Page 159 of Loving the Legend
“Knights fam, thanks for coming through.”
Our heads whip around to face Ussef.
“Look at the birthday boy’s drip,” I say, scanning the navy blue trouser shorts with the seams exposed around the knee and a matching cape.
A cape.
He’s shirtless, flaunting his tats, which run from his neck to his toes, and his navel and nipple piercings.
He smirks. “Drip for miles, bredrin. You know how I do.”
Word. His style is the most avant-garde of everyone in the league, right up there with Sid.
“Happy Birthday,” Kaleb says.
“Thank you, thank you!” His full lips spread into a hazy smile, crinkling his glassy eyes.
He offers his blunt to us.
“Nah, I’m good.” Weed bugs me out.
Idris takes two pulls, then passes it back. “Good lookin’.”
“Let’s head upstairs. The lounge area is chill,” Ussef says, leading the way through the crowd.
We stop to dap people along the way, and by the time Kaleb and I reach the second floor, we lose Ussef and Idris to side conversations.
I turn to Kaleb. “I’ll be right back.”
I scan the rooms, looking for Sid, but come up empty.
I try to keep my energy up despite the disappointment creeping in.
“You good?” Kaleb asks.
“Yeah, I’m straight. Was looking for someone,” I say, rubbing my neck.
“Come on. Let’s head up.”
I trail him to the third-floor lounge, where my mouth goes dry as I spot a group of Royals and their wives.
He’s here. I can sense him.
I dap a few players as I push through the crowd. My skin prickles when I hear it—his voice. I follow the sound, reversing directions and dodging a server balancing a tray of drinks.
I freeze in my steps when I spot him sitting on a couch, immersed in conversation. I take in his slim-cut, garnet checkered suit and a cream dress shirt with a wingtip collar, topped off with a crisp pocket square. Sitting to his right, Arnaz is in a three-piece, navy-blue suit, accented by a pink rose lapel and a blue and white polka dot pocket square. The fucker cleans up nicely.
I recognize Johan’s wife, Lainee, to his left.
Kaleb starts a conversation nearby with a woman who looks vaguely familiar—maybe an agent. I zone them out and glue my attention to Sid. He angles his head toward Arnaz, giving his full attention. One of Sid’s gifts is his ability to be fully present. He makes you feel like you’re the center of the world, and it’s one of the things I love about him, but right now, I hate it. Arnaz leans closer to help Lainee catch what he’s saying. When Sid turns away, Arnaz stretches his arm across the brim of the couch and turns into him slightly.
Back up, fuck face.
A few seconds later, I grin when Sid shuffles to give Arnaz space.
Good job, baby.
My breath dies in my chest when Sid laughs at Lainee’s joke, and his entire face transforms. I never understood the laws ofgravity until I experienced Sid’s laughter. Its cavernous rumble knocked me into a new orbit, where I’d gladly circle eternity, bathing in its sound and gazing into his sun-glinted eyes.
