Page 82 of Full Court Press

“Come again?”

“I said we’re married.”

“I heard you, but I just needed you to say it again because I wanted to hear you wrong. How the hell, Piper Raquel?”

“We got married on October 14th, 2015.”

“Piper,” she said in an exasperated tone.

“I know, Ma. I can’t say I regret my decision, because in those few short months, Khalil made me feel alive. He treated me like gold, spoiled me, and made sure I was happy and loved. I know it was sporadic, but after Andre dissed us, I guess I was searching for someone to love me, and he provided that and much more. Now, the universe brought us back into each other’s lives, and I want him back.”

Mom looked away and shook her head. “I don’t know what to say. Isn’t he engaged to the owner of the basketball team’s daughter?”

“Yes, but that wedding won’t happen as long as he’s married to me. He’s hurt about the way I left him, but now he wants me to fight for him.”

“Fight for what? Clearly, he’s trying to move on. This is all crazy to me, Piper. You’ve been married for ten years and just now telling me about this? The better question is, how are you both walking around acting single? I never even met the negro officially, and now you’re telling me you’re married to a man I never met? I didn’t raise you to be chasing behind no man, Raquel. If the nigga don’t want you, let his ass go.”

I could tell she was getting upset now. I took her by the hand and massaged it.

“Mommy. Calm down.”

She let out a hefty sigh and interlocked our fingers. “You listen to me, baby. I know Andre blindsided us, but I made sure to fill any voids that he left in his wake. God knows that man turned our lives upside down with his impromptu absence and down-low behavior, but I didn’t chase him. I let that man be free because that’s what he wanted. I put on my big girl panties and made sure you wanted for nothing.

“Don’t let what he did determine how you handle men or how you let men handle you. If he loved you enough to marry you, then there is no way he would allow ten years of him being in his feelings for you to go by without any contact. Now he’s engaged to someone else—that don’t sound like love to me, baby.”

She was right.

It didn’t sound plausible when she put it that way, but I realized the magnitude of the pain I put him through. He was going through a lot with Nia, her negligence, the pressure of being a star ball player, and the amount of pressure to graduate with honors, on top of caring for a four-month-old.

“I agree with you. It doesn’t sound right when you say it like that, but I know he still loves me. We didn’t make the best decision, but as I said, I don’t regret it at all. If he wants me to fight for him, I’m willing to do it, only because I know it was my fault that everything ended the way it did. He was dealing with a lot, and I just up and left him. He treated me like fine China. Poured into me and affirmed me so much that I would have done anything he asked of me.”

“Then why did you leave him?”

“I can’t give you a full answer to that, but I guess because of selfishness, trauma, and the attacks from his people. Just know he’s worth the fight.”

Silence sat between us before Parnell came outside with a smile on his face.

“Evening, ladies,” he greeted.

Mom smiled widely as he kissed her. “Hey, baby.”

“Hey, P.”

“Whaat? You ain’t working today?” he asked.

I laughed. “It’s after six. My office hours are closed.”

He chuckled. “I don’t mean to interrupt y’all’s girls’ moment, but you mind if I borrow this gem for a second?” he asked me.

“Sure. I think we’re done here.”

My mom stood then looked down at me, cupping my chin to look up at her. “You’re a smart and beautiful woman, so I can’t tell you what to do. Just make sure you’re making the right decision this time around. I don’t want you to end up with your heart broken, should he choose to move on.”

I placed my hand on hers and smiled. “Everything will work out. Trust me.”

She nodded once, then they were gone. I picked up my phone and hit reply on my messages.

Me: