"Why you bringin' me out here?" I asked Karmen as she pulled me outside. She turned around to look at me with somewhat a smile on her face. She bit the inside of her mouth signaling that she was nervous. I downed the rest of my drink, throwing the bottle in the bushes and leaning against the house.

"Well.. I have a confession." She looked up at me.

I shrugged my shoulders lightly. "Spit it out."

She sighed a little before moving her hair behind her ears. "I enjoy being around you... a lot. Even though we've only known each other for a few days.." She said, looking up with her big brown eyes. I looked at her motioning for her to continue. "I'm very attracted to you..physically and sexually."

I ran my hands along my beard, laughing a little. "You brought me out here to tell me you attracted to me?"

Playfully she rolled her eyes. "No. I want to ask you something, but I'm not sure if you will judge me or not. You know.. since I'm a girl. I know how guys think."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who am I to judge you? All I can do is respect you for your honesty which would most definitely be appreciated ya heard me? We're.. grown enough to express what we want, right? So, say what you gotta say."

She nodded her head, agreeing with what I said and bit her lip. "Okkkk.." She moved closer, slyly placing her hands under my shirt. "I want you... Nothing serious or monogamous. Just us chillin, no strings attached." She looked at me with me looking back at her, shocked. She let out a small laugh. "Don't look so frightened."

I laughed a little at the fact that she thought I was frightened. It was her who should be frightened asking me to do this type of arrangement. I was just shocked because I'd never experienced a girl who asked for casual sex. It was new for me. Maybe it was a northern thing.

"Do you know what you asking for? Drunk or nah?" I lifted my eyebrow up at her.

She shook her head. "Very sober. And yes I'm very aware of what I'm asking. I don't want a relationship, at least not right now. I just want some casual...consistent sex."

I observed her for a minute to see if she was really serious and it appeared that she was. Before I agreed, I needed to know some basic facts because we hadn't discussed this. "How old are you?"

She covered her face in embarrassment and giggled. "I forgot that we haven't really had that conversation. But, I'm Karmen Baker and I'm a twenty year old sophomore who attends the prestigious Howard University." She looked at me expecting more questions. Honestly, all I needed to hear that she was twenty years old. I didn't need a record or anything because girls will be twelve looking twenty-one.

"Okay.. Are you sure this is what you want? Be careful for what you ask for now." She giggled, but I was serious. Casual sex could easily turn into something more. I didn't need her expecting me to fall in love with her because she ended up developing feelings.

"I'm sure Khari. One hundred percent." She replied confidently.

"Aight."

"Good! Plus, you need to channel those frustrations elsewhere besides the court." She winked at me before placing a kiss on my lips. "I have to get going.. Behave yourself.." She giggled as she slowly pulled away and walked to her car. I had to admit that I liked her confidence. She was a cool girl who knew what she wanted.

It had been a while since I been out the game, but the sun looked to be shining after that encounter. The door opened causing me to look back. Danielle was standing there smirking at me. "Lipstick on your lips. Hm, too fast for me." She cooed as she looked at me then glanced at Karmen.

"Shut up." I said, wiping the lipstick off and mushing her head. We walked back into the party and I noticed that Tyrese was here. He nodded his head at me. "Wassup bro?" He yelled. I nodded back and went over to shake hands with him. He was talking with Malia who seemed mentally elsewhere. "Where's Randy?" I asked Malia.

She pointed in his direction and he was getting wasted with Elgin. Kaleigh looked at him with so much disgust making me scrunching up my eyebrows in confusion. I wondered what did I miss. I looked to see Danielle rolling her eyes at the two. I walked over to where they were to see what was up.

"Khari! My man!" Randy yelled very loudly with his horrible breath. "Take a beer man!" He said handing me one as he leaned on me for support. I reached for his, but he snatched it away. "Get ya own playa."

"I'm tryna save you from Danielle woe!" I said to him. He looked at me with so much confusion. I'm pretty sure he didn't even know who Danielle was at the moment. "Yo girl man." I pointed in the direction of Danielle who was laughing and kekeing with my teammate Bumpy, who was a white boy.

"Aye man don't worry about my mans. He good." Elgin blurred.

"Aye.. I wasn't talkin' to you. I'm talkin' to Randy." I glared at him.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I really don't care who you talkin' to.. I'm just giving my opinion." He threw his arms around Randy as they barely stood on two feet. "These hoes for everybody. My mans need to live his life anyway instead of being tied down to a leech.."

"Watch ya mouf." I stepped closer to him.

"Y'all needa chill. Especially you man." Randy said, looking at me. "Every since you been here, you been fightin' and shit. Just chill." My eyes looked from Elgin to him. I couldn't have been hearing him correctly. It had to be the liquor talking.

"You're just going to let him disrespect me?" Danielle appeared from behind me to move in front of me. She got into Randy's face who seemed to not have a care in the world. A drunk Randy was always a different Randy, but it didn't make it right. I thought he knew his limit by now.

"It's true. You are a leech. You don't even give my mans here breathing room." Elgin continued. I really wanted to punch his ass, but Danielle was really in my way.

Danielle folded her arms, never taking her eyes off of Randy. You could see tears forming in her eyes. Danielle rarely had a soft spot. But, Randy was a different story. Randy was able to get behind that steel wall of hers, somehow. Someway. "Is that how you feel?" She asked him.

When he didn't say anything, she let out a non-humorous laugh and slapped him. "Fine. You don't have to worry about this leech from now on Randy. I'm sure Elgin will do everything that I did for you." Kaleigh came over to get her away from Randy and out the door. Before she left, Kaleigh pulled a ring off her finger throwing it to Elgin.

