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  “Are you always going to answer the phone looking like you’d rather be picking up dog shit than talking to me?”

  If her widening eyes were any indication, my question had surprised her. She scowled even harder. “If that time ever comes, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

  “Man, stop fronting. If you didn’t want to talk to me, you wouldn’t have answered the phone.” I was right and it was written all over her face that she hated to admit it. She shrugged.

  “It’s not every day that Hawk calls a regular ass woman such as myself.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her image on my screen. “I told you to call me Jermaine.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “And when you failed to give a reasonable excuse for that, I decided to continue calling you what all the other regular ass people in the world do.”

  “First of all, you’re far from a regular ass person. You don’t even carry yourself like you think that’s true, so chill out with that mess. Second of all, Jermaine is my name, so that’s what I want you to call me. Unless you’re from The House, Hawk is the celebrity shit that I’m not trying to be on with you. I just want to talk to you and get to know you. I’m just a ugly nigga trying to holla at a beautiful woman like all the other regular ass niggas do.” I gave her a taste of her own medicine and threw her words back at her.

  Her lips were pursed as she tried to keep from laughing. I widened my eyes comically, and she bust out laughing, throwing her head back and exposing that smooth neck that I wanted to put my lips back on.

  “Don’t be calling my phone, lying and shit. We both know you are not ugly.”

  I shrugged and feigned modesty. “I don’t know if we both know that.”

  She smacked her lips. “I’m not about to stroke what I’m sure is an already highly inflated ego.”

  I bit my tongue to keep from saying the nasty shit her words brought to mind. She gave me a knowing look and licked her lips. I reached down to adjust my hardened erection in my shorts, and although she couldn’t see my action, her eyes tracked me anyway. Shit. Hunger burned in her eyes, and I wondered how long it had been since she’d gotten some.

  I needed to change the subject.

  “How long have you been divorced?”

  Her eyes rolled around the room. “I’m actually expecting a call from my lawyer any day now. We had to go back and adjust some agreements but my divorce should be finalized like yesterday. Just in time for him to get a celebratory trip in during spring break before he has to go back to work.”

  I hated the bitterness in her voice and hated myself even more for bringing up her ex and putting it there. Second change of topic coming right up.

  “Shoot me your address. You’re going to come kick it with me tonight.”

  Those rust-brown eyes squinted at me. She tried to give me a look of distrust, but that expressive ass face of hers let me know she was thrilled by my declaration.

  “How you just gon’ tell me what I’m going to do?”

  I smirked. “Like I just did. Stop fronting like you don’t want to rub on this milk dud and stroke my…ego…some more. So, come over, eat a good meal, bowl some strikes, and kick it wit ya boy.”

  She looked contemplative as she mulled over my suggestion. Then she met my gaze. “What if I just want dick and not dinner?”

  I blinked. Well damn. The matter-of-fact way she said that was sexy as fuck. The idea had merit but… I pressed my hand to my chest in mock outrage. “I am a gentleman! You will not gain access to my body before, at least, showing me a good time first.”

  Her lips twitched, and I knew she wanted to laugh, but she successfully held it in this time. She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll do dinner, but your ugly ass better put out.”

  Surprised, I sputtered before throwing my head back and laughing. “Damn, girl, you’re vicious.”

  She giggled. “And don’t ever forget it.”

  I shook my head. “Trust me, I won’t. Listen, I have to head down to the gym so, I’m going to go, but I’ll see you tonight. And don’t forget to send me your address.” I emphasized my directive.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll do it as soon as we’re disconnected.”

  I grinned. “That’s what’s up. Talk to you later, goddess.”

  “Uh, bye?” Her face was the picture of confusion, and I realized that my nickname for her had slipped out.

  Ah, shit. I hadn’t meant for her to hear that, but sooner or later it would’ve been inevitable. I pressed the red button and waited until the call log came up before I locked my phone and set it on the arm of the chair. I reached to unzip the cryo-sleeve, which had buzzed before I ended my call. Lifting my leg, I slowly bent it a couple of times. It felt amazing. I snatched up my phone and headed down to the first floor of my home where the gym was located.

