"You good Zo, you need to stop anywhere before we head to your house?" My driver Ben asked as we pulled out of Adiras complex. I was seated in the back seat. My two guards were sitting in their usual places. They saw how I left out upset, so they know to fall back. I didn't want to talk about it.

"Nah, home is good." I turned facing the window. I put my ear pods in playing KOD album. My hoodie was in the seat beside me. I grabbed and put it on. I went ahead and pulled down my hood, pulling the strings covering my face.

This situation was really blowing me.

I was looking forward to seeing her all week. Phone conversations were natural. I felt like everything was right between us. I don't understand how she felt like holding this from me would be ok.

I knew this was too good to be true. Even with how we met, we kept bumping into each other randomly. I thought it was on some serendipity type shit. I guess I was wrong.

We had a long drive back to where I live. To busy my time, I leaned back thinking about the conversation I had with Marcel a few days ago.

We were on the bus heading back to the hotel. I was seated next to Marcel. Jackson was a row over.

"You called your girlfriend yet, I know that's what you're thinking about?" Marcel asked.

"I told you she's not my girl— yet," I smirked.

"The way you were on the phone, could've fooled me. Every free moment you're on the phone with this Ms. Adira. That's crazy how you said you met her."

"I told you, you never know how this love stuff will come to you. It happens unexpectedly." Marcel added.

"Woah, stop casually throwing that word around like that. I never said anything about love."

"Ehh same thing. She made your long-ass list though. Which I thought was impossible. Every single picky thing you asked for you got with her. That's crazy."

"It's still early. We're still getting to know each other. —But she's family-oriented, sexy and she can cook. She's cooking for me when we get back." I paused. "She's smart. She got her own stuff going on. She's really into basketball like I could watch film with her and not have to explain what's going on. —She reminds me of my Auntie."

"You're talking about your Aunt who passed away?" Marcel asked.

"Yeah, she even has the same oils my aunt always had around her house. Hell even her and her family is really tight, they get together a lot. Unlike mine, everything about her reminds me of what I miss from my childhood."

"Damn man." Marcel looked at me then at Jackson. They shook their heads, smiling. "See how easy that was to talk about her; she might be the one for you. As long as everything is everything with her."

"Yeah, I hope so, like I said it's still early. —I do think she's holding something from me. Well, not really holding something but she has this sadness about her. She tries to cover it up. Or it might be because she's always busy. She's a full-time nurse and is in her last year of medical school."

"It might be that. My sister's in medical school. She stays stressed out. She just started her second year. Just imagine what your girl going through in her last year with those clinical trials. She's basically in a hospital all day and night." Jackson stated, turning sideways, getting more comfortable in his seat. The traffic was hell out here in San Antonio.

"Yeah, but she loves it. She can go all day talking about medical stuff. I can't wait to get back."

"Yup, get back and take this winning streak home," Marcel yelled out the last part, making everybody amped on the bus. We're stilled excited from the win tonight.

"We shut Houston ass down, Dallas down and San Antonio. Who else want smoke? Line they're asses up." Big Jeremy, the Center shouted from the front of the bus.

I was just excited to get back to Adira. Hopefully, I can chill with her some more this week. She's already planning to cook for me. Which is crazy, I haven't had a real home-cooked meal in a couple of years now.

I do have a chef, and the meals I usually eat are planned and repetitive. Someone hired to cook for you is not the same, and I'm not home enough to cook for myself.

"Alright, guys go ahead and get some sleep. Yeah, we're on a streak but keep your eyes on the prize. We play Oklahoma when we get home. They're ready to shut us down. Go out there and show them who's house they're in." Coach yelled when the bus came to a stop at the hotel.

My thoughts were now interrupted by the tap I got on my shoulder.

"We're here, Zo." Tyson notified me, seated beside me. I turned the music off and took my ear pods out, placing them in my pocket.

It was dark out, the lights were on, on different sides of the house.

I planned to hang out in the pool house, but from the light shining in the back lets me know it's already occupied. I honestly don't feel like being around anybody right now. I need time to think.

"Thanks, I'll get up with you." I slapped hands with Tyson. "Aight Ben and Bo."

"Aight Zo." They waved me off.

I got out and slowly walked up to the long driveway. I went up to the door, entering the code opening it. While walking inside, I realized nobody heard me come in. I thought I could sneak over to my room.

"Zo, where were you? You've been going out a lot. I know it's not with your teammates. Something you need to tell me?" My mother came popping up around the corner. She had just left the kitchen and was going to the study. She didn't know I was back in town.

"Ma please can you not do this? I'm not really in the mood."

"What happened, somebody said something to my baby boy? Where were you?" She asked, again concerned. She's pushing it with this babying me stuff.

"I'm moving out. —You can keep this house and still use the other houses whenever. I'm calling the realtors tomorrow."

"Do you think that's a good idea? You're midseason in, on a streak. I think you should stay focused on that. You don't need any distractions." She paused, staring at me with an irritated look on her face sizing me up. "You're seeing someone. Who is she? Is she in the industry? If so I need to know so I can get ahead of this. —Hmm, it might be a good look."

