Page 12

Reporters all rushed Kinga, trying to get an exclusive post-game interview, but he barreled through them all. His target was clear as his eyes found me, and he closed the distance between us quickly. I nearly stopped breathing when he came to stand in front of me.

I twisted from side to side shyly.

“Fifty-two points, huh? You are such a showoff,” I teased.

He pulled at the front of my shirt. “It’s your fault. I kept seeing you sitting there looking perfect, smelling even better.” He inhaled my perfume deeply and sighed. “I had to show what’s up with me.”

I nodded. “You surely did that. I think I have a new favorite player.”

He frowned. “You had another one previously?”

I tucked my bottom lip and smiled. “Maybe.”

“Who was it?” He was dead serious and disturbed by my joke.

I tapped my chin. “Curtis Mullins.”

His entire face fell. We both knew that was his arch nemesis on the court.

I didn’t even have to watch basketball to know that.

The media loved whenever the two played against each other, but if there was anyone remotely close to obliterating Kinga’s stats, it was him.

He turned to walk away, causing me to fall out in laughter.

“I’m just playing,” I explained, pulling at his arm.

He paused then came back. He pulled me the remaining distance between us until I thumped against his sweaty jersey. I didn’t even care as I stared up at him in awe.

“You got jokes tonight, huh?”

I nodded slowly; my eyes completely trained on his lips.

He smirked. “Well, I have one, too. The whole world is about to know you’re mine now.”

I didn’t have time to prepare for his kiss. All I knew was the world went dead silent, and I became lost in his embrace. He kissed me slowly and passionately enough to ruin the seat of my panties. When he pulled away, he winked.

“Hope you’re ready to be on TV tonight.”

Vari and Aunusti returned from taking her pictures at that very moment.

“Ouuu, bitchhh they know now,” Vari teased.

I allowed my head to fall backward.

“I know, but I can’t resist him,” I admitted unashamedly, wrapping an arm around Kinga’s back.

“I need to bag me a ball player tonight, so where are we going?” Aunusti asked us.

They both wanted to head to the club, but I was hesitant. My feet were hurting, and I was hungry.

Kinga, always the one to be attentive of my needs, noticed my hesitation. “You up for it, baby?”

I glanced up at him. He looked so handsome to me. “Not really, but you guys just won. I don’t want to ruin the fun.”

He frowned. “We don’t have to go, Charm. I’d rather be laid up with you anyway.”

I pulled him toward me with his jersey and landed on his lips for a second sweet kiss.

“Let’s go home then.”

I blushed, not even the least bit bothered by the sweat lathering his skin. I loved the way he smelled. It made my senses go haywire. His muscles pumped, and I couldn’t wait to hold on to them while he fucked my eyes into the back of my head. The smile that painted his face had me biting my lip.

“I’ll be back.”

Feeling satisfied, he turned and walked away, ready to give the interview all the reporters were waiting for.

When I turned to my friends, Vari was deep in his phone while Aun was in one of Kinga’s teammates’ faces, or maybe he was in hers. Either way, they both looked smitten.

“We are going to head home,” I admitted in case they hadn’t heard the conversation because of the busy arena floor.

Vari rolled his eyes. “I already knew that was going to happen and made other plans.”

Aunusti turned toward us with a pout. “Y’all going to leave me on my own tonight?”

Vari smirked, eyeing the ball player that was still standing there. “Doesn’t look like you’ll be on your own to me.”

I giggled as the expression on Vari’s face changed. He nodded behind me.

“What are you going to do about Courtney? Looks like she might’ve gotten into some trouble.”

I turned around to find my mama stumbling toward us while being escorted by some security guards. She has been drinking all night despite my many pleas to slow down. I moved as quickly as I could toward her.

“What’s going on?”

“Ma’am, we caught your mother urinating in the front of the bathroom. The only reason she’s not being arrested is because we know who she is to you.”

My cheeks flamed with shame.

“I’m so sorry about that. We’re leaving right now.” I took hold of her as they released her and walked away. “Come on, Ma. It’s time to go.”

Her words slurred together, but I was able to make out what she was saying.

“I’m going out tonight.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You can barely stand up.”

She snatched away from me. “I’m the mama, Charm. I am fine.”

I folded my arms over my chest with a hesitant glance around us. There were still plenty of people on the court and in the stadium. I took a deep breath and exhaled while puffing my cheeks.

“Ma, stop. You’re embarrassing me. Just let me help you out of here then you can go do whatever the hell you want.”

Thankfully, she allowed me to take her hand, but unfortunately, she took one step and nearly snatched us both to the floor if Kinga hadn’t appeared out of thin air, catching her.

“You good, baby?” he asked me while balancing her on her feet.

I nodded.

“Yeah, I’m good.” Even though I was full of embarrassment, I said, “Can you help me get her out of here?”

“Of course, I got you. Y’all sit and wait while I go grab my shit.”

I agreed to sit and wait so he helped her over to an empty seat. He put Vari on guard then disappeared to the back.

When he returned fifteen minutes later, he had a duffel on his shoulder.

“Can you carry my bag for me?”

“Yeah.” I accepted it and placed the strap on my shoulder.

Despite the many eyes I felt on us, Kinga wrapped an arm around my mother’s waist then took my hand with his free one. I sighed in relief as we all walked out of the stadium together.

My mama was going in and out of it on our way out. I knew there was no way she’d be in anyone’s club tonight. I leaned against the side of the navy-blue Lamborghini Urus he was driving tonight while he laid her in his backseat. He slammed the door shut then walked up on me.

I smiled when he wrapped his arms around my waist and placed the juiciest kiss on my lips.

“Eww,” I teased.

“You love it.”

He laid his forehead on mine. I closed my eyes, soaking in his presence and allowing it to relax me.

“You okay, though?”

I sighed. “Yeah. You’d think I’d be used to her embarrassing me by now.”

He placed a tender kiss on my third eye. “You never get used to that shit. Trust me. I know all about it. Fuck them people, though. Most of ‘em that’s going to be talking probably got a cousin or somebody off that Don right now acting a fucking fool.”

I giggled at his attempt to make me feel better. “Thank you for helping me out.”

“Always, I got you. Get in so I can get you all alone and show you how happy seeing you sit courtside made me tonight.”

I allowed him to pull me toward the passenger side. He opened my door then stepped aside to help me inside.

“Can we stop for some food? I’m starving.”

He nodded as he leaned in the doorframe. “Sure. What are you in the mood for?”

“Lizard’s Thicket.”

He chuckled.

“Whatever you want, princess,” he affirmed before placing a kiss on my lips and securing me inside.

I glanced over my shoulder when I heard my mom groaning in the back seat. I was thankful to have someone to understand what I was going through. When my phone chimed with notifications, I didn’t even have to look to know it was something to do with her.

My heart dropped when I saw actual proof of her pissing in the walkway of the bathroom instead of going into an actual stall.

I started to wish I could disappear until Kinga joined me in the driver’s seat and instantly reached for my hand.

He lifted it to his lips for a kiss before pulling off, and I decided not to go read the comments.

There was nothing I could do to change what she’d done, and I refused to let her ruin another night of mine.

My phone vibrated as Vari sent me a blog post. I opened it up to see it was a video of Kianis kissing me after the game.

Even though it hasn’t been confirmed I feel like this kiss tells us all we need to know about the King of the Court and America’s Sweet Hart…

I glanced over at Kinga, looking as handsome as ever.

Having my hand secured in his was the only reason I wasn’t freaking out.

What I had with Kianis was real, real enough to cancel out what anyone had to say or think.

I locked my phone and placed it down, becoming immersed in the peace filling the car.