"What up, Jr?" I sat down next to Adiras brother. We were at a gym not too far from where he was staying. It was just the two of us.

I wanted to ask him about Adiras ex. It's been on my mind bad ever since her last appointment. I also wanted to talk to him about his plans, as far as him wanting to quit playing out in Europe.

"Nothing much man." We slapped hands. I picked up a ball and threw it at him. He caught it.

I figured we'd shoot around while we chatted.

I planned to stop by to see my family later. I especially need to talk to my little sister. I don't want her thinking I abandoned her.

We went over to the middle of the empty court and casually started shooting.

"What's the deal with you and my sister." He held up one of his hands. "Before you answer that, I want you to know I do understand the situation. I just don't want to see her get hurt. I think it's dope she has you in her corner."

I was about to speak, but he continued as he dribbled the ball. "I get how hard it is to be with anyone, especially in this business. The world we live in today will try to tear down anything good in your life. I can only imagine what they would say about my sister being in your life."

I continued watching him dribble. "We're still kind of fresh, but I have strong feelings for Diri. She has a beautiful soul. —The last thing I want is for this to turn into a media frenzy with random people bashing her. I'm already dealing with my mom with it."

"Your moms not feeling it?" He went up for a shot.

"Nope and the thing is she doesn't know anything about her. She saw us together then assumed stuff and started automatically thinking negatively."

He nodded, watching his shot go in.

"What would your parents think if I really pursued her?"

"If they saw you two, they'd think you were already together. I know my dad would only want to protect her. I'm not sure how they would take it."

"To answer your question further, — we're close. I don't want to put a title on it, and then it gets out publicly. Then she gets thrown into the fire. I also don't want her thinking I want to hide her either. We still have a lot to figure out before anything." I replied, thinking about her situation with her child's father.

"I get it." He nodded understanding.

"What's up with this Nelson guy? Why is he giving her such a hard time now? I don't get him."

"He still wants to be with her —is what I'm getting from it. He tries to control her, and when she doesn't let him, he starts acting out like a child."

"Why don't dude just back off of her a little? He says he thinks he's not the father?" I asked a little frustrated.

"He's bugging. If he wasn't the father to my niece, I swear on everything I would off him." He stood up straight, pissed off, giving me a deranged glare. "Out here trying to make my sister look like something she's not. He's a clown."

"Diri doesn't need his nagging. I hope this isn't a habit for every appointment." I now went up for a shot after retrieving the ball.

"Yeah."

I quickly went after the ball again, finding my spot back over to Jr. "So, you and Charlotte?" I peered at him after taking another shot.

He laughed.

"Is that a thing, the two of you were cozy the other night?" I passed him the ball.

He spun the ball in his hands as he tossed it up, with a big grin on his face. "We're not like you and Di. —Ima' putting a title on that."

Both of us cracked up, shaking our heads.

"So basically friends?" I retorted trying to be funny.

He sucked his teeth chuckling. "We're dating. Things are good."

"Aight I'll stop asking because your face is beet red. —Char got you all in your feelings." I laughed, he threw the ball hard towards my chest, but I caught it.

"Anyway, what're your plans for over there, you going back or not?" I asked him, both of us took a seat on the court where we stood.

He sighed. "I don't want to go back to Milan, but I had a talk with my dad, and I spoke to Char."

"What did they say?"

"My dad thinks I should finish out my contract, which is another two years. I told him the contract didn't matter as much as it does here in the states. My agent said they were leaving it up to me. —I feel like they're not pushing for me anymore anyway. Like they don't care if I come back or not."

I nodded.

"Char little ass was like if that's how they feel, then you need to go back over there and shut them up." He mimicked her moving his hands in the air. "She kept talking about how the world we live in today has such a short attention span."

"Your heart still in it? You still want to ball?"

"I do, but it's not easy playing over there. It's like —when you're on top, they love you. They go so hard for people over there. Then when you're out on an injury, they don't even pray for you to get better. They start throwing and yelling shit, casting you away."

"Yeah, it's rough. I know a couple of guys who went over there after their basketball career here in the states." I sighed. "—Do what's important to you."

I pointed towards some seats, and we made our way over to them. "The people who cast you away are not your real fans.—All I can do is offer you up some advice, or if you're seriously looking to come back here, we can get you something out here. That's if you're ready to put down the basketball. If not stick it out, and do what Char said and shut them up."

He sat quietly thinking. "Ima' tell you something but you can't tell Di?"

"What?"

