It was so nice to be in bed with Rico, even though all they did was lay there and not even kiss. Her body was on fire

The man was sexy as hell. Her man. She wanted to jump on top of him and ride all night. Did he not know he was sexy as hell? At any other time in her life, he would not be a man she would give the time of day. He turned her down when she offered him a chance at glory.

She was so glad she decided to give him a chance anyway.

"I'm sorry I'm keeping you up all night." She kissed his neck as she was cuddled so close to him

"I wanted you here." His arms were wrapped around her waist, one of his long legs thrown over hers. It was so sweet but intimate at the same time. They both were fully dressed. She had not been this innocent in bed with a guy since she was seventeen

"Yeah, and now I better get out of here," She looked up at his freckled face and kissed his nose. "I need to give you some real rest for your big game tomorrow."

"Will you be there?" He kissed her forehead.

"Now if I tell you, you'll get all in your head and play a weak ass game. And now that err'body know you my man, I need you to come with it. Play yo shit." She leaned over to kiss him. "I'll clear my crew out, but you get some sleep. Do all that ritual shit you need to do to bring a win."

"Stay a little longer. I'm just going to miss you when you're gone and not get any sleep." He rubbed her back while he stared into her eyes. "I know you had a rough day, I just wish I could do something about it. What do you need me to do?"

"There is nothing you can do. This is just my life. I'm used to it. I just deal with it. I need to protect Autumn from it."

Rico did not say anything, only continued to watch her. She knew he was thinking about something. Probably thought she was not a good mother like her baby daddy Win thought.

He called and railed into her about having Autumn out where paparazzi could harass her. She knew they would be all around in that area, so yes, it kind of was her fault. She would take the blame. But what was wrong with those media types that would harass a five-year-old? They should have kept their distance from her.

"What are you thinking Rico?"

"Nothing."

"Yes, you are. What do you think I should do about Autumn?"

"She's not my daughter to say, Tika. I trust you know what's best for your daughter."

In other words, he thought she was wrong as well. She moved out of his arms and then slid out of his bed. Everyone trying to tell her what to do in her life, and she was used to this.

"Tika."

"No, everything's cool Rico. I just better get my child home to sleep in her own bed. You know, I need to do what's best for my child."

Rico slid out of the bed and over to her in one swift motion. "Tika, come on, I didn't mean anything by that."

"You don't understand how I feel because you don't have a kid."

"I know, I know, I don't." He put his arms around her, held her, and squeezed. She always felt so safe in his arms. "So that's why it's not my place to say anything."

As much as she wanted to stay all night with Rico, she needed to get out of there. Too much was going on in her life. She pulled away from him and walked out of his room. She told Alvin and Vincent to gather their things they were heading out. Alvin went to get Autumn, still sound asleep in bed and he carried her out. Vincent gathered what was left of their food, Rico was not going to eat it.

Sheila and Leticia packed their laptops away and they were all headed out of the door. Rico came over to her as she was at the door and pulled her into his arms again.

"Come to my game Tika, I want you there."

"I'm a distraction."

"No, come on, please." He kissed her. "I'm winning for you."

************

She should not have come to the game.

Rico played horribly. Right out of the gate, he gave up a home run. She knew at that moment he was off his game. If she was to blame or not, he was not focused.

After what seemed like a long top of the first, they finally made it out with no one else scoring. One to zero going into the bottom of the first.

Rico was pitching fourth today. The first batter struck out. She didn't care about anyone else but her man. The second batter succeeded at a base hit so he was on first. Now she was hoping the next batter did even better. She noticed from the big screen it was the cute blonde guy. She knew his name but she didn't care. He needed to do something to put Rico in a good position.

He struck out.

The crowd roared at that. She stayed calm. Up next was her man to save the day.

Once she heard her song "Bring the Pain" as his walk out music she jumped to her feet to cheer. The whole ballpark was going insane as well. She was in awe at the amount of fans singing along. A camera was on her because her face was on the screen now.

Oh no, they were connecting them together as one. As if she was up at bat with Rico.

A smile plastered on her face, a wave, and then she blew kisses.

All attention was on her and it should be on her man.

"They are getting crunk in here! Ok, St. Louis!" Malaika said.

"Shh, Rico needs to concentrate," she said as if the whole ballpark could hear her.

They did not. They were still going crazy as Rico was pitched a ball and missed.

"That's ok baby, it's just the first ball," she yelled out.

He could not hear her lone voice amongst the crowd. The next ball came fast and Rico swung and missed.

"Mmph, I guess we're swinging at anything," Orlando stated.

She ignored her friend. Eyes focused on the game. With one more pitch, Rico could make something happen. Everyone was cheering so loud. They wanted something hot to happen with her man.

Disappointment as he struck out. The buzz from the crowd was gone.

It was all the way down from there. By the bottom of the fourth inning, they were down five to zero. Rico struck out again his next time at bat and she could feel his anger every time he swung.

Maybe all of his superstitions about the day before the game and gameday worked. She made him lose his focus. He was one of the best, and yet today he played like one of the worst. She was almost embarrassed to see him play.

Maybe all eyes were on him now because of her and he was feeling the heat. After a few days off you would think he came back with all the heat.

"Girllll, Fireball is more like Snowball today," Malaika said loudly near her ear.

She pushed her friend away. She was frustrated as well. With all going on right now, she did not want to be the reason her boyfriend could lose his starting spot.

Top of the fifth inning coach pulled him out of the game.

"Well, we should go now, nothing more to see if cutie boy is not playing," Orlando said.

"Right!" Malaika said. "Tika baby, we only date winners over here."

"Shut the fuck up!" she snapped at her friend, grateful they were in a private box with only her team. "He's not a loser, it's one damn game. And I can date anyone I want."

"Oooh! I like it! Defend your man!" Orlando said. "But child, fuck these athletes. They ain't all that because they have a nice body, abs of steel, and a little stamina. Like...I know he rocking your world all night long. That's why his ass tired today."

She had enough of listening to these two. She looked around and saw Sheila on the phone, talking very animated. As much as Malaika and Orlando were her besties, they were blowing her high right now. Also in the box was Jalonda with her husband. Since joining her tour as one of her backup singers, the only time she saw her was at rehearsal, so she thought to invite her to the game.

But she didn't know her that well to have her all in her business either. She had to earn that right.

So there was no one she could really talk to about feeling helpless. Everyone was a paid tag along.

She had no interest in watching the game further either if Rico was not in it. It was time to leave. Time to reevaluate what she wanted.