Page 3 of Defending the Post (The Complexity of Love #3)

Chapter Three

New Territory

Marquise

D amn, she’s fine as fuck, I thought to myself as she extended her hand in my direction.

The open rose tattoo on her brown skin called for my tongue to outline the vines.

I knew better than to shake her hand as my dick would’ve sprung up, leaving me embarrassed.

Leaving her hand dangling wasn’t the best response, but it’s all I could do given our environment.

The sound of my brother cackling earned a side-eye from me as we approached the other end of the floor.

Malcolm lifted his jersey up, covering his mouth. Something we did to prevent people from reading our lips.

“When is the funeral for your player card?” he asked.

I scoffed before I found my opponent to defend before the ref tossed the ball in the air.

My teammate, Chauncy, stood in the circle with Thompson from Seattle.

After they jumped, Seattle took first possession of the ball, which made no sense.

I swear Chauncy’s height didn’t give us any advantages.

Gram tried passing the ball through the middle to Smith but I intercepted it and headed full speed down the court.

Thinking about what Malcolm said pissed me off as I approached the net.

Gram called himself trying to track me down to defend but he couldn’t plant his feet in time for the charge. I leaped with my hand cocked back and slammed through the hoop. With my elbow still in the net, I opened my legs to give him a nut salad.

The crowd roared and pointed as I landed on my feet.

I glanced over to see Erin watching the replay on the screen.

She covered her mouth with the same rose tattoo covered hand she offered me.

I stood smirking in Gram’s face, antagonizing him to do something.

He tried walking up on me, but a ref and Seattle player gripped his arm.

When Malcolm and Chauncy joined me, things got rowdy with the crowd yelling.

Chauncy couldn’t play worth a damn, but he would scrap for me.

The official called a time-out to cool the court.

Coach called us back to the sideline to clear the floor.

Standing on the sideline, I couldn’t stop myself from staring at Erin.

She snapped her fingers, quoting Icey’s lyrics.

The thought of enjoying another man’s anything bothered me.

Jealousy slapped me in my chest and I almost hurled at the emotion.

It didn’t make matters any better when she gave me an attitude.

Malcolm egged the shit on by laughing as he followed me onto the court.

Erin seemed naturally timid, but it wasn’t your usual shyness and for some reason it pulled at me.

She had an edge, but it had to be drawn out of her, and I wanted the challenge.

Erin being plus size raised the hunt within me.

If I had to guess, she was maybe a size fourteen with those pretty lips and round breasts.

The mohawk with the faded sides and three etched parallel lines highlighted her face.

“Bro, what do you think?” Malcolm asked, as the referee called a time-out to review a play.

I covered my mouth with my jersey. “Yeah, I’m staying away from her,” I said.

“My older brother is scared?” Malcolm teased, and I side-eyed him before separating.

The attraction to Erin was there, but something else within me stirred, and I didn’t like that shit.

I needed to listen to the warning signs to keep myself safe.

As the game progressed, I glanced over to see she was gone, and it bothered me.

At first it was subtle, but it grew until I couldn’t focus on the play and caused a turnover.

I slapped the ball with my hand to get my mind back on the task at hand. After three missed shots in a row, I hit a mid-range jumper over Anderson. On the next ball possession, I passed to Malcolm after the play collapsed and he hit the three with ease.

We increased the lead to fifteen, forcing Seattle to take another time-out.

I walked to the bench, sipped water, then searched the seats to see Erin was still gone.

Catching the eye of Pops, he hit his chest with two fingers and pointed backward.

It’s his way of telling me she was at the concession stand.

He did the same thing with Mom sometimes when I couldn’t find her after extended plays.

“Don’t worry, your girlfriend hasn’t left,” Malcolm said, as we walked back on the court.

If he wasn’t my twin, I would’ve shoulder bumped his ass.

Later tonight, I knew I would get a message from Pops.

Not only did he ease my mind, but he smirked during the process.

Yeah, I know for sure I need to either call Brittany or someone else to occupy my time.

I’ve never searched for a woman in the crowd or gotten upset.

Is this how Pops and Malcolm feel about their wives?

I can’t put my finger on it. It’s something about Erin that’s different.

