Chapter 5
Of all the days Jabari decided to take Kwinn to lunch, it had to be the day he got the news that he was being traded.
She should’ve known something was brewing when he picked her up.
From the moment she’d climbed into the passenger seat, something about him felt off.
He didn’t have the same irritated energy he’d had for the last few weeks, but he wasn’t exactly relaxed either.
His hands stayed tight around the steering wheel as he drove, and his jaw flexed every few seconds as he was deep in thought.
Kwinn noticed it but didn’t ask. Lately, she’d learned that asking Jabari what was wrong usually ended with him either giving her half an answer or acting like she was bothering him by wanting to know.
The phone conversation they had, seemingly making amends, clearly was just to get back in her good graces.
Jabari still wasn’t making enough effort for Kwinn to care anymore.
She’d grown tired of trying to pull information out of a man who had no desire to share.
They were halfway down the highway when his phone rang through the car speakers. Jabari glanced at the screen before answering using the steering wheel controls. The familiar voice of his agent, Marcus, filled the car, and Kwinn felt as if she knew exactly what he was calling about.
“What’s up, Marcus?” Jabari greeted.
“What’s going on, man? You busy?”
“Headed to get some food with Kwinn. Just gon’ head and say it.”
Marcus paused before speaking again. “A’ight. I just got off the phone with the front office.”
Jabari’s eyebrows pulled together. “And?”
Kwinn glanced over at him. The uncertainty in his voice made her chest ache.
“They made the decision to trade you.”
Jabari’s grip tightened around the steering wheel, and the car seemed to grow quieter even though the call was still coming through the speakers.
“Where to?” Jabari struggled to finally ask.
“New York.”
He blinked. “The Knights?”
“Yeah.”
Jabari scoffed, shaking his head. “Man, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“I wish I was.”
“So that’s the best they could do?”
“Yeah. I’ve been trying to get confirmation for the last couple of hours before I called you.”
Rubbing his palm across his mouth, Jabari’s nostrils flared. “When?”
“Your physical is being scheduled. They’re trying to get everything done within the next few days.”
“A few days?”
“That’s what I'm being told,” Marcus said.
Jabari let out a humorless laugh. “Man, that’s some bullshit.”
“Yeah, I know, but that’s where we’re at. I know it’s frustrating.”
“Frustrating?” Jabari questioned incredulously, his voice rising. “I’ve been sitting around for weeks wondering what the hell these people were gonna do with me, and now you’re telling me I got a few days to pack my shit and move across the damn country?”
“Jabari, listen to me. I know this isn’t how you wanted it to happen, but we need to focus on what’s next.”
“What’s next?” He shook his head. “Nigga, I’m still trying to process what’s happening right now.”
“I understand that, but the Knights aren’t a bad situation for you.”
“I didn’t say they were.”
“Then don't look at it like they’re sending you somewhere to fail. You’ve got an opportunity here.”
Jabari was quiet for a moment. Kwinn watched him from the passenger seat, and her heart sank as she listened. She knew how much he’d wanted to stay in Kansas City, and she knew how much uncertainty had been eating at him since the trade rumors began.
Marcus continued, “You need to get your head right, handle your rehab, and be ready when you get there. I’ll take care of the contract details and everything else on my end.”
“A’ight.” Jabari sighed, having no other choice but to agree.
“And Jabari?”
“Yeah?”
“Congratulations.”
Jabari didn’t reply right away. There wasn’t shit to be celebrating. “Yeah,” he finally muttered, “appreciate it.”
“I’m gonna send you everything as soon as I get it. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
The call ended, and for several seconds neither of them spoke.
Jabari flexed his hand around the steering wheel, with his eyes fixed on the road as he processed what had just happened.
Kwinn looked out the windshield, realizing everything had changed in the span of one phone call.
She’d known a trade was possible, everybody had, but knowing something could happen and being told it was happening were two completely different things.
Knowing she had to say something, Kwinn finally turned toward him.
“New York isn’t that bad. You like it there,” she offered, knowing he visited more than a few times a year.
Jabari sucked his teeth. “Yeah, if you say so. I wasn’t trying to play there, but I guess I have no choice.”
“No, but everything will be fine,” she reassured, rubbing his thigh.
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I’m just thinking about all the shit we gotta pack up. Some of your things can go into storage if we need to, but we only got a few days.”
Kwinn’s perfectly threaded brows scrunched as she stared at him, trying to make sure she’d heard him correctly. “What? Pack up whose stuff?”
