Chapter 12
As soon as I started my car to head to Nyomi’s parents’ house, I called my brother. I hadn’t had time to update him on recent events.
“You’re about to be an uncle,” I announced as soon as Knox answered the phone.
“The fuck? Explain, please.”
“Do I really need to explain how this happened?”
“You know what the fuck I mean, nigga. The last time we talked, I thought her being pregnant was ruled out.”
I shared what had transpired last night and this morning, and thankfully, he listened without interruption.
“Congratulations! How you feeling about it?”
“I’m excited, but she thought we were about to be sneaking around the city, and I let her know we’re too old for that shit,” I told Knox.
“Maybe she got another nigga she’s hiding somewhere. You sure the baby is yours?”
“That shit ain’t even funny.”
“Just because it’s not funny doesn’t mean it’s not true. Anything is possible. She had a life before you came along a couple months ago.”
“Yeah, but she ain’t have no dick for five years before I came along. That pussy and that baby are mine. Don’t play with me, nigga.”
“Five years? Damn. No wonder she got your ass gone, because you’ve never defended a woman like this. I’m happy for you, Kilo. Mama gon’ be on ten when you tell her.”
“I can’t wait to tell her when they visit in a few weeks. Pops might have a hard time keeping her in Chicago once the baby comes.”
“Hell yeah.”
“Let’s get back to the main reason I called you.”
“You weren’t calling to gloat about getting your girl?”
“No, but it all ties together, so I led with that. Nyeem quit the team yesterday.”
“Nigga! That’s what the fuck you should’ve led with. What the fuck, man?”
“I’m telling you now, so chill.”
I quickly shared what happened from the time Nyeem walked into my office until Ambrose left.
“Ambrose is full of shit if he doesn’t think Nyeem’s talent is far beyond anything we’ve seen in years.
If I were Nyeem, I’d mean mug his ass too.
Granted, what Ambrose said wasn’t meant for Nyeem to hear, but he got caught talking shit about the boy, so he shouldn’t have expected a warm reception,” Knox said.
“That’s true, but Nyeem’s beef with Ambrose goes far beyond overhearing him talk shit. I’m only telling you this because you’re my brother and I trust you, but don’t repeat this shit to a soul.”
“You know that’s not how I roll. Wassup?”
“Ambrose is Nyeem’s father.”
“Say what now?”
“I don’t have time to tell you the backstory, but Nyeem asked me to meet him at his grandparents’ house. I hope he’s reconsidered leaving the team, but I’ll hit you up on my way home to let you know.”
“Damn. Ambrose being Nyeem’s father was the last thing I expected you to say. Hit me up when you’re done.”
The call ended as I parked behind Nyomi’s car in front of what I assumed was her parents’ home. I’d intentionally driven slowly while on the phone with my brother so I’d have a chance to update him.
It didn’t look as if Nyomi was still inside her car, so I got out and approached the house. Before I could ring the bell, Nyeem opened the screen door.
“Thank you for coming, Coach. Come in,” he greeted.
I stepped inside and followed him to the family room, where everyone waited.
“Mimi, GP, and Uncle Robby, this is Coach Kilo. He’s the new head football coach at BEU. You already know my mom,” Nyeem said.
Nyomi smiled at me but didn’t let her eyes linger in my direction for too long, causing me to smirk. His uncle was the first to speak, approaching me with his hand extended.
“We talked on the phone a couple months ago, but it’s good to meet you in person,” he said.
“It is. I appreciate you taking my call, even though you couldn’t help me out,” I teased.
We chuckled.
“You know, my hands were tied, but I see you’re very resourceful.”
Nyeem’s grandparents greeted me next, and his grandfather offered me a seat on the love seat next to Nyomi. His grandmother asked if I wanted something to eat or drink, which I politely declined.
“I guess you’re probably wondering why I called you here,” Nyeem began, taking a seat in a chair that had been brought in from another room.
“I’m curious,” I said.
“Ma, how much can I share with Coach Kilo?”
“He knows Ambrose is your father. Say what you need to say.”
Nyeem nodded and took a deep breath before speaking again.
