Because the Chicago Sky might close out the WNBA championship today against the Phoneix Mercury and I'm hyped here you go! If the Sky win I'll drop another chapter tonight! Happy reading!
Even though the season in Rome had gone much better and Tris wasn't as lonely with Nita there, she still was so happy to be home. She missed her friends and family. There never seemed to be enough time to relax but she planned to make the most of her two weeks before she needed to report to training camp in Chicago.
Tris flies from Rome to Atlanta for Christina's graduation from UGA, staying two nights with Marlene and Caleb so she could spend time with her nephew Kai while in town for the graduation.
"Oh my God, what are you feeding him," Tris huffs as she picks up her nephew from Marlene's lap when she and Caleb walk through the door of their house. Kai was so handsome, he had hazel eyes like Tris and Caleb and pecan tan skin like them as well. Other than that he looked more like Marlene.
"His little greedy butt is always eating" Marlene laughs as she gets up to hug Tris.
"Hey there, Auntie Tris missed you, you got so big" Tris coos in her baby voice as Kai's eyes light up and he laughs as Tris kisses his cheeks.
"I think you might be let down, we might have a future football player on our hands instead of a basketball player" Caleb laughs as he pulls Tris's luggage in the door.
He and Marlene had found a great house in Atlanta as soon as they found out they were expecting. Kai was 8 months old now full of energy. He was so small before Tris left for Italy. Even with Facetiming Caleb every week and Marlene sending tons of pictures and video, it wasn't like seeing and hugging him in person.
"He can be whatever he wants to be, I was actually hoping we might have another accountant in the family, Daddy would love it" Tris coos as she bounces him in her arms.
"Ha, You're right" Caleb laughs out.
Zeke and Shauna come over for dinner that night. Tris has fun catching up with them. Zeke had a few things to go over with her but he was going to head to Chicago after her break to discuss her new contract options. She could tell Zeke was happy and she wondered when he was going to propose to Shauna. It was clear Shauna had baby fever by the way she was holding Kai.
Marlene and Caleb were planning a trip to Chicago over the summer with the rest of Tris's family and Christina would be moving in with Uriah so she was good with only a few days with everyone before heading to Charlotte for the rest of her break.
The next day everyone makes the short drive to Athens to cheer as Christina walks across the stage as she receives her Master's degree in Sports Medicine. Uriah has a graduation party thrown for her in Atlanta that evening. He couldn't be there because of the first round of the NBA playoffs so he pulled out all the stops, having recorded a video to play at the party. Lynn and Kima were able to make it which made it extra special.
"You have no idea how excited I am that we get to spend the summer together," Tris says while she and Christina steal a few quiet moments at the party.
"I know! I'm so excited to get settled. I'm glad you're there since it's looking like Uriah might be going deep into the playoffs. I can't believe I landed this job but it's all thanks to Coach."
"I'm really happy for you and Uri too. All this time and you two have made it work long-distance"
Christina smiles finally all the things she wanted were coming together. Tori had put Christina in touch with her brother who owned his own sports performance management company. He worked with professional athletes on strength training, conditioning, but his specialty was basketball. Uriah had worked with him during the previous off-season so did several of Tris's teammates on the Sky. He had just started working with the Chicago Bears and needed someone to help out with the increased load of clients so it was perfect timing for Christina.
"So what's up with you and Nita?" Christina asks curiously.
She had been shocked when Tris revealed she and Nita were more or less together. No one had seen that one coming. She knew Tris was lonely, she was overseas half the year alone with no family or friends in a place where she couldn't speak the language or had little to relate to culturally.
Tris sighed. Tris had finally broken down and told Christina everything after her conversation with Lynn. Caleb, Christina, Uriah, Marlene, and Zeke had all known about her low-key relationship the last few months.
"Zeke 2.0" Tris replies sounding a bit deflated as she draws out the 2.0 and looks at the ground. How was she ever going to have a successful relationship ever again if she couldn't move on from Tobias? She wondered if he couldn't get over her choosing not to go with him that day and that's why he just wanted to be friends. She had come to terms with her decision, knowing it was the best for her. She hated that at the time he couldn't see what he asked of her was unfair to her, she wondered if he would be able to put that behind him.
"So what are you going to do?" Christina knew Tris wasn't serious about Nita and Uriah had been pushing Tobias about Nicole. Christina hated her the one time she met her in Charlotte when she drove to see Uriah play the Hornets. She had done a deep dive on her social media with Marlene. She looked liked nothing more than an opportunist who went after professional athletes.
"I don't know. I still love him, that was never the problem, I just don't know if that's enough for him. I have to figure out something next week, get him to talk to me." she admits. She really didn't know. She knows now how she feels about Tobias but that is the only thing she is sure of.