I sighed. "This is not about anybody else. I need my own space. We all do. Us living together, working together and being around each other almost all the time is not healthy.—That's the distraction for me."

"We're family, what do you expect? We have a brand together we built."

"And I'm telling you I need space from you and everybody!" I stated louder than I was supposed to.

My dad walked in the foyer entrance where we were standing. "I know I didn't just hear you yelling at your mother."

I sighed and mumbled. "Sorry."

"What's this about? Why are you yelling?" He asked me in a calm tone. My mother's chest was heaving. She was pissed.

"I'm moving out. I need my own space. I'm not asking for permission. I'm just respectfully letting you know."

"Ok, that's fine. How long have you been thinking about this? Why so sudden? When are you planning to move?"

"I'm calling the realtor in the morning so as soon as possible. Something I should've done from the beginning. This is not good for me. I'm a grown man still under the roof with my entire family. I'm almost twenty-six, a known professional basketball player. I need my space, my privacy. I always got people in my face."

"He's seeing someone Gabriel. He's trying to create privacy for her, whoever she is." My mom uttered.

I gave her a blank expression. Then yelled, "I just said this is not about any—"

"Boy, didn't I tell you to watch your tone. Raise your voice again!" My dad shouted, standing directly in my face peering over me by a few inches. "We sacrificed everything to make this basketball dream of yours come true. The least you can do is show us some respect."

"Aight," I mumbled walking off.

"We're not done talking to you!" My dad continued to yell.

I continued walking to my room. Once I got in, I shut the door behind me and pulled out my phone. Scrolling down to Adira name, I stared at it before touching it. It began ringing.

"Hello?" She spoke softly into the phone.

I was quiet. I didn't know why I called her. I just did it impulsively. She should be the last person I wanted to talk to, but sadly she's the first. Her energy right now is what I'm missing. That familiar sense of home I feel when I'm around her. I feel like everything is going to be ok when I'm with her.

"Can I come back?" I finally responded.

"Yeah." Her voice shook.

"Aight, I'm coming by myself. Is it ok if I stay over tonight?"

"Sure that's fine I have a spare bedroom." She cleared her throat.

"Ok, see you in a little bit. I'll come straight up and knock on the door."

"Ok."

I ended the call. I then gathered whatever I needed for my workout in the morning and something to sleep in tonight.

Adira's good people, her being pregnant is really messing me up. —Aside from that, the Adira I met and talked to every day is who I'm missing right now. We've been kind of in our little world, our secret peace.

I have questions for her, and I'm not trying to judge her. This shocked the hell out of me. How in the hell did she find time to do all of what she does and be pregnant. A nurse, a med student, a baby, and her child's father, who she said is her ex. That's a lot for anyone, plus she manages to keep herself and her home up. Then she went out of her way to cook for me on top of all of that.

After I got everything together into my gym bag, I made my way out of my room closing the door behind.

"You're leaving tonight?" My dad asked as I was walking passed where he was in the family room watching tv. So I stopped.

"I'm staying somewhere tonight."

"Kenzo you're not some regular guy who can walk around any and everywhere." My dad spoke low, turning to face me.

"I'm not going any and everywhere. I just can't be here. I got a game tomorrow night, my team and everybody is depending on me. I need to go clear my head."

"Ok, text me when you arrive. So we'll know you're safe. I love you." He looked in my eyes; he was worried.

"I love you too, and I didn't mean to yell at mom. I need some space. —I'm going to a friends house. She lives in a condo out in Lincoln Heights close to the hospital and the campus." I said to ease his mind. My family's not used to not knowing my whereabouts with my life in the limelight. He wants me safe, and I respect that.

"Ok, thanks for telling me. I know you're not obligated to, but I don't know what I would do if I lose you to this fame shit Zo. There's a lot of people who want what you got, on top of that you're a black man. That's a huge target on your back." He declared earnestly.

"I know, I get it." I walked over where he was seated embracing him. "Can you tell mom I love her and I'll talk to her tomorrow after the game?"

He nodded. I grabbed my gym bag off the floor, walked out the front door leaving.

My house is very private and secluded. It's gated with high cemented walls around it; no one can see me coming in or out.

The windows were tinted on all of my vehicles. I decided to take my Challenger again. I haven't driven it since I was at that diner. I could easily blend in with this car.

I arrived at Adiras complex. I found an empty parking spot. I parked and quickly grabbed my gym bag. I still had my clothes on from earlier along with my hoodie.

I pulled the hood over my head and got out of the car, shutting the door behind. Making sure I hit the alarm, quickly proceeded inside the building.

The guard in the lobby spoke, I said hey. I walked quickly toward the elevator. It wasn't too many people hanging around tonight, and I was relieved.

I reached the 13th floor, the elevator door opened. I quickly got off and made my way to her door numbered 1326. I remembered it to be.

I knocked, she opened it after my second attempt.

She looked up at me, giving me a weak smile. I smiled back at her. She then moved out of the way to let me in.

"Thank you."

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