Rico could play, but he was too unfocused on the game to really get his shit together. It was why I had taken him under my wing. The only game he was concerned with was the game he ran on bitches.
“That's obvious.” I dribbled behind my back, passed to Malik, and watched him disrespect the backboard with a layup that had no business leaving his hands. “And that right there is exactly why I'm done. I'm retiring, y'all. End of the season.”
“Here he go,” Chance muttered, but I caught it. Not disbelief—annoyance. He knew this was coming. He just didn't think I'd actually do it.
“Wait,” Malik said, stopping mid-court. “You serious? Like, for real, this time? You've been saying this for three seasons.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Dead serious. End of this season. I’m out.”
The gym got quiet. Even the echo changed.
The time had come. Life hit me hard after Devyn passed, and my game took a hit with it. I'd lose focus during plays, come down wrong, miss my timing. Sports require you to stay in your body, know your limits, and feel your sweet spots. In my grief, I’d gotten out of my body. That’s when I blew my knee. My exit started then.
“I fuck with it,” Malik said, walking toward me with a slow nod, letting me know he more than understood and respected it. “That’s big.”
Chance stepped in, wiping sweat with his shirt. “Man, I knew you were thinking about it,” he said, eyes narrowing. “I just didn’t think you were actually gon to pull the trigger.”
“I've been ready,” I told him. “Just needed something worth sittin’ my ass down for.”
Chance smirked. “Let me guess. Starts with an H. I called this simp shit from day one. Nigga the Russell Wilson of Basketball.”
“Yeah,” I said, grinning. “Shit, you laughing. I like the sound of that.”
Malik let out a low whistle. “Shit, crazy. One day you can be a single man, and the next, lay eyes on someone and find your wife. Be completely fucking gone out your mind.”
“Yeah,” I said again, because no point lying. “That’s me.”
Giveon dribbled lazily at half-court. “What’s the part that got you twisted? ‘Cause you look… I don’t know. Different.”
I scratched my jaw, trying to play it cool, but fuck it—these were my people. “Shit… everything,” I admitted. “I ain’t used to wanting somebody this much. Not used to feeling like… if I lose her? It’ll fuck me up for real.”
“Nigga,” Rico muttered, eyebrows up. “You down bad.”
“Like right now, I’m about to show my ass if she doesn’t get a week off work soon. Hell, you know what happened at the gala. I almost caught a body.”
“Down horrible,” Malik added. “The gala was crazy shit. I could see it in your eyes that 25 to life was on your mind.”
“Man, shut up,” I said, but I was smiling. “I’m just saying… she got me thinking about real-life shit. I asked her to have my fuckin babies. I’m ready to wake up to the same person every day and not be irritated about it.”
Chance pointed his ball at me. “You thinking long-term?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Longer than long-term.”
Rico blinked. “You tryna propose already?”
“Not tomorrow,” I said. “But it ain’t far off. I love her ass, real bad, like she say.”
The gym got quiet again before they all burst into laughter, and I joined. They didn’t expect me to say that out loud, but shit, I did.
“Man, you sound just like they ass,” Giveon said, shaking his head.
“My boy, really in love,” Chance said, shaking his head. “I ain’t never seen you like this. Not even with—”
“Don’t say it,” I cut him off, but my voice was gentle. “That was my past. Halo’s my future. I can respect my past without bringing it here. It’s Halo’s time.”
“Man, I’m happy for you,” Malik said, dapping me up. “You deserve this. After everything you've been through.”
“Appreciate that, bro.”
