25. Piper
My palms were sweaty, and I was pretty sure my edges were sweated out. The Las Vegas Knights were giving the Vipers a run for our money tonight. We were up by five points with six minutes left in the final quarter.
It turned out Khalil and Isaiah had some replicas on the Western side of the basketball team. Two of the players for the LVK were dominating, and it was like a war zone on the court.
I sat in the skybox with Tashina, Braelyn, Robyn, and Gennel, staring at the big screen. Gen was here on her yearly visit, and what better way to welcome her than with box seats to a Vipers basketball game.
I watched as Khalil was handed the ball out of bounds.
The clock began again as he passed the ball to Adam Arden.
I stood because now my anxiety was at an all-time high.
Adam dribbled up the court and found Lucas for an opening.
I watched as Isaiah ran around two of the opponents, and Lucas passed the ball to him, which created a diversion, leaving my baby wide open.
Isaiah made a hard pass to Khalil at the three-point line, and like butter, the ball slipped smoothly from his hands, straight into the net.
“Yes! Yes! Period, bae! Them boys can’t fuck with you!” I screamed in excitement.
“Oh my goodness. I ain’t never seen her this hype over a game,” Tashina jested.
Braelyn laughed. “That’s right, best friend. Root for your man!”
I laughed as the Knights used their last timeout, trying to buy themselves time.
“I’m sorry. I’m just filled with so much anxiety. We’re up eight with four minutes and forty-five seconds left. We need this win.”
“They win every damn year, girl. This year won’t be any different,” Gennel voiced.
“You’re right, sis. This is just the first time I paid any attention for real. It’s both exciting and stressful.”
“That’s because you liked to avoid watching your husband play,” Shina blurted.
“Husband?” Gennel queried. My eyes squinted at Shina, and she made a sorry face before sitting back and sipping her drink.
Damn you, Shina!
“They’re back on the court!” I deflected, tuning back in to the game. I’d tell Gennel about it later.
As the minutes continued to tick by, we were now down to the last ten seconds with a two-point lead and the ball in their favor.
My anxiety peaked again while they set the play in motion.
My eyes stayed glued to my husband, my hero, and the love of my life.
I could see and feel the air of confidence he exuded.
That was one thing I could always say about him that rang true. It wasn’t cockiness; it wasn’t arrogance. It was just straight confidence in anything he set his mind to.
And I loved the fuck out of him for it.
The ball was passed, and the opps tried to hurry up the court, but just like his moniker, Khalil appeared like a ghost in the night, stealing the ball and running full speed up the court.
“Oh, what a steal from Grey! He’s taking off down the court!” the commentator yelled.
“Come on, baby. Come on, baby,” I chanted, watching him pump fake his opponent.
“Grey at the three-point line with three seconds left, he shoots!” The ball flew from Khalil’s hands again with so much finesse that all you could hear was the swishing sound of the net as the ball sank inside. “He scoooresss! And the Vipers win the championship for the seventh year in a row!”
I screamed.
We all screamed.
And the crowd went bananas as Khalil rushed up the court, holding his fist up in triumph, then did the Colin Kaepernick and dropped down to one knee, bowing his head. The confetti dropped from the ceiling as We Are the Champions queued.
I laughed, clasping my hands together as tears of joy filled my eyes.
There was no denying that my husband was the best to ever do it.
I was going to suck the victory out of his dick tonight.
“I told you!” Gennel screeched, wrapping her arms around me. I nodded and wiped the tears from my eyes. All the years I missed out on witnessing this had me a bit in my feelings. I was a stupid, stubborn bitch for allowing so much time and space to pass between us.
Had I come back sooner, there would be no over extensive apologies, grand gestures, spending sixty thousand dollars on presidential suites, wardrobes, or five-course meals.
Not to mention the other gift I hadn’t given him yet.
There also wouldn’t be me getting to know my bonus daughter, and no Anais.
The camera panned to Kiyanne. She was such a doll, and she, too, cried tears of happiness.
“Awww, bestie. What’s wrong?” Robyn asked, walking over to me.
I shook my head and smiled. “Nothing. I’m just . . . happy.”
“Happy tears are always good,” Braelyn said, hugging me around my waist.
“Okay, let’s get ahead of this traffic,” Tashina said.
“You guys go. I’ll meet you all at the after party.”
“The way this baby won’t let me be great, I’m going to have to take a raincheck on the after party.” Braelyn giggled.
“Okay. Be safe, babe. I love you,” I told her.
