“Nah, I gave her enough time. Send me the details for the launch party.”
“Well, you got to do what you got to do. Just don’t keep taking your frustrations out on the basketball court.”
“You can go back out there and tell them bitch ass niggas I ain’t coming back since they want to cry about everything.”
“They will most likely be happy to hear that. Ain’t nobody trying to get tackled on a basketball court. Think you on the field. You ain’t even tackle people when you were playing football.”
“Now you’re lying. I was a beast on that field.”
“Nigga, you were running. Now you’re out here wanting to make physical contact with people, all because you didn’t get a call back.”
“You always got jokes.”
“Hey, that’s what I’m here for… to keep your ass humble.”
“Yeah, all right. Don’t forget to send me the details.”
I left Ray in the kitchen alone and walked to the back to hop in the shower. I turned the water on and let it run for a while. The sound of it calmed me. My head had been all over the place, but for the most part, it was still on Karina.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Karina
Today was finally the day. Rayla and I had been checking off the list we’d compiled to make sure that not only this party, but the entire soft launch went according to plan. I couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong tonight.
I sent Kareem an invitation, but since it had been almost two weeks since we last spoke, I kept my expectations for him showing up low. He wasn’t obligated to be here because not only had we not made it official or even given it a title, but I ran again. I did what I always did and let my thoughts get ahead of me. I walked away when he asked me to stay.
Kareem was walking away from a billion-dollar deal, and I bailed on him. How could I now ask him to show up for me when I left him when he needed me most? Still, I sent the invite last night with high hopes. I wanted Kareem to be at my launch party more than anyone else.
“What’s up, baby girl? You look so beautiful tonight,” Rayla complimented, hugging me from behind.
“Thank you, Ray. I appreciate you so much for being here, for helping me through this entire process.”
“You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I see you looking out into the crowd. Looking for anybody in particular?”
Rayla asked a question I was sure she already knew the answer to. After I told her what was going on between us at brunch, she made it her mission to check on me every day since. I couldn’t thank her enough for that.
“Yeah, I was hoping Kareem would come. I still haven’t spoken to him since the text, but I halfway expected him to show up on my doorstep, especially since he said he would see me soon.”
“Yeah, but we got to be careful putting expectations on people that we don’t put on ourselves because Kareem may have had the same expectation that you were going to show up for him since you were the one who walked away.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I rubbed my hands together, then instinctively ran them down the front of my dress.
“Look, that’s not what tonight is about. Tonight is about you showing everyone all the work that you have put into what’s yours.”
“You’re right. I’d better get out there.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. A lady always has work to do even when she’s missing her man.”
I hugged Rayla and walked out onto the stage. The small art gallery I’d rented to have this party was packed from wall to wall. It was a better turnout than I expected, and I was beyond grateful to everyone who showed up for me.
“Welcome. Thank you all for coming out tonight.”
The place quieted as I started my speech.
“I appreciate every last one of you for showing up to the soft launch of Unknown. Unknown is not the official name of the magazine. Some of you told me just to keep it as Unknown,but the official name means so much more to me than being anonymous or unknown, as I’ve been known as for so long.
