Page 48 of A Player's Prayer
The sleek, lightweight shoe, made with premium leather and breathable mesh, was my best design yet. The shoe was the complete opposite of what I’ve released before, and it was a true testament that I was now a changed man. Multicolored in neutral tones with lots of green, purple, and black, I had small hearts strategically hollowed into the leather while the mesh lay in a crisscross pattern. I wanted this shoe to resonate with everyone, so I kept the pink and red to a minimum. Even though hearts aligned with women more, I wanted men to be confident in rocking the shoe too. To help achieve that, I added a firm EVA sole and included six different colored shoestrings with each pair. The tongue could be worn laced or folded down, and when I saw that the prototype’s shoe tongue folded into a heart, I was geeked about my vision coming to life.
“I definitely have to get a pair of these.” She smiled as she handed it back to me. “The material is so light, and it feels incredible. Plus, you know green and black are my favoritecolors.” She turned and gave her attention to the head of operations. “If you don’t mind me asking, do you guys have a name for them yet?”
“Yes, ma’am, we do.” He disappeared behind his desk and handed her a black and gold package. “This is for you.”
Suspiciously, she glanced over her shoulder and eyed me before she accepted. Leaning against the table, I placed my hands in my shorts and watched my beautiful baby’s eyes light up and water as she unwrapped the shoe that was made with her in mind.
“Kodi Love 7…” she said above a whisper as she wiped the tears from her face. “You named a shoe after me?”
“I would name the universe after you.” I opened my arms and accepted her embrace. “I love you more than you’ll ever know, Kodi.” I wiped another tear before I placed a kiss on her soft lips. “You familiar with Flash McKnight? Star running back with the Reapers?” She nodded her head enthusiastically. “He fucks with the shoe so tough that he and his team are debuting it during their season opener in France. Not only that, but I’m under contract to supply them with cleats for the entire season.”
Jumping into my arms, she hugged and kissed all over me, causing the men in the room to clap and cheer. When I contacted Flash about doing me a solid and showcasing the shoe, he was more than willing to do it. The day he received his pair, he and damn near all his teammates were hype because of how fire they were. After setting up a meeting with players and management, we worked out a deal for me to be the official shoe sponsor for the season. The Kodi Love 7s are going to be a hit everywhere.
Gripping my arm with one hand and her shoe bag with the other, Kodi continued to smile and tune in while we toured the facility. She was so invested in the process that she damn near took things over for me. Francisco and the team were more than happy to answer anything she asked. I was more than happy thatI didn’t have to pull out my coin over niggas disrespecting my girl. They were just as enthralled with Kodi’s beauty and aura as I was, but no one working for me was a dumbass, so everyone was keeping it G-rated with all comments and remarks. After three hours of walking and talking logistics, everything was finalized, and we were on our way.
“Did I tell you how pretty you look today?” I ran my finger down her cheek as we toured a small village in Lagos. The weather here was so beautiful, and there was no way she would want to stay indoors and fuck. That was fine because I didn’t have an issue with digging in her guts outside. “You out here looking like one of those princesses I watch in the movies with Gi Baby.”
She wanted to fit in with the aesthetic of the culture, so she was wearing the most beautiful, flowered green and yellow sundress that made it look as if she were floating with each step she took. The single flower that was tucked behind her ear was so cute to me. She even had me out here looking like an old-ass uncle with the matching shirt, linen shorts, and sandals.
“You lookprettyyourself, out here matching my fly. Stop!” I playfully placed her in a headlock, causing bystanders to laugh and stare. “Don’t make me beat your ass out here.”
“Nah, the gloves are up… Remember?” I chuckled at her face scrunching up when I let her go. “Come here.”
The day she pulled up in the hood and beat those girls’ asses, I called and demanded she end her day with Amelia and meet me at her house. Before she could close her front door, her shorts were dangling around her ankles while her pussy was in my mouth. After fucking her well into the night, I sat her down and told her that what happened was the last time she would be lifting a finger to anyone. If she had a problem with anyone—bitches included—to let her man know, and that I had her from here on out. If a soft life is what she wanted to live, I had no issuemaking that happen for her. I preferred it because I wanted to love and spoil her for the rest of my life.
Pulling her to me, I held her in the middle of the street and kissed her with everything I had in me. I was so in love with Kodi that a nigga wanted to jump up and down, screaming it to the world for all to hear.
