I turned into the players’ entrance and parked, letting the car idle for a minute while I sat there with my hands on the steering wheel. There was something settling about tonight. Something full circle. His last regular-season home game. The retirement announcement. I felt blessed. I even had Brixxi with me. She was in a jersey herself, and I was happy I could bring her. He’d reserved a suite for us, us meaning his friends and family and we were all showing up for him tonight.
I exhaled, grabbed my basketball-shaped purse, and slid out of the Hummer. The tinted windows of the arena reflected me back at myself, and for a second, I just stared. I thought about that moment in our bedroom when everything poured out. How embarrassed I was after. How bare it made me. But then he held me, reminding me that none of those confessions made me less or weak, which had always been a fear of mine. I never wanted to be considered weak; people played games with you when they thought that.
I headed inside, nodding at staff and security before meeting with Langston, who had become my friend and my protector. He was so much more than a driver to me.
Walking in as his woman felt different. The people loved him for what he did, but I loved him for who he was. I knew the quiet parts, the heartbeat I curled up against when the world shut down. That was the version of him that mattered to me. And when I thought about the look in his eyes the night hetold me he was retiring, it changed nothing for me. The same way he wanted what I wanted, I wanted what he wanted. That was the promise we didn’t have to say out loud.
As I got closer to the tunnel, I could feel the buzz as the teams warmed up, that heavy bass in the floorboards letting me know the DJ was doing his job.Aye Tayby Belly Gang Kushington rattled the walls while the crowd started rising to a boil. Thirty minutes to tip-off, and Pinnacles fans acted like the game was already on the line.
I planned to go straight to the suite, but Langston stepped out of the private hallway before I made it to the elevator.
“Where you going?” he asked, smirking like he already knew.
“To the suite, duh. I’m not going to distract him.”
He shook his head. “Boss wants to see you first.”
Of course he did. That man loved a moment.
I followed him through the service hall, the sound growing louder with every step until the tunnel opened up to the court. The lights hit first, bright enough to make the whole floor glow. Players were warming up, cameras were panning, and a small roar went up from the crowd.
And then I saw him.
DaVinci was at half-court, hands on his hips, head thrown back, laughing at something Rico said. But the moment his eyes found me, the whole world hit pause. He slowed to a walk; that little smirk sliding onto his face was the cutest thing.
He met me right at the sideline.
“You couldn’t wait till later?” I teased.
“Nope.” He hooked his fingers into the side of my hip just enough to pull me close, but not enough to get fined. “Needed my good luck kiss.”
The cameras caught it immediately—phones lifted, flashes firing, the whole arena reacting to a man stepping into his woman’s space. This was normal activity for us. We didn’t shy away from showing each other affection.
I lifted a hand for our little handshake—three taps, a slide, and a lock. He did it back, but on that lock, he tugged me in and pressed a slow, intentional kiss to the corner of my mouth. Not messy. Not wild. Just enough for the whole court to know where home was for him.
“I like this dress. And I think the other niggas in here do too. Go sit down,” he murmured, lips brushing my cheek. “Before I really act up.”
“You already acting up,” I whispered.
“That’s light,” he said. “Save me some energy for later.”
“I keep a battery in my back for you.” I winked.
He gave my hip one last squeeze, then jogged backward toward the team, eyes still lingering on me like the game was the side quest. I turned and headed up the tunnel, and the crowd did that little “Oooooh” they do when they catch a moment they weren’t supposed to see.
That was definitely making the highlight reel tonight.
“Everyone make it yet?” I asked when we finally hit the private hallway again.
“Tess is here, but she rode with me,” Langston said as he pressed the elevator button. “Omni probably on the way.”
“Ouuu, okay,” I sang, watching that little grin creep up his face. His whole mug shifted like somebody had just whispered sweet nothings in his ear. He tried to tuck it away, but please. I peeped everything.
We stepped onto the elevator, and he hit the button for the suite level. The doors slid shut, leaving us in that quiet hum that always came right before the arena erupted.
I stepped into the suite the lights were low, TVs on the walls showing warmups, Pinnacles staff bringing trays of food in and out, and the whole space decked out in gold balloons and banners I’d arranged for after the game. Tess turned as soon as she saw me, grinning widely, already strutting over like a little sister who talked too much.
“Halo, you outside tonight, baby. He see you yet?” she asked, grabbing my hand and doing a slow, dramatic spin.
