Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Eighteen Months and some change…
I watched Saniya grinning at her phone and couldn’t help but smile. My lady was beaming from tonight’s events. When Jabari reached out and asked if she would come to the game and Meyer Camden’s lawyer sent an NDA demanding she bring all the photos she had from All-Star Weekend, we both thought the night was going to be about some bullshit.
Turned out, he needed her help finding the woman he’d slept with who was allegedly pregnant with his child but had disappeared on him. He was hopeful she might have pictures of the cousin the woman was with at All-Star weekend so he could use them to locate her. Shit was crazy but typical for NBA players.
Saniya hooked him up and walked away with an exclusive from Jabari. She had freedom to post whatever she wanted as long as she promised not to sell the shots to Tattle Tales. It was crazy how much he hated the owner Peighton but I understood why. The woman wasn’t shit. She’d fucked Saniya over with an exclusive by not paying her for the work then claiming credit for Saniya’s pictures.
“Three hundred and seventy-eight thousand likes, twenty-one thousand comments, and fifty-seven thousand shares in less than an hour and that’s just Jabari’s page. I can’t believe he gave me the exclusive first shots of his engagement to Kinnidi. And that proposal was so damn perfect. She was so cute when they caught her reaction.”
“I don’t give a damn about her reaction but yours better level the fuck out. You’re grinning too hard at that phone while talking about another man, Saniya.”
Her smile expanded torturously slow as I pulled into a spot near the side of The Pit and parked. She kissed the tips of her fingers and touched them to the screen. I was seconds from snatching the phone out of her hand because I knew the fuck she was not planting a kiss on this muthafucker. When she turned the screen to me, it offered a visual of Raiden curled up on my mother’s bed next to his sister Greilynn.
“I wasn’t grinning at another man. I was texting your mother and grinning at our children.”
Our children. That shit got me every time. Raiden was just as much Saniya’s as our daughter was and this moment was too damn surreal. I had to fight hard not to let my thoughts shift to a dark place because this was too reminiscent of a past I was still recovering from. The good thing was Saniya always gave me space to work through those memories and never tried to push me in one direction or another. I loved this woman so much because of the way she loved me and my son; it was suffocating at times.
“That just saved your ass.”
She rolled her eyes and locked her phone. “The Pit?” She frowned, wrinkling her nose when she glanced at the building then back to me.
“You got a problem with this place?”
Her smile was teasing and she shook her head gently. “Nope, it’s our spot.”
I chuckled and leaned across the seat, brushing my fingers over her cheek. “It’s our beginning.”
“Hmm, let’s see… You punched a man who tried to harass me and then scared the shit out of me when I showed up stalking you. So very romantic.”
I moved my hands down her cheek to her neck, gripping firmly as I pulled her close enough to taste her lips.
“It’s very fucking romantic and obviously I didn’t scare you enough because you still brought your ass to that fight when I told you to stay away.”
She smiled against my mouth when I kissed her again. “Women have to take charge or love doesn’t happen. Men are stubborn. Without me, we wouldn’t be here. What’s a little light stalking and refusal to comply in comparison to what we gained?”
“You and that damn girl math.” I let my teeth graze her bottom lip, then sucked it into my mouth, ending our conversation with another kiss.
“The best math in the world but why are we here?”
“Tali asked if we would pull up. I told him we would stop through but we weren’t staying all night. I have plans for my wife.” I dropped my eyes and allowed them to slowly crawl over her body. Saniya was always chill, dressed in jeans and T-shirts, which worked for me, but the way she’d switched it up tonight— with a black bodysuit and leather jacket—had my dick incredibly hard.
As good as she looked in it, I couldn’t wait to get her out of it.
“What hoe of the week is he introducing us to tonight?”
I smirked and shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care. Thirty minutes tops.” I reached for my door handle to get out and she stopped me.
“Do I have to be nice?”
I laughed lightly, knowing what that was all about. Sameena and Tali had been fucking on the low. They tried to pretend it wasn’t happening and every time either one of us questioned them, they denied it. But the death glares they delivered when we were all together and the other showed up with a plus one was proof enough. Whatever they had going on didn’t bother me as long as it didn’t complicate what we had going on.
“The only thing you will ever have to do in life is love and be loved by your man. Anything else is optional.” I winked and got out, rounding the car to let her out. After I hit the locks, I dropped my arm around her shoulder, tucking her into my side and walking to the entrance. Once inside, we did a quick scan and found Tali tucked away in the corner of the building with some woman who could pass for Sameena’s twin. So by default, she looked a lot like Saniya as well.
