Page 48 of Full Court Press

“Khalil,” I groaned.

“Chill. I just want to do something nice for you.”

“You always do nice things for me. I don’t need it all the time.”

“You should already be aware that fucking with me gon’ get you spoiled. But I’m not about to have this conversation again. Just sit back, relax, and let’s have a good night.”

I rolled my eyes and smirked as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

When we entered Jalen and Keith’s frat house, there were only a few people around, drinking, smoking, and dancing to the Usher record playing on the surround sound system. Khalil held my hand as he greeted his teammates and other people he knew from school. When he ignored Lamar, I knew things between them weren’t the same anymore.

I partially felt bad because I knew their beef was because of what Lamar said to me, but I didn’t care enough to dwell on it.

I’d done nothing to deserve his disrespect.

“What up, Lilo?” Jalen greeted, with Jess tucked under his arm. I gave her a hug while the men dapped each other.

“Shit much,” Khalil replied.

“That’s what’s up. We got some food and drinks in the kitchen. We’re about to go out back by the bonfire pit, blow one, and play some games.”

“A’ight, cool. Thanks, bruh.”

“How are you, Piper? Glad you could make it,” Jalen said, reaching over and giving me a hug. I tensed a little because I was caught off guard. Jalen hadn’t necessarily been mean to me, but with him hanging with the crew of assholes, he was automatically inducted into the people I didn’t like list.

“I’m good,” I replied once he released me.

“That’s good. Meet us outside when y’all ready.”

“No doubt,” Khalil replied before leading me to the kitchen. “You hungry?” He pulled out his cell, read whatever was on it, then began typing fast.

I shook my head. “I ate at the game.” He finished his text, then put his phone back inside his pocket. I wanted to ask who he was angry-texting, but I decided not to. I told him I’d trust him despite the outsiders trying to put doubt in my mind.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yes. If I get hungry later, I’ll eat.”

“A’ight. You want a drink then?”

“What do they have?” He named all the liquors and chasers, and I decided on Tito’s and orange juice. I wasn’t a big drinker, but I needed something to relax me.

He mixed up my drink, then poured himself some Courvoisier straight, took my hand, and led me out of the patio doors. In the distance, I could see the fire going and more people surrounding it. Gennel, Robyn, and Braelyn sat around the fire, and I noticed Sabrina and her crew sitting across from them, glaring at me. I smirked and was about to sit in the chair next to Braelyn, but Khalil pulled me onto his lap.

“Hear ye, hear ye, my niggas and niggettes! Tonight, we’re going to play a friendly game of Truth or Dare. We all know how the rules go. If you don’t answer the question or do the dare, you gotta take a shot. It’s only right we get some icebreakers poppin’,” Keith said, his mouth twisting into a mischievous grin.

“I’m going to sit this one out,” I voiced.

Keith’s eyes came to me while grinning. “Aw, come on. Everything will be PG—for now.”

“Yeah, let’s all play. This should be fun and interesting,” Davina said, tossing back a shot. “I’ll go first. Braelyn, truth or dare?”

“Umm, I guess I’ll go with truth.”

Davina smirked. “Is it true that you had a threesome with Xander and Paola Willis last year?”

My eyes instantly went to Braelyn, and I saw her face fall with anguish. “W-who told you that?”

“Just answer the question, nerd girl,” Jalisha, another one of Sabrina’s flunkies, urged with a smile on her face.