12. Mercy #3
“They died when I was little,” I said, then picked my menu back up. I never talked about my parents to anyone besides Legacy. They were a sensitive subject for me.
Givens tapped the menu that I was using to hide my face.
“Ay, lower that for me,” he said, and I did.
“I didn’t know, and I’m sorry you had to go through that.
” I nodded, not trusting my words. Givens sighed, stood, and rounded the table.
He pulled my chair back, bent, and easily picked me up, then sat in my seat. “You want to talk about it?”
“Not really,” I answered, resting my face against his chest. Thank goodness he wore a black shirt because I knew my makeup would’ve ruined his shirt. “But I will if you have questions.”
“Nah, that ain’t how I roll,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I'll be here if and when you are ready to talk about it.”
“Faylin is lucky to have you,” I said as I continued to sit in his lap. I didn’t want to move, and it didn’t seem like Givens wanted me to.
“Nah, truthfully, I’m lucky to have her,” he laughed. “She’s the only thing I’ve done right.”
I looked up at him and twisted my face in confusion. “You can’t honestly think that.”
“I do because it's true,” he said, tracing his finger along my thigh. “Your parents aren’t here, and I can see how much that hurts you. Mine only call when they need something. My mama didn’t give a damn what I did as a kid, as long as she had money to buy her drugs and pay the bills.
I started playing ball to make money. And my sister ain’t better; she thinks I'm an ATM because I play in the NBA. I pay them to stay away.”
“I’m sorry, Givens.” I cupped his face and gently turned it so he had to look at me. “I don’t know them, couldn’t pick them out of a line-up if I had to, but I am going to apologize for their lack of love.”
“You ain’t gotta apologize for them,” he said, sadly smiling down at me. “I learned a long time ago that some folks aren’t meant to show you love but to show you what love isn’t.”
Instead of going back and forth, I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him. He let me lead this time, and I put everything into the kiss that I felt he missed.
“Don’t tell me you gonna start getting mushy on me, DeCorte,” he laughed softly when he pulled back from the kiss. “Cuz if you are, I’ma clown you in front of the girls when you try to get tough with them at practice.”
“They’ll never believe you,” I laughed, and he shrugged. “Speaking of the girls, where is Faylin?”
“With her mama,” he answered, and I could tell it bothered him.
“How do you co-parent with her mama?” I couldn’t help but ask. I covered my face and groaned. The way I asked sounded snarky and a little passive-aggressive. I didn’t have to like Shai personally or professionally, but I would respect that she was Faylin’s mother.
Givens laughed and relaxed back in his seat. He had to adjust me a little in his lap, but again, it was apparent he wasn’t rushing me to move. “I don’t,” he answered. “Shai cares about the money I will give her.”
“The money?” I repeated, and he nodded. “Don’t get me wrong, Givens, but I knew who Shai was before I knew who you were.
Shit, I didn’t even know she was your baby mama until a few weeks ago when she interviewed the team.
Legacy pointed out that she was being petty towards one of the cheerleaders linked to you in the past.”
“Jerrica,” he said, providing her name. “We didn’t do shit but go on a date and fuck one time, and Shai gives that girl hell.”
“You fucked her?” I asked. Instantly, anger swept over me, and I found myself annoyed.
I didn’t have a problem with Jerrica before this, but now I would be side-eyeing the hell out of her for no other reason than knowing she’d had the luxury of being with Givens.
That didn’t mean I would start being rude to the woman or anything else; I was just in my feelings for the time being.
“One time,” he said, nodding. “And it was years ago, like right after Shai and I broke up.” He looked down at me and smirked. “You jealous or something?”
“Nope,” I quickly replied, and he chuckled as if he didn’t believe me. “Now, back to you and Shai. Why is she only worried about the money you will give her? Did she not want to be a mother or something?”
“Nah, the exact opposite. When Shai found out she was pregnant, she was happy. I was the one in my feelings. I was a rookie, trying to get my shit together because I was about to be a father while Shai’s career was taking off.
She’d been on SportsCenter for a minute, niggas knew her name.
She was in the spotlight; her getting pregnant didn’t stop shit, especially after I started bringing in the money. ”
“So, what happened?”
“Shai’s true colors came out after she had Faylin. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good mama when she wants to be, but that shit is far and few between.”
“So you have custody?” I asked.
“Something like that.”
“Givens, go get full custody of that girl and stop playing,” I said, shaking my head. “And I mean legal custody because if Shai hurts Faylin and I find out, you’ll understand why Krude calls me Hell Raiser.”