Before the second quarter ended, Erin had returned to her seat eating a bag of gummy candy. As long as she remained on the sideline, we shouldn’t have any problems.

After the game, Malcolm hovered over me with his signature smirk as I finished getting dressed. I slipped my shirt over my head and sighed as I gave him the attention he desired.

“Don’t be mad at me because your player ways are coming to an end,” he said.

I brushed my faded beard with my hand before I addressed him.

“I’m not a player. I consider myself a person who offers equal opportunity to any woman who volunteers as a willing participant,” I countered.

He scoffed at my comment. “Whatever you are is coming to an end. Erin fucked you up when she left. Even Pops saw it. Ivey already hit me with a bet. Mom will be happy when you make the announcement that her son is no longer a hoe.”

Malcolm never cared about how I chose to spend my time. I tried to explain to him not every woman wanted to be married and cooped up in the house. Women used me the same way I use them. I’m not ashamed to say I’m a sneaky link for a few women. It is what it is—sex with no emotional strings.

“We’ll see how long you’ll be an equal opportunist. Erin will be in our condo quite a bit,” he said.

A sinister smile stretched across his face as he awaited my reaction.

I thought about her smooth brown skin and curvy waist and my breath hitched.

Everything about Erin’s aura pinched at the closed parts of me.

I knew without anyone saying it, getting involved with Erin went against my mantra of no personal sex.

“She is fine but nah, I’m good. I have plenty of women to keep me occupied,” I said.

Malcolm shook his head from left to right, chuckling. “But do they feed you, tho?” he questioned.

“If I need a therapist, I can call Dr. June,” I countered his statement, and he shrugged.

“I betta not catch yo ass downstairs knocking and beggin’ on her door,” he said.

Change and new people in my space triggered uneasiness, but I couldn’t deny my desire to see her again.

“Earlier you asked me to look out for her. Which one is it?” I questioned and Malcolm clapped his large hands together with excitement.

“I believe she is the one,” he said, and I scoffed.

Erin

Being in the elevator with Marquise unsettled me.

He was a bigger asshole in the car as we migrated down the street to the condo.

For some reason, he refused to sit next to me.

Malcolm cackled as he sat in the front seat with the driver.

Whatever his problem was, he needed to figure it out.

I played on my phone, sensing his gaze the more we climbed to the next floor.

The doors opened to my floor, and I nearly ran out before Jhae stopped me.

“Erin, I want to show you our condo just in case you need something.”

My skin crawled at the thought of being on this elevator any longer with Marquise. The last place I wanted to be was in his personal space. I turned to Jhae, wanting to decline, but I struggled to find the words.

“Yo, either you’re coming or you ain’t. Either way, get out of the door,” Marquise said.

I narrowed my eyes before I stepped back on the elevator.

“What the fuck is your problem? Why do you have an attitude? Did I sleep with you in a past life or steal your money or something? You could ruin a climax,” I said with heated anger, and the elevator went silent.

Marquise smirked before turning his attention back to his phone. I snapped my fingers twice to regain his attention.

“I asked you a question. What did I do to you?” I demanded an answer.

“Aww shit. I can rock with you,” Malcolm said, and I regretted my temper getting the best of me.

Jhae hid her face in Malcolm’s arm as she giggled.

“Man, get y’all little weird ass friend before I hurt her sensitive feelings,” Marquise said.

The bell to the elevator beeped, opening the door to the cream painted hallway. Marquise beat everyone off, walking toward the door.

“I’m sorry, Malcolm and Jhae, but he has been rude for no reason. We have never met and there is no excuse for his behavior,” I said.

They both giggled as if they shared an inside joke or something.

“No, allow me to apologize. Marquise has difficulty expressing his emotions, but I believe you two will make good friends,” Malcolm said.

“I will pass,” I said.

We entered the door Marquise left ajar and my mood shifted.

The double floor-to-ceiling windows with the floating staircase stole my heart.

I gasped as I took in the view of the city against the dark sky.

Whomever designed this place picked the perfect oversized hanging lights and contemporary pieces.

Jhae giving up her condo for the penthouse made perfect sense.

Even the velvet blue couch gave off a luxurious vibe.

“This space is beautiful and this view. I bet it’s romantic here at night,” I said to Jhae and Malcolm.