Christina pulls her into a hug. It had taken it so long for Tris to admit that she was still in love with him. Uriah and Christina had discussed at length that Tobias was definitely still in love with Tris. The problem was neither Tris nor Tobias wanted to make a move toward each other.
Christina worried what would happen if Tobias wasn't ready to make the same admission Tris just had. One thing was for sure, something needed to happen before Nicole got her hooks in him too deep.
Tobias laughs as Fernando and Hector gleefully play NBA 2K on the PS 5 in his condo. Hector was 10 now and starting to see that their father wasn't all he was cracked up to be. Fernando was 19 and was a freshman at UNC Charlotte. One of the good things about his injury he had been able to spend more time with his brothers. Myra had been so grateful for Tobias taking a more active role with them. On weekends like this, they would hang out, eat pizza and play games. The boys loved it.
"Okay I'm out, have fun" Nicole calls as she fastens her earring before she throws her Gucci bag over her shoulder.
"Are you coming back for dinner?" Tobias asks with his eyebrows furrowed as he gets up to walk over to her. He noticed her outfit, skin-tight dress with her YSL heels, and it was clear she was going out to a club. He couldn't for the life of him understand why she felt the need to go out every weekend just to be seen when he just wanted to be lowkey and chill especially since his injury. "I was hoping we could spend some time and go out to dinner with Hector and Fernando"
"Ugh, that's not my thing and you know it, you'll be fine, besides, Tina has us on the list to be at this new club opening…."
She knew those brats didn't like her just as much as she didn't like them. She had a plan and she needed to get in these last few appearances while she could still fit her clothes. She didn't want to spring her news on Tobias just yet. She was annoyed that she had to take this route since he was injured but it was going to secure her future bag. He hadn't noticed that she was actually tossing her birth control pill down the drain every morning instead of swallowing it. She had started to get alarmed when he didn't seem concerned about pushing himself to get back by the end of the season. Hopefully, her plan would make him realize securing a contract extension was what he needed and therefore solidifying her future as well.
"You just went out with them last night…" Tobias complains.
"T. don't pout, it's not a good look, order the kids some pizza, or take them out yourself" Nicole waves of with an eye roll as she grabs the keys to her Mercedes.
Tobias clenches his jaw as she walks out the door. This had been happening more and more since he got injured and he was over it.
"Why do you like her?" Hector asks curiously. It was no secret Nicole wasn't their favorite person and she usually made some excuse to avoid sticking around when Tobias was with his brothers or his mother.
"Because she's hot" Fernando replies as if it's the most obvious thing in the world while not looking up from the video game.
"Ummm that's not the only reason" Tobias defends.
"She's not very nice" Hector observes.
"She can be, sometimes" Tobias tries to keep from groaning, first Uriah, then his mother, and now his little brother pointing out Nicole's flaws.
"Is it true Tris Prior used to be your girlfriend?" Hector asks, the game seemingly forgotten as he looks over at Tobias.
Fernando snorts with laughter putting his controller down.
"Ummm Yeah, but that was a long time ago. We grew up next door to each other." Tobias responds wondering where this was coming from.
"Hector has a thing for her. He has her posters all over his wall in his bedroom," Fernando teases.
"She's so pretty and she the best ballplayer in the WNBA. Did you know she has the most points ever scored by any player from Dauntless University and she won Rookie of the Year too? I'm going to marry her if she can wait until I turn 18. " He says with a big grin.
"You've done your homework. But, wow, marry her? That's serious Hec, I might need to ask her how she feels about younger guys" Tobias chuckles.
"Could you introduce me to her?" Hector asks excitedly.
"Yeah she's hot and she can ball. Hec might fall all over himself if he meets her," Fernando cosigns.
"Yes, she is very beautiful and down to earth. And yes she can ball. We would play every single day when we were kids if it wasn't raining" Tobias almost gets lost in his thoughts about Tris. He missed how down to earth she was sometimes. How they could just chill out like this or go shoot around.
"Do you think she would be okay with marrying me since I'm your brother? I wouldn't want it to be weird or anything," Hector asks as Fernando snickers. Hector was anything if determined.
Tobias chuckles again. "I'll ask her the next time I talk to her"
He knew her season was over in Rome, he couldn't stop himself from still keeping up with her stats. They go back to playing the game but Tobias wonders when would be the next time he would talk to Tris. She did call him after his injury, maybe he should call her now that she was back in the States for the summer.
Nicole tossed her hair back and crossed her legs as she and her girls enjoyed the vibe of the newest club in downtown Charlotte. There was plenty of press and Nicole's IG was already blowing up from the pictures she posted. She really wanted to get on a larger scene in a bigger city. Miami or Atlanta were her top choices since she was now going to be set thanks to her relationship with Tobias.
"He as no idea?" Tina presses as she sips her tequila sunrise as she Jasmine and Nicole sit in the VIP lounge of the event they were attending.
