Page 21 of Love Me Now: Adrian & Kwamé
While I waited for the tub to fill, I checked my phone. The last thing I had time for today was my phone. I was perturbed to see a missed call, then a text from DeAnna Humphries.
Dr. Humphries:Call me when you have a chance.
It was a simple message, but I wasn’t too excited to see my interim replacement’s call or message. Checking the time of her call, it was hours ago while I was still at the baby shower. Now, it was late, and I was too exhausted to discuss business.
I replied to my mother’s text message, turned my phone screen off, then climbed into the tub. I’d reluctantly deal with business tomorrow.
Irolledoveratthe sound of my phone ringing. Ari’s baby shower wore me out yesterday, and after cuddling up with Adrian, I didn’t remember falling asleep. The renewed energy I felt quickly dissipated after seeing the number on the phone screen.
“Hello?” Concerned, I answered Dr. Lewis’s call. The director of the NBA’s health and wellness department wasn’t calling unless there was a major issue.
“Hey, Kwamé,” she replied. The defeat in her tone caused me to sit up.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her.
She sighed heavily. “Hell no. I need you back.”
My heart dropped. I wasn’t ready to leave the farm. “What? Why?”
“DeAnna was attacked early this morning. It’s not looking good.”
Fully alert, I gasped in shock. DeAnna had texted me yesterday, and I was too exhausted to call her back. “What thehell happened?” I sat on the edge of the bed and steadied myself. My heart was racing a mile a minute.
“All I know is that the police are investigating it as a robbery.” Her voice broke. “They beat her so badly.”
I understood Dr. Lewis’s emotions getting the best of her. Dr. Lewis had known DeAnna for years and treated her like a little sister. My eyes misted over, thinking about how terrible she must’ve felt.
“An announcement is going out later this evening. We need to have you ready to go when that happens.”
Gulping past the clog of unpreparedness, I said, “Okay.
“The last client she saw the evening before was Damon Brooks.”
My heart stopped. “Who?”
“Damon Brooks,” Dr. Lewis repeated as if she couldn’t feel all the blood draining from my body. “He’s one of the few people who know, and he’s taking it really hard. He’s already requested to see you as soon as possible.”
“Wait—”
“He’s expecting to see you right after the game tonight. Your seats are reserved, and a car will be waiting for you.”
Things were moving so quickly, my head spun. “I don’t need the car. And I’ll skip out on the game.”
“No, you can’t. You need to be courtside just in case anything happens mid-game. Emotions are high right now.”
Reluctantly, I mumbled, “I’ll be there.”
After hanging up with Dr. Lewis, I sat on the side of the bed, hung my head, and shed a few tears. I wasn’t ready to leave this little life I’d created in the little time I’d been back at the farm. I wanted the rest of the time I had with Adrian to spend just with him, no work included.
“What’s wrong?”
Adrian entered the room wearing a frown on his face.
Sighing heavily, I stood from the bed, wiped my tears and said, “I’ve been called back to work.” I gave him the information I knew.
“Aight, let’s pack and we can go,” he stated.
“We?” I questioned.