  As I hit the top of the stairs, my phone chimed. I touched the screen and smiled. She’d sent me her address. I unlocked the phone and pulled up my contacts. After a couple of rings, the call was connected.

  “Hello?”

  The smooth voice on the other end widened my smile.

  “Hey, Mama, what are you up to?”

  “Hey baby, I’m out with Sandra. We just had lunch and are headed back to the house.”

  “Okay, cool. Can you cook a lil something tonight? I’m having someone over, and I promised to feed them.” I tried to keep the details vague, but my mama was like a bloodhound with how she sniffed me out.

  “You want me to cook dinner? For you and some woman?”

  I groaned as I landed on the bottom step. “That’s not what I said.”

  “Hmph. It ain’t what you didn’t say either.”

  I rounded the corner of the living room and headed to the back of the house where the gym was located off of the garage. “What does that even mean, Mama?”

  “That means that if you were expecting some of the boys from the team, then you would have said that. If this was an impromptu business meeting, you would have said that. You’re always forthcoming.”

  Until now. She didn’t say it, but I heard it loud and clear, regardless. I stopped outside of the gym and sighed heavily. The barrage of questions she was sure to launch at me was already stressing me out.

  “Aight, Mama, I get it. Yes, I’d like you to cook dinner tonight for me and the woman who is coming over to join me.”

  I pulled the phone away from my ear as she squealed, “I can’t believe you’ve kept this from me! How long have you been seeing this mystery woman?”

  “Whoa, whoa. Calm down, woman! I haven’t been ‘seeing’ anyone. I just met her a couple of days ago and extended the invite about ten minutes before I called you. It’s not that serious, Mama. Just dinner.”

  She didn’t even hesitate. “I’m on my way to the house to cook a romantic meal for a woman you met two days ago. This is the first woman you’ve invited to the house since you built it, ten years ago, but you’re telling me it’s not that serious? Hmm?” I heard rustling and then my aunt’s voice in the background. She sounded far away, and I couldn’t make out what she was saying but I heard my mama’s responses clearly.

  “I know that’s right, Sandra!”

  “He’s just delusional, girl!”

  “Huh? Girl I know. I guess denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” She let out a hearty laugh, apparently tickled with her own joke, before returning to our conversation.

  “You still there, baby?”

  I gritted my teeth. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Uh-uh. Don’t give me that tone. You’re the one lying. The question is, who are you lying to; me or yourself?”

  I wanted to bang my head against the wall. All I asked for was dinner. If I didn’t think Mama would have been offended, I would have commissioned a private chef and called it a night. Whenever she came down, she did all of the cooking at my house and wouldn’t let anyone but her twin sister, my aunt Sandra, even touch a pot or pan.

  “C’mon, Mama.”

  “Alright,
fine. I’ll leave you alone—for now. To answer your question, yes, I will cook a ‘lil something’ for you and your guest tonight. Just know, I will talk to you about this later, and you’d better leave the lies somewhere else when speaking to me.”

  I grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Thanks, Mama. Talk to you later.”

  With a swipe of my thumb, I disconnected the call and shook my head. I pushed open the door of the gym and nodded at Boobie as our eyes met through the mirror. He was sitting on a bench, doing bicep curls and taking pictures on his phone. I rolled my eyes at the sight. Boobie stayed on social media more than Trina, and she managed all of my accounts.

  I plucked a pair of headphones off a shelf near the door and dropped down onto the leg press. For the next hour and a half, I cycled through a few different machines and weights, with Boobie spotting me, before ending my session with a series of stretches to help me stay flexible and loose and to prevent any muscle cramps. I was drenched in sweat, so I know I had done something right. Upon exiting the gym, I saw my Pops and Ja’mya in the kitchen, pulling ingredients out of the refrigerator.

  “What y’all got going on in here?”

  My niece ran over to me with her arms stretched wide but stopped quick just before reaching me. Her nose wrinkled up, and she took a step back.

