XAVIER
It had been months since I’d been on my bike.
It held a small space in a corner of the covered campus parking lot.
Today, I decided to finally take the fucking boot off my foot.
I packed it in a large, oversized bag with a bunch of other items I would need for a week.
My foot still ached a bit, but I was determined to start moving it to get back into the swing of things.
When I stopped by the Blue Café, it was simply to grab something to eat before taking the hour-and-forty-five-minute drive to the countryside of Covana. Instead of food, I was met with Samara fighting. Once I made sure she was calm and things were good, I got on the road.
Whatever she and Dio were going through, the shit was taking a toll on her, and I hoped her taking this break would help.
I knew Dio was trying to get through that pledging shit, and my hat was off to him because there was no way I could spend my spring break on that dry-ass campus while everyone was gone.
Dio did make me open my eyes, though, because the nigga was tough; he was truly an example of seeing things through, no matter how bad shit got.
Now it made since why Chevy chose him to be the prince.
He inspired me to stop complaining and make shit shake.
Whether Dio knew or not, he was the definition of Black excellence. A nigga who has been through hell and back and still striving to be better each day. It wasn’t the ideal aspect, but the hood version, and for niggas like me, he was a god.
So, here I was riding without the boot. I was determined to get on that court before school was out.
All I needed was one game, and it would happen.
The longer I rode, the more I began to think about Phoebe and all the shit we'd experienced since really getting to know each other. I knew she wasn’t perfect, but baby needed to get her shit together.
By the time my thoughts cycled again, I was pulling up to a huge mansion that looked like a farmhouse.
I had to check my GPS to make sure I was at the right location.
When I realized it was correct, I pressed the button on the box at the gate and waited for someone to answer.
“Hello,” a lady called out.
“Um, I’m Xavier Keyton, here for—”
The gate opened, making me feel like I was on some sort of secret mission.
My brows raised as I rode my bike up the long driveway.
I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t some rich life type shit.
I hoped this Hendricks person wasn’t some prick who looked at me like some slave who was coming here to work for the free.
The only reason I was here was because my coach required it, and I didn’t want to miss any more opportunities to be on that court.
By the time I reached the front of the house, an older couple was standing on the porch.
The older guy, whom I assumed was Hendricks, was about as tall as me, with casual-like clothes on, while the lady was shorter, pretty, and dressed in clothes like she was about to go pick flowers and shit.
I got off my bike and limped closer to them.
The closer I got, the more the guy looked like he had a stick up his ass.
“Xavier shooting guard Keyton,” he said to me.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Hendricks, he’s just as tall as you. I’m Dolly,” she said before coming off the porch holding her hand out.
She went to grab my bag, but I clung onto it. “I got it,” I told her.
She smirked at me before looking at him.
Dolly reminded me a little of Phoebe. I didn’t know if it was because I had been thinking about her before coming here.
What would be the odds of these people being her parents?
I thought. I made my way up the steps, which led me into their home.
As soon as I entered, the all-white stood out like a sore thumb.
My eyes scanned their home, taking in how comfortable it felt.
I noticed trophies and pictures, and all I could do was shake my head.
“It’s nice to officially meet you, Xavier. I’ve watched you play many times. Let me introduce myself officially. I’m Hendricks Monroe. I’m the sponsor of the Blue Hawks, but I used to play basketball too. I was quite good at it too.” He chuckled.
I heard what he was saying, but the only thing that could come from my mouth was, “What the fuck?”
How was it I left campus and all the bullshit behind to come here for spring break, to only find out I was stuck with Phoebe’s parents for a fucking week?