Page 2 of Don't Let Go

“I can’t believe him!” I punched my locker.

“We won. Why you so wound up?” Brandon asked, hitting me on the back.

I rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen the tension, but it continued to build. “Just my old man,” I grumbled, grabbing a clean white towel from the pile on the bench.

Malik snapped his towel in my direction. “If your dad doesn’t show up to a game, you bitch. If your dad does show up to a game, you bitch. I’m thinking you’re just a little bitch.”

“At least I have hand-eye coordination.” I gestured to his bloodstained face. “Unlike you.”

Leo shoulder-checked Malik and sat on the bench to change shoes. “Lay off. You don’t understand Ty’s beef with his dad.”

“Awe.” Malik pouted, mocking me. “Your daddy’s a senator. You get everything you want. Hell, you have a Rolls-Royce, and you still complain! I’m sick of you—”

Leo abandoned tying his other shoe to stand between Malik and me. “Shut up, man. Seriously. You know Ty has a lot going on with his mother passing last year. Drop it.”

Anger bit into my veins. I hated when someone felt the need to defend me, especially when they brought up my mom. That felt like a cheap cop-out.

Quincy tossed my red shirt at me. “Dude, get dressed and let’s bounce.” He had ice taped around his torso, which explained why he wasn’t here to defuse this argument sooner. He usually kept me out of fights. “Where’s your head at? You with me?”

I took a deep breath through my nose and let it out of my mouth. “Yeah. I’m with ya.” I shrugged out of my jersey and changed into my T-shirt and jeans.

Malik stood in our way as we moved to leave. “You comin’ to the party tonight?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I cracked my knuckles. Malik was a large guy who liked to intimidate people with his size. I, however, knew how to use others’ strengths against them.

Quincy shoved me past Malik. “I told you to chill, dammit.”

I wasn’t sure if he was talking to Malik or me. Most likely, both of us.

“Are you sure you’re up for it?” Quincy gave me a once-over.

I pounded my chest like Tarzan. “I’m solid steel. I’m good.”

He stared at me, unsure if he should believe me. “Okay, Superman. Whatever you say.”

We walked down the hall and through the exit door.

“That was a hell of a last play. That shot was one for the record books.”

I pretended to slam dunk. “Right? I wish the scouts were here tonight. That would’ve been a move they’d remember.”

Iris and Jessica waved at us from across the parking lot. I leaned against my car and encircled my hands around Iris’s waist when she came over to kiss me. She had large brown eyes, perfect olive skin, and her hair was braided with a splash of purple at the end.

“My champion,” she said, kissing me again.

“My queen.” I ran my finger along her collarbone. I had a surprise for her tonight: a pink diamond kitty necklace. She eyed it online the other day, and I had to buy it for my girl.

Jessica wrapped her arms around Quincy before jumping back in surprise. “Babe, you’re cold.”

Quincy chuckled, eighty-sixing the ice and tossing it in a nearby trash can. “Sorry. I forgot about that.”

Jessica brushed her hand where it was. “Did you get injured?”

“Nah. Just bruised a little.”

Iris looked up at me, and her brown eyes sparkled under the streetlight. “Did you get hurt?”

I shook my head. “I’m tough. Nothing can touch me.”

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