"Come on, man." I signaled my teammates. We were up by four. Last minutes of the game. The opposing team San Antonio was looking for a quick jumper, we needed to tighten up the defense and keep the ball out of their shooters' hands.

Their point guard went up for a shot and missed. He was heavily guarded. Our center Jeremy was at the hole ready for the rebound.

"Damn." I yelled out as well the other teammates as Jeremy came down awkwardly on his ankle. He quickly got up as if nothing happened.

"I'm good, push it," Jeremy yelled out to us, as he missed getting the rebound.

"You sure?" I yelled back to him, noticing him limping back. He nodded, signaling for us to carry on. Marcel snuck up behind the small forward and stole the ball and pushed it back down the court. Only for him to get it taken. San Antonio's power forward lobbed the ball from half court to their center at the hole. He quickly went up for the layup.

Damn!

"Slow it down, no fouls," I yelled as the ball was checked to me, I slowly dribble it down the court.

You're not getting this ball, back it up playboy.

I crossed over their guard guarding me, breaking his ankle as I made my way down the court. I passed the ball to our shooting guard. He quickly passed it to Marcel continuing the triangle. Marcel gave it to Jackson. He immediately went up for the jumper from his corner spot. The shot was good, bringing us back up by four points.

"Stay up, again, no fouls," I yelled out.

Only eight seconds left on the clock, San Antonio's guard checked in the ball then quickly passed it to their small, he went up for a fast jumper. It was no good, Jackson was heavily guarding him, with his hands in his face. They had nowhere to go.

"That's good D," I yelled to him.

I raised my hand in the air closing my fist as Jeremy. Our Center caught the rebound. He held the ball dribbling until the clock ran out.

Game three was officially ours; we won. We can finally go back home and play them one more time. I hope to finish them at home for Game four, so we can have some days off, before the next round. This was a big win.

"Let's take this momentum back home, whip out the broom and sweep their ass." Our Center, Jeremy said to me after embracing me.

"You good? Get that ankle checked out immediately." I dapped him up. He nodded saying he just tweaked it. "Need you at your best."

I walked off to shake some of the player's hand and hugged their guard, Trent. He played his ass off tonight. He kept me on my heels tonight throughout the game.

I was about to make my way back over to the bench for interviews but was stopped by Marcel, almost knocking me over. "Get your stuff Zo. You need to leave now. Di is at the hospital, her water broke."

"What?" I yelled panicking.

"The jet and the driver is waiting. He's waiting by the locker room. Coach already know. Go!"

I ran off without another word. I looked over at coach. He signaled for me to go ahead. I ran off to the locker room I was met with the driver. I ran in the locker room, grabbed my bag then we quickly made our way out of the building. My heart was pounding. My adrenaline was already high from the game.

We ran to the vehicle, got it, and quickly sped to over to the airport. The jet was all ready to go and waiting for me.

I made my way on the jet and buckled in then pulled out my phone from my bag.

I was kicking myself for leaving my phone in my bag without checking it. I was distracted, already going into the game. I decided to keep my phone in my bag, so I wouldn't be tempted to check it.

I had no messages or calls on it from her. I know it was probably because she didn't want me to worry, but I can't help it.

I had already sent a text to Bo, Tyson, and Ben letting them know I was headed that way. So they could be ready when I landed. This flight was three and a half hours long. It'll take me about thirty minutes to get to her after I land. I hope I make it in time.

I called Diri, she answered on the third ring.

"Zo, where are you?" She cried, and I felt useless.

"I'm on the jet now. The pilots about to get us up in the air in the next few minutes. What's going on? How are you?"

"I'm six centimeters. I still have a while to go. I've been at six since they checked me about an hour ago."

"What's your pain level?"

"Um, it's probably at a nine, these contractions are intense." She whimpered, crying.

"I'm on my way, baby. I'm trying to get there as soon as I can." I tried my best to reassure her. My girl needed me, and I couldn't do shit about it.

"Hurry." She continued to cry out intensively.

"Ok." I ended the call, not able to hear another word. I felt so helpless.

I have to make it on time.

I sent my family a text letting them know everything.

We made it safely in the air, and I was clear to move around. I quickly went to the bathroom. I was fumbling through my bag, getting everything I needed for my shower. I kept dropping almost everything I touched.

"Ok calm down Zo, breath," I stated to myself looking at my reflection in the mirror.

I slowed things down, realizing I had three hours to kill. I started again gathering everything I needed to take a shower.

