Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Titan
“Guys, it was a frustrating afternoon for the Cannons here in Seattle. They came into the fourth quarter within striking distance, but the Wolves’ defense slammed the door shut on multiple possessions and forced Cannon Hills to play from behind for most of the second half.”
We just lost against Seattle, and it should’ve been an easy win, but you can’t win them all. I was leaving the field when I saw Tatum wrapping up a post-game interview. I was pressing my luck hoping that the same reporter wouldn’t stop me, but I had no such luck.
“Titan! You got a minute?” he asked.
“I guess I do now,” I laughed.
“Six catches for eighty-seven yards today, but the result obviously isn’t what you wanted. What do you think was the difference?”
“Finishing drives,” I answered without hesitation. “We moved the ball. We just didn’t finish. Against a team like Seattle, especially on the road, you can’t leave points sitting out there and expect to win.”
“Did they do anything defensively that surprised you?”
“No. They were physical. They mixed some things up, but nothing we didn’t prepare for. They made plays. We didn’t make enough of them.”
“Alright, I’ve got one more for you before you disappear.”
“Wassup?” I smirked, knowing exactly what he was about to ask. I saw the pictures before the game started. I just didn’t have time to text Tink about them yet.
“There were pictures of you outside Cannon Hills State University last week and then again leaving Velvet House with a very beautiful young lady. You have to admit that’s a little odd when it comes to you. Don’t you think?” He probed.
“Nah, I don’t because I mind my business. What I do in my free time shouldn’t be that much of a concern,” I stated bluntly. Dee already told me they would be coming out the woodworks with this, and I should keep my comments around the same as if it were bad publicity.
“So, you’re not going to tell us who the mystery lady is?” he grinned.
“Nah... I’m gone let y’all do your job that you get paid to do and I’m gone do mine.” I smirked.
“Fair enough.” He chuckled. “Appreciate the time.”
“Always,” I countered as I walked off.
I laughed all the way to the locker room. As usual, I took a few pictures with fans. Even though we were in a different city... the fans were everywhere.
When I got to the locker room, I saw Tatum and Kobe at the lockers.
“You just getting here?” Kobe asked.
“Hell yeah. Muthafucka stopped and asked me about Tink. Pictures are already circulating of us outside the school and the other night. I need to check on her to make sure she’s cool with this shit,” I vented.
“I thought she knew this was bound to happen?” Kobe asked.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean that I want her blindsided or feel some kind of way about the narrative.” I grabbed my bag and headed toward the showers as I heard those two fools laughing at my expense.
By the time I showered and changed, everyone was gone except for Tatum and Kobe. I knew they would still be around.
“The fuck y’all niggas about to get into?” I asked as we headed out of the locker room and toward the parking lot.
“Shit, I’m about to go back to the room and call my wife. I might be up for a few drinks after that,” Tatum mentioned.
“Yeah, I could use some drinks myself,” Kobe co-signed.
“Aight. Let me go back to my room and y’all niggas hit me up when you’re ready.”
They nodded in agreement, and we headed to our cars.
As soon as I got in my designated car, my driver was already waiting for me. Once I was inside, I powered my phone on. Once it stopped buzzing, I saw I had messages from my mama, Sasha, some chick I fucked when I came to town and Tink.
My World ??: Good game, baby ??.
Sasha: The blogs are eating up the photos of you and Cadence. This may just work after all ????.
Trey Dub ??: Aww shit, nigga. I see you got ol’ girl on board ??.
Rain: Good game, Daddy. Ready to celebrate ?? ?
Tink: You played a good game out there today.
For some reason I wanted to talk to her first, so I replied to her first.
’Preciate that, Tink. You see the pictures yet?
When I got to the room, I found Lani in there with her feet tucked under herself, scrolling through her phone.
“The fuck you doing in here, lil’ ugly boy?” I teased, mushing her head.
“Keep your pussy snatchers off of me. I was here waiting for you to bring your ass back. Have you seen the pictures of you and Cadence?” she asked.
I dropped my bag on the floor and sat on the couch next to her and pulled my phone out.
“Yeah, I saw ‘em,” was my response. I was too busy looking at Tink’s response.
Tink: I saw them. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. At least they’re not grouping me in the categories with your other hoes ??.
Oh, so you one of my hoes now ???
She started back typing fast as hell.
Tink: Don’t make me fuck you up. Call me another hoe ????!
Laughing, I responded.
I’on want no problems, Tink.
Tink: I bet you don’t... but let me get back to work. I got a section I need to take care of.
Aight... keep them niggas out your face
Tink: Bye Titan
I placed my phone down and saw Lani staring a hole in the side of my face.
“What?” I frowned.
“You like her, huh?”
Instead of answering her, I got up and went inside the room so I could freshen up and get ready to chill with my boys. I’ain had time to be interrogated by my nosy ass sister.
***
We’d been in the club for about an hour, and I was ready to go.
This clean image shit was blowing me, and I would rather it be a thick bitch with a fat ass.
I was currently in the VIP with Tatum, Kobe and a few other niggas from the team that we fucked with.
The vibe was okay, but I just wasn’t feeling the shit.
“Check this nigga out,” Kobe laughed. “Nigga acting like he on probation and shit,” he laughed with the other guys.
“Nigga, fuck you and stay out my damn business. You’re worse than the fucking blogs,” I sneered.
“Nah, you over there looking pitiful because you wanna fuck one of those bitches on the balcony and you can’t because Sasha gone get in your ass...plus you just went public with your relationship.” He made air quotes when he said relationship, and that shit annoyed the fuck out of me.
“Fuck on. I’ain went public with shit,” I countered, taking a swig from my beer.
“Ain’t nothing wrong with being with one woman, bro. Shit has hella perks. I can fuck on my wife as much as I want and raw without running the risk of catching some shit,” Tatum input.
“Nigga, you’re married. You’re supposed to think like that.” I waved him off.
“There go your girl,” Zay, our team’s safety, announced.
I looked up and saw that he was talking about Rain.
I purposely ignored her texts because I was trying to keep a low profile and keep my face clean.
I knew she would sniff me out though... she always did.
She spoke to the guys who were up here before stopping in front of me.
She stood with her arms folded under her breasts as she just looked at me.
I don’t know what that’s about, but I wasn’t about to worry myself with it.
“You didn’t see me text you?” she sassed.
I looked up at her and responded, “I did.”
“So, when did you start leaving me on read?”
I peered up at her like she lost her mind for questioning me.
“Aye, the only person who has the right to question me is Aiesha Davis, and you’on look like her. I’on have to respond to shit I don’t want to, bro.” I frowned.
“Bro?” She reared her head back. “Since when you start talking to me like that? Oh, the rumors must be true about you and that girl in the pictures,” she sassed.
I didn’t respond because I didn’t owe her an explanation.
“That’s your girl or something?” she questioned.
“That’s my business, is what it is,” I countered.
She stood there for a couple of seconds before she shook her head in disbelief.
“Wow,” she scoffed. “I hope she’s happy with your nationwide dick having ass, but you’ll be back... you always do.” She stormed off mad as hell, and once she was gone, the guys went in.
“Damn, she mad,” Kobe laughed.
“She’ll be alright.” I stood up. “I’m about to go. I’on feel like being around this shit and they’re on my neck. I’ll holla at y’all boys later.” I dapped my boys up and headed out with Graves following suit.
“I can’t believe you curved Rain’s fine ass like that,” he mentioned.
“Shit, I can’t either.” I rubbed my hand down my face.
I heard him laughing behind me as I got into the backseat of the SUV followed by him. When the driver took off, all I could do was think about Tink and hoped nobody snapped pictures of Rain and me and posted that shit.