"Char said she would put in for a transfer and go to Milan with me. —She just doesn't know how my sister would take it. If Char get that transfer, I will go back."

I didn't know what to say. I know how close Charlotte and Adira are. Hell, they live across from each other, and I'm sure she was expecting Char to be there for her with the baby.

"You think it's selfish?" He squinted at me.

"Nah I don't, you're both free to do what you want. You shouldn't have to compromise, but if that's an actual plan, please clue your sister in as soon as possible. —Diri will miss her, but she's not the type to hold her friend back. It'll hurt her if y'all don't tell her soon."

"Yeah." He was quietly pondering.

We stood and made our way back to shoot around some more.

"Question, would you call yourself stepdaddy, uncle or Mr. Man that's kissing on my momma?"

I looked at him like he was crazy. "No comment. I'm not answering that. You sound like a blog."

We both laughed. After playing someone on one, the girls came busting through the doors.

"I got next," Adira yelled out, coming in dressed in her black Adidas tracksuit with matching shoes. Both of them were dressed alike.

Char ran over to Jr. jumping in his arms. His hands landed on her ass, holding her up. He squeezed it while they were having a full-blown make-out session.

We stared at them with wide eyes with the same goofy expression.

I made my way over to Adira.

"I still can't wrap my head around those two. —I knew they were going to be this type of couple, all over each other." She smiled.

I chuckled then leaned for a kiss. She met me halfway. I tugged at her shirt, pulling her closer as our lips connected. I took my time with this one, making sure she felt how much I missed her.

"How was your girls day out?" I asked, pulling away from her finally.

"Refreshing and much needed. Thanks for having Benjamin drive us."

"No problem, did you get everything you needed?"

"Yeah, I also got a few things for the baby's room and went ahead and ordered stuff for her as well."

"That's good, let me know if you need me to have the furniture moved out of that room."

"Actually my dad and brother said they were going to do it."

"I can come and assist, "I suggested.

"You want to meet my dad?" She gave me a puzzling look.

"Yeah, eventually — we are friends." I smiled, going in for another kiss. She dodged me.

"I usually don't kiss friends."

"Quit playing Adira. Comere' and kiss me." I stated, very seriously. She stood for a moment staring at me.

"Cry baby." She mumbled while moving in for my lips. "I better be the only friend you're kissing." She bit my lip.

I hissed. "Ouch." I pulled apart from her, rubbing the little sting. "You know I only got eyes for you guhh.'"

"You joke, but I'm serious."

I grabbed her hands securely while connecting my gaze to hers. "I know you are."

We hung around for a while, playing a light game of two on two. Shortly after I took Adira home to rest. Char and Jr., of course, left together a little before we did.

I was on my way to have a talk with my mom after making sure Diri was good. Halfway there I pulled out my phone to text her.

Hey, are you home?

Yes.

Ok, I'm on my way. I was hoping we could talk... About everything.

That's fine, I'm here.

I tucked my phone away in my pocket. I was trying to come up with ways to tell her she can't work so close to me anymore. In all honesty, she doesn't even have to work.

Arriving at the house, I took my time getting out.

"Aight Ben, thanks."

"No problem. You want me to stay here, what's up?" He questioned.

"No it's cool, I'll drive whenever I get ready to go."

"You sure I don't mind waiting."

"Nah, I'm good." I stepped out of the vehicle closing the door behind.

He nodded. I went on inside the house. Ben eat, sleep, and breath his job. I love having him on my team.

After getting inside, I quickly went upstairs to my little sisters' room.

"Hey, Gabbi," I spoke after she opened the door.

"Hi." She mumbled then went back to her bed and plopped down on it.

"I'm sorry I've been away, and there's no excuse for me leaving you without saying anything. I needed time to myself, but I didn't consider you."

She quieted for almost a full minute staring down at her hands. She peered up at me, and a small smile crept on her face. "Who was that lady you were with at the fans day?"

I smiled back at her. "She's somebody special, I like her, but it's complicated."

"She's pretty and tall like me."

I went over and sat next to her on the bed. "Yeah, she is."

"She's having a baby?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Oh." She looked down at her fingers. She seemed bummed as if I left her out of the loop.

"Like I said it's complicated, she was pregnant when I met her." I stared at her, hoping she understood.

"So, you two are not together?"

"No we're not, but I do have feelings for her."

"Hmm, can I meet her?" She snuck in another smile.

I nudged her playfully. "Yeah, you can meet her. I'll make that happen."

"Good. Now can we talk about you moving out?"

