Chapter 4
“I can’t believe we got floor seats, Kenna. Floor seats . And The Infernos won? Today is the best day ever.” Cam couldn’t stop gushing over the game since it ended fifteen minutes ago.
“Since when does basketball make you so happy?” Kenna asked as she looked around the room that seemed to grow more crowded as the minutes passed.
As soon as Damien sank the winning shot into the net, Rock, his security guard, came and got them. He walked them to a large room with refreshments that felt very exclusive.
Slowly, players from The Infernos came into the room looking refreshed, as if they’d just showered and were hype because they’d won the game. There were a few other people scattered around the room, too, but for the most part, Kenna felt like she, Cam, Alanzo, and Annalise were out of place.
Cam smacked his glossed lips loudly. “Have you seen these fine ass men? The Infernos just gained a new number one fan.”
His eyes roamed around the room in wonder as he cheesed at the players who happened to look their way.
Kenna shook her head and took a step away from Cam, focusing on Alanzo, who bounced around in excitement.
Some of the players stopped and gave him a high five, and every single time their gazes would land on Kenna, making her want to take a step away from Alanzo, too, so she could get some of the attention off her.
“You seem to be popular, Ms. Kenna,” Annalise noted as one of her thin brows lifted.
Kenna shifted from foot to foot as she glanced around the room. “I don’t know why.”
Cam scoffed and jammed his thumb in her direction as he spoke to Annalise. “This is what I have had to deal with since high school. She doesn’t know the kind of baddie she is.”
Annalise covered her mouth and giggled. “Well, now I don’t know nothing about being a baddie, but Kenna, you are absolutely gorgeous. It’s okay that others notice that too.”
Kenna shrunk away at the compliment but managed to mutter, “Thank you.”
“Gigi! Gigi! Look, it’s Damien Blaze!” Alanzo exclaimed as he bounced on the balls of his feet.
Kenna looked up and immediately stopped fidgeting.
It was like everything melted away when she looked at him.
She found that she actually enjoyed watching the game.
The way he moved around the court with such ease captivated her, and she cheered loudly every time he made a basket, which surprised her.
While Damien was in the zone, so was she, watching him and hanging onto his every move, and she couldn’t understand why.
When his eyes locked on hers, a different kind of nervousness filled her. Suddenly, she wondered if her hair looked okay or if she should have worn makeup. Her brows bunched together, and she was sure she looked like she had a mug on her face as he made his way toward them.
When he was only a couple of feet away from them, it registered that there was a pretty woman at his side, smiling at some of the players and giving off a radiant energy. Kenna shrank back a bit because of the woman’s presence and was glad when Damien addressed everyone else first.
“How did y’all enjoy the game?” His deep baritone voice stirred something long forgotten about deep within Kenna.
“It was so cool,” Alanzo shrieked, causing several players to glance their way and then chuckle at the little boy before going on about their business.
Annalise tugged on his hand and scolded him. “Inside voice, Zo.”
“It’s all good.” Damien grinned as he got down on one knee so he was eye level with Alanzo. “This your first game, lil man?”
“Yeah, but I play ball too.” Alanzo puffed out his chest with a wide grin.
“Oh yeah?” Damien poked Alanzo in the belly, eliciting a giggle from the little boy. “I would love to see you play sometime.”
Alanzo’s eyes grew wide as he looked up at his grandmother. “Did you hear that, Gigi?”
“I did.” She smiled down at him and then looked at Damien. “But you don’t have to do that. I’m sure you’re busy.”
Damien stood and reached his hand out for her to shake. “Annalise, right?”
Annalise blushed, and Kenna hid a grin behind her hand. It seemed she wasn’t the only one falling victim to Damien’s charm.
“Yes,” Annalise finally confirmed.
Damien showed her his pearly whites. “I would love to come by and watch him play sometime. Maybe give him some pointers. Does he play for a team?”
Annalise’s blush turned to one of embarrassment.
“No, I plan to get him on his school team next year when he’s in the first grade.
They have a kindergarten team. They’re really cute, but I couldn’t afford the…
well, never mind that. Next year he will be.
I have a little hoop in our yard I got from the thrift store.
It’s not the best, but it serves its purpose. ”
Damien peered down at her for several seconds before nodding and pulling his phone out of his black joggers.