Once I stripped myself of all my gear, I made my way into the steaming hot shower. While cleaning myself up, I was going over the situation in my head. I kept thinking, was I going to make it in time. I know she's scared and stressed. I thought about meeting baby girl for the first time.

I couldn't believe it was time.

After showering and getting myself dressed, I threw everything into my gym bag. When I got back in my seat, I tried to take a nap but was too anxious.

To kill time, I went through my phone and deleted all the recent weird messages. Mostly nude pics and videos that I didn't bother to look through.

After going getting rid of all the messages, I reclined my chair and turned on the tv. The highlights from the game were playing.

We finally landed. I departed and was met by Bo. Tyson was already at the hospital guarding the room. We jogged over to the Escalade, my driver Ben held the door for me.

"What up Zo?" Bo greeted me.

"Nothing much man, just nervous. You heard anything yet?"

"She still hasn't had the baby last I heard from Tyson. She's in a lot of pain, though. That Nelson guy has been in and out of the room. His mother's there but hasn't said much." He shut the door after I got in.

"Dude's a piece of work."

"Hmph." Bo and Ben shook their heads.

I clicked my seatbelt, Bo and Ben did the same.

I flew undetected, nobody outside of our family knew we where I was. I was hoping to keep it that way. I didn't want anyone slowing me down.

"I'm just ready to see her, to see both her and baby girl." I sat back looking out the window as we pulled off. I sent Adira a text letting her know I was on the way to the hospital.

The entire ride, Ben was peeping at me.

"You need to ask me something?" I went ahead and asked.

He shook his head. "No, why?"

"I don't know I feel like you want to ask me something?" I smiled at him. "Go ahead and ask me, you know we're cool. You can ask me anything."

He stopped at the light just before our exit. "I know you and Di are together but what about the baby? —I'm asking because I don't want to slip up and say the wrong thing."

"We're taking it one day at a time. I'm still learning stuff about us together. Hell, when I met her, she was pregnant. I follow her paced. I guess it's complicated." I scratched my head. "I'll keep you posted on it."

"Stepdaddy Zo." Bo joked.

"Shut up." I laughed.

"I mean these last few months you've been real daddy-ish. I can see it. It fits you." He nodded in an almost serious manner.

"Bo please do not ever in your life use the word daddy-ish again, with yo' big oversized, heavyweight looking ass. You have been in the gym way too long to be using words like daddy-ish." I shook my head laughing.

"I look good." He pulled the sun visor down to open up the mirror. He looked in it, rubbing his hands down his face. "Don't get mad because all the ladies love big daddy."

"Ok yeah we can stop with daddy stuff, it's getting creepy now," Ben added making us laugh.

"Using it like that after I was just talking about you being a father is creepy." Bo realized.

We laughed a little longer but that word father rung in my ears like an early morning church bell. A bell I was sitting underneath. Would I be a good father? Could I treat this child as if she was my own? What does that even consist of? I don't know the first thing about raising a kid. I don't know the first thing about raising a child that's not mine. This Nelson guy, —I have to consider him in all of this. How does Dira really feel about it all, me being in her child's life?

Don't think about it too much. We're keeping things organic. We've already discussed it. I need to stop stressing. I reminded myself.

When we arrived at the hospital, there was a swarm of people waiting. "How in the hell did this get out? Damn."

"I don't know, but we need to make this quick." Bo looked out the windshield at all of the people hanging around the front entrance with cameras flashing.

Ben drove close to the entrance, almost directly in front of the glass sliding door. Bo got out and ran inside to let the receptionist know I was coming in and to get the room information.

I pulled my hood over my head and threw on my pitch-black glasses then unfastened my belt. Bo came back out and opened my door. We ran into the building they shielded me as much as possible, pushing our way through.

Ben moved the vehicle.

We rode the elevator to the second floor. When I got off, two ladies spotted me one was a brunette, and the other was a blonde.

"Oh my gosh, Lauren that's freaking Kenzo Martin! I heard he was here, but he's really actually here." The blonde said to the brunette. I tried moving around them.

"If you ladies will excuse us we have somewhere to be," Bo stated.

"May we have a picture, please?" The blonde spoke again, but the brunette stood back, eyeing me like she wanted to season me up and scarf me down.

"Look I'm sorry ladies but I can't." I walked away brushing passed them. We sped off to the room.

"What up Tyson." I greeted him more than asked; he nodded. I opened the room door, not even thinking to knock.

"I made it, " I stated nearly out of breath.

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