“I wanted to talk to you about this OSU invite. Carson emailed me and told me to put it on your radar.”
Jahlil brow spiked. “Carson emailed you?”
Carson was up to something and using Q to do his dirty work was a new level for him. Typically, he just told Jahlil what was up and he went along with it. But being back in L.O. and being at homecoming meant seeing the woman he only got to stare at on his phone or a TV screen. He only heard her voice on a TV show or on the radio. A far fall from having her in his arms, in his bed, straddled on his lap on that orange couch.
Jahlil scrubbed his face trying to rid himself of the thoughts. Two public relationships since they’d parted and as far as he could tell, neither nigga could hold her weight. Tyriq Styles, fumbled. Malik Kilpatrick, barely holding on.
Q chimed. “Yeah, OSU wants to host you for homecoming. There’s a celebrity pick-up game. Concerts, alumni kickbacks. They’re even providing a house for you to stay in.”
He wasn’t in the mental space to be at homecoming with a smile on his face. He was looking forward to this week of normalcy before the final practices and the first game were underway. “I’m not going to homecoming. The regular season literally starts in a week and these,” Jahlil stopped to slide down by Sanaa and cover her ears. “Muhfuckas already predict I’m going to be playing soft or causing issues. I don’t have time for distraction.”
Sanaa pulled his tattooed hands from over her ears and added. “I heard you. you said these muhfuckas already think I’m playing soft.”
Jahlil cut her a look while Andrew snickered and Q gasped.
“I like that word. Muhfuccckkkaaa,” Sanaa drew out, ignoring Jahlil’s stare. “That and my niggggaaaa. What’s up niggggaaaa. Nah nigggaaaa. Nigga, nigga, nigga. Bitch ass nigga is my favorite.” Sanaa threw her pointer finger up.
“Sanaa, ladies don’t use that language,” Q said only for Jahlil to correct his daughter.
“Ay, watch your mouth, matter of fact. Too much E.Rose and whatever else you be doing when I’m gone. Go find a Barbie to play with before I put your little ass in timeout.”
Sanaa kissed his face to soothe the chance of her getting into real trouble before hopping off his lap and disappearing somewhere in the house.
“And that’s another reason I can’t go to homecoming. Who’s going to keep Aunt Violet from turning my daughter into a sailor? It’s bad enough that she has her playing bridge and going to the senior center for bingo. Do you know that we were playing uno the other night and she threw her hand down and yelled ‘UNO MUHFUCKA!’”
Andrew laughed harder. “And topped it off with a ‘yeah nigga!’”
“I know Aunt Violet is going to be here but I can watch her. It’s nothing,” Q shared, hoping to get more than half of Jahlil’s attention.
Jahlil looked up at Q and shook his head. “Nah, I’m good on it. Tell them I said no.”
“Aight, look,” Andrew spoke, quieting his laughter. “As your almost agent.”
“You see how niggas take a maybe and run with it?” Jahlil quizzed. “I never said you were going to be my agent.”
“You said if I graduate on time with honors, you’ll consider it,” Andrew spoke, making Jahlil kiss his teeth.
“Yeah but nigga you got three more years until you graduate high school. You got to go to college and I don’t see you ever graduating with muhfuckin’ honors.”
“Wow. To be a big nigga, your faith is so small. And that’s where Sanaa gets her mouth from. It’s not E.Rose,” Andrew pointed out. “You a hater too. From inside the house. Crazy work.”
“I’m not going,” Jahlil stated.
“Actually, I already confirmed with Carson that you will be there. The alumni Phine Phamily Reunion Kickback. The alumni pickup game. And the concert on the yard. And the house.”
Jahlil looked up at Q with a blank expression. “Why wouldn’t you ask me before committing me?”
“Because you need a life, nigga,” Andrew chimed. “I know it and the whole crew knows it. I wonder if E.Rose is going to be there.”
“I don’t see her on the list. I doubt it. She’s so busy,” Q said with a hint of irritation in her voice.
“It’s Emani. She’s a part of the crew, she’s going to be there,” Andrew stated in a matter of fact tone looking at Q. “She was the best, for real.”
In order for Jahlil not to be that nigga, he needed to stay away from her. As much as possible.
“That right there is why you need to go. Get your girl back and stop being a pussy,” Andrew pointed out. “And if you can’t get her, get some from someone else. Don’t bring no kids back you feel me?”
“Okay hold on,” Q blew, holding her hands up as if the thought of Jahlil sowing his oats somewhere was bound to give her a heart attack. “How about we go to the events, rub elbows with the coaching staff and president, and maybe get a solid plan for retirement?”