"Gabbi, it's time for this to happen-"

She interrupted me. "I know, —can I help you pick out a house and can I come over whenever I want?"

"Yes to all of that. You can always come to me. No matter where I am, I will never deny you. Just because I'm moving it doesn't mean that anything between us has to change. You're still baby sis,' and I will always be there for you."

She slowly nodded her head. I guess it was settling in that I'm really moving. Her eyes began to water.

"Don't cry, Gabbi. Just call me anytime, day or night. No matter the hour I will come. Or if I'm away for a game, we can FaceTime like we always do. —I love you."

"I love you too." She wiped her face. I pulled her in for a hug.

"Is Jade here?"

"Yeah, she was in the pool house, last time I saw her."

"She's always in the pool house," I said while getting up to head to the door. "I'll let Adira know that you want to meet her."

"Ok." She smiled big hearing me say Diri's name. I left the room, closing the door behind me.

I made my way downstairs in search of my mom and dad. They were in the family room on the chair watching tv. I walked in, and their heads shot up at me.

"Hey." I stood at the hall opening to the living room.

"Come on and sit down." My dad spoke, and I went over to the sofa next to the one they shared.

"Ima' go upstairs and let you two talk. —No yelling, and stop with the back and forth disrespect. If you're going to do that, then don't talk at all." He added while standing up.

"Yes sir."

"Aight." He left out of the room, my mom remained quiet, but she gave me her full attention.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you, cursing and slamming the door in your face." I looked at her waiting to see if she would say something. She didn't. She continued staring at me.

"I want my mom back. The one before basketball. We used to do stuff together as a family. I miss that. Even though most of it stemmed from Auntie Angie getting all of us together." I paused. "I know most of it is because you missed out on having parents. So maybe you don't know how to be any other way."

I waited again. She still had nothing to say.

"Again momma I'm sorry if you feel like I disrespected you. —I'm not about to make this about anybody else but us—"

"You mean that girl?" She finally spoke interrupting me.

"This is not about her or anybody else. This is about you and me."

She laughed a little. "Kenzo, just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll agree to it. Since I'm not allowed to feel how I feel."

I sighed out of frustration because she's not even trying. "We can't work together anymore. You can't be my PR."

"So you're firing me?" She spoke candidly looking me over.

"Yes."

She shook her head. "Is that all or do you want me to move out too?"

"Ma, this is not to hurt you. I want my mother back. I want us to build something. No, I don't want you to move. Whatever I have, you have. You know that, and it will never change. Please hear what I'm trying to say to you." I pleaded.

"Kenzo, I am not my sister, and I will never be her." She shook her head, wrestling with the lump in her throat. A tear rolled down her face. I got up and rush to her side. I kneeled in front of her. This hurts.

"Ma—" I placed my hands on her knees.

"No Kenzo, I've never been enough for you or your sisters. I work my ass off and devoted so much time to your career. Your whole life you've been comparing me to my damn sister, and I'm tired of it. She's gone, she's not coming back, and I'm not her." She expressed through the tears now streaming down her face. She roughly wiped at them. I leaned up a little to help her wipe them.

"Can I hug you?" I asked as I fought back a few tears of my own.

"Yes." As soon as the word left her mouth, I pulled her down toward me, wrapping my arms around her tight.

"I'm sorry, —I know you're not Auntie. I'm sorry for making you feel like you weren't good enough. You've always been enough plus more. You're my mother, and I know how hard you work." I took a breath. "Let's start our mother-son relationship over. I want you to get to know the man I am today, not just the little boy you raised."

"We've been riding this roller coaster together, from the beginning. I will never let you go. I love you." I added while pulling away from her to look in her eyes.

"I love you too, always." She finished cleaning her face while sniffling.

"Don't look at this as me firing you. We need our mother, especially Gabbi. I want you to take some time for yourself because you deserve it. Don't worry about money. I know how independent you are. —So you won't ever have to ask. It'll just always be there in your accounts."

"I can't sit doing nothing. I need something for me." She sniffled again.

"You love what you do, why don't you take on different clients? —You're great at it, you've kept my image clean. You've gotten me out of a few jams."

She cracked a little smile.

"See ma this could work,— and from here on out we celebrate each other's birthdays. I was waiting on your call on my birthday, but I knew you were upset. —We can schedule family time and talk to each other more. I don't want Gabbi to continue growing up feeling alone."

"Ok, we can do that." She pulled a piece of string hanging from my shirt off.

"Cool." I smiled at her. "Anything else you want to talk about?"