Waking up the next morning, I felt incredibly refreshed, awakened by my loud alarm, of course. I had about an hour before the early morning workout.

As I was motioning to get up, I heard a low knock at the door, "Come in."

"Oh good, you're up. I heard your alarm sounding off, so I figured I'd make sure you were up."

"My bad I didn't realize I had it up so loud." I looked her over. She was in a white thigh-length comfy, t-shirt like nightdress. Her hair was in its natural state, beautiful.

She smiled, taking her eyes off of me. "If you need anything, I'm in the room across the hall."

"Thank you, Adira."

"No problem." She made her way back out the door, closing it behind her. I got up and made the bed, then headed to the bathroom.

After I finished getting myself together, I gathered my things then knocked on Adiras bedroom door.

She opened it, standing in the door frame. I glanced over her head, eyeing her room. Making a personal note to get her to help me design my next home.

"I'm leaving."

"Oh ok did you want me to prepare you something before you go?"

"No, my chef is bringing my pre-workout meal to the gym. I should be good."I grabbed her hands. "Thank you again."

"You can stop thanking me at any time." She smiled. I pulled her towards me, wrapping my arms around her.

I chuckled. "I'll call you and text when I get a chance, and if you could do the same, I'd appreciate that."

She nodded, then pulled away from the hug.

"Have a good day, and get some rest. Babygirl's going to need you at full strength to get through the day." I pointed down at her stomach. "Can you feel her moving yet?"

"I'm the type of person who pays attention to every little thing with my body. So very early on, I felt different things, but mostly like a fullness feeling in my lower abdomen. Then as time went on, I felt little flutters, which might've just been gas. My doctor said I should start feeling some big movements soon. Since I'm almost five months. It's different for everyone."

"That's crazy, —the power of a woman. Birthing new life."

She giggled at my amused expression. "You better get going, you have a bit of a drive. Have a good game. I'll be rooting for you from work."

"Appreciate it, you know I love all my fans. You might be my biggest."

She shoved me; we both laughed. "Shut up. You just better win tonight."

I leaned and kissed her forehead. Sadly it didn't seem like enough. I took a step back, sighing staring into her eyes. She gave me a knowing look, with a smile she managed to hold up. I turned to walk away down the hallway.

"See you later." I made it to her front door. She trailed behind me.

"Bye, Kenzo." She mumbled, waiting for me to make my exit.

I stood in my tracks, debating on if I should turn around and kiss her or keep walking.

I dropped my bag then turned around and made my way to her. I quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her towards me.

Without hesitating any further, I went in connecting my lips to hers. I caught Adira by surprise, which caused her to gasp. Both of us shivered at the same time.

I slid my hands up both sides of her face, gripping my finger in her hair furthering the kiss.

I managed to turn us around, walking her back against the front entrance. She let out a soft subtle breathy moan against my lips, as the back of her head lightly hit the door. I tilted her head, and she opened her mouth wider, giving us more room to explore.

I didn't care about being late or anything else going on at this moment. This kiss felt like medicine, a cure to my emptiness. The feeling of nothingness that surrounds me daily. My missing piece.

I slowly pulled away from her after I planted a few extra kisses, trying to calm the erratic beating of my heart.

I stood up straight gazing at her chest lift with each inhale in a rhythmic pattern. I found that sight comforting. Her head was tilted back against the door with her eyes closed.

There's no way in hell I can be just friends with her.

"I better get out of here." I finally spoke; she opened her eyes.

"Yeah." She whispered, giving a slight, imperceptible nod as she stepped away from the door.

"Also, stop saying bye to me. It's, I'll see you later."

"She giggled. "You caught that."

"Yes. I'll see you later." I leaned in and pecked her lips once more. She smiled a little.

"See you later, Mr. Martin."

I groaned at her being so formal, she laughed.

"Alright, Ms. Thompson." I retorted before turning the knob and leaving out, closing the door behind.

I made it in the elevator, pulled my hoodie over my head, and tugged on the strings to cover my face. I added my black shades from my bag.

My phone buzzed as the elevator dinged opening. I decided I'd check it when I get in my car. I stepped off, checking my surroundings.

I was met with the night guard who spoke to me last night. He whispered. "Hey Mr. Martin, it's not a lot of people out right now. So you should be good."

I looked at him shocked he knew it was me the whole time. "I need to work on my cover."

"Your secrets safe with me, sir." He stated as we walked closer to the sliding glass exit.

"I didn't catch your name. How long are you on shift for?"

"It's Melvin. I'm usually here for the third shift. I get off at five o' clock, in an hour."

"Oh ok, nice meeting you, man." I held my hand out for him to shake.

"Thanks, same to you, you guys are taking it all the way this year." He smiled, shaking my hand.

"You already know." I waved him off exiting out, quickly making my way out to my car. I got in fast and shut the door, taking a deep relieving breath.

After a while, you get paranoid when people recognize you. He seems like cool people. I'm glad he didn't tell anyone. I could've been mobbed or worse.

I pulled my phone out, remembering I received a text message. I checked it as I started the car up.

Text me when you make it in your car. I have my moments when I forget you're famous. I should've walked you down, to make sure you made it out, without being hassled.

I'm in my car. See, I told you I don't play into that fame life. There's your example lol, I am normal.

Yeah, ok. Lol

I ran into the night guard from last night he recognized me, he said his name was Melvin.

He's cool. He's been here since before I moved in. He takes his job very seriously.

