26. Khalil #2
My mind took me back to the times when Piper would spend the weekends with us, and even when she’d just come to visit, the first thing she’d do was go to Kiyanne.
I would sit back and watch how she loved on my baby and always wished it was her I had a baby with instead of Nia.
That was why it hurt so much when she left us at such a critical time in our lives.
When she explained to Kiy how she hadn’t fully transitioned into her grown woman status, that made me a bit more understanding of why she ran.
As for me, I had to grow up fast because my biological father, who I rarely ever talked to, wasn’t there for my sister and me like he should have been.
So that made me the man of the house before I fully became a man.
I was more advanced than her, and that was why I moved so fast when I finally felt something real.
I looked to Kiy, and she did something I didn’t think she would ever do. She wrapped her arms around Piper and held her tightly. “It’s okay. I understand, and I forgive you.”
Piper cried harder and hugged her back just as tightly. Piper rubbed Kiy’s hair and rocked her from side to side. I sat back and folded my arms, happy that my baby chose to accept her.
Kiy pulled back first and wiped Piper’s tears. “I do have three conditions, though.”
Damn, baby girl. Not three.
I laughed inwardly.
“Anything. Just say the word, and I got you.”
“That you don’t ever hurt my dad again, buy me a car when I turn sixteen—preferably the one you have now—and do every TikTok with me from henceforth.”
Piper laughed aloud. “Done!”
“Then this stepmom thing will work out just fine.” Kiy folded her arms and gave a curt nod. “TikTok time!”
“Not now, baby girl,” I protested.
“It’s fine, baby. Go find you some business. If my girl wants me to do TikToks as my punishment, then she got it.”
I tossed my palms up and stood. “Fine. I’ma go talk to my people. Y’all got one hour, then it’s back to business.”
“Yeah, yeah, go.” Piper waved me off as I smiled and walked off with my heart full, optimistic about my future with my first love.
I speedwalked down the corridor leading to the main stage of the Brandy Lemon show. Security flanked my sides, along with Piper, Royce, my PR agent, and Camila, my social media rep.
Camila called me this morning to tell me that Anais had been posting me all over social media, making it seem as though we were some happy-ass couple and how she was headed to the show to basically do what I was going to do, only her intentions were fake and false.
She was going to spin this narrative like everything was good between us.
Not today.
I was about to shut all this shit down.
The fact that she came on Brandy’s messy-ass show was bad enough.
Piper stopped me before I went on stage. “Don’t be hostile, babe. I already gave the photos to production, so whatever she tries to say to smear your name, you mention the photos, and they’re going to post them on the big screen.”
“I got you, mama.” I kissed her lips then walked out onto the stage. The crowd gasped. I could hear the whispers and see the shocked looks on Anais’s and Brandy’s faces.
“Oh! We get a surprise guest today. Everyone, help me welcome the seven-time basketball champ and this year’s MVP, Khalil Grey!” The audience applauded and screamed. I saluted them then took a seat next to Ana.
Ana looked nervous.
As she fucking should be.
“So what’s up, champion? How are you feeling?” Brandy asked.
“Never better, B.”
“Well, I’m happy to have you here. I know your team recently contacted my studio to do a show, but your fiancée already contacted us to give us the tea on the upcoming nuptials, and what’s next for the MVP.”
“I’m aware,” I replied, looking right at Ana.
Anais giggled nervously. “It’s great that he’s here so we can settle any rumors circulating about our relationship because we all know this is my man, my man, my man!”
The crowd laughed and applauded, and my lip turned up in disgust.
“We’re not in a relationship anymore, Anais. And I came to make sure everyone knows that.”
“Oop!” Brandy chirped.
“Babe, do not give these people anything to talk about. I came here to dead the rumor about you fooling around with that stripper from the halftime show. I came to let everyone know that we are fine and actually planning the next steps to our wedding. I’m glad you showed up so we can tell them together. ” She beamed.
She really is delusional.
“Nah, shorty. You came here trying to prove something that’s not true. But I’m here to put this shit to rest for the last time. Since you like the spotlight, it’s your time to shine.” I sat up in my seat and gave her eye contact. I could see the anger in her eyes, but this shit was long overdue.
“We both know that the marriage would have been a business arrangement. You’ve never loved me, and the way you treated my daughter like she was invisible unless the cameras were on is another reason I would never wife ya ass.
The second reason is you haven’t been faithful the entire time we’ve been together. ”
“Lies! I have always been faithful to you! Do not get in front of these cameras and lie on my name.”
“Oh yeah? Then what are these pictures of you fucking with my enemy? A nigga I told you was a hating-ass parasite?”
On cue, the photos populated on the big screen, and the crowd gasped.
“Oh, damn. Not you cheating on this fine-ass basketball star, sis!” Brandy exclaimed.
“Th-those photos are photoshopped! I can’t believe you would do this to me!” Anais yelled, standing to her feet.
I chuckled and shook my head, looking at the photo of them holding hands while walking into Press Bar & Grill.
“I don’t know, Ana. Those photos look pretty real to me,” Brandy voiced.
“Go to hell!” Anais screamed at her before looking at me. “I’ll see your ass in court!” She ripped the mic from her dress and stormed off.
“We’ll be right back after this.” The audience applauded, and Brandy looked at me.
“Listen. We need a follow-up on this! Please come back on the show.”
I stood to my feet and looked down at her. “This is the first and last time you’ll ever see me on your show, Brandy. I don’t do this petty, messy shit, but I needed to clear the air. You have a nice day, sweetheart.”
“Khalil! Can I get your autograph? It’s for my son. He loves you!” one of the audience members yelled out. My security moved in to block her path.
“Vic, Dom, it’s cool. Can’t deny the fans, my baby.” I waved her over, and that caused a chain reaction. After signing a few autographs and taking a few pics, I walked off the set and back toward the exit.
I could see Piper, Royce, and Cam smiling at me.
“Good job, champ. Those photos gave you the leverage you needed,” Camila said, turning her iPad toward me to show me the Instagram post of us on the set with multiple comments defending me.
Piper walked up to me and kissed my lips. “You did good, babe. I’m surprised you kept your cool.”
I chuckled. “Why are you surprised?”
“Because the way you went off on Shina not too long ago, I thought you would have sent her off crying in the car.”
I laughed. “Different headspace, baby. I ain’t passionate about shit I don’t love. Remind me to apologize to her after we come back from vacation. So, clear your schedule for two weeks.”
She smiled wide. “Vacation? Where?”
“Jamaica.”
“Yeaaa, mon!” she exclaimed, swirling her hips and doing a little dip.
“Bring ya ass. And tell my mother and father-in-law to clear theirs too. It’s been long overdue for a meeting.”
“Indeed, it has.” I kissed her forehead then wrapped my arm around her. We all filed out of the building and to the awaiting SUV. I could see Anais across the parking lot, screaming at her security about allowing me to embarrass her.
I shook my head and kept it pushing, finally realizing I’d dodged a major fucking bullet.
I didn’t see the signs before because the dollar signs were the only focal point.
I wasn’t a praying man, but I thank God that I ran into Piper that night at the gala.
Since then, she had done what was necessary to show me that I wasn’t in this alone.
We still had a little ways to go, but I was confident that this time around, we’d make it to the end of time.