2 Weeks Later

Although Knowledge had stopped and dropped everything involving his career on draft weekend, he had to come back to it.

He had completed his first two weeks of Basketball training camp, but he was distracted.

Mecca stayed on his mind as he was learning everything about being a parent, but he also felt guilty as he had to leave her before she really got time with him.

And Amber also never left his mind.

The whole situation continued to replay in his mind. Although Amber explained her reasoning, Knowledge still had questions and he still had feelings.

He was angry that she kept him out of Mecca's life for a whole year. If he hadn't gone to the strip club, he'd still be clueless.

The coach's whistle knocked him out of his thoughts as he gathered around with his teammates.

"Great work today. Ali I fucked wit the defense.. James I liked them passes.."

ion know what them coaches be saying 😭

The coach continued on, but once again Knowledge was distracted.

"No camp for the rest of the week, go home and enjoy family." The coach said.

Knowledge picked up his protein shake and water, then headed to the locker room.

"Ali what you on for the week?" One of his teammates asked.

"I'm prolly going to Atlanta."

"He going to see a bitch." One of his other teammates laughed.

Knowledge chuckled and shook his head.

"Nah man, it ain nun like that."

With that, he grabbed some towels then headed to the showers.

_________________________

Later that night

"Ace she doesn't need any candy, I'm making dinner." Amber fussed as Mecca sat on his lap.

He had come over to check on them.

"Maneeee say chill mommy." Ace smiled before he tickled Mecca causing her to burst into a fit of laughter.

"You so aggravating." She rolled her eyes as she continued to cook dinner.

"Whatchu making ma?"

"I'm trying lasagna." She told him.

He nodded as the doorbell rang.

"Can you get that?" Amber asked him.

It was quiet for a moment, causing Amber to turn the stove down and walk towards the door.

"Ace who's at the door?"

She stopped in her tracks as Mecca let out a scream and ran towards Knowledge.

"Uh wassup bruh?" Ace held his hand out for Knowledge to shake.

Knowledge eyed it then looked down at Mecca.

"Wassup baby?" He smiled as he picked her up.

"Da." Mecca mumbled as she stared at him and played in his hair.

Ace turned to Amber "Imma catch y'all later, ight?"

"Mhm." Amber nodded as he headed out the door.

"Bye lil mama." He waved at Mecca, who waved back then refocused on Knowledge.

Once the door closed, Knowledge looked over at her.

"Knowledge he is-"

"She think that's her daddy too or sum?"

Amber shook her head "No, she knows he's a family friend.."

Knowledge nodded and walked further into the house.

"D-did you want some lasagna? It's almost finished."

"I'm straight."

"You didn't tell me that you were coming." She said.

"Yea.. we got a break from camp and I just got on a jet."

Amber nodded "Please don't do that again.."

She looked at Mecca then back at him.

"I want you to have all the time you can with her, but you can't show up unannounced Knowledge."

Knowledge nodded.

"My bad, imma call next time."

"Thank you."

With that she headed back to the kitchen.

She heard Knowledge sigh before he followed her into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry Amb."

"It's fine." She told him as she put a pan in the oven.

"I'm sorry about Ace, I know that threw you off and-"

"It's fine Amber." He snapped, cutting her off.

She shook her head "I hate all this fake 'cordialness' I know you Knowledge.."

"Ion like the fact that that nigga been playing daddy to my kid. All of this fucking wit my head, I can't even work how I wanna work."

"Knowledge I told you I'm sorry, and I really am."

"It's the way you keep lying to me Amber, I was in love witcho ass and you broke my heart. Then I find out you lied to me again."

Amber sighed as she realized that he was still holding what happened in New York the first time against her.

"I'm sorry for lying to you Knowledge.. but I can't be sorry for trying to take care of myself. Like I told you, I didn't have the support you had and the brand deals and whatever else you got. I gotta scholarship, but I was broke. Stripping brings in fast money." She told him.

"I understand that now, and ion judge you for none of that. But you lied. Then you lied about my baby."

"I didn't lie about her.. I withheld the truth."

Knowledge let out a dry chuckle.

"Ight withheld the truth."

"Amb, we can just leave it alone." He sighed, ready to walk away.

Amber shook her head "No Knowledge.. this is really bothering you and I want us to figure it all out."

She watched as he pushed himself up to sit on the kitchen island.

"Ight.. I hate everything that you did Amb and no matter how much I keep tryna move past all this. This shit really hurting me, you was gon just break up wimme after we graduated if I hadn't found out.."

She let out a breath as he paused.

"Then you wasn't gonna ever tell me about Mecca if I hadn't found out."

"I just didn't know how to tell you these things Knowledge.. I was scared."

"And it's cool to be scared Amber.. but I'm- was yo nigga.. we could've figured shit out together."

Amber nodded as she moved closer to him, until she was in between his legs.

"From now on we can do everything together, okay? I'm sorry for leaving you out of important decisions, and I'm sorry for the lie."

This was a big step for her, clearly she wasn't a good communicator nor was she the most rational person, but she was ready to grow up a little for Mecca and Knowledge.

She knew they deserved that from her.