Chapter 23
The Cancer Center had become Tasha’s home away from home.
She was at her three-week check-up and had more lab testing with Dr. Madison to complete.
Once she got done, she was walking out the sliding doors when she noticed Mrs. Riggs leaving after her chemo session. “Hey, Mrs. Riggs, how you doin’ today?”
Mrs. Riggs turned to see who was speaking to her. “Oh! Hey Tasha, baby, I’m good as I’m gon’ be.”
Tasha smiled as she switched her Curves by Sean Brown Lemongrass tote to her other arm. “You came by yourself today?”
“Nall, baby. My son is with me; he went to the restroom and should be catching up in a moment. I can’t wait to introduce you two.”
“Okay,” Tasha replied, folding her arms. “How many more treatments do you have left?”
Mrs. Riggs yawned, feeling fatigue wash over her. “I think I have maybe four more treatments, and then I do more labs to check where I stand with this cancer madness.”
“You ready to leave, mama?” her son came up behind her, asking.
She wrapped her arm around his waist. “Yeah, I’m ready. Wait, let me introduce you to a friend of mine,” Mrs. Riggs suggested. “Tasha, this is my son—”
“Kenji Riggs. I’m sorry! The…Kenji Riggs,” Tasha finished, her tone almost a whisper but with a hint of surprise. “Mrs. Riggs? You didn’t tell me your son was Kenji Riggs, the baseball player…wait, you do play baseball, right?”
He smiled faintly, hands in his pockets. “Yeah, I do. You got me.”
The name hit her full force. She’d seen his highlights before, never imagined she’d meet the man behind them like this, quiet, grounded, standing right in front of her.
Kenji Riggs. Center fielder for the Atlanta Braves.
Three-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, number 27.
The man everybody said had a swing smooth as water and a smile that had all the ladies creaming for him.
He wasn’t just any dude. This was Kenji Riggs, the one she used to see on TV, lighting up stadiums and hitting home runs back-to-back.
The older woman laughed. “He is humble, but that boy been on TV since he was eighteen.”
Tasha smirked lightly, trying not to show too much interest. “Yeah, I know who you are. My ex used to yell at the screen every time you struck out his favorite team.”
Kenji grinned at that, dimples deep, eyes soft. “Then I owe you an apology.”
She shook her head, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Nah. You good. That was probably the only time I saw him shut up.”
Mrs. Riggs laughed again, holding his arm. “Lord, look at you two looking all comfortable talking to each other. Like y’all have been talking for years.”
Kenji shook his head at his mom's antics, glancing down at Tasha every few seconds. She felt it. That quiet curiosity, like he was trying to read past her tired smile.
After a moment, the air shifted a little as if everything had slowed down around them. Kenji reached out and touched Tasha on the shoulder. “So, did you just get done with your treatment also?”
“Oh no, Ion have to do treatments right now. Thank you, Jesus.” She looked towards Mrs. Riggs, shaking her head. “No offense to you. I’m just saying I went a different route and did a different treatment plan.”
He studied her for a second, noticing her beauty. Regardless of what Tasha was going through on the inside, she always made sure not to show it on the outside. She kept her hair and nails done and stayed up to date with the latest trends. No one was going to catch her slipping.
“Okay, okay. Well, I hope it all works out for you, Ms. Lady,” Kenji replied, stroking his goatee as he eyed her.
“You and me both. I pray all the cancerous cells were removed.” Tasha started backing up towards her car. “That’s enough of the sad talk for today. I better be going. Mrs. Riggs, I will see you next time—”
“Whoa, hold on a sec. Do you mind if I get your number and maybe call you sometime? I enjoyed talking to you and would like to finish our conversation over dinner or brunch.”
Tasha smiled more than she intended to, shifting her weight to her other foot. “Umm… you wanna go out with me, Mr. ballplayer?”
He burst out laughing, turning to see people walking by in the parking lot. “Let me help my mom to the car. Give me a moment. Don’t leave.”
As he walked off, Tasha couldn’t lie to herself.
This nigga was fine without trying. Six foot four, deep, rich chocolate skin color that was flawless under the glowing sun.
The way he moved with that confident swagger and had a scent that smelled like a million dollars trailing behind him.
The way he was gentle with his mom and caring for her made Tasha's heart melt.
Once he had Mrs. Riggs back inside the car, he jogged back over to Tasha. “Now, where were we?”
Tasha smiled as she leaned up against her car. “I think you were in the middle of askin’ me out, Mr. Ballplayer. The Kenji Riggs.”
“Watch out,” Kenji said, playfully hitting her shoulder. “You are something else. On a serious tip. I think you are beautiful and I would love to take you out for lunch or something.”
“How about this? If it’s meant to be, you will find it somehow.”
He stroked her chin, gazing into her eyes. “Okay, I hear you, Ms. Lady. I’m definitely going to find it.”
“Umm, well, we will see.” She got into the car, smiling at him as he closed her door. He stood there watching her as she drove off in the distance. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get her number, but he knew he had to have her.