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I sat at the end of the bed and wiped my hands down my face. Honestly, I was tired, beyond it, and just wanted to sleep, but I was also hyped. I had a great time with Aceyn after practice; I didn’t expect the night to take the turn it did.

“Knock, knock,” Mercy said from my door. I looked up to see her standing there with a smirk. She crossed her arms and waited. “You gonna invite me in?”

“Come on,” I sighed, and she entered my room. She closed the space between us and sat next to me on the edge of the bed. “I’m tired.”

“You care to tell me what’s going on?” she asked, and I shook my head. “It’s the only way I can help.”

“I don’t even know where to start,” I answered and rested my face in my hands. “I just want to sleep.”

“Then go to sleep,” she said, bumping her shoulder into mine. “Givens and Hood are downstairs with Gift; replacing your locks now. They should be done shortly.”

“It took three of them to do that?” I asked with a laugh. “Why?”

“Because they’re men and think they know everything,” she answered. I lifted my face from my hands and twisted my face. “I already called Zane and told her to come over.”

“Thank you,” I said as I stood. “I’m going to shower; you’ll be here when I get out?”

“Yeah,” she said, kicking her shoes off and scooting back into the bed. “We can have a sleepover like we used to.”

“Givens isn’t going to let that happen,” I said, shaking my head. “And honestly, I don’t blame him.” I looked at my bathroom and then back at Mercy to see her staring at me with an unreadable expression. We’d been friends for over twelve years, we knew each other well, and I knew she could tell I was hiding something. “I’m good, Mercy.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said, shaking her head. “But, I’m going to let it slide for now.”

I sighed, nodded, grabbed some clothes from my dresser, and headed to the bathroom. I closed the door, turned on the water, and stripped out of my clothes. I checked my reflection in the mirror once the water started steaming; I threw my clothes in the hamper in the walk-in closet, then tied my hair up, put on a shower cap, and got into the shower. I stood under the water and relaxed briefly before starting to wash.

Fifteen minutes later, I turned off the water, grabbed the towel from the hook next to the shower, and got out. My eyes went to the mirror across from the shower, and they watered at the sight of I love you , written in the steam with flowers drawn next to it. I pulled the towel from my body and quickly wiped the words away before drying off and putting on my clothes. I didn’t care about putting on lotion or deodorant. I just wanted to get out of the bathroom. I pulled open the door to see Mercy lying there comfortably.

“Can we go to your house?” I asked as I wrung my hands. “Don’t ask questions, not right now because I don’t know. I just know I can’t stay here.”

“Yeah,” Mercy said quickly, getting up from the bed. She put her slides on and grabbed my hand. We interlaced our fingers, and she pulled me from the room. Givens and Gift stopped talking to look up at us when we got downstairs. “She isn’t staying here.”

“Let’s go,” Givens said with no hesitation.

Mercy continued to lead me to their car. I heard my front door close behind us, but I didn’t care to look back. Givens opened the back door, and Mercy climbed in with me. I watched as Givens spoke with Gift before they dapped each other up and went their separate way. Gift got into the truck, started it, and backed out of my driveway.

“Zane changed your locks while you were in the shower, and Nine will be by tomorrow to set up your security system,” Mercy said thirty minutes later, once we were settled at her house. I pulled my legs under me as I curled up on her couch. I was tired, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw the writing on my mirror or the flowers left in my car.

“Okay,” I said, not taking my eyes off the TV. SportsCenter was on, but the TV was muted, and subtitles ran across the bottom of the screen.

“You know–”

“I just want to sleep,” I said, cutting her off. I knew Mercy was looking for answers, but I had none. I didn’t know what was happening, who was behind this, or why. “We can talk tomorrow.”

“Legacy–”

“Mercy, I’m asking you not to do this right now,” I sighed as I shook my head. “Tomorrow, we can talk. But I want to lay here until I fall asleep.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding. She got up, turned off the light, and climbed back on the couch in her spot. “We will lay here until we fall asleep; if we don’t, that’s fine, too.” She adjusted her pillow, pulled her blanket to her chin, and faced the TV. “Then tomorrow, you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on so it can be handled.”

