Nothing Like the NBA Ex

Chapter 1

“Ms. Taylor, I’m so sorry. I know we were supposed to meet tomorrow, but something came up, and I’m not going to be able to make our consultation.”

Kwinn rubbed her glossed lips together as her gaze drifted to the digital planner on her computer screen.

She’d been sitting in her home office, reviewing her schedule for the day, when Mrs. Reynolds called.

Things happened, and after enough years in the interior design business, she had learned that flexibility was part of the job.

“Is everything okay?” Kwinn asked, genuinely concerned.

“Yes, of course. My husband scheduled an impromptu trip for us without telling me. He claims I need it.”

Mrs. Reynolds may have sounded frustrated about having to reschedule, but Kwinn could detect the smile in her voice, too.

“Well, that was sweet of him,” Kwinn gushed.

“It certainly was. My honey treats me so well, but I had to call to update you. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“It’s no inconvenience at all. I appreciate you reaching out,” she assured her. Kwinn pulled up her calendar and scanned her availability. “I can move you to next Thursday. Would eleven work?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line as Mrs. Reynolds checked her schedule. “Yes. Eleven would be perfect.”

“Okay, I’ll have my assistant send you a new confirmation. If you find any more inspiration photos before then, send them my way. I want to see anything you find before we meet.”

“I sure will. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you working with me.”

“Of course. That’s what I’m here for. Don’t stress about rescheduling. We’ll take care of everything when you return. Enjoy your trip.”

Mrs. Reynolds thanked her again before they hung up.

Kwinn set her phone beside her laptop and smiled to herself, still thinking about the happiness she’d heard in Mrs. Reynolds’ voice.

There was something sweet about the way she talked about her husband, even when she was complaining that he’d sprung a surprise trip on her.

It was the simple things in a marriage that truly mattered. Honestly, in any relationship you nurtured and cared about. The thoughtfulness, the little surprises, the consideration of the other person’s feelings, too…The things that reminded you that you mattered even when life got too busy.

The growling of Kwinn’s stomach interrupted her thoughts and her workflow.

She looked down at the empty bowl that clearly didn’t have any more fruit and laughed softly.

Apparently, the pineapples, grapes, and apples weren’t going to cut it anymore.

They had gotten her through the morning, but her stomach was making it clear that she needed something with a little more substance.

Pushing her chair back, Kwinn stood and stretched before heading out of her office.

Tucked away at the back of her immaculate two-story, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home, the office had become her favorite room.

The space resembled one of her mood boards, with fabric swatches and reminders pinned to a bulletin board.

Framed photos of some of her favorite projects and awards lined two arched shelves, and a large abstract painting behind her wooden desk added a pop of color to the neutral tones.

It wasn’t overly decorated, just as she preferred.

The only constant was her weekly order of fresh flowers, which sat on a sideboard.

In another life, Kwinn would’ve pursued a career as a florist. Besides her bedroom, her office was one of the few spaces in the house where she could shut the door and feel completely immersed in her own world.

As she headed down the hallway, her hot-pink London Kensington slippers barely made it into the kitchen before she heard her boyfriend Jabari’s voice.

“I don’t give a damn what they say, Marcus. I’m not sitting around waiting for them to decide what they’re going to do with me.”

Kwinn couldn’t hear his agent’s response, but she didn’t need to.

She’d heard enough conversations over the past few weeks to know exactly where this one was headed.

NBA trade rumors had been circulating for the past two months.

Jabari tried to brush them off, telling everyone not to believe everything they saw on social media.

Until he was given the details without the bullshit, he wasn’t worried, and he hadn’t been until he thought about his injury.

Although the stress fracture in his leg had been deemed minor, it had become his primary source of frustration.

He’d been complaining about the pain for months, and because there was nothing visibly wrong and the fracture didn’t always show up on X-rays, people had a hard time understanding just how much it bothered him.

Every time he stepped wrong or landed awkwardly, the pain reminded him it was still there.

His performance on the court hadn’t been his best either, which didn’t help his case at all.

Jabari hadn’t been playing like himself, and he knew it.

Kwinn knew it, too. The numbers and missed shots told it all.

The frustration on his face after every game was always evident.