“Excuse me, Miss…” We were pulled away as two cute little girls came over and tugged on her dress. “You’re so pretty.” One of them smiled at Kodi, showing nothing but gums. In true Dakota fashion, she smiled back. “Will you play hopscotch with us?”
Not giving my girl a chance to answer, they pulled her further into the street, and I followed while chuckling at how innocent my view was. Standing back, I watched her dance, sing, and play with the small group of children as if she’d known them for years. The natives cheered them on as they clapped and sang songs in Portuguese. Kodi was so happy as she played with them, and my insides warmed seeing her so carefree.
To the strangers, I know I looked odd, towering over them, arms crossed, and in a daze. Staring at Kodi, my smile faltered as visions of forever flashed before me. I could see the big house on the hill, the matching cars, and playful puppies. Most importantly, I saw a life that we could create. I saw little girls who looked just like her, and sons who didn’t play about their sisters and mother just as their father didn’t. For the first time in my life, I thought about a family.
And I wanted it. I was now craving the unconditional love we already shared to never end.
But I didn’t deserve the shit. I’d played my role as a villain well when it came to these hoes. I never anticipated this happening to me. Adrian Mills being in love was not on any of my fucking cards. I knew there was a God because I was blessed. Life for me came with fewer complications than it did for thenormal black man. But this situation had me feeling like this shit was a setup, and right when I relinquished myself to my current thoughts, I was going to feel some shit like never before. So, now, I was afraid again, just like when my feelings for Kodi first hit me. I didn’t want to speak my peace and be rejected. I didn’t want to be all in, till death do us part, and the love of my life die. I didn’t want to make a heap of promises and not be able to live up to them.
Closing my eyes for only a moment, I did what any nigga in my shoes would do. I dug into my pants pocket and grabbed some gummy snacks. Popping two in my mouth, I rolled my neck and shoulders to try to relax. I couldn’t cop no Mary Jane over here because getting locked up for weed in a foreign country was not the move. Francisco, however, slid me a bag of edible gummy roosters before we left the factory and offices.
“Aye, Big Man… I don’t deserve this woman, but if you can send a fuck nigga some act right, that would be phenomenal. ’Cause if I can’t have her, and she can’t have me… these people on the Earth plane gone feel it, you feel me? I’m done with the wild shit, but I’m keeping the coin just in case. I’m done with the hoes too. I’ll actually start praying for them to figure out a way to rehabilitate their coochies, God. I just want my girl, some fat babies, and maybe a dog or two. I just want my sins to be mine, and for Kodi to not suffer because of my past actions. So… you got me? This is a player’s prayer, man. Send a sign or something ’cause you know your child ain’t wrapped too tight.”
Opening my eyes, I found Kodi staring directly at me as she braided a little girl’s hair. Behind her was a halo-like sunset in the sky, and in the distance was a cloud that looked like the infinity symbol. God had sent the signs immediately, so it was immediate that I make my move.
It was time for Kodi to be mine, officially. Starting here—starting now.
“Kodi…” I didn’t realize I’d walked over to her until I pulled her from the girls playing beauty parlor. Smiling, she breathed heavily and peered at me with nothing but love in her eyes. Dropping to my knees, I held her hand in mine as she covered her mouth and gasped. The crowd around fell silent as they all stopped and stared. “Marry me.”
“Adrian…” she whispered, tears in her eyes. “What are you doing?”
“You came into my life and gave me something I didn’t know I wanted—something I need, at this point. The way you love me is something I’ve never felt before. The way I feel for you is something I know I’ll never feel for anyone else. I want to build a life with you. I want to grow old with you. I want to protect you with my life. As long as we both live, my sole purpose in life will be to make you happy—I gotta see you smiling, Kodi. My forever begins and ends with you, baby. Marry me.”
As she peered down at me, trying her hardest to hold the waterworks at bay, my heart felt as if it was going to jump out of my chest. I didn’t have a ring, and I was asking on impulse, but it felt right. God showed me it was right. Being here with her, in this moment, let me know she was exactly who and what I thought she was. And if Big Man came through, I would continue learning and growing to be the man she needed.
“Yes.” She smiled, crying harder than I’d ever seen her cry. “I will marry you.”
With tears in my own eyes, I cheesed hard as fuck as I jumped to my feet with her in my arms. I swung her around in circles and kissed her passionately as the crowd cheered and sang a song that didn’t make a lick of sense to me. There wasn’t a soul on this earth that could take away the joy I was feeling.
“Are you sure you want this?” She threw her arms around my neck, staring at me. “Forever is a long time to get these hands, Adrian.”
