Page 97 of Only for Me

“People can say what they want about me. I don’t care.”

“You care. That shit is weighing on you. When was the last time you been outside of this neighborhood, or hell, outside of this house?”

I studied her face and Makari’s expression tensed. “I go outside.”

“Nah, you really don’t.”

“An interview won’t fix what they think about me, this situation, or us.”

“It won’t but it lets them know who and what we are. We’re not on some fake family bullshit and you’re not here trying to drain my accounts. The season’s about to start and when they print your name I want it to be a headline about you watching me break last year’s record next to pictures of you rocking my jersey.”

“I don’t have a Hayes jersey. I have Lowe.” She smiled smugly. Lowe was the QB who retired the year I entered the league. He was good, I respected him and wouldn’t talk shit, but she damn sure wouldn’t be rocking his name over mine. Fuck that.

“If it has a Sharks logo and doesn’t have my name on it, then you don’t have that shit.”

Her smile expanded. “So you’re telling me who I can support now?”

“Bruh, don’t get cursed out. Stay the fuck on topic.”

“What exactly are we supposed to say? We had a one night stand that gave us Avi, we’re cohabiting and occasionally have sex because that’s the sum total of our relationship.”

“I know you know better than that and how about we leave off the part about occasionally having sex because you also know I stay knocking them walls down on the regular.”

“I was being sarcastic. We’re not saying any of that, but seriously, how am I supposed to sit in front of a camera and share what we are when I don’t even know my damn self?”

She had a point because fuck if I knew the answer to that. Friends who shared a kid, co-parents with benefits, roommates…

Neither of us wanted to define what was happening between us because that meant acknowledging that we had to be responsible for the feelings we both had.

“All they need to know is that this is real, our personal lives. We’re co-parents who are focusing on our daughter and careers. We leave it there but establish boundaries and give enough truth for them to accept what we are and leave us the hell alone.”

“They’re not going to respect our boundaries.”

“Some will, some won’t, but so far all they have are dry ass statements from our teams. They need to see us in real time. Then you can get back to your life.”

Her eyes dropped to where Avi was in front of me. She had her little hands on my knees, smiling as she bounced in place.

“Who?” She sighed and tucked one leg under her, dropping back into the sofa.

“Kaz Rivera. Van thinks it’s best to have a woman because she’ll be more respectful of the situation and you.”

Makari nodded. “I’ve seen her work. She’s fair with athletes and won’t try to sensationalize this.” She sighed. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.”

Thank fucking goodness…

“So you’re down?”

“One interview and limited topics. No details about us personally.”

“We need to confirm that we’re together.”

“Why?” She seemed too damn annoyed by that and her reluctance pissed me off. I also couldn’t give the real reason I wanted it confirmed… So niggas wouldn’t be pushing up on her anymore, and if they did, I had the right to check them because she was mine.

“As much as the co-parent thing works, it still leaves things open to interpretation as to how we got here. They think you’re on a paper chase…”

“I’m not.” She said that shit quick as hell and I grinned.

“Bruh, relax. My point is, if I’m confirming we’re together and this is my decision, then it shuts all that down. Co-parenting can be anything…”