“May I have your number? That way I can get in touch with you about setting up a date to hang out with lil man. I also want to leave you two with season passes. No pressure, but any home game we have for the rest of the season you’re welcome to come enjoy. ”
“Oh my, Mr. Blaze, this is too much?—”
“I assure you, it’s not.” He offered her a small smile before Annalise hesitantly rattled off her number while he typed it into his phone. When he finished, he focused on Cam. “Cam, right?”
“Yes, sir. The one and only,” Cam confirmed with a wide grin.
Damien chuckled. “I hope you enjoyed yourself.”
“Boy, did I. And if any of your teammates bat for the other team, please send them my way.”
Kenna shook her head in embarrassment. Cam had absolutely no shame. When he wanted something, he let it be known.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Damien’s features remained kind, and he maintained eye contact with Cam, which Kenna respected.
Most men would have walked away by now from discomfort, but Damien treated Cam like a human being instead of a contagious disease, and that meant a lot to Kenna.
It showed his kind nature, and she appreciated that.
Finally, his eyes landed on her, and she squirmed in place but didn’t break eye contact as she looked up at him.
“Kenna.”
She breathed in. It didn’t go over her head that her name was the only one he didn’t have to confirm. Instead, he said it confidently, like he couldn’t possibly forget it in a million years.
“Damien,” she said breathlessly, feeling her words catching in her throat as she stared up at him.
“I’m curious, Kenna. How did you enjoy the game?”
“It… kept my attention.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad you were entertained. Are you not much of a sports fan?”
“What gave it away?” She felt self-conscious, like he was dissecting her with his eyes and peering into her heart.
His eyes traveled the length of her body, causing goosebumps to cover every surface of her skin. “Just a guess. Am I right?”
She nodded shyly.
“But Cam plays with lots of balls,” Alanzo interrupted, practically bursting at the seams in excitement.
Everyone looked at Alanzo, and while Cam grinned widely at the loud admission, Kenna covered her face in embarrassment as she giggled incredulously while Annalise slapped the back of Alanzo’s head. “Ouch. What I do, Gigi?”
“Sometimes it’s best to just hush,” she scolded, a dark tint covering her.
“Oh, Annalise,” Cam said, walking over to her and patting her back. “It’s okay. The lil rugrat didn’t say nothing false.”
Damien and the woman with him laughed as they watched the interaction before Damien asked, “And y’all just met?” After several heads nodding, he shook his head. “Seems like you’ve known each other a long time.”
It felt that way to Kenna, too, which pushed her completely out of her comfort zone.
The only people she talked to were her parents and Cam.
The only people who even had her number were them and some people from work.
Meeting Annalise and Alanzo was a curveball, but one she thought she welcomed.
She was fortunate to have a healthy savings.
Since she didn’t do anything… ever… she was able to accumulate a good nest for herself.
She didn’t mind spending some of that to help Annalise out.
She seemed genuine, and those kinds of people were Kenna’s soft spot.
Before anyone could respond, Rock came over and interrupted them, whispering something to Damien, but it was loud enough that Kenna overheard.
“D, there’s been a disturbance at the entrance. Something about a possible gun. We need to evacuate just to be safe. You know how rowdy after games can be.”
Kenna didn’t hear anything after the word gun . Cam must have heard as well because in an instant he was at Kenna’s side and holding her, talking in a soothing tone. “Hey, it’s okay, Kenna. It’s okay. We’re getting out of here right now.”
As he spoke, his eyes moved around the room, looking for an exit. He might have been the stronger one of the two, but he had just as much trauma as her.
Kenna felt like she couldn’t breathe. No, she actually couldn’t breathe. The hyperventilating started as tears flooded her eyes. She knew this had been a bad idea. She let her guard down too much. She allowed distractions to get her to this point.
“Hey, what’s wrong? What’s going on?” Damien asked as he appeared at her side.
“We need to get out of here, now,” Cam said, pulling Kenna along with him as he watched people filing out of the room. Nobody was in a panic, which struck Kenna as odd. Then it hit her. Maybe they didn’t know someone had a gun. Someone, somewhere in this big arena, had a gun.
They had a gun .
They had a gun .
The words swirled in her mind as her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest.
Damien ushered the rest of their group to follow Kenna and Cam before he caught up with them. Kenna tried desperately to breathe, causing Damien’s brows to pull in. Without needing any context, he grabbed her from Cam’s arms so they would stop stumbling around and picked her up.