Cool, talk to you later.

Arriving at the gym, I was met with Marcel pulling up behind me. I parked, and he did the same beside me. I grabbed what I needed and made my way out of the car, clicking the alarm.

"Oh hell, where you coming from?" He asked, knowing I only take this car or something similar to it when I'm trying not to be seen.

"Adiras," I mumbled, trying to hide my smile.

"She got your nose wide open." He shut his door and headed inside the gym.

"It's not even like that. She's cool people." I responded, stepping inside the gym. We had a few other players there along with the training staff for our morning workout.

We have walkthrough and light practice later before the game. Early morning practices are usually working out and some light drills.

We made our way in joining the other players warming up.

"We're going straight into deadlifts after this. Five reps, five rest for two to three minute." The trainer yelled out to everyone. Marcel got, and I started on the treadmills after some quick stretches.

We don't talk during the workout. We're all usually in a zone trying to get it done. So we moved around quietly throughout the exercise and quickly got through it.

After finishing our light

drills I decided to talk to Marcel about what's been going on. "You remember you said she could be the one if everything is everything."

"Yeah." He turned around, giving me his attention.

"Well, everything is not everything." I shook my head.

We went over to the nearest seats in the gym and sat down.

"What happened?" He took a chug of his water.

"She sat me down after dinner yesterday. She ended up telling me that she's pregnant. I think she said she's almost five months."

"Wait. What?" He stops drinking his water, placing the bottle in the seat between us. "She's pregnant, and you stayed at her place last night?"

"Yep, after she told me I left. I was pissed about it. I went home and caught hell from my mom about my whereabouts. Long story short I ended up telling her and dad I planned to move out soon. Which turned into another big thing. I wanted to getaway. The first number I wanted to call was her. I went back to her spot, and we talked about everything. She told me about her ex and how they ended."

"So she's no longer with him, —and to be clear I mean does she still have a thing for him? You know sometimes people go back. Is she done with him, is what I'm asking?"

"From what I can tell, she is done with him. I don't think she would go back after all he put her through. Dudes a joke, but I don't know."

He glanced at me, debating on saying anything further. "You still want to see her." He stated, knowingly. "I mean, it's obvious I don't even know why I said that. You did stay at her place last night."

"Nothing happened; don't start jumping to conclusions. —I don't know what to do. Do I stop this all together or keep it going? There are so many reasons why I shouldn't continue, but when I'm with her, it's like I can't stop. I like being around her."

"I guess you forgot to add pregnant to your long-ass list. You left that one-off." He joked, pushing my shoulder.

"Enough with the list, damn." We laughed.

"I told yo' ass you were reaching for stars, unrealistic. The main thing is she got everything on your list, with a little added to it. That's all, it's still what you wanted."

"Yeah but I don't want to deal with no baby daddy drama and trust me that's exactly what it is." I sighed.

"Its all a matter of how much you care, because nothing about it will be easy. You're Kenzo Martin, everything we do gets scrutinized. —You could easily go and get with somebody in the industry who would be right for your image. It's all about what you care about more." He shrugged, finishing off his water.

"I'm not about to be with someone just because. I did that in college. It's a waste of time, although my mom was happy. I was with the Deans daughter, the popular chick. I been there and done that, I don't want that."

"Then there's your answer." He simply stated.

"What do you think about it though, if this were you?"

"I don't know honestly, but I'm not like you. I don't do shit to please other people and you know that. Bria has been down with me since high school. I trust that girl with everything." He paused thinking about it. "I guess if I had to choose I would choose love, every time. Obstacles will always come. Why not fight the battles with a real one? The one you love."

"There you go with that word again.— If I was at a point where I loved her, I'd have to just accept her situation. Since we're not there yet, I have to weigh my options.—"

"Don't kid yourself, y'all got a strong ass connection. This ain't some random casual date. You got feelings for her."

I sucked my teeth. "If I stop talking to her, I probably won't find this again. I couldn't let her go if I tried at this point, not entirely. I'm already trying to figure out how Ima' get back to her after the game tonight. She's working all night, so I don't know."

"Nah hell no, we got plans tonight buddy. Jackson has his brand new yacht, —we're going in. Bria already got clothes and stuff ready for tonight. She's meeting me there."

"I forgot about that." I ran my towel down my face, ridding the sweat.

"I would say invite your girl but that might not be good for the baby, and all." He snickered. "She might get sea sick."

I sucked my teeth. "Shut yo' ass up. She's working tonight and won't be off until in the morning."

"Well let me get my ass to the house before Bria starts blowing me up. —I told her I can't be doing what we do before the games anymore. I might get cramps. She insists though and my dumbass ain't stopping her."

"Keep it up, baby number three on the way." I laughed.

"Aye don't speak too fast, you're catching up to me stepdaddy. —Driving around in that Challenger, y'all might get twins."

"You' stupid as hell." Both of us were laughing hysterically at this point. We stood up, grabbed our bags walking out the door.

"I'll see you tonight young blood." He dapped me up like bros do.

"Alright, tell Bria I said what up."

"Aight."

We got in our vehicles and drove off. I turned on the radio flipping through the XM, landing on some classic hip hop and cruised the whole ride home.

I entered the house not seeing or hearing anyone in sight. I went on to my room for a quick shower then down stairs to eat. It was still early but the sun was up.

I sent a text to my driver and guards letting them know I'm home. They could pick me up here later before the game.

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