  “Ew, you’re super sweaty Unc. And stinky.”

  I chuckled at the disgust on her face. “I just finished working out, J-Baby. Sweat happens.”

  “I know that. I’ll just wait to hug you until after you take a shower.”

  Both Pops and Boobie bust out laughing, and I gave her mock pout.

  “That’s cold, J-Baby.”

  She shook her head and backed up a few more steps. “I’m sorry Unc, but it has to be this way.”

  I crept toward her and her eyes widened in sheer horror.

  “If you loved me, you would hug me no matter what I smell like.”

  “Uh uhn. I had a sex-ed class this week, and they told me I don’t have to prove my love to nobody.”

  My jaw dropped, and I froze mid-step. I knew she was getting older, but hearing the word “sex” come out of my baby niece’s mouth jarred me. On the other hand, I was glad to hear the message they were teaching her at the private elementary school that she attended. I leaped toward her, and she let out a high-pitched scream before diving behind my Pops who puffed out his chest and stood arms akimbo.

  “If you want my grandbaby, you’re going to have to go through me first.”

  I squinted at him then pointed two of my fingers toward my eyes before swinging them in Ja’mya’s direction, letting her know that I was watching her.

  I held my hands up and backed away slowly.

  “You got this, Pops. I’ll see you later for my hug, J-Baby.”

  I left the kitchen and headed up to my room to shower. I dressed simply in a pair of dark-rinse jeans, an orange t-shirt, and all-black sneakers. As soon as I left my room, the smell of garlic and tomatoes carried me into the kitchen. There I found my mama, standing at the stove, stirring something in a pot. I hugged my aunt Sandra who sat at the island, slicing vegetables then kissed my mama on the cheek.

  “Smells good mama.”

  She smirked at me, and I braced myself when I saw the calculating look in her eyes.

  “Thanks, baby. I hope your company likes it.”

  I backed away from her, leaning against the countertop of the island. “Aww, Mama, come on with all of that.”

  She turned her back to me and continued stirring. “What?”

  “Shit, you making me wish I hadn’t invited her over.”

  Her back still to me she quipped, “Why? ‘Cause I called you on your bullshit?”

  “Man, that wasn’t bullshit. It really can’t be anything serious with her.” I hated it but I had to be realistic. As soon as she said the words, I knew that I had to ease down on the brakes. I wasn’t going to take advantage of a vulnerable woman by trying to insert myself into her life romantically, but I still wanted to be around her.

  Mama spun back around and eyed me. “And why is that?”

  I pushed out a breath. “She is going through a divorce. It’s almost final, but it’s still fresh for her. It’s probably too soon for something serious.”

  She exchanged a look with my aunt that I couldn’t decipher and waved her hand at me as if she was dismissing my explanation.

  “It can’t be too fresh if she’s coming over here tonight.”

  My shoulders lifted and dropped. “I didn’t really ask her all of that. I just told her she was coming over.”

  Aunt Sandra laughed. “You can’t make a woman do anything, boy! You oughta know that by now, old as you is.”

  “I know that’s right, Sandra!” Mama chimed in, agreeing with her sister. To me, she said, “If she didn’t want to come here, trust me, she wouldn’t. Hell, you wouldn’t have even gotten close enough to extend the invitation. Best believe, however she feels about her divorce, she is open to something with you. Whether it’s that thing between your legs or something else. Whether she know it or not. She open.”

  I tugged on the hair at my chin while I contemplated what these wise women in my life had to say. I hadn’t had a thorough enough conversation with the goddess to really know where her head was at, and so their advice could go either way. Either extremely right or very, very wrong. She didn’t shut me down when I said I wanted to get to know her, but in the same conversation she admitted she wanted sex only.

  Trying to keep up with all the thoughts swimming around in my head was making me cross-eyed. I sighed and pushed off from the counter.

  “Aight, I’m leaving to go pick her up. I’ll be back in about an hour or so.”

