Page 136 of Loving the Legend
The Royals call a timeout.
As I’m headed to the bench, Johan shoulder-checks me.
E-fucking-nough!I’m tired of being pushed around.
“We got business, asshole?” I sneer in his face as I square up.
“Get your bitch ass out of here,” he snarls.
I smirk. “You tight I'm wiping the floor with your team, and I just stole your crowd?”
I hit a nerve. He clenches his jaw and pushes me hard. I brace to absorb the force of the blow, but a muscular chest against my back stabilizes me.
Sid.
His arm reaches over my shoulder and grabs Johan by the jersey.
“Don’t ever fucking touch him!” He growls. His voice is low and terrifying.
“Dude! The fuck? It wasn’t—it’s not that serious,” Johan stammers, confused.
I turn my back to Johan. “Ay, ay! I got this. Let him go.”
Eyes molten with anger stare back at me. I silently plead with Sid by locking into his gaze and softening my expression. Refs and teammates from both sides surround us, trying to diffuse the altercation.
“You’re making us look like amateurs. Knock it off,” he snarls to Johan before releasing him with a sharp shove.
We separate and walk to our respective benches. I catch a few confused glances aimed in my direction.
Shit, Sid.
I could have easily handled Johan by myself. I deal with hotheads every game. I know Sid knows it, too, but he can’t help his protective nature. He’s intense about protecting his loved ones. And it’s one thing if both teams are playing rough, butJohan made it personal. He fucked around and found out that Sid hates bullies.
“Yo, Sid just stuck up for you against his boy?” Tevin asks, bewildered. His seven-foot frame towering over me.
“It’s nothing. Johan was out of pocket.” I shrug off the feeling tens of thousands of eyes are on me. I don’t owe anyone answers.
I listen to Coach run through plays, but I’m too amped to catch everything.
The Royals have possession of the ball when the game resumes.
Arnaz passes the ball to Sid without looking and then quickly cuts it to the basket, where Sid launches it back to him to complete a layup. They point to each other and grin.
Barf!
Kaleb passes me the ball, and I charge up the court. Arnaz and Sid move in to defend me too late. I get free and charge to the rim and dunk, bringing the score to 86–88. The crowd erupts.
Ooh, I think they like me!
Damn, it feels good to be in the lead.
Johan attempts a corner three but misses, but then Sid rebounds it and dunks.
Nicholas moves in to defend me, but Idris wedges his way between us to create a screen. I charge to the corner and hit a fadeaway jump shot.
Every time I release the ball, the arena goes wild.
They’re my crowd now!
