Page 96 of Full Court Press

Say less.

My palms were sweaty, and I was pretty sure my edges were sweated out. The Las Vegas Knights were giving the Vipers a run for our money tonight. We were up by five points with six minutes left in the final quarter.

It turned out Khalil and Isaiah had some replicas on the Western side of the basketball team. Two of the players for the LVK were dominating, and it was like a war zone on the court.

I sat in the skybox with Tashina, Braelyn, Robyn, and Gennel, staring at the big screen. Gen was here on her yearly visit, and what better way to welcome her than with box seats to a Vipers basketball game.

I watched as Khalil was handed the ball out of bounds. The clock began again as he passed the ball to Adam Arden. I stood because now my anxiety was at an all-time high. Adam dribbled up the court and found Lucas for an opening. I watched as Isaiah ran around two of the opponents, and Lucas passed the ball to him, which created a diversion, leaving my baby wide open. Isaiah made a hard pass to Khalil at the three-point line, and like butter, the ball slipped smoothly from his hands, straight into the net.

“Yes! Yes! Period, bae! Them boys can’t fuck with you!” I screamed in excitement.

“Oh my goodness. I ain’t never seen her this hype over a game,” Tashina jested.

Braelyn laughed. “That’s right, best friend. Root for your man!”

I laughed as the Knights used their last timeout, trying to buy themselves time.

“I’m sorry. I’m just filled with so much anxiety. We’re up eight with four minutes and forty-five seconds left. We need this win.”

“They win every damn year, girl. This year won’t be any different,” Gennel voiced.

“You’re right, sis. This is just the first time I paid any attention for real. It’s both exciting and stressful.”

“That’s because you liked to avoid watching your husband play,” Shina blurted.

“Husband?” Gennel queried. My eyes squinted at Shina, and she made a sorry face before sitting back and sipping her drink.

Damn you, Shina!

“They’re back on the court!” I deflected, tuning back in to the game. I’d tell Gennel about it later.

As the minutes continued to tick by, we were now down to the last ten seconds with a two-point lead and the ball in their favor. My anxiety peaked again while they set the play in motion. My eyes stayed glued to my husband, my hero, and the love of my life. I could see and feel the air of confidence he exuded.

That was one thing I could always say about him that rang true. It wasn’t cockiness; it wasn’t arrogance. It was just straight confidence in anything he set his mind to.

And I loved the fuck out of him for it.

The ball was passed, and the opps tried to hurry up the court, but just like his moniker, Khalil appeared like a ghost in the night, stealing the ball and running full speed up the court.

“Oh, what a steal from Grey! He’s taking off down the court!” the commentator yelled.

“Come on, baby. Come on, baby,” I chanted, watching him pump fake his opponent.

“Grey at the three-point line with three seconds left, he shoots!” The ball flew from Khalil’s hands again with so much finesse that all you could hear was the swishing sound of the net as the ball sank inside. “He scoooresss! And the Vipers win the championship for the seventh year in a row!”

I screamed.

We all screamed.

And the crowd went bananas as Khalil rushed up the court, holding his fist up in triumph, then did the Colin Kaepernick and dropped down to one knee, bowing his head. The confetti dropped from the ceiling as We Are the Champions queued.

I laughed, clasping my hands together as tears of joy filled my eyes.

There was no denying that my husband was the best to ever do it.

I was going to suck the victory out of his dick tonight.

“I told you!” Gennel screeched, wrapping her arms around me. I nodded and wiped the tears from my eyes. All the years I missed out on witnessing this had me a bit in my feelings. I was a stupid, stubborn bitch for allowing so much time and space to pass between us.