What had started as whispers had turned into conversations among analysts, fans, reporters, and eventually his own teammates.

Now, everybody seemed to have an opinion about what the KC Phantom should do with him, and Jabari hated not knowing what would happen next.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying if they were going to move me, they should’ve done it already. I’m tired of everybody talking about possibilities. I need to know what the hell is going on.”

Kwinn leaned against the counter, watching him, hating how stressed he looked.

Jabari paced the opposite side of the island with his phone pressed to his ear.

He was dressed comfortably in black basketball shorts and a white T-shirt, his honey-hued skin still carrying a slight sheen from his shower.

His low-cut sponged curls and line were fresh, and the sharpness of his jaw made him look good even with the scowl pulling his brows together.

It was easy to admire him, and Kwinn hated that, especially since his attitude had been the worst lately. Still, she couldn’t deny that the man was handsome.

Dragging a hand over his face, Jabari sighed.

“Nah, I understand what you’re saying. But understanding it doesn’t mean I gotta like it.

” He listened for a few seconds, his brows scrunching together as whatever Marcus said clearly wasn’t helping his mood.

“Yeah. A’ight. ‘Preciate you. Call me when you know something.” Ending the call, he tossed his phone onto the counter harder than necessary.

Kwinn glanced his way and waited a moment before speaking. “Any good news?”

Jabari let out a loud sigh and reached for the glass bottle of water beside him. “Nah. Same shit. They’re still trying to figure everything out.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad,” she said, trying to keep hope alive.

He took a long swig. “Yeah, okay. They’ve been figuring everything out for weeks.” He shook his head. “If niggas wanna let me go, then they need to gon’ head and do that.”

Seeing and hearing his frustration build, Kwinn closed the distance between them. With ease, she wrapped her arms around his slender yet muscular six-foot-one frame. At five-foot-seven, she nestled against him, rubbing her hands soothingly along his back.

“I know you’re frustrated,” she murmured, “but nothing has been decided yet. You can’t keep getting worked up and stressed out about something that hasn’t happened.”

Jabari’s body stayed stiff beneath her hands. After a moment, she felt his chest rise and fall with a deeper breath. She hoped it was relief, even if it only lasted a few seconds. He needed it. And if she was being honest, so did she.

“I hear you. Marcus is saying the same shit,” Jabari explained.

“And we’re both right.” Kwinn smiled against his chest. “Plus, if you do get traded, you could end up somewhere that’s a better fit for you,” Kwinn added. “You don’t know yet.”

She felt his shoulders tense again. Before Kwinn could say anything else, Jabari shifted, trying to pull himself out of her embrace. Kwinn immediately loosened her arms, giving him the space he wanted without forcing him to pull away.

“What?” she asked, looking up at him.

Jabari shook his head before downing the rest of his water.

Kwinn stared at him, waiting for an explanation.

She got nothing… as always. He hadn’t even hugged her back.

The realization made her chest tighten, and she didn’t know why because it was something so small.

Minuscule, yes, but it mattered to her, and it should’ve mattered to him, too.

“You couldn’t even hug me back?”

Jabari glanced at her, frowning. “Kwinn, I’m just stressed.”

“And I understand that, but that doesn’t make it okay for you to treat me like I’m the enemy.”

“Then what are we doing, then? You standing here trying to start an argument over nothing.”

Kwinn gave a humorless chuckle and shook her head. “Is that what you think I’m trying to do?”

“That’s what it seems like,” Jabari replied, seemingly over the conversation. “All because I didn’t hug you back.”

“Okay, well, it’s not. Sorry if you think that’s what I was trying to do,” she said, with just enough bite to make it clear that she wasn’t actually sorry for having feelings.

“It’s all good.”

“Mhm,” Kwinn hummed, deciding it wasn’t worth dragging the conversation any further.

She reached for the sweet almond creamer, already thinking about everything she needed to tackle on her to-do list. Unsure whether he planned to stay at her place or go home, she updated him on her plans for the day.

“I have a few errands to run and need to meet with a few contractors today, so I’ll probably be home late. One of my clients is getting a pool built, and?—”

“Kwinn,” Jabari said, dryly.