"No clue," Nicoles says with an eye roll as she sets down her club soda. She was going to miss drinking but this was a necessary sacrifice.
"I can't believe you went through with getting pregnant, I thought you were done with him" Jasmine comments.
"I mean I'm starting to really like him, it's not so bad" Nicole shrugs. 'And he has potential, especially with who his father is. Messing up his knee was an unexpected set back"
"Do you even want a kid?" Jasmine probes. Nicole was as high maintenance as they came. She couldn't see her friend ever changing a dirty diaper or even breastfeeding.
"That's what nannies are for" Nicole replies with an evil smirk. "I might have to make a quick trip to the Dominican Republic after though, make sure I tighten this body back up after I push the kid out"
"You are sick you know that, I don't know where the fuck you come up with this shit," Tina says with a shake of her head. She had no idea Nicole would really go to these lengths to ensure that she was able to keep up her lavish lifestyle as a kept woman.
"He has been on edge the past month, I just need to get the ring on my finger and I'm good. I can make sure we have a quick wedding. Once he finds out he's about to be a daddy and realizes he has no plan, he'll work on getting a contract extension. Even though I'm sure his mother will have plenty to say"
Jasmine and Tina snicker which causes Nicole to roll her eyes again.
"What about the ex-girlfriend? Are you still worried about her?"
"The basketball player? No, she's overseas he's not thinking about her" Nicole says confidently with a wave of her hand.
She had been concerned about his ex-girlfriend at first. His mother still had pictures of them together in her home, his friends all talked about her. It made Nicole work a little harder in the beginning but she soon realized after doing a little digging about how they broke up Tris Prior wasn't a factor.
"Famous last words," Tina says under her breath so only Jasmine could hear.
"I have to give it to you," Tina says a little louder this time. " You are genius the way you set all this up.
Nicole smirks "A girl's gotta do what a girl gotta do"
Once Tobias was tied up in child support payments, she could move on to bigger fish in the sea.
Nicole saunters into the bedroom from the walk-in closet in just her lacy bra and panties. She had noticed how moody Tobias had been about her going out that evening so she decides she needed to up the anty that evening.
"I'm sorry about earlier Baby. It's just we've been cooped up in the house and I just need to get out" She says in a sultry tone as she walks up to where he was sitting on the edge of their bed.
Tobias blows out a breath. He decided he should just rip the bandaid off and say what was on his mind.
"Nicole, are we good?, I feel like since I've got injured you've been distant" Tobias finally puts out there.
His conversation with his brothers had been on his mind since he dropped them off at home earlier that evening. He realized it wasn't just that, things had been very strained between them the past few months.
"It was just so much, all the rehab and the doctors, it's so not my thing," She says flippantly moving to massage his shoulders. "Things will be better next season when we get back in a routine"
"Hmmm" Is all Tobias said and nods his head. Maybe he needed to talk through his feelings with his therapist. He already knew what Caleb and Uriah were going to say.
"I mean you want us to be together right?" Nicole adds as she straddles his lap and rubs her hands against his chest. She needed to put his mind at ease, speed things up. If he was having thoughts about leaving she needed to nip that in the bud quickly.
"Yeah, I just…" He starts trying to gather his thoughts.
"You know what, I've been thinking, maybe we need to just settle down. Make things official" Nicole pushes not letting him get his thoughts together.
She couldn't have him being restless. Sure she had panicked when was injured thinking he might not play again but he seemed to be on the mend now. She had to reel him back in and lock him down now.
"Settle down as in…" Tobias asks as he moves his hands to her hips.
"Get married silly, haven't you thought about it since the last time we talked about it? We're already living together"
"Well, kind of…." Yes, he was tired of running the streets, and he and Nicole had been going strong for a year now. They had moved in together after only two months of dating which everyone told him he was insane for doing. This wasn't the first time she had brought up marriage. He had indicated they weren't ready but now maybe she had a point.
"See if we both are thinking the same thing then we go with it" She pushes.
Before Tobias could think anymore, Nicole quickly pushes herself off his lap and undoes the drawstring on his sweatpants. She gives him a wicked grin and she settles on her knees and slides his boxers down. Not wanting to give him a chance to really respond or think.
"Now we can do a little celebrating"
Tobias groans at the feeling of her mouth on him and leans back onto the bed.
Just go with it, he tells himself as he grabs the back of her head. Everything will be fine.
Tris had only been in Charlotte a day and she was already nervous about seeing Tobias. She hadn't made up her mind how she was going to go about this. Calling him and asking him to lunch or dinner seemed awkward. She and Evelyn chatted every couple of months and she was planning to go over one afternoon to have lunch with her.
"Maybe that's how I should play this?" she murmurs to her herself as she heads across the parking lot.
