“You know it. Speaking of which, to smooth over Sanaa’s disappointment in me being a weak ass muhfuckin’ nigga lady, I chartered them a plane to meet us in Ocean City. I rented a house to have a cute little Halloween party – chef, candy, décor all of that.”
“Damn, wasn’t even going to let me pull out my card and ask to help?” Jahlil teased as Emani pecked away on her phone, checking in with Trae Way MB.
“Maybe Christmas, if I remember,” Emani joked. “Go put something on, we’re headed to Trae Way.”
“Question.”
“Answer, my love,” Emani hummed back, watching as he walked away from her.
“You’re supposed to be recording…how are you doing that here tending to me?”
She grinned. “Plugs and connections. MB has a studio, Haddon and Normani are here too. You head to practice in the morning I’ll be at the studio and then done and ready for your third game. Don’t worry about me. I’m focused on you.”
“Mmhmm. I know and I’m not letting you get lost in me again. Hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you.”
A JoyRide to Trae Way and a seat at Big Rod’s updated restaurant settled his spirit. The woman across the table helped too. From aggravation to trying to stop himself from grinning too big, he chuckled.
“Why are you doing all that chuckling?” Emani posed, sending a text and putting her phone down. “Andrew is up picking out his clothes for tomorrow.”
“One, because you really got your famous ass on a commercial flight and came to save my big ass. I’m going to marry you.”
Emani laughed. “I know. Only ring I want to wear that I didn’t buy myself. What’s two?”
“Andrew gives a damn about what he looks like now. Before he was going to school in pajama pants and a hoodie. In OC. I knew his ass was going to have a heat stroke. Three, Sanaa is mad at you which means she’s attached to you.”
Emani’s smile was full. “I’m attached too. It’s going to be some furniture moving if you let me go again because I will take those kids.”
“Won’t be no again. And they’ll go with you is the crazy part. Are they in our bed tonight?”
“I can guarantee it.”
Jahlil reached out her hand and kissed it. “Thank you, Savage.”
“You’re welcome. I’d swim oceans for you.”
“I’d move mountains for you.”
“What’s the look for nigga?” Jahlil asked Tyris, who was shooting warm up shots beside him.
Tyris’ eyes kept darting to the sideline where Normani sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Emani. He could tell in her posture that she was anxious about being here especially by how their last encounter turned out. Emani had her hand wrapped around hers which meant she wasn’t going to let her leave. There was hope.
“Ohh,” Jahlil buzzed. “You know she’s helping E with her new album, this was bound to happen.”
“You didn’t say they were friends now though,” Tyris grumbled, trying to get himself together. Everything in him wanted to run across the court and beg for her to take him back. Nothing was the same. Nothing tasted right, sounded right, felt right. Normani was as much a part of him as he knew he was to her. They were meant to be and he’d just lost the plot in his own rise.
Jahlil kissed his teeth. “You should’ve known that shit. E doesn’t fuck with anyone she doesn’t vibe with. Look at them. Holding hands and gigglin’. All that girl shit. You got to get on your playa shit and get your lady back.”
“Nigga, I’ve been trying,” Tyris grumbled, catching a ball and shooting a three.
“Apparently you ain’t doin’ shit because she ain’t even look at your ass. I tell you what, I’m taking E to dinner after this win. I’ll make sure your girl is there. Bring your black ass and some A1 game.”
“Nigga-”
“You welcome. Man up, stop being a pussy. Let’s get ready to run these niggas over. She might be willing to talk to your ass if you put up more than ten tonight,” Jahlil teased, walking off the court.
“If you pass me the ball, nigga,” Tyris quipped back.