“I love you more. I can’t wait to help plan your real wedding.” She beamed.
I laughed. “Me either.”
We all said our goodbyes, and I watched them leave, then turned back to the chaos down below and continued to smile. After a few seconds, I took a seat in the comfortable chair, poured myself a glass of champagne, crossed my legs, and sat back, watching the screen with insurmountable pride.
I watched them pull Khalil to the side to interview him. That confident smile was etched on his face while sweat dripped from his face, and he wiped it away with the towel. Kiyanne stood beside him with her daddy’s arm over her shoulder. She was smiling widely.
Happy.
“How does it feel to be a seven-time winner and this year’s MVP?” the interviewer asked.
“As always, it feels amazing to be able to lead the team to victory. Every year, the feeling of winning never gets old. We work hard and play harder.”
The interviewer chuckled. “What’s next for you now that the season’s over?”
“Rebuilding and lots of family vacations,” he said with a huge grin.
My cheeks hurt from how hard I was smiling.
“And what about you, baby champ? How do you feel about your dad winning the championship?” he asked Kiyanne.
“He always wins, so I’m always happy!” They all laughed, and my smile faded when I saw Anais walk up and wrap her arms around his waist. She had a shit-eating grin on her face as she looked into the camera.
I saw Khalil’s smile fade and the confused look on Kiyanne’s face. Angry wasn’t a good enough word to describe how I felt.
This bitch is really on one.
“And how do you feel about your fiancé winning the championship?”
“I feel great! He’s always been a winner, even if he loses. His talent can’t be duplicated, and it’s why he won MVP. I’m so proud of him,” she gushed.
“This dumb bitch,” I voiced. Khalil cut him off from asking her anymore questions and walked off with Kiy still under his arm.
I wanted to go down on that court and slap that trifling-ass lace front off her head.
I could already tell she wasn’t going to bow out gracefully with this.
Even after her father resigned from the board, she still felt entitled to be in my husband’s space.
I pulled my chirping phone from my bag and saw that it was Khalil. How he got to the locker room that fast was crazy.
I answered on the third ring.
“Hi, champ,” I said with a smile.
“I know you saw that shit.”
“I did.”
“You know I haven’t communicated with her since we broke up, right?” I could tell he was trying to gauge my energy.
“I know, babe. Some people can’t take rejection well. I’m not mad at you, but her ass gon’ know something real soon.”
He sighed. “I love you, Pipe. Give me twenty minutes. I’m going to text you my address and the code to the gate. I’ll let my butler know to be expecting you. He’ll show you to my room, and I want you in your birthday suit. I’ll be right behind you.”
“W-what about Kiyanne and the after party?”
“Kiy’s going with my moms and Drew, and fuck that after party. I already know Ana’s going to be there, and I don’t need you getting your Laila Ali on and shit.” I laughed. “You are the after party. We got a son to make.”
My cheeks filled with heat, and I bit my bottom lip, already feeling the tingle between my thighs. “Okay, big papa. I’ll see you there.”
“Bet. I love you.”
“I love you more, champ.” We said our goodbyes, and I drained the rest of my glass before grabbing my purse and heading out of the suite.
I arrived at Khalil’s estate, and my eyes ballooned at the size of it. His home made my house look like a damn Monopoly piece. The house stretched wide and was tall in height with tall, smoke-gray glass windows and acres of nothing but lush, green grass.
I pulled up to the gate and typed in the code. Immediately, it opened, and I drove right through up to the circular driveway. I stepped out of my car, grabbed my overnight bag from the trunk, then made my way up to the double doors.
Before my foot touched the first step, the door opened, and an elderly, nice-looking man appeared, wearing a tux with a bow-tie. His salt-and-pepper hair was lined perfectly, and his smile was bright and white.
“Welcome home, Queen Piper. My name is Donnell, but the family calls me Donnie. I’m the Grey family’s butler. Anything you need, don’t be afraid to ask. May I take your bag for you?”
My mouth opened in an O of surprise at his greeting. I didn’t bother to ask how he knew me. It was him calling me Queen Piper and saying welcome home was what gave me the idea that Khalil may have spoken about me more than once. I closed my mouth and smiled while handing over my bag.
“Yes. Thank you. Did Khalil tell you to greet me like that? Because you certainly don’t have to.” I giggled lightly.
“He didn’t, but I know enough to know when I’d meet the real queen of this castle.” He smiled. “If you’d follow me, I can show you to your quarters. Would you prefer the elevator or the stairs?”
“The elevator will suffice.”
“Right this way, queen.”