Nah, bae. T
Tyriq. The moment has been realized. How do you feel?
Four hours have passed and the reporter’s first question is still ringing in my ear because I don’t remember my answer.
My thoughts and words were caught up in the moment.
It was asked several more times tonight in several different ways but it all the same.
Everyone wants to know how I feel and I still don’t have a concise answer. I’m in a space I’ve never been.
Things are happening all at once at a rapid pace but I seem to be strolling through like it isn’t.
This shit is unreal as hell and I can honestly say I real shit know what it means to be on cloud fucking nine because I was on it when I placed this Royals cap on my head.
I’m still on that shit now as I sit in the back seat of this car.
I did it. I fucking did it. First overall! Number one. But…
How do I feel? Blessed.
Not only did I just get drafted first overall but I was selected by my dream team.
I will be balling on the court with players I’ve admired for a minute.
I will be proudly sporting a Royals jersey in the upcoming season.
I did that shit and I’m getting paid well for doing it.
I signed for a projected four-year deal worth around fifty-eight point seven million, earning about thirteen point eight million in my first season.
My reality far exceeds anything I dreamed of and so do my feelings. I’m speechless, blessed, hyped, overwhelmed, happy, and eager to show my team and coaches that I’m worth every fucking penny.
“Are we there yet?” Teaira’s soft voice says, pulling me from my thoughts.
My moms and Quay headed back to the hotel two hours ago but she stayed right by my side.
Even when I tried to force her to leave, she refused.
My sexy, feisty, supportive, and stubborn girl stayed with me.
Every time this shit was started to get to me and had me in my head, she got me together.
She calmed my ass down and made sure I was straight.
How do I feel? Loved.
After lifting her head from my chest, she asks again, “Are we there?”
“Nah, bae. This traffic is a beast. We’re not moving.” We’ve been stuck in traffic since we left Barclays twenty minutes ago. My mom and sister took the Sprinter back to the hotel and Mick sent this Range for us. It has blacked out windows, extra leg room, and a privacy partition.
“Shit. You should have gotten something to eat.”
“I wasn’t hungry. Did you eat though?”
“Oh, I ate,” she says, then laughs. “While you were talking to the press, I was enjoying the food Mick had in the suite. Poor Carsen probably fixed me three plates. My feet were hurting too bad to get them myself.”
“Are they hurting now?” I ask but before she can answer I grab her ankles and lift legs. One by one, I manage to remove her heels then massage her feet to give her some relief. “This is why I told you to leave.”
“And miss this? Uh uhn,” she moans. “Besides, I wasn’t leaving you. Even in the background, I needed you to know I was here,” she says, confirming what I already know and feel. Just like I got her and our baby, she has me. She holds me down no matter what.
“And I ’preciate that but you’re pregnant.”
“Tyriq, pregnancy isn’t a disability,” she snaps but when I knead my knuckles into her arch, she changes up real quick. “Mm. That feels good,” she purrs. “But I should be massaging you or something. We have to celebrate you. I’m so proud of you.”
And although I only respond with one word, thanks, that one word has the meaning of one hundred when it comes to her.
Stepping to her at the block party last summer was the best play of that day, shit, of my life.
I was looking for something fine to slide up in and found so much more.
I found my peace, my rider, my best friend, my love—my forever.
She sits up straight then smiles. “Because of your magic hands, baby, I can put these shoes back on and we can turn up. Tell the driver to turn around so we can celebrate D-Ville style in NYC,” she says while dancing in the seat.
I know she’s bullshitting though because her little pretty ass is tired as shit. It’s all in her hooded hazel eyes.
“We can’t celebrate without the ring,” I tell her and her eyebrows pinch; she’s confused.
“A ring? I didn’t know you got a draft ring. I thought that was only at championships in the NBA. Do we have to go back to the draft for day two when you were literally just the first pick on day one?” she fires off.
I can see her little disappointment at having to go back to the Barclays Center for day two.
Of course, we made contingencies for that shit, more clothes, shoes, and accessories, but I never wanted to have to follow through on those.
Day one, top five, that was my dream. I did that.
Now, it’s time to handle my other dream.
So, as she rambles and awaits my answer, I reach into my jacket pocket for the main source of my nervousness earlier today, all five karats.
“Calm yo’ beautiful ass down,” I tell her then tap her leg. “C’mere.” Before she can inch into my lap, I hook my arm around her, scoop her up by her ass, and place her on me. “We’re not going back tomorrow. The city is yours and we can do whatever you want.”
“I mean… But you know if we have to go, I will… I just thought it was over today. I don’t want you to miss your ring; let’s just go,” she concedes, even though I can see she doesn’t want to. She’ll go for me; she’ll do anything for me.
This is why I love her.
This is why I’m doing this.
“I have the ring,” I tell her, then raise my hand.
Her ring is on the end of my index finger. It takes her a few seconds but she finally sees it. Her beautiful smile takes over her entire face. She presses the button for the dome light and the inside of the Range lights up. She stares at the ring then up at me.
“If that’s not for me, we gon’ have a problem,” she teases as tears fall from her eyes.
“It’s for only you.” I remove it from my finger, take her hand, then slide it onto her finger. “Tonight wouldn’t be complete without my biggest dream coming true. Baby, I want to continue to live this dream with you and our baby...forever. Will you marry me?”
Her arms fly around my neck and her lips are all over mine. Passionately, she kisses me. Without breaking our kiss, she starts to shift and maneuvers until she’s straddling me. Her lips move to the side of my neck then she whispers in my ear.
“Is that partition locked?” she asks.
“Baby, you didn’t answer me.”
“Is it locked?”
“Yes. It’s locked.”
“Cool. You are about to get the best yes of your life.”