I sat on the couch, watching Ahh Real Monsters with the volume on low. Givens came downstairs and glanced at the sofa Mercy was sleeping on and then at me. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I said with a quick nod. “Thank you for letting me stay here for the night.”

“You’re family, it's what we do.” He wiped his hand over his face, checked his watch, and shook his head. He grabbed water from the side of the fridge, then walked to the front door and pulled it open. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Aceyn answered as they pulled each other into a brotherly hug. He closed the door behind him, kicked off his slides, and followed behind Givens.

“She good?” Givens asked.

“Yeah,” Aceyn replied. He’d changed since I saw him at my house earlier; now, he was dressed in ball shorts, a tank, and tall socks. His hair was covered in a durag, making his slanted eyes more pronounced. He looked me up and down, licked his lips, then dropped his bag on the couch beside me.

“I’ll go in the morning,” Givens said as he pulled the blanket from Mercy’s body and picked her up bridal style.

“You ain’t gotta do all that,” Aceyn said, wiping his hands over his face. “I got it handled.”

“I got it,” Givens said. He kissed Mercy on the forehead before turning to me. “Get some sleep.”

I watched as he carried my friend upstairs, and then I turned to see Aceyn watching me.

“Easy way or hard way, Point Guard,” he said, leaning back on the couch. “The choice is yours.”

Instead of responding to him, I turned my attention back to the TV and felt his eyes on me. Sighing, I turned my attention back to him and lifted my brow.

“What is it, Aceyn?”

“I want to kiss you,” he said with a shrug. “Come here.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head.

“Oh, you want a nigga to come to you?” he lifted his brow and then leaned forward. “You think my ego won’t allow me to beg for that shit?” he laughed humorlessly and shook his head. “What kind of nigga have you been messing with?” he grabbed my ankle, pulled me to him, then grabbed my waist and made me straddle his lap. He manhandled me but was mindful of his strength, so he wasn’t overly aggressive. “I ain’t a nigga that’s ashamed of doing shit when it comes to a woman that he wants.” He rested his forehead against mine.

“I’m not the woman you want to fall for,” I said softly.

“You said that shit like it was optional,” he replied with a humorless laugh. He leaned back and then wrapped his hand around my throat. “Now, shut the fuck up and kiss me.”

He pulled me to him, and the second our lips touched, I moaned in pleasure. His lips were soft and warm. When he pushed his tongue into my mouth, I sighed and let him lead. Everything about this kiss felt right. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him closely.

“My daddy said the only people that can have sex in his house are the two people whose names are on the mortgage,” Faylin said.

We pulled apart, and I looked over my shoulder to see her sitting on the stairs with her phone in her hand and smiling.

“Why are you still up?” Aceyn laughed and asked her. “Ain’t it past your bedtime?”

“Uncle Hood, be serious,” she said, shaking her head. She gave us a genuine smile and then stood. “But just so y’all know, y’all are cute together.”

“Gee, thanks, Faylin,” Aceyn grunted and shook his head. “Now, take your ass to bed before I yell to get your people’s attention.”

“My mama and daddy are nasty and have a soundproof room, so you’ll be wasting your energy,” she said, shrugging.

I adjusted myself so that my legs were around Aceyn’s back, and then I bent backward to reach my phone from the table. Aceyn grabbed my waist to steady me, and then I lifted and swiped my screen and dialed Mercy’s number.

“What’s wrong?” she quickly answered. “I’m up.”

“Tell your daughter to go to bed,” I said, watching Faylin. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, and Aceyn laughed.

Mercy came to the top of the stairs and kissed her teeth. “Faylin, go to bed,” she said, shaking her head.

“Mama, they were down here kissing on your couch,” Faylin protested.

“They are grown,” Mercy said, shaking her head. Faylin kissed her teeth, and it took everything in me not to laugh at her. “Now, go on before I tell your daddy.”