"I got a new bitch anyway." He mumbled. I looked at him then Randy before shaking my head. I walked away from them to leave. "Me and you shall meet again though brother." He yelled.

Before I could reply to his threat, I could feel someone's hands grasp mine. "Khari, no. Let's go." Malia said forcefully before pulling me out of the party. As she led me to her car, my eyes couldn't help but to look at her ass. It wasn't too big or too small. It was just right if you ask me. Her soft hands against mine kind of cooled me down. I could hear someone sniffling making me snap out of my thoughts.

I saw Danielle crying in the back of the car so I motioned for Kaleigh to sit in the back. I let go of Malia's hand and climbed into the back. "Hey man.. Chill out with the crying. I ain't used to this shit." I said trying my best to console her. Once again, I wasn't good with this shit. However, this was Danielle. I had to at least try.

Malia and Kaleigh got in the car and we pulled off. Danielle's cries didn't subside so I pulled her into my arms. She didn't object, she only laid her head on my chest. "You know Randy man.. He can't hold his shit and he talk a little crazy. That was just that bitch nigga pumpin' his head."

Malia looked at me through the mirror briefly before focusing back on the road. As Danielle's cries died down, I just rubbed her back. Tonight was supposed to be a fun one. However, it seemed shit always go bad with me around.

~

"Yeah, I'm glad I did ask you to do this." Karmen laughed as she pulled the covers over her body. I chuckled, shaking my head at her as I begin to get dressed.

I needed to get home so I could shower and sleep. After the party, I made sure Danielle was straight before Malia dropped me off. She acted so differently towards me from when we first arrived at the party. Then before I got comfortable, Karmen hit me up.

I reached down to grab my pants, taking my phone and checking for any missed calls or texts as I slid them on. I scrolled to see Randy's name more than once. I wasn't up to talk to him right now so I shot a text to Danielle to check on her.

You good?

Danielle: I'm..better. Thank you for everything. Love you.

Love you too.

I slid the phone in my pocket before throwing on my shirt. "Did you need a ride?" She looked up from her phone at me. I shook my head no. I needed the exercise. Plus, I needed some solitary. Being around all those people had drained me. I needed to recharge.

Placing my hat on my head, I gave her head nod and proceeded our her apartment. The casual sex thing could get awkward as fuck. You not with the person so it's like thanks for the sex.

I was glad that it had warmed up. It wasn't as cold as it had been the last few days. The sun was out, but it couldn't match the winter's wrath. A few homeless bystanders stopped me along the way asking me for spare change. I had a few on me, but I wouldn't dare support their addictions. I'd offer to buy them food, but they refused so I didn't bother. I took a seat on the bench in front of a clothing store, just looking at my surroundings.

Although I missed New Orleans, I wasn't sure if I would go back. Surrounded by the drug addicts, gang violence, and things like that, my mom sheltered me away from that. Being a Woman of God, she wasn't for that. My grades were up to par. We wasn't rich, but we made it. I didn't know the struggle, but I think if I'd stayed, I'd be dead. Looking up, I noticed a woman and a little boy walking towards the store. I could hear their conversation because the boy was so loud.

"Come on Mommy! You're too slow!" He yelled.

She'd only chuckle at him, but didn't increase her speed. Her face was youthful, but you could tell that she had a little stress on her face. I figured that she was a single mom. I commended these type of women because this is probably the hardest job in America. A single, black mom raising a black kid or kids.

"I'm coming Damien." She smiled.

Although he was impatient, he waited for his mother to cross the street. Tapping his hands on his jeans, he glanced all around In his back pocket was a toy gun. I could tell that the young blood didn't play about his mama. I smiled at the fact that he reminded me of me. Once she made it to him, he instantly locked his hands with hers, continuing their conversation.

"Like I was saying mommy, you need a man. A good one."

She stopped im her tracks with a flush of embrassment on her face. I could only laugh at the little man. She looked at me to apologize with her face. There was no reason to.

"You're my man Damien." She said as they walked into the store.

He shook his head. "I'm only nine mom! I can't protect you."

"I feel protected when I'm with you, Damien."

I looked at the growing smile that was forming on his face. "Really??"

She beamed down at him. "Yes."

Satisfied with her answer, he turned around and spotted me sitting on the bench. His eyebrow lifted, curiously. Before his mother could go into the retail store, he tugged her dress causing her to stop. He attention shifted back towards me.

"You need some money?"

I cocked my head to the side, shaking my head. "Nah little man."

I mentally laughed as he patted his pockets. He looked serious as if he just reloaded on some money. After about a minute, he took a dollar out and handed it to me. "It's all I got."

"Damien, he said he doesn't need any. I'm happy you're trying to do a good deed, but put it back into your pocket." She instructed.

He only shrugged, doing as she told him to do. I reached in my pocket, grabbing my wallet. Taking out a ten dollar bill, I handed it to him. His eyes lit up. He clearly wasn't expecting that.

"Here, take it." I nudged.

He looked back up at his mother for permission. She nodded making him look back at me and take the ten dollar bill. He observed it like it was foreign to him.

"Woah." He gasped. "Ten dollars, all for me."

"What do you say?" She asked.

"Thank you!" He exclaimed.

"No problem, just keep taking care of your mom and good things will happen. Ok?"

He nodded his head quickly. I held up my hand and he gave me a high five. "My name is Khari. It's nice to meet you Damien."

"Nice to meet you too, Kha-ri."

"Thank you." His mother smiled warmly at me, grabbing his hand and leading him into the store.

He glanced back at me a couple of times before giving his mother his full attention. Getting up, I continued walking towards my apartment. My mind circled back to my mom and when I was little. The ache in my heart reappeared. I wish I'd only taken my own advice and protected my mother.

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