Page 30 of Out of Bounds
“When I come up with something, I will let you know.” She gave me a small smile before kissing Kree on the cheek. “Have the girls call me when they get up.”
“I will.”
Similar to the previous departures, I sat there and watched the love of my life walk away. Right when she reached the door, she stopped. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that I won’t beattending the foundation’s dinner this year. I don’t want anyone to think that you and I are still together.”
“Hold on now, Sai. That foundation isyours—my name is just on it.”
“It was never about me. I set that up for you and your legacy. I’ll find somebody to stand in for me, but I don’t think I should be there.”
I wanted to protest—hell, beg her ass to show up. The Kreed Dolla foundation was Masai’s love child. Every year, we hosted a dinner as our way of saying thank you to everyone who’d donated to our cause time after time. It was one of the biggest events we threw right before the season started, so to hear that she had no plans on showing up felt like another gut punch.
I knew my wife; therefore, I knew once she’d made her mind up, there wasn’t shit I could do to change it. This was the kind of thing I had to look forward to now that we were going in separate directions. The turmoil in my life was just beginning, and I had no one to blame but myself.
Wranglingfive kids had always been a task in itself. Kreed being around made it a lot easier. Nowadays, I was having to do it on my own, and boy, was it taking some getting used to. Last week, I’d told Kreed I would arrange for the kids to come see him at training camp and at first, I had no plans of showing up.
He’d called and talked to the kids a few times a day, so when Maddie Claire begged me to take them, I decided to put my pride to the side and show up for the kids. It took us a few hours to get dressed, but after making sure I had everything that I would need, I got everyone settled in the truck and took off for the stadium.
I didn’t tell Kreed today would be the day they would come. I wanted to surprise him with them just showing up. The only people who knew we were on the way was Koya and Jream. Since I still had access to the facility, instead of parking with the general public, I pulled my truck into the private lot.
Grabbing my phone out of the cupholder, I dialed Jream and she answered on the second ring. “Hey, Sai.”
“Hey. How is it in there?”
“It’s going good. The guys are on the field right now. Koya just walked off to talk to her dad. Are you guys here?”
“We are.”
“Yay!” she cheered. “I’m gonna come out and get you.”
“Thank you. I can use the extra hands.” After ending the call, I rested my head back and closed my eyes. I felt like I was in uncharted territory, and I couldn’t understand why. I’d visited these camps faithfully in the past. Hell, I’d made this man a training camp basket every single year.
When the girls realized that I wasn’t going all out for their father’s stay, they took it upon themselves to make the basket. Of course, I had to take them shopping for everything they needed. The day he had to report, he stopped by the house to see them, and it was then that they’d presented him with the basket.
Naturally, he thanked me for allowing them to do it, but I explained to him that it was their idea and I wasn’t trying to make anything between him and his kids hard. The goal was to minimize the separation as much as possible.
“Mommy…” Aurora called out, forcing me to turn in my seat.
“Yes, baby.”
“There’s Auntie Jream.” She pointed.
Hitting the button to unlock the door, I undid my seat belt and hopped out of the driver’s seat. “You look cute.”
“Thank you, boo.” She smiled. “ I wanted to show my man that I was still his number one fan.”
“I heard that.” I chuckled.
“How are you? I know this is a lot, but you’re doing a good thing, Sai.”
“I’m okay,” I lied. I was anything but okay.
There were several media outlets at training camp. Everyone had been trying to figure out what was going on in my marriage. Kreed and I had both tried to keep things under wraps, but I knew it wouldn’t be too long before it was out there for theworld to know, especially since I was the president of the WAGS Association and had missed a few meetings. Thank God Koya had stepped in on my behalf because I wouldn’t dare sit in a room with half of those hoes and air out my business.
“You’re lying.” Jream giggled and tossed her arms around me. “I love you, Sai.”
“I love you more, Jream.”
“It’ll be okay.”
