NBA: Road to glory

The week in San Diego still had its good moments—late-night talks about basketball and the future. 

Still, I knew it was time to head back.

One morning, as we were finishing up breakfast.

"I think I'm heading back to Orlando tomorrow" I said.

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Already?"

"Yeah. Been out here long enough."

Paige gave a small smile. "Well, it was nice having you out here. Even with... everything."

I nodded. "Yeah. Appreciate y'all having me."

Asher leaned back in his chair, studying me for a second before nodding. "I get it. Do your thing, bro."

I smirked. 

The next morning, Asher dropped me off at the airport. We dapped up before I grabbed my bags.

"Keep working" I said.

"You already know" he replied.

With that, I boarded my flight back to Orlando.

After returning to Orlando, I was chilling in my apartment when my phone buzzed.

After two days of tranquility...

I was chilling in my apartment when my phone buzzed.

"Yo, Franklin, it's OBJ." 

"What's up?" I answer.

"I'm in Miami right now, just training a little. We should link up." He tells me.

"Alright, why not? I can make the trip."

"Bet. Pull up tomorrow, I'll send you the address. We'll meet up on the field."

"Sounds good, see you then."

The next day...

I drove down to Miami. When I arrived at the private field where Odell was training, he was already warming up with a few guys, and his physical trainer. He nodded at me.

We spent the afternoon running simple drills. 

After about two hours, we sat on the bench, watching the sun start to dip. "Bro, you could have easily been in the NFL."

'Maybe if I had played Madden.'

We continued talking until he mentioned."That's why you gotta come to the Hamptons."

I raised an eyebrow. "The Hamptons? For what?"

He said. "Michael Rubin's White Party, bro. You ever heard of it?"

I nodded head. "Yeah, I see what it is."

"Man, it's the event of the summer. Every Fourth of July, Rubin throws this insane party—biggest names in sports, music, business, you name it, I'm invited so I guess you are too."

I smirked. "Yeah, I already received the invitation."

"Everything is good so ,come, it will make us more contacts." He tells me.

-July 4, 2015

Two weeks had flown by. I spent some time in Orlando, hit the gym, kept my body right—but I also let myself breathe. And now, it was time for the biggest event of the summer.

I flew into New York the night before, staying at a penthouse suite in Manhattan.

That morning, I took a Rolls-Royce Phantom out to the Hamptons, where Rubin's estate was already buzzing with activity. The security was tight, but when my name was on the list, the doors opened like I was royalty.

Inside, the scene was unreal. White linen drapes moved in the breeze, the estate was massive—pristine, modern, looking like something out of a billionaire's dream. Private chefs were whipping up gourmet food at multiple stations. The bar was stocked with the finest drinks, and the view stretched endlessly beyond the infinity pool.

I had on a crisp white Amiri button-up, tailored white trousers.

As soon as I stepped in, Odell spotted me, we dapped up.

The rest of the party was a blur of introductions and connections. I met Drake, who gave me props on the Finals. Even Tom Brady pulled up.

At one point, I ended up at a poker table with Odell, Johnny Depp, and Michael Rubin himself. The energy was light, people laughing, taking shots, flexing big bets like it was nothing.

-Somewhere near the lounge

I was chilling by the bar, sipping on a glass of champagne, then felt someone step up beside me.

"So, you're the youngest MVP in NBA history, huh?"

I turned my head and saw Kendall Jenner standing there, dressed in a sleek white dress, her makeup on point like she just stepped out of a Vogue shoot. She had that confidence in her voice.

I smirked slightly. "Yeah, something like that."

She leaned against the bar, tilting her head slightly. "You don't sound too excited about it."

I shrugged. "And you, what do you do?"

"Model in my spare time."She smiled, twirling the straw in her drink. "I like that. You're different from a lot of guys here."

I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. "Yeah? How so?"

She leaned in a little. "Most of them? They'd be all over me right now."

I raised an eyebrow. "Maybe they would." I took another sip. 'Personally I'm not interested, too much drama with her family.'

She bit her lip slightly, clearly not used to someone not immediately falling into her orbit. "So what is it? You got a girl or something?"

I shook my head. "Nah, you know, not at the moment."

She laughed and played with her straw again, then glanced around the party before looking back at me. "Well, if you ever change your mind…my number" She let the sentence hang in the air, we exchanged numbers before giving me one last look and walking off, disappearing into the crowd.

Before I could even process it all, Odell popped up beside me. "Bro, did I just see what I think I saw?"

I shook my head, laughing. "Man, let's just enjoy the party."

Later That Night...

After all the mingling, dancing, and champagne, I started feeling a little hungry. I made my way toward one of the catering tables, grabbing a plate of lobster sliders and some sushi. The energy in the party was still good—music, people laughing, and flashes from cameras catching every moment.

That's when I noticed Parker McKenna Posey standing near the buffet, looking effortlessly gorgeous in her white dress..

She looked over at me, a smirk forming on her lips. "Didn't peg you as a sushi guy."

Picking up a piece. "Me? I eat everything." I tell her looking into her eyes.

She tilted her head slightly. 

We started talking—just casual at first. But then the conversation got deeper. She told me about her work, her travels.

She took a sip of her drink, eyes locked on mine. "So, Franklin… what's your next move?"

I leaned back against the table, smirking. "That depends… you trying to get out of here?"

She bit her lip slightly before finishing her drink. "I thought you'd never ask."

We left the party together, stepping into my car waiting outside. The drive back to my hotel was quiet, but there was an unspoken energy between us. 

When we got to my suite, I opened the door, letting her step in first. The dim lighting from the city skyline cast a soft glow over the room. I poured us both a drink, but before I could even hand it to her, she took a step closer, her hands resting against my chest.

"You know…" she murmured, looking up at me "I don't do this often."

I smirked. 

The tension snapped. My lips were on hers before she could say another word. My hands gripped her waist as we moved toward the bedroom, clothes dropping piece by piece along the way.

She pulled me onto the bed, her breath warm against my skin as the city lights flickered through the windows. The night blurred into a haze of heat, whispered words, and tangled sheets.

We did it pretty rough.

And as the night turned into early morning, with her lying against my chest, her fingers tracing absent patterns along my arm.

I could only think 'Man, I really needed this.'