Page 94 of Impending Consent

Sailor tilted her head back, grinning. "This does not sound like the mature, level-headed man I married."

"I was seventeen and Darnell had been talking shit all season about how he was going to embarrass me in the finals."

"And you embarrassed him.”

"Yes the fuck he did," Jason confirmed. "Rival was the quietest dude on the team until you pushed him too far. Then he would show the fuck out on you and not even talk about it after."

"Interesting." Sailor lifted her eyes to me again.

"Girls loved that shit too," Jason continued and I chuckled. "This muthafucker had them lined up. You know how y’all love them silent, misunderstood men."

"I’ll have to agree. There’s something sexy about a man whose presence speaks more than his words.”

She angled her head back and let her eyes meet mine. I tightened my arm around her waist, understanding that statement had been to Jason but was for me.

“He’s a good dude though. Always looking out for people. That's why the ladies loved him, he actually gave a damn."

“Then not much has changed,” she said with a cute ass smile that had me gripping her chin and bringing my mouth to hers. I kept it quick though since we had an audience.

Jason laughed and shook his head. “Your ass is really fucking married.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Nah, it’s a good look. I respect that.”

“What about you?” I asked and he grinned.

“I’m still in my hoe phase.”

Sailor laughed. “Wait, are you two the same age?”

“We are but consider me a late bloomer.”

“Right.” She rolled her eyes and I chuckled.

"I was down here to hit the courts. You game?" Jason offered, gesturing to the courts. “Looks like they’re wrapping up. We can get in there."

I glanced at Sailor, who shrugged. "Go ahead. I want to see these hidden skills."

"Don’t get too excited. It’s been a minute and I’m damn sure beyond my days of dunking on people.”

"Just don’t get dunked on or there might be an annulment in your near future."

“Damn, it’s like that.”

She nodded.

“I have an image to uphold, Hassan.”

Twenty minutes later, I was drenched in sweat, playing a casual three on three with Jason after we picked up a third player. Sailor watched from the sidelines, occasionally cheering or heckling, depending on the play. It felt good to be back on these courts and I was thankful my muscle memory kicked in so I didn’t embarrass myself in front of my wife. I checked in after the first game and Sailor promised me she was good and didn’t mind me doing a follow up. We won both and afterwards, I stood off to the side with Jason while Sail took a phone call.

"Your wife's cool. How did that happen?"

"She hired me to build some custom pieces for her apartment. We just worked," I explained, keeping it simple. The full story was too complicated and honestly none of his business.

"And now you're married. That was a hell of a consultation."

I laughed, glancing at my wife. “Yeah, something like that.”

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