Jabari looked at her as if the answer should have been obvious. “Yours. Who else?”
Chuckling, Kwinn shook her head. “Jabari… I’m not moving to New York, honey.”
His expression hardened. “What you mean you’re not moving? You just heard what Marcus said.”
“Yes, I heard him, but your trade has nothing to do with me.”
Jabari let out a short laugh with no humor behind it. In fact, he was pissed the fuck off. “So, it’s just fuck our relationship? Kwinn, I just got traded to the fucking Knights in New York. Why wouldn’t you move with me? What’s the problem?”
“The problem is you’re assuming I’m supposed to automatically go with you and that’s not how life works,” she expressed.
Frowning, Jabari shook his head. “This is our life. Why wouldn’t you?”
She stared at the side of his handsome face, noticing more gray hairs that had sprouted seemingly overnight.
Kwinn refocused her attention out the window.
Her answer was bigger than the Big Apple and bigger than whether she loved him.
She did. At least she thought she did, enough to uproot her life.
That was before Jabari showed her a different side of him.
She had spent countless nights listening to his frustrations, reassuring him when he questioned himself, showing up when he needed somebody, and making excuses for the parts of their relationship that had slowly begun to disappear, all while he barely seemed to notice she existed.
Now that he was being traded, his first instinct was to assume she’d simply pack up her life and follow him, as if she didn’t have a life of her own. Jabari truly had the game fucked up.
“I have a business here, Jabari.”
“So?” he asked in such a nasty tone that Kwinn damn near broke her neck looking at him.
“So that means the majority of my clientele is here. My team is here, and so is my life!” she snapped.
“C’mon, Kwinn. You can do interior design anywhere.”
“Well, that’s not how my business works. You’d know that if you gave a fuck about it or me, but let’s not focus on that.”
Jabari scoffed, hating to hear the truth. “Look, I ain’t about to argue with you. You’re making this more complicated than it gotta be.”
“No, I’m not. I’m actually thinking about myself for once.”
Jabari glanced her way, annoyed that he was still driving and having this conversation. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m not uprooting my entire life for a man who hasn’t been present in a relationship we’ve been in for who knows how long.”
“So, what you gon’ do? Stay here?”
“I sure am,” Kwinn answered without hesitation.
Speechless by the way she was acting, Jabari said nothing. The last thing he expected from Kwinn was for her to want to stay in KC.
“I have too much established here to just pack everything up,” Kwinn added when he didn’t respond.
Jabari cleared his throat. “So, that’s it?”
“No. Maybe we can try long distance.”
Her suggestion disgusted him, making his top lip curl. “Long distance?”
“Yes. People do it all the time.”
“Hell no,” Jabari said vehemently.
“Why not? We haven’t even given it a try.”
“Because that ain’t how relationships work. That ain’t how our shit is supposed to go,” Jabari said, making Kwinn chuckle.
She didn’t mean to but hearing him be so passionate about the long-distance thing was pretty comical, considering the in-distance one wasn’t working quite well either.
“It’s still a relationship if both people actually make an effort,” Kwinn said.
He glanced at her. “And you think distance is what we need right now?”
“I think it’s worth trying before I throw away everything I’ve built.” Kwinn shrugged, still not budging. “I know you can understand where I’m coming from.”
“I do… I’m trying to at least. But where is all this coming from?” Jabari asked just as her phone rang.
Glancing at the screen, Kwinn saw it was one of her homegirls hitting her up. Sasha was another WAG and someone she’d formed a relationship with over the years.
Grateful for the interruption, Kwinn answered her call. “Hey, girl.”
“Hey, babe! How have you been?” Sasha asked.
“I’ve been good. How are you? How’s the new house in Miami treating you?”
“Girl, it’s absolutely beautiful. The kids love it, and I do too, but it needs your touch.”
Kwinn smiled. “You should’ve called me. You know I don’t mind catching a flight, especially if we’re going shopping.”
“That’s actually why I’m calling. Something kept telling me to reach out to you, but we’ve been so busy with the move and all. Chris loves it here.”
Kwinn glanced at Jabari. He was staring straight ahead, but the slight sneer tugging at his mouth told her he was listening. Chris used to be his teammate but was traded as well. Jabari would’ve preferred to play for the Miami Sun instead. They had a much better roster than the Knights.
“I understand, girl. Moving can be a hassle,” Kwinn said.