I groaned at how fucking transparent he was but would damn sure keep my thoughts to myself.
“What’s up, family?” Tali flashed a smile and extended a fist toward me as soon as we reached the table. I met his closed fist with mine and let my baby in the booth, following after her. My arms stretched over the back and she snuggled into my side.
“You still out here minding people’s business I see,” Tali said amusedly after he focused his attention on my wife. “I saw that post with that Royals player.”
“Royals player? Are you famous?” The woman next to him frowned and her eyes darted back and forth between Tali and Saniya.
“No.” Saniya offered a fake smile since she was trying to be polite.
“Don’t be modest, Saniya.” He turned to the woman next to him. “You were just looking at her shit. The post about Yara?”
“Wait… you’re Saniya Montgomery.”
“ Sinclair ,” she and I both said at the same time. Saniya continued to use her maiden name when being credited for her images but we also clarified she was very fucking married when the topic came up.
“Saniya Sinclair, so you’re not Saniya Montgomery.”
“I am but that’s my maiden name.”
The girl’s eyes lit up. “Your pictures are on Jabari’s page. The ones of him, Kinnidi, and their son. I just loved the post and shared it on my story as goals.” She leaned forward. “What was he like? Is he as sexy in person? That man is fine as shit.”
Saniya’s eyes bounced between her and Tali before a smug grin filled her face. “Hmm, so their relationship is goals?”
“Hell yeah. He’s a billionaire.”
“Aw damn, kinda sucks for you, Talon. She’s looking for a man with much deeper pockets than yours.”
I almost fucking laughed at the scowl on his face but he recovered quickly and flashed a smile. “Good thing my pockets aren’t her concern.” He winked at Saniya, then turned to ol’ girl.
A server approached and we ordered drinks. I stuck to a beer, Saniya got some fruity shit that would have her buzzed by the time she reached the bottom, and Tali ordered shots for his side of the table. With each one ol’ girl downed, she became more chatty. In all honesty, she wasn’t that bad but I knew my cousin and he only had one goal in mind. His dick in her by the time they left The Pit.
Conversation flowed easily but his date kept trying to circle back to Saniya being relevant in the industry by way of access to invites and exclusives with high profile celebrities. Each time she tried, my baby shut it down. She loved what she did but only celebrated her wins with those who were genuinely in her corner. This woman was not and would not be added to our circle.
After an hour, I decided to shut things down because my baby was ready to go. Her conversation was minimal and she kept her head propped on my shoulder with her fingers moving mindlessly over my thigh. The connection had me ready to head out anyway because my dick had been rock hard since she’d put that bodysuit on.
“Ay, we’re about to head out. I have to be up early to meet Walt at the hospital. They’re releasing him tomorrow.”
“Ah damn, I forgot about that. He straight?”
“Yeah, he’s good. Just being difficult as fuck and not trying to follow doctor’s orders. They’re giving him six to eight weeks to be back to his normal routine. He keeps telling me he’ll be back on the job by Monday.”
I officially had full ownership of Carson Construction. After being hustled into paying a dollar for forty percent of the business, we negotiated the other sixty for a hundred thousand, which was very generous considering I’d made that amount within the first six months I took over. I tried to pay him outright but he insisted I pay monthly. I think that had more to do with him not wanting to completely let go of his legacy. Walt needed something to do with his time.
He still showed up to work most days but that consisted of him critiquing the jobs I did while I filled him in on what was new in my life. Walt needed purpose and I refused to take that from him since he’d given me one. He was family and always had a place with the company; no matter who had ownership.
“Yeah, good luck with that.” Tali grinned, knowing all too well what my struggle would look like trying to keep Walt from pulling up the first day he was mobile enough to make the drive. He’d handled a couple of jobs with me after Walt was rushed to the hospital damn near immobile and we found out he had a herniated disc. I managed to get two guys hired shortly after, who were working out well, and freed up my time to handle the business side of things since Walt was no longer running the company.
“You better get off Walter,” Saniya defended. She loved him just as much as me and they had their own bond. They embraced each other as extended family since Walt didn’t claim any of his own.
“Your kumbaya ass just loves everyone.” Tali smirked at Saniya after I slid out of the booth and extended my hand to help her to her feet. I dropped my arm around her neck loosely and kissed her temple.
