11. Givens
GIVENS
“That nigga hiding,” Hood said, and I shrugged. “No, like legit, he’s in hiding.”
“For what?” I questioned as I lowered my body into an ice bath. “Everybody has gotten their ass whooped before.” It’d been a few days, but no one had seen or heard from Javien. I wasn’t checking for him, nor did I care, but Hood always kept his ears to the street to know what the fuck was going on.
“How many niggas do you know got their ass beat in their own house in front of a bunch of niggas and females, and the shit ended up on the news?” he laughed as he continued to look at his computer.
“Shit, I don’t know,” I laughed and shook my head. “But it ain't no reason to go into hiding.” I was from the hood; niggas got their asses beat regularly. They didn’t go into hiding, so it was comical for Javien to do it.
“It’s all the reason,” Hood replied. “He’s licking his wounds and plotting. It’s the only thing he could be doing right now.”
“Cuz he’s weak,” I said, shaking my head. “But that’s his issue, not mine. I told him to step off, but he didn’t, so I laid his ass out.”
“Over Mercy DeCorte,” Hood said, and I nodded. He laughed, and I watched him close his laptop. “I ain’t even gonna tell you to be careful because I know you won’t listen.”
“Nope,” I agreed. I got it that Hood was looking out for me because we were boys, but I also knew that he’d developed a friendship with her and knew her family. “She’s mad cool. We get along, and Faylin loves her.”
“Faylin knows about y’all?” he asked, and I shook my head. “Then Faylin doesn’t love her as your woman; she loves her as a player and coach. There is a difference.”
“How do you know?” I questioned. There was no doubt that Faylin would be okay with me dating Mercy. She’d been her favorite player her entire life, and when someone mentioned her, Faylin only had good things to say about her. “Has Faylin said something to you?”
“Nah, Faylin hasn’t said shit, her or those giggly ass girls the players have running around here.
I enjoy my peace too much to start asking how she feels about her daddy dating her favorite player slash coach.
But if I were you, I would tell her before she gets wind of it from the news, or worse, her mama. ”
“Speaking of her mama, tell me why Shai came by the other day.”
“I thought her ass was out of the country,” he said.
“I did, too; she either back or never left in the first place,” I said, wiping my hand over my face and trying to settle my heart rate. Even though I hated ice baths, I knew they were good for me. I looked over at the timer on the wall, counting down the time until I could get out.
“So, what did she come by for?”
“To be nosey,” I answered. “She tried to make it about Faylin, but as soon as she saw the opportunity, she mentioned hearing through the grapevine that I was dating Mercy.”
“Typical Shai,” he grunted.
“Then she turned around and asked for some dick and demanded money,” I laughed, and Hood shook his head.
“That’s for real typical Shai,” he replied and stood.
“I mentioned it to Mercy, and she got a little attitude.”
“You mentioned what to Mercy?” he asked, slightly confused. “That Shai stopped by and asked for dick and money?”
“Nah, just that Shai stopped by,” I laughed. “I ain't that damn dumb, nigga. We are still new; what the fuck I look like telling her my ex asked for money and dick.” Hood groaned and wiped his hand over his mouth. “What, nigga?”
“Shai’s rep called yesterday and requested an interview with The Queens,” Hood answered. “I’m pretty sure she’ll be interviewing Mercy and Legacy at seven.”
“Fuck,” I groaned as I pushed myself out of the tub. “Where is the interview?
“Press room seven,” Hood laughed. I wrapped myself in a towel and headed to the showers. Before the interview, I had enough time to shower and get to the press room to check Shai.
“Ay, let me holla at you right fast.” I grabbed Shai’s arms and pulled her to the hallway away from prying ears.
“Oh you trying to get a quickie in?” Shai said as she stepped closer to me. I moved back, giving us space, and shook my head. “Come on, Givens, stop playing like you don’t want to.”
“I don’t,” I denied and took another step back. The hallway had people coming and going but still gave us privacy to talk.
“Then what do you want?” she crossed her arms over her chest and mugged me. “Because if it's not about dick or money, we don’t have shit to talk about.”
“It’s about your interview with Mercy,” I said, ignoring her attitude. Shai rolled her eyes and kissed her teeth. “Don’t start no shit with her, Shai. Like legit, if you got beef with me, keep it with me. Don’t bring Mercy into our shit.”
“What shit?” she questioned. “Because before you were linked to her, we didn’t have any problems. You did what I asked.”
“When it came to Faylin,” I interrupted her. “I did what was needed for Faylin and Faylin only.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Shai said, rolling her eyes.
“Nah, I’m telling you what it is.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets and stared down at her. “I’m telling you not to fuck with Mercy. If you have a problem with us dating, then take that shit out on me, not her. Don’t bring no bullshit to her doorstep.”
