Epilogue #2
It didn’t feel good knowing Vanessa felt that way after everything.
It didn’t feel good to know I was sleeping with the same woman who was sleeping with someone I knew, either.
But that was life then, and this was my life now.
I would do exactly what Vanessa wished me to do—have a good life. A damn good one.
Before starting up my SUV to head home, I called Ivy to let her know I was on my way back.
“Hey,” she said into the phone, her voice instantly putting a smile on my face. “You get everything?”
“I did,” I replied, nodding to myself. “Even ran into Keith Aaron at the market.”
“The rapper?”
“Yeah. He was there with his girl.”
“Dope.”
“I’ll be home soon,” I told her. “You got everything set up and ready to start?”
“You know I do.”
I chuckled softly.
Things with Ivy had been good. It didn’t take long for me to ask her what we were doing. I wanted a relationship the moment I sat at my desk putting together a dozen of tiny Lego roses... which she still has and loves.
Never in a million years would I have guessed that the woman who would steal my heart in such an unpredictable way had been right under my nose the whole time. Ivy was everything I needed. The balance to my life that made everything seem possible.
We started this journey all messed up in the head—given a baby we had no experience with, our plans for life turned upside down. But now? I was so settled in this new life, my old one didn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t miss it, not a little bit.
I was grateful for the storm that came in and cleared out what I thought I wanted.
Though it still hurt most days to remember my best friend was gone—and the one-year anniversary of his passing was slowly approaching—what his loss helped me gain made up for it in small but meaningful ways.
My life felt like mine again, and I had two people waiting for me at home who I loved with all my heart.
Greene Gardens finally felt like home.
Happiness felt good when it was real.
And now, I was on my way home to the love of my life.
Life was definitely good—and it was just getting started.
* * *
IVY
I sat at my desk, grinning from ear to ear as my eyes stayed glued to one of my computer screens.
I was watching a post-game interview with one of the journalists from Free-Throw Nation interviewing Leo after his game against the Atlanta Hawks the night before.
“Leo, congratulations on that spectacular performance tonight,” the interviewer, Scott Sanders, said, enthusiasm ringing in his voice. He was one of our newest hires at Free-Throw Nation, but his passion for the game made him a great fit. “How does it feel to come away with such a decisive win?”
“Thanks, man,” Leo replied, running a hand down his face to wipe away the sweat. “It feels amazing, honestly. The team really pulled together tonight—everyone was firing on all cylinders. We’ve got a plan this season, and we’re just out here working it.”
“Yes, you all are,” Scott added.
“You know, it’s games like these that remind us why we work so hard every day,” Leo said between breaths. “My team and I have been training together since before pre-training, so we all share this win tonight.”
“Absolutely,” Scott nodded.
Some days, I missed being out on the court. Inhaling the energy in the arena, hearing the squeak of sneakers on the hardwood—it all felt like home once. But life now? Life was the perfect opposite. There was so much to love now, especially the guy getting interviewed on screen.
“It was a team effort, for sure,” Scott continued. “Now, can you walk us through that final play? What was going through your mind?”
Leo laughed. “Well, we had the play set up during the timeout, and I knew I had to create some space to either take the shot…” He gestured with his hands.
“Or find an open man. The defense bit on the fake, and that split second was all we needed, baby. Just focused on executing what we’ve practiced. What we’ve been practicing.”
“Impressive as always,” Scott smiled. “So, Leo, how does someone like Leo Vanguard celebrate after a win like this?”
Leo chuckled, pressing a hand to his chest. “Well, Scott, tonight’s plan is pretty simple: I’m about to go home, kiss my amazing godson goodnight if he’s still up, and then cuddle up next to my girl.”
“Oh, my God.” I shook my head while smiling. “He did not have to say that!”
Scott chuckled.
“She’s one of my favorite people in the world, and honestly, the greatest sports journalist to ever do it—no offense,” Leo said during his interview, shooting Scott a playful look.
Scott laughed, clearly enjoying the banter. “None taken. I’m in good company since we both work at the same network.”
I rolled my eyes at the screen and kissed my teeth. “Scott, don’t give that man rope, please.”
