Page 10 of Summer in London

“Thank you. I grew to love the game of basketball, and I played all through school. I just knew college would be the end of the road for me. I honestly didn’t believe I’d get picked up by a team.”

“I see I’m not the only one that doubts himself.”

A’ja smirked. “Getting drafted into the league is super hard and rare. You’d have a better chance of selling a million-dollar painting than some of the most talented players have of making it into the league. Male or female.”

“I can dig that,” Naasson nodded. “We don’t have to talk about anything that you don’t want to talk about. But since we’re getting to know each other, I’m kind of curious as to what led to your divorce?”

The sadness in her eyes made him regret the question, but it was too late to take it back.

“Stupid, petty stuff mostly. The communication was off, and I was over trying to make it work. I can’t be with a person that I can’t even talk to.

If I have our best interests at heart, and you think I’m nagging every time I speak, it will never work.

When a person isn’t open to anything that you suggest, it gets draining. ”

“I feel you on that. Relationships can be hard as hell. I know marriage is far from easy. You think you’ll ever get married again?”

A’ja scoffed. “Tuh. Now is the wrong time to be asking. My divorce isn’t even final yet, but I think it’s a strong no for me. What about you?”

“Marriage? I doubt it. I don’t have anything against it. I just don’t see it in the cards for me.”

“Not everyone wants to get married. I get it. I don’t regret my marriage. It wasn’t all bad, and it’s an experience that I’ll live with forever.”

The drinks arrived followed by the food, and Naasson and A’ja ate and got acquainted. When lunch was over, he invited her back to his hotel to see what he’d been working on. She had on heels, so he didn’t walk back.

“This place is nice and expensive. You going to stay here the entire time you’re in London?” A’ja asked as they stepped onto the elevator.

“Hell nah. I’m giving it a few more days. I inquired about an Airbnb this morning. Since I’m doing an extended stay, it would be smart to do that versus a hotel.”

“It most definitely would be.”

Inside the room, A’ja walked over to the easel, and her eyes widened. “This is amazing,” she marveled over the painting. It wasn’t even finished, and she knew it was going to be a masterpiece.

“I could decorate an entire wall in my home with your work.”

“For real?” Naasson looked over at A’ja.

His mother and sister always gushed over how talented he was.

His nieces and nephews thought it was super cool that he could draw so well.

Anyone that saw his paintings complimented them, but no one had ever pushed him to sell them or even hyped him like A’ja did, and he liked that.

Disha had never suggested he sell them or even asked for one.

“Yes for real. Your work is so powerful. I swear it’s like I can feel everything that it’s saying.

Like it was painted in words and not a picture if that makes sense.

The one that I want, I want it because it makes me sad and happy at the same time.

Sad because it represents what I don’t have.

And happy because it gives me hope for the future. ”

Naasson knew that everyone had their own interpretations of the things they saw.

But the way A’ja broke down his picture, the exact way that he felt it drew him to her like metal to a magnet.

Disha was never his calm. Not while she was hiding him and worrying about what her parents would say about him.

And he obviously wasn’t her peace. So, it was something that he didn’t have either.

Naasson closed the distance between them, and his mouth found hers.

He parted her lips with his tongue, and gripped her waist as they shared a deep kiss. Seconds later, A’ja was stepping out of her heels and getting undressed. Maybe she didn’t have peace, but she would take the moment for what it was.

A’ja opened the door of her flat and squealed as she saw Rod and Simone standing outside. “I’m so happy y’all came,” she exclaimed as she hugged Simone.

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Are you ready to play better than you’ve ever played?” her friend asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

A’ja hugged Rod, and the group sat down in the living room to catch up.

One thing A’ja decided to keep to herself was Naasson.

They’d been seeing each other every day for the past few weeks and having so much sex that she could barely walk straight.

Naasson was a good time. He was a fun time, and he was what she needed.

A’ja still had thoughts of Kenyatta from time to time, but they weren’t as heavy or torturous as they were before.

She actually had hope that she was moving past the depression stage of divorce.

He was going to the game, but that didn’t mean she had to introduce him to her friend and brother right away.

A’ja just wanted to keep something tucked away to herself for a moment.

If she talked about him and made his existence known, she’d have to explain when and why he left.

And there was bound to be a time when they parted ways.

It was inevitable. A’ja knew she was being na?ve as hell to think long-term with anyone.

This day and age marriage and healthy relationships weren’t everyone’s end goal.

A’ja laughed at her brother’s antics until her stomach was sore.

Rod couldn’t be serious for more than five minutes even when he tried.

It was a personality trait that A’ja mostly loved, but it could get under her skin sometimes too.

Rod and Simone had a long day of traveling, and A’ja had a long day of practice so after some food and some wine, they turned in fairly early. A’ja had just gotten comfortable in her bed and closed her eyes when her phone rang. It could be her parents calling to check in or it could be…

Naasson. She saw his name on the screen and smiled. “Hello?” she answered in a low tone.

“Did I wake you?”

“No. I just got comfortable in bed. I’m talking low because my brother and friend are here, and they’re nosey.”

“Oh, okay,” he chuckled. “You trying to keep me a secret?”

“Yes,” she replied hurriedly, and they both laughed.

“You know when you meet someone new how people around you get overly excited and start asking you all these questions that you don’t even really know the answer to.

I don’t want to deal with that. I want to keep enjoying it however it is and whatever it is.

Just simple, easy, and going with the flow. ”

“I definitely agree with that. I know tomorrow is the big day, so I don’t want to hold you. I was just thinking about you, so I decided to reach out and tell you. I look forward to seeing you play tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Naasson.” A’ja couldn’t keep the smile off her face if she wanted to.

“Get some rest, Love. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

A’ja felt extremely goofy as she stared up at the ceiling with a smile on her face, but she couldn’t help it.

It had been too damn long since a man made her feel all giddy inside.

For however long it lasted, she just wanted to enjoy the euphoria that she was experiencing.

It never lasted too long. Ever. A’ja had never wanted her time in London to go so slowly.

She was usually pressed to get back to the states, but this time was different.

When she went back this time, life would be extremely different.

She’d be living in a new place alone. At the moment, London and basketball were the few things in her life that were still the same.

A’ja wanted to embrace the change, but that was hard to do when the reason for the change made her sad as hell.

And just that fast, the smile was wiped off her face, and her heart was filled with heaviness.

A’ja turned over on her side and closed her eyes before the tears could form. These days everything in her life that felt good was short-lived. She absolutely hated how heartache had become a normal emotion for her, and she was ready for it to be over.