“That’s not really true, is it, considering I barely tolerate you.” She flashed Tali a smug grin then turned to ol’ girl with him. “It was nice meeting you. Cute cut by the way. My sister has the same one.”
I barked a laugh and Tali scowled but then smiled, shaking his head. “You ain’t shit but I love your ain’t shit ass.”
Ol’ girl looked confused, not understanding what was happening. She had the same haircut as Sameena which Saniya had been sitting on bringing to everyone’s attention since we’d gotten here. My wife didn’t miss a damn thing.
“It was nice meeting you too. Maybe next time we’ll get the chance to hang out.”
Nah, baby girl, not likely. We won't see you again.
“Yep.” Saniya offered a genuine smile because she felt for the girl. We left, and as soon as we were in the car, she huffed a sigh of annoyance.
“Why does he keep doing this? There is no point in introducing us to women who won’t last beyond the alcohol-induced sex they engage in.”
“Because you keep doing that .” I motioned to her phone and the rhythm of her nails tapping the screen halted immediately. She grinned, turning her eyes to me.
“What am I doing?”
“Who are you texting?”
Her smile expanded and I chuckled. “He keeps bringing these women around us because he knows you’re going to run that shit straight to your sister. Then she’ll be in his chair getting another tattoo while they pretend they don’t fuck with each other.”
“Okay… point taken.”
I reached across the seat, linked my fingers with hers, and brought her hand to my lips. “Let them do, or not do , whatever it is they’re into. We’re staying out of it.”
“Fair enough.”
Saniya dropped the phone into her lap and turned my way, tucking one leg beneath her. I could feel her eyes and smile warming the side of my face, so I cut a quick glance in her direction then focused on the road again.
“What’s up?”
“I love you.”
I smiled and nodded. “I hope so because I love the fuck outta you.”
“Good to know because it would be a devastating blow if this was one-sided.”
I chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I could see that.”
“And what else can you see, Mr. Sinclair?”
I smiled and slid my eyes over her body. “You, naked, under me as soon as we get to the house.”
“Mm, that sounds very…”
She paused and frowned, lifting her phone, which had just illuminated with a notification. The tension in her shoulders had me glaring.
“What’s wrong, Saniya?”
She kept her eyes focused on the screen, but didn’t speak right away, which had me about to snatch the damn phone and find out for myself, but she smiled, allowing me to relax.
“We have a court date to finalize the adoption.”
My heart clenched. This had been a tough decision to make. When she’d suggested it, I wasn’t sure how I felt, so Saniya left it alone. I refused to let my personal feelings get in the way of what was best for Raiden.
As understanding as she was, Saniya wanting to adopt him came from a good place. I took the initiative to set up an appointment with a lawyer to get everything filed and she cried for damn near thirty minutes. Saniya loved Raiden. She was his bonus mom and making it legal was just as important as me legally giving her my last name.
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “Yeah. The email is from Gale. She apologized for the late hour but didn’t want to wait to share the news. The injunction was thrown out. We have a date to finalize everything.” Saniya paused, then lifted her eyes to mine. “Unless you changed your mind. Are you sure you still want to…”
“Baby, I’m sure.”
She smiled so damn big. “Good because so am I. She’ll always be his mother. I’m not trying to replace Aleah…”
“I know that and so does he. I apologize for making you feel any type of way about wanting to move forward with this. It was a tough decision for me to make.” I lifted her hand and kissed her ring. “But one I do not regret.”
Not only had I fucked up by making her second guess where she landed in our lives but the added pressure of Alec filing an injunction also fucked up the vibe. He didn’t want Raiden. Never once tried to see him and had the nerve to try and block the adoption just to fuck up our peace.
When our lawyer noted that, on record, more than once, he’d expressed that he wanted nothing to do with Raiden, she assured us there was no reason to be concerned or worry. No judge in their right mind would block the process. It was delayed temporarily but here we were, about to cross the finish line eight months after filing the paperwork. My heart was fucking full. My life wasn’t what I thought it would be, but it was damn sure a lot better than it could have been. I loved my wife and our children. Having a daughter with Saniya brought things full circle.
“You’re quiet,” she said softly.
“I’m thinking.” I let my eyes meet hers briefly.
“About?”
“You.”
“What about me?”
“How lucky I am that your stalker ass decided to make me your target.”
She sputtered a laugh. “Fuck you.”
“Oh you absolutely will, as soon as we get to the house, and I’ll return the favor.” I winked and pressed the gas to get us there faster.