I glanced at it. My face scrunched up from the number that flashed on the screen. Reggie? Yeah, dude had my number, but we mainly talked about business if he was in NYC or if I was in LA. This call, though, I knew what it was about. I had half the mind to ignore his ass, but I wanted to hear what he had to say. If for no other reason than to feel his temperature. Besides, he needed to tell his girl to leave Phileigh alone. She had blocked her, and now, Natalie was messaging her from fake accounts, commenting on her posts, and watching her stories. Phileigh was wrong for inboxing her, but now, Nat was tripping. I hated seeing her spiraling like that. Swiping the screen, I let out a deep sigh before answering the phone.

“Yo,” I said into the speaker.

“Aye, KB, man. I know we don’t be kicking it like that, but I can’t just leave my nigga in the dark. I figured I should call you like a man before you get too deep in some bullshit with that girl.”

“What girl?” I played dumb.

“Phileigh, nigga. I saw your little post. You really proud to be claiming her like that? She got a whole history, bro. I done had her already, nigga,” he said as if he knew something I didn’t.

“I’m hip. She told me y’all used to mess around.”

“She don’t be telling the whole truth, man. She a bop. She done fucked me and half the league. She good at flipping stories, making herself look like the victim and shit. Just a few weeks ago, she was claiming she was pregnant by me and was all on my girl line and shit, causing commotion.” He rambled on. He probably thought he was doing something.

Whole time, I didn’t give a fuck if Phileigh had fucked every nigga on the team. She was mine now, and nobody would ever have access to her again. That was what was wrong with some niggas. Worried about the wrong shit. I knew Phileigh, though, and I knew this nigga was capping.

“You done?” I cocked my head. I was ready to end this call. I could hear Phileigh turning on the shower.

“I’m just saying, KB. Don’t let her fool you, fam. She’s not a good girl. Probably just looking for the next baller to leach off of since I cut her ass off.”

“Let me make something clear real quick, bruh. Whatever you and Phileigh had going? That’s dead and in the past. Over. I’m not you, nigga, and you ain’t me.”

“I think you got it twisted. It ain’t about me⁠—”