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I picked up the flowers that I found in my car and put them on the owner of my current team’s desk. The Mares's owner and general manager, Kenneth Walt, looked at the flowers and then back at me with a confused expression. I’d been signed to The Mares for the last four seasons, and while I loved playing ball, I hated being here. They weren’t my first choice, but after leaving my previous team, I desperately needed a change, so I packed up my life and moved across the country. It was a mistake that I’d been suffering silently. When the flowers started showing up a few years ago, I thought it was no big deal, just a fan showing their appreciation. Kenneth and the rest of The Mares’s back office felt the same. The problem was that the flowers hadn’t slowed down over the last few years and were becoming more frequent. Sometime over the last year, I started getting texts from an unknown number saying we would be together, but when I brought it to Kenneth’s attention, he ignored it.

I was over being dismissed.

“They were in my car,” I said, and he nodded. “This is the third time this week, and it's only Tuesday.”

“Take it as a compliment,” he replied, and I shook my head. “Look, Legacy, it's not a big deal. It can’t be; it’s just some flowers.”

“That are showing up in my car, in my locker, at random places while I’m out,” I explained, and he shrugged. “Kenneth, someone is stalking me.”

“No, they aren’t,” he denied. “They are showing you love and support.” He picked up the flowers, sniffed them, and returned them to the desk. “It’s a gesture of love and support.”

“It’s freaking me out,” I sighed. “There is never a note, just flowers. Sometimes lilies, other times daisies or roses.”

“It’s probably some kid,” he said, shrugging. I hated his dismissive ass tone and attitude. Whenever I brought this up, he would play me off like this. Like my fear or growing fear was a damn joke. “They are probably too nervous to approach you.”

“There is no way in hell you believe that,” I laughed humorlessly. “Kenneth, my car has been broken in.”

“Was it stolen?” he questioned, and I reared back in confusion. “I’m only asking because you are making a big deal out of nothing.”

“My safety is a big deal.”

“You’re fine,” he said, waving me off. “Nothing has come up missing; you haven’t been hurt or approached. It’s just some damn flowers.” He patted them and shook his head. “And here I thought women liked flowers.”

“I like flowers from people I know or ones that hand them to me,” I declared. “Them just showing up in my space without explanation is not a compliment or gift. It’s freaking me out.”

“It’s because you're sensitive,” he replied as he sat back in his seat. “You always have been and always will be. Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with it because it's who you are, but this isn’t a big deal, and you know it.”

“Wait, hold on.” I put my hands up in front of me and shook my head to get my mind together. “You’re sitting here telling me I’m sensitive? And you think that shit is okay?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “And I only say it because it’s the truth.”

“Even if I were sensitive, what the fuck does that have to do with the fact that I keep getting random flowers and texts?”

“Again, are you hurt or being threatened?” he slowly asked as if I were hard of hearing or slow. “Because if you aren’t, I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem is I’m being stalked, and you, as the team owner and manager, don’t see a problem with it!” I yelled, not caring how unprofessional it was. “The problem is some crazy ass person knows where I am when they shouldn’t! The problem is nobody seems to see the problem in this but me!”

“Because it’s not a problem!” he yelled back as he stood. Kenneth wasn’t a tall man, but he was well-built and muscular. His presence was felt when he stood, and I stepped back from his desk. “You are making a big deal out of something that others wouldn’t stress about. Hell, most would probably be flattered! Accept the flowers for what they are and move the fuck on!”

His office door slammed open, and Michael Beach stormed into his office with a mug on his face. When he noticed me, he briefly paused, his attention going from me to Kenneth, the flowers, then back to me. He looked pissed, which was abnormal because he was usually well put together.

“You okay, Legacy?” he asked as he continued walking.

“I’m fine, Mike,” I answered. My friendship with Mike expanded over the years; we’d met as children, and he was the one who introduced me to basketball. Even though we didn’t keep in contact through our teenage years, we’d reconnected when I was first signed to the W years ago. He was in team and player development, so he worked with all the teams in some fashion. He was also good friends with Kenneth.

“Are you sure?” he questioned with a serious expression, and I nodded. “Because if you’re not-“

“I’m fine,” I interjected. “It’s nothing I can't handle.” I turned back to Kenneth and mugged him. “It’s not like I have a choice, right?”

“I’m glad you’re seeing it my way now,” he said as he sat, then turned his attention to Mike. “What are you doing here?”

“It can wait,” Mike replied. “It looks like you’re in a meeting with Legacy. She always has your attention first.”

