Chapter 1 — Jamal

Jamal and Shay's track team gets back to Atlanta after finishing up their competition in time for Labor Day weekend. Shay's happy to see her daughter, Kia. Her babysitter, Meena, always wins little Kia over while Shay's away. Meanwhile, Jamal being away from his wife is becoming a problem. She keeps hitting up his phone, hour after hour, asking when he's coming home. Jamal responds, "I'll be there, baby. Don't worry." However, Shay believes she's partly to blame. After all, they're hiding that they have a child together.

At the end of practice, Shay and Jamal stand at the front of the practice facility. 

"Is it always like this this time of the year? When do we get a break?" Shay says, putting her water bottle away.

"You mean September?"

"No, I mean December, you fool. Of course I mean September!"

"Ha-ha, really funny. You got jokes."

"I'm tired, Jamal."

"Already?"

"Yeah, we've been running for months. We're winning and all, but I need some time with my baby."

"You mean me?"

"Of course, you, big Poppa, and my little Kia." Shay grabs Jamal's hand.

"Well, baby. We'll have some time after the World Cross in March."

"March?"

"Yeah! Just stay focus; we got this." Jamal embraces Shay and kisses her. "I'm proud of you. It's always rough the first year."

"Thanks, babe. So you and Kia got a real daddy-daughter bond going on, I see?"

"Yeah, my girl is a sweetheart," Jamal walks Shay to her car. "I know this is rough on you, babe. We'll figure this out."

"I know, boo."

"Get some rest, and I'll text you tonight."

"Okay, baby. Give me some sugar before you go."

* * *

Being basically a single mom has been dawning on Shay for the last few weeks. Her thoughts are: Why am I doing this? Why am I away from my child? Is this really worth it? 

"You should see a shrink," Jamal said after the end of the next day's practice. He's playing with Shay's fingers and she pulls away.

"You should see one, Jamal. I'm tired. I mean you're living the dream of being with me and her and I'm stuck with Kia."

"Boo, it ain't like that."

"It is. But it is what it is."

After Shay had the baby, Jamal's been in and out dealing with his wife's Instagram dreams of being a model. It's been hell because Jamal's been arguing with her daily about posting so many sexy photos. Still, Shay's been in love with Jamal since high school and they are close regardless. Just lately, she feels Jamal isn't giving her the same energy.

"Baby, I know I've been in and out. Let me handle this. I got you."

"You've been on this 'I got you stuff' before."

"You're right. I'll be over tonight. Be up."

"Ok."

Shay craves Jamal fucking her every night at eleven after putting their daughter to bed and tonight it won't be any different. 

Shay walks to her car but turns around. "By the way, how the hell do you get out of the house at night?"

"I tell Mia I work at FedEx a few nights a week."

"You ain't right."

* * *

Jamal and Shay's track team win the Continentals easily and seeing the world's flags and fans cheering ignites something in Shay she hasn't felt in a while. At the last minute, Shay bought tickets for her babysitter Meena and daughter Kia to come to Florida. Because the next competitions were months away, Shay convinced her mother to allow Kia to travel despite her father's objections. Kia stays with her grandparents on nights before Shay's competitions.

* * *

Coaches David and Liu come over to speak with Shay and Jamal after the trophy ceremony.

"One run down. How many are left?" Liu asks David. 

"Eight more; three locals, four nationals and one international. 

"Shay, do you plan on bringing Kia with you to the World Cross?" David says, looking at Kia hanging on Shay's arm.

"Yeah, Coach. But I been meaning to talk to you both about my situation."

"Shay, don't quit on us now. You're our best runner," Liu says.

"No, Coach. Not yet but Kia's still young even though she looks older."

"I understand, Shay. We are here for you. Parenting is difficult. Nothing is perfect. You're close to being best in the world and if you continue, you'll continue to be so. It's going to be a difficult battle. We all know how this works."

"I hear you, Coach."

"One more thing and I know we're talking too much," David adds. "Kids need parents who love them and are there for them, yes, but as someone who has to be away from his daughter even more as I coach over thirty runners, my girl still loves me. She'll understand her parents work hard one day and she'll be proud of what you both do."

* * *

Jamal and Shay are quiet on the ride to Shay's place. They spend the evening together and Jamal wrestles with Kia; running back and forth to chase her and making her laugh. Shay and Jamal then do some stretches and Kia mimics them in the mirror. After dinner, they kiss her tonight and close her bedroom door. Once Kia's asleep, Jamal and Shay begin the hard conversation.

"What are you doing?" Shay says, laying on Jamal's chest. "Don't you have to get home to Roxanne-Roxanne?"

"Oh my God! You're so funny." Jamal kisses Shay and she turns her head. "Roxanne can wait. I'm still at work."

"Such a player." Shay shakes her head. 

"If you want it, you want it."

"You're funny. Do you even know what you want, boy? 

"Yeah, I have since Kia was born."

"And not before that?"

"Hmm…Here you go with the loaded questions."

"I asked you, now answer."

"Of course, before." Jamal plays with her hair. "So, switching gears—what if I say I'm done with this track stuff, what will we do?"

"Were you even listening to the Coaches?"

"They were talking to you."

"Oh my God! You're such a mess."

"We do what we can, right?"