  My mama’s head snapped up from the shallow dishes she was lining up on the island. “You’re going to pick her up?”

  The disbelief in her voice made me frown. “Uh, is that a problem?”

  Once again, she shared a look with her sister. This time, she gave me a blinding smile afterward. “No problem at all, baby. Tell Boobie to drive safe.”

  The way she said that seemed…weird. She was being weird. “Boobie ain’t driving, Mama, I am.”

  Her eyes widened and she brought her hand to her chest. “Sandra, get the smelling salts. This boy is trying to make me pass out!”

  I burst out into laughter. Why was this woman so damn crazy? “Bye, Mama.” I opened the cabinet that held hooks filled with keys and grabbed a set before kissing her on the cheek and leaving the room. Boobie was reclining on the couch, playing on his phone. “Aye, Boobie, let’s roll.” He lifted his big body from the couch and followed me down the hallway and into the garage.

  I hit a button on the key fob and the lights on the Panamera flashed. We climbed inside, and I backed out of the garage.

  After the way my mama had reacted to this little dinner date I had orchestrated, I was uncharacteristically nervous. In truth, I’d not brought a woman to my house since I signed with the Clutch, and we moved to Houston. Even before building my house, I knew better than that shit, especially when I first entered the league. If I didn’t know anything about professional ball, DB made sure that I knew about the groupies and gold diggers that came along with it. To my knowledge, he had never stepped foot on a court or field, but somehow, he seemed to know something about everything.

  It was hard work as a young dude dealing with sudden—and seemingly instant—fame, but thanks to my parents sticking to my side diligently and placing family around me at all times, I was able to skate through those first couple of years without issue. I started dating once I hit my third year in the league. I met some nice women and had a good time, but my focus was always on my career, so I steered clear of anything too heavy.

  The fact that I preferred to stay out of the limelight was beneficial in that realm as well. Most women I met wanted to be seen. They wanted to be in the lifestyle pages of magazines and tapped for interviews that would air on entertainment shows. The only place I traveled w
ithout being incognito was to Pine Bluff, and that was too far from the camera’s lens for them. I never tripped about it, though. So many of my colleagues were in and out of the media behind some bullshit related to a woman, and I was cool on all of that.

  Lost in my thoughts, before I knew it, I was pulling into a driveway and the GPS was announcing that I had arrived at my destination. I glanced over at my cousin.

  “Gon’ hit that backseat, playboy.”

  Boobie chuckled. “Damn, it’s like that?”

  “Hell yeah, I’m not going to make her ride in the backseat like a little kid or some shit.”

  “Oh, but I gotta ride like that?”

  “Bruh—”

  He laughed. “I’m just fucking with you, Hawk. It ain’t no thang.” Then he climbed out of the front and settled into the back. “Damn, bro, how she got you wide open already, and you ain’t even hit yet?”

  I ran my hands down my face. There was no use in denying it. Boobie was with me that night at VR; he saw how affected I was.

  “I don’t even know, man.”

  He reached forward and clapped me on the shoulder. “Well, good luck.”

  I lifted my chin in acknowledgment and slid out of the car, heading up a short flight of steps that led to a small wooden porch. I knocked and stepped back to wait for the door to be answered. When it swung open, she stood on the other side with a smile on her face. Tonight, her lips were painted black, and at that moment, I was sure that every color looked good against her warm-brown skin.

  I watched her eyes quickly do a head-to-toe evaluation of me before she met my gaze. “Hey.”

  My lips curved up. “What’s up; you ready to come kick it?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, let me grab my purse.”

  When she turned away from the door, I admired the curve of her ass in the long-sleeved babydoll dress she wore. The top was fitted against her ample breasts and flared out once it hit her waist. The sheer fabric stopped mid-thigh and although it was loose around her body, it displayed her shape in a way I had no choice but to appreciate.

  She returned, shrugging into a lightweight denim jacket and pulling the long, thin strap of her purse over her head. After shutting the door behind her and locking it, she raised her eyebrows at me. “Lead the way.”