“First, I want to apologize. I came to your office and quit the team without giving you a legitimate reason. I’m a very responsible person, and that’s not how I was taught to deal with things, especially things that are important to me.”
“An apology isn’t necessary, but I appreciate it.”
“Yesterday was a lot, mentally and emotionally. When I saw his name in the press release, I screamed at the top of my lungs. When I saw him in the flesh, I almost blacked out on him. My mama didn’t raise me to be a quitter.
My family taught me to finish what I start.
For my entire life, one of the people responsible for me being here hasn’t acknowledged my existence, and he doesn’t care if I live or die.
I don’t mean to sound cocky when I say this, but I’m telling you the same thing I told my mama yesterday morning.
Coaching me is a privilege I don’t want him to have.
He doesn’t get to just pop up and get credit for all my hard work, or all my family's hard work.”
“Your feelings are valid, and I appreciate and respect your honesty. I wish I’d known everything I know now before I offered him the position. Unfortunately, the contract is signed, and firing him would cost us a lot of money.”
“I know this is a business, and I wouldn’t expect you to choose him over me,” Nyeem said.
“Oh, but I would in a heartbeat. Coaching is more than just teaching someone a skill set. It’s also about having a good character.
I want the men on my coaching staff to be good examples on and off the field, and any man who doesn’t take care of his seed is not a man I want around my student-athletes.
I’ve lost all respect for him, but I have to be smart about how I handle this. ”
“I understand, and I appreciate that you even considered getting rid of him to keep me on the team. After talking to GP and Uncle Robby, I’ve decided not to quit.”
Nyomi gasped but didn’t say anything.
“You shared a lot, Nyeem, and based on what you shared, I have to ask . . . are you sure?”
He looked at his uncle and grandfather before responding.
“I am. If I quit, I’m giving him power over my life that he doesn’t deserve.
I was excited about playing football, and I let the sight of his name snatch it away.
No one should have that much control over me, especially someone who has deliberately chosen not to be in my life.
I heard what he said about me when he came to your office.
He wants to downplay my abilities because if he gives me my props, he’ll have to accept that I became who I am without him. ”
I looked at Nyomi, her parents, her brother, and then back at Nyeem. This young man was more than exceptional. He spoke like a man twice his age, and since the moment we met, I felt his genuine spirit. The values his family instilled in him showed up and showed out in everything he did.
“I am at a loss for words for a few reasons. Nyeem, I’ve never met anyone like you.
Your family should be proud of the young man they’ve raised.
I’d be honored if you remained on the team, and I’m willing to move you to receiver to protect your peace.
I’ll do everything I can to protect you from any negativity that might come your way because of this delicate situation. ”
“Thank you, Coach, but you don’t have to give me any special treatment. I trust you to do what you think is best.”
“You’re exactly the kind of young man I want on my team.
If your teammates have half the character, resilience, discipline, and wisdom you have, we’ll be unstoppable.
This will probably upset Nyomi, but I’m prepared to deal with the consequences of what I’m about to say.
I’ve only spent a small amount of time with this family, but I feel an immeasurable amount of pride knowing my child shares the same DNA as everyone in this room. ”
“Kilo!” Nyomi shouted.
“I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t hold it.”
The confusion on everyone’s faces was very visible, and I could see them processing my words.
“Did you say baby? Hold up! Y’all dating?” Nyeem questioned.
“Did I miss something here?” Robby asked.
“You’re pregnant?” came from Mrs. Kurrie.
“How long has this been going on?” Mr. Kurrie inquired.
“Clearly long enough for her to get pregnant,” Mrs. Kurrie followed up.
“I knew something was up when they came to the house for the meeting. Coach Kilo, I saw how you looked at Mama when she walked into the kitchen. Then you tried to talk to her after I went to my room. I didn’t want to bust y’all’s bubble, so I let it play out,” Nyeem said.
The fallout from my announcement wasn’t bad once everyone had a moment to process. Nyomi’s parents were excited, and Nyeem was already praying for a little sister. Robby gave me a little grief, but he was cool about having a niece or another nephew.
