14. Piper
The gym was filled with spectators, scouts, cheerleaders, and families to witness one of the most intense games I’d ever seen. We were playing the Detroit Pharaohs, and since the moment the game started, I’d been yelling and screaming.
As I’d stated before, I was never a sports girly, but since dating Khalil, I’d been to every game, per his requests.
I sat in the second row behind our team with Gennel, Robin, Jess, and Braelyn. All of us were cheering and yelling because this game was intense. I wanted to cheer for my hometown, but I didn’t want to play both sides.
The score was eighty to eighty-nine, with the Pharaohs taking the lead.
I could see the intensity in Khalil’s eyes.
Something was off with him. Ever since I told him what happened the other night, it seemed as though he’d withdrawn from his crew.
I knew him and Lamar’s chemistry on the court had been compromised because they barely passed the ball to one another.
I didn’t like what was happening between them, because I felt like I was to blame for how they were acting toward each other.
If I hadn’t told Khalil what happened, they would have possibly dominated the Pharaohs.
In every home game we had, we always came out the victors, but tonight, we were down by nine points with only two minutes left in the final quarter.
Khalil dribbled the ball up the court.
His muscles flexed with a serious look on his face.
When his opponent tried to go in for the steal, Khalil faked left and let the ball fly from his hands at the three-point line. We all watched the ball soar through the air until it landed in the basket, hitting nothing but net.
“Whoooo!” I yelled, jumping up in excitement. Although I knew we might lose this game, I was still proud of them for never backing down.
“This ho,” I heard Sabrina mumble since she was just a few feet away with her dance squad.
I tried my best not to let her and her rat pack of friends get to me.
Since dating Khalil, it’d been nothing but sidebar insults and eye rolls.
I was never the type to let anybody’s words get to me, but Sabrina had been trying me since I got here.
“Who is she talking about?” Robyn queried.
“Her mama,” I replied with a smirk on my face.
Sabrina glared at me but thought better of replying.
I had no idea why she wanted to rumble with me when she knew I knew all her dirty little secrets—secrets that would ruin the fake reputation she’d built here at True.
There was only so much I would take before everybody became privy to her letting her mother pimp her out to grown men for money.
“Piper,” Braelyn whispered as she nudged me with a smirk on her face.
I shrugged, turning my attention back to the game.
By the end of the game, I watched Khalil saunter over to the chair and plop down. We lost by three points. From his body language, I could tell he was disappointed, and I wanted nothing more than to comfort him.
Gennel stood. “I’m going to pull the car around. Pipe, are you coming to the kickback with us?” she asked.
“I’m riding with Khalil. I’ll meet y’all there,” I told her.
“Okay. Go comfort your man. He looks defeated.” She gave me a soft smile, then she and the girls left. I waited on the bleachers and watched the team shake hands with their opponents while everyone began to clear the gym.
Khalil’s eyes found mine, and I put a smile on my face and waved. He winked at me, shook the last person’s hand, and finally stepped over the first bench until he reached me.
He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my lips. “You here to interview me?” We both chuckled.
“Actually, I am, but I don’t know if I should. You seem like you aren’t in the mood, and I’d hate for you to give me your asshole energy again.”
He chuckled, and I smirked.
“Nah, you won’t ever get that energy again.”
I tugged at one of his freshly done braids. “How are you feeling?”
He sighed and sat next to me. “Disappointed.”
“I figured. Your game was off.”
“You noticed that?”
I nodded. “Is it because of what I told you the other night?”
“Partially. I know I shouldn’t let shit like that get to me, but ’Mar has been my best friend since third grade.
His moms is like my moms and shit, so for him to disrespect you is like disrespecting me.
On top of that, for the past two days, Niana’s been begging to have Kiy, and I’m not sure if I want her to stay overnight with her yet.
I’ve just been having weird feelings about everything, but I just need to relax. ”
We were quiet for a moment before I swallowed and looked at him. “Even about us?”
I watched those thick eyebrows descend as he looked at me in confusion. “Why would you ask me that?”
I shrugged lightly. “I don’t know. You said everything. What am I supposed to think when you say things like that?”
“Never anything negative about us. You’re not the cause of me feeling the way I do. I need you to take yourself out of the equation. If I ever felt differently about you, you’d be the first to know.”