“Mommy–”

“Faylin Robbins, go on,” Mercy interrupted her. “Your daddy is in the shower, and I don’t want to hear his mouth when he gets out about you being up this late on a school night.” She pulled Faylin to her, kissed her forehead, then whispered something in her ear. Faylin looked back at us, then to her mama, and nodded. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” Faylin said, laughing. “Night, Uncle Hood and Auntie Legacy, love y'all.”

“Love you, too,” we said in unison.

“Don’t fuck on my couch,” Mercy said once Faylin was back in her room with the door closed. She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked.

“Good night, Mercy,” Aceyn laughed.

“Night,” Mercy said, returning to her room and closing her door.

I turned back to Aceyn, and even though my mood was ruined, I was better. I tried to unwrap my legs from his waist, but he tightened his grip on my waist and shook his head.

“Why are you moving?” he asked with a confused look.

“I want to try and get some sleep,” I said, and he repositioned himself. At this angle, his dick was pressed against my clit. My panties watered, and I bit my bottom lip. With the bullshit going on with me, the last thing I needed to do was be worried about this man’s dick, but I couldn’t help it.

“Go to sleep,” he said, then closed his eyes and rested his head on the couch. “But just know, if you keep moving, my dick goin’ to bust through my shorts, yours, and them wet ass panties you got on, so be still.”

“That’s all the reason I need to move,” I said, shaking my head. I tried to move again, but he held firm to my waist. “Aceyn, let me go.”

“Never,” he said, shaking his head. “Now, lay your head on my chest and go to sleep.”

“Aceyn–”

“Sleep, Point Guard,” he said, then smacked my ass and rubbed the stinging skin. “I’m trying to respect the shit out of my best friend upstairs and not fuck you til you screaming and hollering on his couch. Stop making this shit difficult.”

“Okay,” I agreed and nodded. “Just for tonight, don’t let me go.”

“Never,” Aceyn said as I laid my head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. Sleep came easily for the first time in almost a year.

* * *

“What time will you finish working out and practicing tonight?” Hood asked as we walked through the tunnels of the arena.

“I have films for the next three hours, then cardio,” I answered, and he nodded. “But I didn’t plan to be here all day.”

“Good cuz we got shit to do,” he said as he opened the locker room. No one else was here, so I wasn’t worried about him entering the room. He went straight to my locker and set my bag down before turning to me and crossing his arms. “What’s with the face, Point Guard?”

“What do you mean, we have shit to do?” I questioned.

“What part didn’t you understand?” he lifted his brow and smirked. “You ain't slow, so I know you can comprehend everything I said just fine.”

“Why did you say we?”

“How else would I have implied the shit to do was for both of us?”

“Aceyn–”

“What time are you going to be done, Point Guard?” He closed the space between us and pulled me to him. “And if you say you don’t know, I’m going to pick a time and drag you out of here.”

“I have something to do later today,” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t not show up, even though I don’t want to go.”

“Yeah?” he questioned, and I nodded. “Like what?”

“An early dinner with my parents,” I sighed. “I’ve been putting it off for months, but they are finally in town, and I have to show my face.”

“What time?” he asked, wrapping his arms around my waist. I rested my forehead against his chest and relaxed in his embrace.

“I have to be at the restaurant by three,” I answered.

“I got a few meetings,” he mentioned, and I nodded even though I immediately felt sad at the thought of him not being able to come. His phone rang, and he unwrapped one of his arms and dug into his pocket to get it. He looked at the screen, sighed, then kissed my forehead. “I’ll see you later.”

“Later,” I said.

After Aceyn left the locker room, I quickly changed into my workout gear and headed to the film room. On the way, I stopped by Yeti’s office. I knocked on the door despite it being open and waited for him to acknowledge me.

“What’s good?” Yeti greeted me. He leaned back in his chair and gave me all his attention.

“I just wanted to let you know that I’m here and will be in the film room,” I said, and he nodded.

“Appreciate you checking in,” he said. “I have a few new security guards walking around the arena and the garage.”

“I appreciate it,” I said, nodding.