“So, you are dating her?” her eyes lit up as if I’d just offered her the biggest gift in the world. “For how long?”
“Nah, Shai,” I said, shaking my head. “This ain’t no information for your show. Leave my girl out of this.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” she laughed. I knew how Shai’s mind worked. She wouldn’t let this go, simply because I was asking her to.
“How much?” I asked, not giving a fuck about the price tag. Mercy’s peace meant more to me than whatever amount Shai wanted.
“Oh, this is serious for real then, huh, if you’re offering money.”
“Name the price, Shai,” I said, annoyed. “Whatever it is, it’ll be in your account in the next hour.”
“A hundred thousand,” she said without hesitation, and I nodded. “Monthly, for the duration of your relationship.”
“Alright,” I agreed.
“And Faylin lives with you permanently,” she quickly said. “But, you continue to pay child support.”
“Alright,” I laughed. She had no clue I’d pay her double if it meant my girl was good and my daughter was happy. “I’ll have Zach make the arrangements.”
“It was a pleasure doing business with you.” Shai smiled at me sweetly, and I shook my head. “If you ever change your mind about the other thing I offered, reach out. I don’t want forever with you, Givens, just some dick from time to time.”
I bent down, putting my mouth to her ear, and chuckled. “Shai, I’ll kill you if you think I’m playing about Mercy or Faylin’s happiness. Stay the fuck away from us.” I raised my head and stared down at her.
“Damn, that thug shit is sexy,” she said, then adjusted the collar of my shirt before she walked back into the conference room.
I waited a few minutes before entering the conference room and sitting in the back. Mercy, Legacy, and their coach, Laurel, sat in the front of the room, facing the crowd. The room was packed with reporters, so I knew they wouldn’t be able to see me in the back of the room.
I watched Mercy work the room, answering questions and being herself for the next two hours. She was good with reporters. If I didn’t have anything, I had respect for the fact that her team had taught her well.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a text from Faylin.
Faylin:
Daddy, where are you?
Me:
Watching your coach do a press conference. What’s up, daughter?
Faylin:
Mommy texted me and said she was coming to get me after she was done with work. Do I have to go?
I sighed and rubbed my hand over my face.
I didn’t want to send my daughter to her mama, but I never wanted to be labeled as a bitter parent.
Faylin was old enough to make her own decisions.
Her mentality as a woman would be shaped by the actions of both of us.
She saw how her mama moved, and I could say with pride that she hated that shit.
I had to be smart with what I allowed her to see regarding how I moved with her mama.
I never bad-mouthed Shai in front of Faylin or allowed anyone else to.
She was never mentioned in my interviews, and if someone asked me about her, I always gave her props for her career.
Me:
That’s your decision, Faylin. If you want to go, that’s fine; if you don’t, that’s fine, too.
Faylin:
Okay.
When the press conference was over, I stood, wiped my hands over the front of my shorts, and made my way to Mercy.
“What you got planned tonight?” I asked as I stepped into her space. She looked up at me, and the smile she gave me had a niggas head swimming. She was fine, and the bullshit I was letting play out around me was about to end. I wanted all her time and attention from here on out.
“I don’t know,” she said as she shrugged. “I gave the girls the night off, so I’ll probably just go home, cook myself something to eat, and sleep.”
I shook my head, not liking that she thought her life was about to revolve around ball. Yeah, she was a coach and player, but I needed her to know there was more out there. “Nah,” I laughed. “We going out.”
“Out?” her eyebrows went up in surprise, and I nodded. “Where exactly are we going?”
“Outside,” I answered, then pulled her to me. “You got a problem with that?”
“No,” she answered and shook her head. “I just need to know how to dress.”
“Like you trying to show a nigga up,” I replied with a chuckle. “Rock something sexy that’ll have niggas wanting you and females hating you.”
“Givens-“
“Ay, why do you say my name all the time?” I interrupted her. “Like damn, every conversation we have, you say that shit like I don’t know what I was named.”
“Because I like how it sounds,” she answered.
I lowered my mouth to her ear and chuckled before saying, “I like it best when you moan that shit, though.”
“We can make that happen right now,” she replied, and I lifted my head to see if she was playing. The lustful look in her eyes showed me she wasn’t, and my dick started bricking up. She bit her bottom lip, and I licked mine. “You scared?”
“Of you?” I laughed and shook my head. “Never, lead the way.” ‘I stepped back, and Mercy immediately took my hand in hers and led me to the Queens’ locker room.
“Nobody is in here,” she said as she pushed open the door.
I looked around, surprised at how different their locker room was compared to ours.
The Queens locker room was big as fuck! Gray throne chairs lined the middle of the room; each had a player number and name embroidered on it.
Behind the chairs were the players’ lockers that housed their jerseys and personal items.
“Y’all shit kind of laid,” I said, nodding.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” she laughed and led me to the right, where a row of doors were.