Nyomi, on the other hand, was pissed. She played it cool for her family, but when we left, she drove home like a bat out of hell, weaving in and out of traffic in her attempt to get to her house before me. I was currently sitting outside her house, blowing up her phone.
I’d called her ten times, and each time, she sent me to voicemail. I was getting pissed, but this wasn’t the type of neighborhood where I could kick her door down. I had to keep a cool head, or this could get ugly. I decided to send her a text, hoping she’d respond.
Me:
If you keep ignoring my calls, you leave me no choice but to kick your door down.
Ny:
I’ll call the police.
Me:
You trying to get the father of your child arrested. That’s fucked up.
Ny:
Go home. We can talk in a few days.
A few days? She’d clearly lost her mind.
I got out of my car, slamming the door harder than I intended, but I was pissed.
I approached the door like a man on a mission, but as I was about to lay on the doorbell, Nyeem turned into the driveway.
I waited for him to get out of the car and come to the door.
“Wassup? Ma not answering the door?” he asked with a smirk.
“Nah. I didn’t ring the doorbell, but I’ve called her a few times, and she keeps sending me to voicemail. I know she’s pissed.”
“Yeah. She tried to hide it, but I could tell. If my grandparents weren’t around, she would’ve had a few not-so-nice words for you. She might send me back to their house for letting you in, but I’ll take one for the team.”
He unlocked the door, and I entered behind him. I could hear Nyomi in the kitchen talking, and I assumed she was on the phone. Nyeem entered the kitchen first, greeting his mother with a kiss on the cheek. She didn’t see me at first, and when she did, her whole demeanor changed.
“Skye, my son allowed an unwanted guest into my home. Let me call you back.”
She didn’t wait for her friend to respond before ending the call.
“Nyeem, why did you let him in?”
“Huh?”
“Boy, if you can huh, you can hear me. Go to your room.”
He kissed her cheek again and rushed past me, stifling a laugh. I entered the kitchen and leaned against the counter, folding my arms across my chest.
“I told you we’d talk in a few days,” she said with an attitude.
“Whatever you plan to say to me in a few days can be said right now.”
“Kilo, I’m not in the mood for this.”
“Listen, baby. I apologize for sharing the news with your family the way I did, but you don’t understand how excited I am. You’re carrying my first child. No other woman has ever been blessed with my seeds. This is a big deal for me.”
“I know, but I at least wanted to go to the doctor to make sure everything is okay before we told anyone.”
“Why wouldn’t everything be okay? Don’t assume the worst.”
“I’m not assuming the worst, but this is my reality. I gave birth over eighteen years ago, I’m thirty-six, which puts me at a high risk, and I had a period. I just want to make sure this is real, and everything is okay before I get too attached.”
I hadn’t considered any of what she’d said before sharing the news, and now I understood why she wasn’t happy with me. I reached in front of me and pulled the front of her shirt, bringing her body against mine.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m new to this shit, and I didn’t think about any of that.”
“I know, and I didn’t mention any of this because I didn’t want to ruin the excitement for you.”
“Thank you. I should’ve waited until you gave me the green light, but don’t put your running shoes on every time I fuck up. I ain’t never been in a real relationship, so I’m bound to fuck up. Give me some grace, baby.”
“I wasn’t running—”
“Yes, you were. I ain’t never done this before, but I know what a runner looks like. If you’re gonna run, run to me, not away from me.”
I leaned into her and kissed her lips. She was receptive, opening her mouth to receive my tongue. My hands traveled down her back until they reached her ass. I pressed her against me and squeezed.
My dick stiffened, and when she moaned, I remembered we were in the kitchen, and Nyeem wasn’t too far away. Begrudgingly, I pulled away and looked into her eyes.
“I don’t want there to be any questions about what this is. You’re mine. I’m yours. We’re together. Are we clear?”
She smiled as she nodded.
“Say it.”
“You’re mine. I’m yours. We’re together.”
“And no more running.”
She smacked her lips and rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything.
“Say it with me, baby. No more running.”
She repeated the last part with me, and our lips briefly met again.
“Now what?” she asked.