“I’m leaving,” I said, shaking my head. “The room and his attention are yours.” I picked up my gym bag that I’d brought with me and headed to the door.

“It was good seeing you, Legacy,” Mike said as I was about to pass him. He put his arms out, expecting a hug I quickly gave before stepping around him to leave. “I’ll be seeing you.”

“Yeah, sure,” I said as I left.

On my way down to the garage, my phone rang, and I pulled it from my pocket to look at the screen. When I saw my best friend Mercy’s face on the screen, I smiled and swiped it.

“Hey!” she excitedly said. “I know you’re probably at the gym, but I want to talk to you about something important.”

“I’m leaving the gym now,” I said as I got to my car. “What’s up?”

“So you know I’m going to the Queens, right?” she asked, and I nodded. I opened my car door, threw my bag across the seat, and then got in and closed it. “Well, I was wondering if you would be interested in coming with me?”

“What do you mean?” I pressed the push start, and my car roared to life.

“Pyrite Stone said he’d offer me anything I wanted if I signed with The Queens, and if you’re interested, I want you to come with me. Your contract with The Mares is up, and you’ve mentioned wanting to leave a few times.”

“To KC?” I questioned her, and she nodded. Even though Mercy and I had been friends since we were freshmen in college, and I trusted her with my life, I’d only ever given her the bare minimum information about what I was going through because I didn’t want her to stress.

“Think about it and call me back,” she said, and I nodded. “Love you.”

“Love you more,” I said, then hung up.

I pulled out of the garage and headed toward my house. I lived near the arena, and the traffic was light because it was in the middle of the day. Driving through the city was usually peaceful, but now I was stuck in my thoughts. Kenneth wasn’t taking my complaints seriously, and now Mercy offered me an out. I parked in my driveway, turned off my car, and got out. My neighborhood was quiet except for a few kids riding their bikes up and down the street.

I unlocked my front door but didn’t walk in. My heart slammed into my chest as I stared at the living room filled with flowers. I took my phone from my bag, swiped the screen, and called Mercy back.

“Hello?” she greeted me on the second ring.

“Take the contract,” I said without looking at my screen. “Tell Pyrite that I’m coming with you.”

“Turn around, Legacy,” Mercy said, laughing.

I quickly turned around to see Mercy getting out of a black car. I closed my door, dropped my bag on the porch, and headed toward her. “What are you doing here?”

“I knew you would say yes, so I brought Pyrite to meet you in person,” she said, pulling me into a hug. She pulled back and stared down at me. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I answered with a quick nod. “Just surprised to see you.”

“Well, get used to it,” she said. Her eyes went from me to my house to the car she’d just left. The front doors opened, and two men got out. Both were tall, but that’s where their similarities stopped. The driver was dark brown with an oval face, thick beard, full lips, round nose, dark eyes, head full of waves, and dressed in a suit. I could tell it was custom and expensive as hell. The man who got out of the passenger seat was the one who held my attention. His skin was golden, and he had a square face, goatee, full lips, flat nose, eyes so slanted they barely looked open, and a fresh cut. He wore black slacks, a white button-down, and a vest. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, and I saw tattoos littered with his arms. “Legacy, this is the owner of The Queens, Pyrite Stone, and the team doctor, Aceyn ‘Hood’ Bowlin. They wanted to meet you in person.”

“So, you flew here?” I asked with a laugh, and Mercy shrugged. “A phone call would have been enough.”

“She knew you wouldn’t say no, and I wanted to meet you in person officially and welcome you to The Queens,” Pyrite said with a laugh as he extended his hand. “I’ve already put in word that you’ll be joining the team. Your lawyer and agent already have your contract and are waiting for the go from you.”

On cue, my phone dinged, and I saw a text from my agent telling me to accept the offer. I looked over the highlighted parts, knowing that the offer that Pyrite was offering was more than what Mercy had mentioned. The one thing that stood out was the hired security. I texted my agent, letting her know I was on board.

“Looks like you have two Queens,” I said, putting my phone away.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Pyrite laughed and clapped. “How about we go to dinner to celebrate? Nothing too crazy, something low-key because I know you’ve been in the gym all day and are probably tired.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“Welcome to The Queens, Point Guard,” Aceyn said.

“Point Guard?” I laughed. “Just call me Legacy.”

Aceyn stared down at me, put his hands in his pocket, shook his head, and then licked his lips. “Nah, I’ma call you Point Guard,” he replied with a finality in his voice that made goosebumps rise on my arms. “The others will call you what you tell them, but not me.”