“It’s my job; I’m just pissed that who the fuck ever this is has been at it for the last year.” He leaned back into his chair and shook his head. “Why didn’t you say anything before this?”

“Because I didn’t think too much of it,” I lied. “It seemed innocent.”

“The shit usually starts like that until something in them snaps, and it gets worse. This is all it is, right?”

“Yeah,” I quickly answered, yet Yeti’s face twisted like he didn’t believe me. The door to the hallway opened, and a short, curvy woman walked in. Infinite was right behind her with a mug on his face.

“Infinite, stay the fuck away from me!” she yelled. “Yeti, I’m going home and not coming back!”

“That’s the best fucking news I’ve heard all damn day!” Infinite yelled and threw his arms in the air. “It’s the best thing I’ve heard in the last ten years.”

Yeti sighed, pushed from his seat, and stood. I stepped back when they made their way past me.

“Ten years wasn’t long enough!” the woman yelled. “Ten fucking years, and it was like he never changed.”

“I changed, Ra! I changed the second you broke my fucking heart and left me!” Infinite yelled as he followed her.

“Swear to goodness, they love each other,” Yeti said, standing beside me. I watched as they continued down the hallway to the other door. The woman pushed it open, quickly turned, and slammed the door in Infinite’s face.

“Now you slamming shit?” Infinite kicked the door open and then looked both ways, trying to figure out which way she went. “Rage!” She didn’t answer, so Infinite turned back and headed toward us. “Bring her back, Yeti! I don’t care what the fuck it costs me. Bring her the fuck back here!”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Yeti laughed and shook his head.

Infinite stormed down the hallway and left the business wing. I looked over at Yeti, and he shrugged.

“They love each other,” was all he said, then headed in the direction the woman had gone.

* * *

“It’s last minute, and I’m sorry,” I said to Mahogany as I looked through the racks in her private studio. She looked up from her paperwork and waved me off.

“It’s not a big deal,” she said. Her curly red hair framed her face like a halo as she shook her head. “Trust me, these designs would never make it out of this room if it weren’t for you all.”

“Why?” I grabbed a black pantsuit and showed it to her. “They are beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she said as she stood. Her full belly jumped slightly, and I smiled. Even though she had a two-year-old running around at home, it was evident that she and her husband still had time for themselves. “Why black? I thought you said this was with your parents?”

“Because it’s with my parents,” I answered, and she lifted her brow. “We don’t have the best relationship.”

“I completely understand,” Mahogany said, nodding. “My mama can't stand me and acts like I don’t exist.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, and she waved me off.

“Don’t be,” she said, then put the pantsuit back and picked up a fitted black one-shoulder dress with a tie in the middle. It was simple but beautiful. “Try this instead. The pantsuit is business attire.”

“Okay,” I said, then took the dress to the back and changed. The dress fit perfectly, and I couldn’t help but admire myself in the mirror.

“What do you think?” Mahogany asked from the other room. I checked myself in the mirror and stepped out of the dressing room. Mahogany whistled, then clapped. “Yeah, that’s the dress.”

“I think so, too,” I said, looking down at myself. “You have some shoes, right?”

“Yep,” she said, then walked out of the room. I turned to face the floor-to-ceiling mirror she had and checked myself out some more. When Mahogany returned, she held a pair of strapped stilettos into the air. “These are it. I hope you can walk in heels.”

“I can,” I laughed. She handed me the shoes and then helped me finish getting ready. Thirty minutes later, I was sitting in the back of the car my parents sent for me, on my way to the restaurant.

I walked into the restaurant and looked around. The room was cold and dull, which fit my parents to a tee.

“Hello, I am here for the Glover party,” I said, checking in.

“You’re the last to arrive,” the hostess said. She walked away from the podium, and I followed behind her, already dreading having to do this. She led me to a room in the back and opened the door. I was about to walk into the room, but a hand on my back stopped me. I turned to look into Aceyn’s eyes, and my heart melted. He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but return the gesture. He looked good in a black suit and a pair of black loafers. His lineup was fresh, and when he smiled at me, I noticed that he wore his fangs, giving him an edge.