“Good company you are definitely in,” Leo added, patting Scott on the back. Then, looking directly into the camera, he said with a grin, “Be home soon, Ivy League.”
I scoffed, my grin widening as I hit the button to minimize the video frame. “He can be such an attention whore.”
An attention whore that I loved. And since he’s started whispering his little nickname for me into my ear while buried very deeply inside of me, I didn’t hate it as much anymore.
A lot had changed since that fateful day I returned home to find Leo in the kitchen cooking and a slew of roses made out of LEGOs in my bedroom.
It’s literally been amazing—both romantically and professionally—two areas of my life I didn’t think could experience any kind of amazing-ness after unexpectedly becoming Levi’s guardian.
The Free-Throw Nation column I thought was a weak consolation prize for what I really wanted—an anchor position at the network—was booming and doing far better than I ever expected.
My column was referenced by the who’s who in sports media, constantly cited for insightful commentary and quoted in newscasts.
It got to the point where I felt a little pressure every time I typed my random thoughts, but it was the best kind of pressure.
My YouTube channel had grown beyond my wildest dreams, so much so that the network gave me a separate vlogging channel just for my very random sports commentary. I was being paid to be myself, something I didn’t think was possible.
And because my visibility increased professionally, my personal life had become a story in itself.
People were fascinated by the way Leo and I became guardians of Levi.
Our journey caught the attention of brands that now sent us sponsorship offers because of our engaging content—and our relationship.
A relationship Leo made public every chance he got.
Which, honestly, I didn’t mind at all.
Life was so different now. It was unlike anyone’s I knew. It was, honestly... great.
I logged into my social media account, preparing to go live on Free-Throw Nation’s account. I was scheduled to talk about last night’s game—Ballers versus Hawks—and now that I knew about Leo’s final comments during his interview, I was certain the viewers would bring it up.
Leo never missed a chance to show his affection, whether it was verbal or physical.
Since moving back to Greene Gardens, he’d become a full-on family man.
He went to the games, then came straight home.
There was very little partying or clubbing for Leo Vanguard these days.
Watching him keep his promise to prioritize family was one of the sexiest things I’d ever witnessed.
Once everything was set up, I pressed the red circle to go live, running my fingers through my hair before gathering it into a messy bun.
These days, I didn’t bother spending hours perfecting my appearance for casual live streams. Sure, for in-person events or high-profile outings, I’d put in the effort, but my fans loved me as I was—even preferred it. Knowing that took a lot of the stress out of always needing to look "on point."
“Hey, everyone, Ivy here,” I said to the camera, smiling brightly.
“Coming to you live from my office, as always.” I giggled.
“With the freshest takes from last night’s electric game!
Thank you for tuning in, wherever in the world you’re tuning in from.
Let’s get into the excitement of the hardwood, are you ready? ”
Comments immediately started streaming in as I clicked through my notes, smiling at the familiar buzz of engagement.
I didn’t think much about my life before Levi anymore.
When I missed that life, it was only because I missed Kendra.
Those feelings hadn’t subsided, but I’d learned how to cope with them.
Sometimes, a random social media post would pop up and send me into uncontrollable tears.
Other times, I’d get the urge to call her before remembering I couldn’t.
There was even a voicemail she’d left me years ago that I still listened to when missing her felt unbearable. It helped.
“First off,” I said, glancing at the camera.
“Can we please talk about that incredible performance from the Bronx Ballers last night? And I know someone here is going to say I’m biased, but—” I held up a finger—“you can’t deny they truly brought their A-game, okay?
But one player really stood out. Of course, I’m talking about Leo Vanguard.
” I winked. “His strategic plays and unstoppable energy were key to clinching that win. So, let’s break down some of those highlight moments! ”
Leo didn’t waste any time asking me what we were doing when he moved back to Greene Gardens.
“You want a relationship?” I asked one night over bowls of cereal we were sharing in the middle of the night.
We’d taken a break from having sex, which we’d been doing almost every hour since his return. A bowl of cereal and an island between us was the only thing keeping us apart.
“Don’t you?” he replied, shoveling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “I thought women preferred that.”
I snorted. “I’m fine either way.”