And I felt sick about it.
My phone vibrated.
Lamar Anderson:Let me know when you’re on your way. Just picked up your gift and about to head home. Let me know if you need anything.
Jazmyn Payne:I’m about to leave the school now and should be there at five o’clock. I hope you had a good practice, and I can’t wait to see you!
We’d seen each other on Tuesday, but I was looking forward to being in his arms again.
Lamar Anderson:Champs reached out to a couple of us to set up an interview. Just got to the store, I’ll tell you more later. Drive safely.
“Oh wow,” I breathed as I pulled out of the parking spot to head to Baltimore.
Champs reaching out to Lamar for an interview was a big deal. I was extremely excited for him and found myself grinning as I sped down the road.
Ben was right about one thing—Lamar would be up for Defensive Player of the Month again. I was scared about how that conversation would go, but I couldn’t let his career keep taking hits.
Even if the conversation surrounding Lamar’s relationship status would’ve died down like Nina initially predicted, Lamar’s silence and Milan making multiple response videos had only made the social media speculation grow. And after Lamar played his ass off on Sunday, eyes on him intensified, so that only stoked the fire. I hadn’t scrolled on social media in two weeks because I had enough to deal with, but from the looks I’d get at school and the comments the students would make, I knew things hadn’t died down.
And while it felt like everyone was rooting for Lamar and Milan to rekindle their relationship, Lamar was making a case for us to go public with ours.
“I have something for you,” Lamar told me after I arrived at his house an hour and a half later.
I sat on the barstool at the island and grinned at him. “What is it?”
“It could be a flight and a ticket to the game if you change your mind,” he offered, leaning across the marble surface. “I’ll book your flight and room right now if you just say yes.”
I hesitated for only a moment.
I wanted to say yes. But the reality of the situation hit me.
“I don’t think so,” I answered, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. “I don’t want to draw attention away from you.”
He sighed dramatically. “I want you at a game.” He walked around the island and pulled something out of his pocket. “But if I can’t have you there yet, I like the idea of you being here.” He placed the box in front of me and waited for me to open it.
My watery eyes widened as I lifted the top. “Lamar,” I whispered hoarsely.
“I want— Are you about to cry?” he asked, pulling me off the stool and into him. Holding me tight, he rocked me from side to side as I buried my face in his chest. “It can be just for the weekend if you think it’s too soon—”
“No, no, no,” I interrupted, looking up at him. “You’re giving me a key to your place. That’s… I love it. I’m happy and excited, and I love it. I just…” I pushed up on my toes and pressed my lips against his. “I love it,” I assured him. “I’m overwhelmed but in a good way.”
He searched my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I didn’t want to tell him less than forty-eight hours before a game. I’d rather tell him when he got back so he’d have more time to process and it wouldn’t impact his performance.
Clutching the key to his house in my palm, I tried to smile. “You always manage to make everything better.”
“Is it the bullshit online?” he wondered.
Ripping my eyes from his, I nodded. “Yeah.”
Just not what you think.
He grabbed my head and forced me to look at him. “I don’t give a fuck what anyone says about me. But I’m not willing to keep letting them slide when it comes to you. I’m tired of doing this your way, Jazz.”
“If this is happening when it’s just speculation, what will happen when it’s confirmed? And once it’s out there, it’s out there. You know?” I explained.
“It’s already out there. You said even the students at the school are asking you about it.” His brows furrowed. “I don’t know what you’re trying to figure out.”