“Noted,” I said, barely above a whisper. He reached inside his gym bag, handing me his car keys.
“Wait for me in the car. I’ma hit the showers, then we can head to the party.”
I nodded as he stood and walked off. I let out a breath, stood, then headed out of the gym.
Piper, get out of your head before you mess up a good thing.
I scolded myself as I made my way across the parking lot.
When I got to Khalil’s truck, I saw Sabrina and two of her friends standing in front of it.
I paused mid-step, thinking of a strategic way to bring these hoes to their knees if they decided to jump me.
Damn. Why didn’t I tell the girls to wait for me?
I secretly slid each one of Khalil’s keys between my fingers and my other hand inside my bag, feeling for my mace. I knew how to fight, but I didn’t think I could take all three of them by myself.
“Relax, girl. Ain’t nobody gon’ do shit to you,” one of the girls said.
“And I’m supposed to trust that?” I asked.
Sabrina scoffed. “You don’t have to. I just want to tell you that I’m over the beef—”
“There was never any beef on my end,” I cut her off. “You’ve just been acting like a bitch since I got here. Don’t forget, I knew you when.”
I could see her shift uncomfortably, eyes going wild at the thought of me spreading her family’s business. As bad as I wanted to chop her down from this pedestal she’d placed herself on, I wouldn’t. Not today, anyway.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Look. I only came to tell you that you probably need to stay away from Khalil. Niana isn’t wrapped too tight, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Why do you care so suddenly?”
“Because obviously, you’re blind and don’t see the signs. The man is out of your league. He’s only using you to make Nia jealous. They were just together last week.”
I laughed. “Yeah, okay, Sabrina. Just stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours. And most importantly, mind your business. What Khalil and I have going on isn’t any of y’all’s concern. I’m not worried about Nia at all.”
“Yeah, okay, Piper. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you. Let’s go, y’all.” She and her friends turned and walked away. I walked over to Khalil’s truck, unlocked the door, and climbed into the passenger seat. I made sure I locked the doors as I sighed and waited for Khalil.
It was one thing for me to feel out of his league, but for someone like sperm-gulping Sabrina to say it made me angry.
I knew her trying to make peace with me wasn’t genuine.
I didn’t trust her, her crew, or Nia. It was only a matter of time before I lost patience with them and knocked their heads off their shoulders one by one.
I loved True for the education and academic aspects it provided, but I hated the people who attended.
It may have been unbelievable that Drew Stanford’s stepson was into me, but that was what it was.
Erasing the negative thoughts from my mind, I played Tetris on my phone until Khalil finally made it to the truck. I hit the locks, and he climbed inside, smelling of fresh Irish Spring soap and Creed cologne.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
I gave him a light smile. “Not at all. I was busy playing the game on my phone.”
“Cool. We’re only going to stay at the party for an hour. I got a surprise for you.”
“Khalil,” I groaned.
“Chill. I just want to do something nice for you.”
“You always do nice things for me. I don’t need it all the time.”
“You should already be aware that fucking with me gon’ get you spoiled. But I’m not about to have this conversation again. Just sit back, relax, and let’s have a good night.”
I rolled my eyes and smirked as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
When we entered Jalen and Keith’s frat house, there were only a few people around, drinking, smoking, and dancing to the Usher record playing on the surround sound system.
Khalil held my hand as he greeted his teammates and other people he knew from school.
When he ignored Lamar, I knew things between them weren’t the same anymore.
I partially felt bad because I knew their beef was because of what Lamar said to me, but I didn’t care enough to dwell on it.
I’d done nothing to deserve his disrespect.
“What up, Lilo?” Jalen greeted, with Jess tucked under his arm. I gave her a hug while the men dapped each other.
“Shit much,” Khalil replied.
“That’s what’s up. We got some food and drinks in the kitchen. We’re about to go out back by the bonfire pit, blow one, and play some games.”
“A’ight, cool. Thanks, bruh.”
“How are you, Piper? Glad you could make it,” Jalen said, reaching over and giving me a hug. I tensed a little because I was caught off guard. Jalen hadn’t necessarily been mean to me, but with him hanging with the crew of assholes, he was automatically inducted into the people I didn’t like list.
“I’m good,” I replied once he released me.
“That’s good. Meet us outside when y’all ready.”