Her car was in Chicago but she had borrowed her mother's car to do some shopping. She was in South Park Mall looking for a gift for her niece Sienna. Lauren was going to bring her over for dinner so she could see Auntie Tris. Even though she had gotten into Charlotte from Atlanta early the day before, Lauren wanted to give her some to sleep even though she was excited to see her sister. Tris was grateful because she slept the entire first day she was back, tired from the tournament, the jetlag, and not really getting any rest while she was in Atlanta.
Tris wanders around the mall and decided she'd probably be better off with a teddy bear than a frilly outfit when a purse catches her eye at the Louis Vuitton store. She received a nice bonus for winning another Euro League Championship. She decided a new purse would be a nice treat for herself.
She stops in her tracks when she sees a man looking at the small luggage section in the store. There was Tobias. Tris felt like everything was in slow motion. She hadn't seen him in person since their tryst in the bathroom at All-star weekend in Atlanta a little over a year ago now. He had a Hornets baseball hat one but Tris could spot Tobias a mile away. His plain white T-shirt was fitted across his chest and his jeans tapered down to his black and white Jordan 1s.
God, he looks fucking perfect Tris thought to herself as she looks through the window.
He called and left a voicemail when Kobe died. She'd called and left a voicemail when he got hurt but other than liking pictures on IG they hadn't spoken. She takes a deep breath, deciding to seize the moment.
"Hey, Tobias," Tris says as she slowly walks up to him.
There didn't seem to be a lot of people around, which was probably good. Tris didn't get swarmed with people for autographs in Charlotte but she could assume that Tobias did.
"Hey, I didn't know you were back in Charlotte. I saw you were in Atlanta for Christina's graduation." He stammers, shocked at seeing Tris before him. She only had on a pair of jeans, a form-fitting black t-shirt, and her red and black Jordan 11s with her #6 necklace. Her hair was wavy and flowed around her shoulders and cascaded down her back. He could tell she had just taken her braids out. She looked perfect.
"Yeah I actually just made it to Charlotte yesterday," Tris says shyly as she shifted her weight.
"Oh" He didn't know what to say, he didn't expect to see her here. Seeing her in person always made him lose any resolve he had around not taking things too far with her.
"You look good," He says as he looks around the store. Tris wondered why he looked like he was nervous about who might see them.
"So do you, You look like your knee is doing better, I'm glad you're up and on it without crutches," Tris says slowly. Why was he nervous and looking around?
"Oh my God Baby, look at this from the new spring line, they only have three of them, I have to have this one" A woman babbles at Tobias.
Tris starts to put the pieces together from some story she saw on The Shaderoom about Tobias being linked to an Instagram model which was usually his style and Christina and Uriah's comments about meeting whoever Tobias was with the last time they were in Charlotte. Tris raises an eyebrow as she looks her up and down. The short tight blue dress, the sky-high Louboutin heels. She was gorgeous, pecan skin tone, her sew-in looked expensive, it trailed all the way down her back. Her makeup was thick, Tris could tell she contoured heavily, she wasn't all that convinced that her breasts or butt was real. Tris shakes her head, and that was the answer to her question. Tobias was still T Money. He hadn't changed.
"Uh Tris, this is Nicole, my girlfriend," Tobias says quietly.
"He means Fiancée" Nicole drawls and Tobias nervously rubs his hand over the back of his neck.
"Fiancée, wow. I hadn't heard… Congratulations" Tris offers trying to fix her face but still stumbling over her words.
"Ummm yeah it kind of just happened, we kind of haven't made any official announcement yet" Tobias knows Tris too well, her face is controlled but he saw the hurt in her eyes and it damn near broke him.
He had been wavering about Nicole especially these last few weeks. Everything happened so fast last night with Nicole making a case for them to get married and he hadn't really asked her but he hadn't said no either. When he woke up that morning he decided to go with it and move forward. Now standing here in front of Tris he was conflicted again.
"Nice to meet you," Nicole says with a high amount of fake enthusiasm as she eyes Tris. She was pretty, Nicole would give her that.
She holds out her hand to Tris, not for her to shake but to show off her engagement ring that she had picked out at Tiffany's an hour earlier. She had everything planned around making sure the ShadeRoom and Bossip picked up the news about their engagement. She had a photoshoot already scheduled for the next week. She could hold off on the news until then because she wanted maximum coverage.
"Tris? You're the one Uriah was talking about, you two grew up together right?" Nicole adds in enjoying the look she saw on Tris's face.
Tris lets out a forced laugh. "Yeah, we grew up together all right, Congratulations again. It was good to see you T. I'm glad your knee is doing better"
She felt like she had been punched in the stomach and all the wind was knocked out of her. She had to get out of there. She turns and walks out of the store trying to fight back tears as she heads for the parking lot. When she gets into the car she drops her head back against the headrest and the tears finally fall.
"Now what am I going to do?" she asks herself out loud.