Page 32 of Intentional Foul (The Complexity of Love #2)

“Brittany, I’m going to give you a hard reality about my son.

Marquise blocked you because he hasn’t changed his number.

My son enjoys traveling to other people’s beds nightly if possible.

You have great things going for you, don’t waste them on my son.

Focus on your education and make your parents proud,” Anissa said with no filter or warmth.

Brittany’s face morphed into several emotions as she processed what Anissa said.

“No disrespect, but Marquise is a sweetheart. I don’t believe your assessment is correct,” Brittany countered.

“Girl, Marquise is a hoe. She is trying to tell you in a nice way. He sweet-talked your ass into his bed a few times and blocked you. Use this as fuel to buckle down in your studies,” I said, and Anissa dropped her head.

Brittany sucked her teeth as if I was her enemy and not her heart. She rolled her head in my direction, and I chuckled at her audacity.

“You don’t know him,” Brittany said.

I moved my two fingers from my eyes to hers. “Look at me. Marquise Shaw-Jefferies is a hoe,” I said slowly.

Anissa lifted her hand to stop Brittany from answering. “What message do you want me to pass to him?”

Brittany turned to her and straightened the collar of her button down. “Tell him I miss him. I’m still waiting for his call. I am anxious to see him again,” she said.

“I sure will,” Anissa said,

Brittany walked away as if she won a prize.

“What the fuck, Anissa?” I whispered.

“Jhae, you see the fires I put out because of Marquise. Last week, someone gifted me a sex tape with him and three girls. I also have another false pregnancy claim. Some of the women are my age. My lawyer could buy another beachfront property from the cease-and-desist letters I’ve sent.

One girl even decided she was going to file for child support.

I helped her find her real baby daddy. Marquise can’t even have children.

Kal assured me Marquise was slowing down.

These little heifas trying to get his money,” she said.

I steadied my breathing before I stated the obvious. “Anissa, it’s also Marquise’s responsibility to stop fucking everything with a hole,” I said.

She lifted a brow at me as if I physically assaulted her.

“Marquise is a young man in the league with money. He isn’t doing anything different from his counterparts. However, I wish he would mirror more of Malcolm’s personality. He is saving himself for this girl named Music Note,” she said and chuckled.

I swallowed hard at her comment. A new server placed my lemonade and Anissa’s peach tea on the table then left us. I grabbed my drink to slip the straw in.

“He. . . um. . . told you details about Music Note?” I questioned.

My stomach had churned twice since she mentioned the pet name he coined for me. Anissa’s brows furrowed as she glared at me.

“Jhae, I am his mother. I’ve encouraged him to bring her around, but you know Malcolm is private and he is my golden child. Don’t tell Marquise. Things are easy with Malcolm. He is responsible, thoughtful, sweet, honest and right now, if whoever she is hurts my baby, she going to get my wrath.”

My hand shook, causing my ice to clink and my body to tense.

“Don’t weird out on me, but his obsession with you kept the woman away. It didn’t bother me because I know you wouldn’t cross the line with him. I can only deal with one headache at a time. But anyway, what was the urgent news you had to tell me before stalker Brittany interrupted us,” she said.

“The album,” I blurted a lie.

The words had barely climbed over my teeth as my body heated and sweat formed. Our food found our table, giving me a chance to slow the rapid beating of my heart.

“Jhae, you know I know when you’re lying. And you’re lying. What did you want to talk about? Did Malcolm make a pass at you?” She said after dipping her celery in her hummus while taking a bite.

“No, it’s about the album,” I tried to assure as my thoughts looped.

Anissa gave me squinted eyes.

“Okay, tell me,” she said.

“It’s independent and different. I’m not sure how the fans will take it,” I managed to spill as the room continued to spin.

Anissa finished her celery stick before giving me her eyes again. “Life is about risks. If you don’t take them, then you’ll be stagnant. I took a risk on you and things worked out. You’re my best friend,” she said.

The vibration of Anissa’s phone matched the rhythm of my heart as it danced across the table. She answered, and I closed my eyes to keep myself from throwing up.

“Jhae,” I opened my eyes to find Anissa staring at me.

“I need to get back to the office. Before I leave, Kal and I wanted to ask you to be Khaira’s godmother. My lawyer drew up the paperwork, but we haven’t seen each other. I forgot to bring it. But I have to go; I’m going to rip Todd a new one. Do you need a ride home?” she asked.

I managed to say no with a head gesture before slamming my eyes shut.

“Jhae, you don’t look good,” she said, and I swallowed hard.

“Overheated. I’m...okay, I just need water,” I stammered.

Anissa gave me concerned eyes and a side hug before skipping out the door. I gripped the end of the table and slammed my eyes shut.

Malcolm

“Let’s run the play again,” Coach said after he blew the whistle as sweat dripped from my practice jersey.

I was out of basketball shape, and I knew it. Jhae and I had been eating out and fucking since we left St. Thomas. I didn’t pick up a basketball until a few weeks ago. The assistant whispered something in the coach’s ear, and I was thankful for the extended pause.

“Malcolm, family emergency,” Coach said, and my eyes widened.

I sprinted off the court with Marquise behind me into the locker room. Viewing my phone, there were several missed calls from Jhae and Tyrus. Fuck, Mom overreacted, I thought to myself. Pressing the call back button, I prepared myself for whatever news.

“Malcolm,” Tyrus said.

He answered Jhae’s phone, and a cold chill crawled up my spine.

“Where is my wife?” I questioned.

“Tyrus, I told you that wasn’t necessary, hand me the phone,” Jhae said in the background.

Marquise rested against the locker, calculating what he needed to do. We were both acting on some level of trauma at the moment.

“Malcolm, Jhae had what I think was a panic attack at Vine. She managed to get to the car before things escalated. Thankfully, her phone was open, and the driver called me. She won’t get checked out,” he said.

I bit down on my bottom lip as I tried to calm myself. Tyrus and Jhae exchanged some harsh words as she demanded the phone.

“Malcolm, it’s okay. Continue with practice. I’m fine,” she said, and I scowled at how she dismissed her health scare.

“Naw, I’m coming home and you’re going to be seen. I will cancel this entire season depending on what he says,” I said.

“But Mal?—”

“Jhae, do I repeat myself?” I said and Marquise shook his head in approval of my sternness. “No, I’ll be home in five minutes,” I said before I hung up.

My brother opened his palms, expecting more information about what happened. This entire situation with my marriage and my mother was going too far. It’s impacting her health. With my phone in hand, I scrolled to my mother’s name, but Marquise removed it from my hand.

“Not this way, bro. You are upset and if Mom says the wrong thing, it will throw the family into a whirlwind,” he said. “Let’s go check on Jhae.”

I yielded to Marquise because he was right. I was heated and nothing good would come from me screaming at mom. From her pov, mom hadn’t done anything wrong. One thing’s for sure: we needed to have this conversation sooner than planned.