could’ve sworn I was talking to Paisley and not Alyson.”
“If you don’t stop playing with me.”
“It was something fun to do, Pai.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Banks. Social media isn’t something you do for fun. You’re careful when it comes to your image in that aspect. Getting on Leilani’s live was out the ordinary for you, so something tells me you’re genuinely interested in her.”
Leave it to Paisley to call me out. It was crazy how well she knew me.
I sat back down on my sectional and exhaled. “And what if I am?”
“Know that I’m all for it, but you also need to be careful with how you move. Your worlds are totally different. The two of you are totally different.”
“Opposites attract, right?”
“I guess you have a point. Just… know what you’re doing. We both know Boss has a reputation, but Banks is different. If you’re going to pursue Leilani, give her Banks.”
“I hear you.”
Paisley and I chopped it up for a while longer.
We decided to go to dinner together later.
With a few hours to spare, I headed to my room to get dressed for the cages.
My mind was everywhere, mainly wondering why Leilani abruptly ended the live, so I inboxed her.
Hours went by with no response, but it showed she had read it.
I guess the heat about me was too much for her. It was all about Boss, not Banks.
The realization gave me a crazy idea, one I would need to talk to her about in person. There was only one way I would be able to get to her, so I set it up and went to let my emotions out with my bat.