Page 5 of Intentional Foul (The Complexity of Love #2)

We unloaded at the front of the club and skipped the line, which was right up Marquise’s alley. Cameras were flashing as Jhae and Chasity stood, and we were patted down by security.

“Jhae. . . Jhae. . .” people yelled, but she ignored them.

Sometimes, my Music Note was annoyed with her celebrity status.

If she wasn’t doing appearances or brand deals, she hid away in her condo.

She wasn’t as public as people perceived her to be.

Most of the things she did post weren’t anything personal.

During home games, all three of us posted in her condo and watched TV and ate out.

The green and pink lights reflected off the glossy surfaces, including the bar.

Somehow, Jhae secured a booth right in front of the dance floor.

A sea of people danced to the music, including several of our West Coast teammates.

I couldn’t understand how being in a box with loud music stimulated people to dance.

Marquise and I sitting at the end put Jhae and Chasity in the middle.

They hovered over each other as they viewed Jhae’s phone.

When a round of drinks appeared at our table, Marquise and I both declined. Chasity and Jhae counted before tossing back a shot and giggling.

“Yo, check out this new unsigned rapper from Houston, Icey,” the DJ said into the mic.

The beat dropped, and it took a few seconds for the crowd to respond.

Jhae, Chasity, and Marquise all moved their bodies to the hard baseline.

Another round of drinks appeared at the table and the women tossed them back.

Marquise’s eyes found something more appealing, and he flirted.

Chasity followed his line of vision but rolled her eyes.

She moved closer to Jhae, putting distance between her and Marquise.

“Heyyyy,” Anthony mouthed as I read his lips.

They greeted each other, and he put his eyes on Chasity, don’t do it . Anthony pointed to Marquise and both he and Chasity shook their heads no. Jhae hid her laughter as Marquise cleared the way for her friend to exit. She waved as she headed toward her own demise.

As time passed, Jhae’s dancing increased, and she closed the proximity between us. After she threw back her third shot of tequila, I knew it sealed the deal. With two fingers, she motioned for me to lean down.

“Malcolm, lighten up. It’s okay to dance,” she said with alcohol ridden breath.

I smirked, but she frowned before she raised my arm, placing it around her shoulders.

“Marquise, take our picture,” she yelled.

She snuggled up next to me and raised the peace sign.

Marquise leaned over the table in laughter after he snapped the picture with his phone.

If she wasn’t intoxicated, this could have been a beautiful moment between us, but it’s tainted.

She would not remember tonight after she woke with a hangover.

“Let’s go,” I whispered in her ear.

She gave me saddened eyes and then tilted her head over to Marquise.

My brother leaned back, cackling at the face she made. I wanted out of this club. It was hot and several people were musty.

“Why? Is it too noisy?” she questioned.

I shook my head yes, and she captured my mouth between her hands.

“Okay, let’s book it,” she giggled.

I slid out of the booth first, and Jhae inched toward me as the DJ switched to a new song.

“Aye, Aye, Aye. This is my jam,” Jhae yelled and waved her hands in the air.

Marquise couldn’t hold himself together as he stretched across the table. Jhae had given him a year’s worth of ammo to tease her with once she sobers. I stood with one foot on the booth and watched Jhae’s off rhythm dancing. Reaching for a waving elbow, I tugged her toward me.

“Oops,” she said, breaking into a hard laugh.

With coaching, I managed to get her out of the booth.

I guided her out of the club and through the crowd.

After three stops to dance, we were able to get outside.

Our driver’s timing was perfect, leaving people no room to take pictures.

Once inside the SUV, I maneuvered across the black leather seats next to Jhae.

She immediately wrapped my arm around her shoulders, snuggling up next to me.

If she wasn’t drunk, I would have been turned on.

“Driver, take us back to the hotel,” I said.

“Waiiiiittt!” Jhae yelled, followed by a drunken giggle.

She grabbed my face with her pink, sharp, pointy nails and pulled it down. “I’m not ready to go home. Boring. Hellooooo. Malcolm, I’ll help you loosen up. Driver, take us to a chapel,” she said.

“Awww shit...” Marquise said from the seat behind me.

“It’s okay, Malcolm, those marriages are fake anyway,” she said as she moved my face from side to side.

“Driver, to the chapellllll!” she said.

I hesitated as the driver turned to me for instruction. Marquise leaned forward, whispering in my ear. “Bro, what you gon’ do? You getting married tonight or what? I mean, this could be your way of locking her down. Y’all can have a proper wedding later.”

The driver stared back at me through the rearview mirror, awaiting my decision.

“Malcolm, we don’t have all day, or is it night?” Jhae said as she giggled into my chest.

Thoughts of how this could give me the leverage to move us past this family friend category plagued me.

“If you want the girl, bro. You have to do something drastic. I mean, you can get it annulled if things don’t work out. What would Pops do?” Marquise asked.

Son, go after what you want, replayed in my thoughts. Pops pursued Mom until she gave in. If it worked for him, I’m sure it would work for me.

“Driver, you heard the lady. Take us to the chapel,” I said, and Marquise squeezed my shoulders from behind.

“That’s my bro. Secure your woman,” he said.

“Let’s get married,” Jhae yelled and squeezed my mouth.