Page 67 of Only for Me

"Getting my phone, you just promised me a house and I need that documented."

"Bruh, you and that documenting shit is gonna get you cursed out. If I give you my word, you can bank that."

"Okay fine, but I mean it. This is your career."

"I know that."

"You sure, because it feels like you're sabotaging yourself."

"Nah, I'm good. I'm gonna work it out."

"You're either in this or you're not. Do you really think Rion would want you throwing your career away and using him as an excuse?"

I stared at her with a blank expression and she added, "It might be none of my business because I didn't know him or your relationship but you just said he was on your ass about football. He wanted this for you. Don't piss him off."

I chuckled and nodded before kissing her. "Aight, I hear you. I'mma work on it."

She pulled the corner of her lip between her teeth and watched me for a minute before she spoke again. "We're still trying to figure out what we're doing after last night, but regardless of any of that, first and foremost you're Avi's father and it's important that you're okay. I really want you to be okay."

"Damn, that sounds like you might actually care about me."

"Omiri, I'm serious."

"I know, I'm just fucking with you and I'm good. I mean it when I say I'm gonna work on things, and not just for Avi, for you too."

She tried hard as hell to hide her smile and the way her pretty ass blushed but she nodded and climbed off my lap so we couldhead out.Yeah, I'm so totally fucked by the women in my life and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

Chapter 11

Makari

These rookies are getting worse with each draft…

"Taven, showing up forty minutes late to an event for kids and spending the majority of the time you're there on your phone is not just unprofessional. It's disrespectful."

Taven McClain, the newly drafted wide receiver for Crescent Falls Sharks, shrugged and looked back at me unapologetically. "I had some shit to take care of. That call was about a potential endorsement."

"I understand, but you were at a community event where you were in the middle of teaching kids how to catch a football. You were supposed to be focused and present with them, not treating your time with them like a publicity stunt. Did you see the link I sent you? There's an actual photo of you turning your back to the group of kids you were in charge of to take a call."

"I was there. That's good enough and damn sure better than most players."

"Most players, yes, but not the players on the Sharks’ roster. They're very serious about giving back and showing up is not the same as being in the moment or building bonds in the community. A community you are now a part of thanks to the very generous contract you were offered."

"Man, that contract don't have shit to do with the community. It's about me being on the field and securing wins."

"If that's what you think then find another team and fast. The Sharksarethe community. These kids look up to the players and that means you."

"Damn, you're sure pushing hard for this. You on their payroll too?"

I grinned. "No, I'm an independent contractor, but I work closely with a lot of the athletes in the city, so I know how this works. Trust me, you don't want to be considered an outsider."

"Aight, I feel you but…"

Before he could finish that sentence by adding another dismissive comment, someone knocked on my door, interrupting the moment. I grabbed my phone and quickly checked the cameras, recognizing the large body on my porch.

"Taven, hang on for a second." I muted the video call, lifted from the sofa, and headed to the door. Omiri had his eyes on me as soon as I yanked it open with that lazy grin in place that had me questioning my entire life because why the hell was I so entranced by this fine ass man?

Because he's fine and fucks you unapologetically…