"We do what we can," Shay repeats, running her fingertips through Jamal's wavy hair.

"And you want this right?" Shay's question is a little-open for interpretation as she opens Jamal's jeans.

"Want what?" 

"Want this…"

* * *

For the next track meet, Jamal and Shay decide not to bring Kia because they can't work out the logistics. Shay's parents, Earl and Anita, and her grandmother, Trinity, are going to Alabama and said they'd bring the babysitter, Meena, and Kia with them.

Dusk is settling as Jamal and Shay finish practicing before the night of their main event.

"I'm so pumped right now," Shay says meeting Jamal outside of the locker rooms.

"You're the best," Jamal says licking his lips.

"I am, baby."

They look out at the track, and it's untouched clay. Shay puts her head on Jamal's shoulder. Jamal puts his arm around her waist and pulls her in. 

"Best running partner ever," Jamal says.

"Best in the world."

"Perfect timing to tell you that I'm going to divorce Roxanne."

"What? Not Ms. IG?"

"Yes, Ms. IG." 

"Don't do that."

"Maybe not today but I will."

* * *

Back at the hotel room, Shay FaceTimes Kia and Kia frowns. She refuses to say hi and tucks her head in Meena's chest while Shay's trying to get her attention.

"She's only three," Meena says, telling Kia to talk to Mommy. 

"I'm blaming it on you, Meena. You trying to take my child?"

"No, no, no. She's all yours," Meena giggles.

"You don't want to talk to me, so talk to Daddy."

"Hi, Daddy!"

"Hi, Baby! You're being good for Daddy while you're with Grandma, Grandpa, and Meena?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Good. Give me a kiss."

Kia kisses the screen and Jamal said, "Talk to you soon."

"Ok, Daddy. Bye!"

The call ends.

"You see your daughter, Jamal. You're the one taking her from her mother. I'm going to kill you."

"Hahaha."

* * *

Jamal gets a divorce from Roxanne, and surprisingly, she doesn't object. She tells Jamal she's moving on with life and her modeling career. They were only married for a year and had no children. Once Jamal's divorce is final, Shay and Jamal discuss having a small wedding in Shay's backyard. Shay tells Jamal that she only wants their closest relatives present—no friends and no drama. She calls her buddy from college, Harold, a fashion designer, to work on a wedding outfit, emailing him back and forth with sketches. He lets her know it won't cheap, but he will have it done in time for the big day.

The neighborhood florist stops by to meet with Jamal and Shay to make sure they aren't asking for a full reception hall's worth of flowers. It's short notice and it won't come cheap, but Jamal doesn't even blink when Shay tells him the price. He kisses her on the shoulder and tells her to do her.

Both families talk about the wedding logistics and Shay's mother Anita and Aunt Brenda will take care of the catering. Shay's three younger brothers offer to take care of the garden the day before and her father, Earl booked a tent in case of rain. Jamal's mother, Rhonda is his only parent living and she said she's coming. Jamal's the only child and she spoiled her boy to death.

* * *

Jamal makes a few quick trips back to Buckhead in February and March to spend as much time with his ailing grandfather as he can. Shay worries about the toll it will take on Jamal when his granddad finally passes. Jamal goes all out in training, locked in and when he's at Shay's, he's quiet.

Shay finds Jamal in Kia's room watching over her as she sleeps.

"You okay, love? It's three in the morning." 

"Couldn't sleep," he says, cocking his head to the side. 

Shay comes to the side of the rocker and hugs him. Her nails run through his dark wavy hair.

"I know boo. Everything's going to be okay. I'm here for you."

"Little Kia's so innocent. She doesn't know these tragedies of the world."

"Nor should she yet."

"I know." Jamal kisses her nipple through her nightie. "Let's go back to bed."

"Okay, babe."

They go to the bedroom and Jamal lies back. Shay kisses his chest all the way down to his pubic hair and then licks.

"Oh! Oh! Shay—"

"You like that, Daddy?"

"Oh! yeah, baby!"

Shay licks and strokes his dick until he's on the verge of cumming. "Lay back and let Mommy take away the pain."

* * *

Shay and Jamal head to London for the World Race. Before leaving, they try to convince Shay's aunt, Brenda, and Mom to stay home with Dad but couldn't. 

"We're coming, Shay. It's time for us to see the world," Aunt Brenda and Shay's mom say. 

"What about Dad?"

"He's busy trying to sell the house."

"Well, we ain't paying for y'all tickets. Only Kia's."

"If you don't stop with the cheap shit…"

"They're paying for us. This might be our last international meet."

"Well, we'll just charge it on your father's credit card."

"Y'all ain't right."

When Aunt Brenda, Kia, and Mom come, Kia's grabs Shay's spandex and keeps running her hand over it. "Pretty."

"Thanks, baby," Shay says, kissing Kia before the race. 

The meet goes as well as they expected. Jamal came alive in the last stages of his meet and landed in the top 3. Meanwhile, Shay landed in the top 4 and make it to the next round.

They see Kia on the Jumbotron at the end of their replays and everyone cheers. A photographer walked up to the couple and asked them for a family photo after the meet and Jamal got a little iffy. Shay and Jamal asked that they keep her daughter's name out of the photo's credits and the photographer agreed.

* * *

Jamal and Shay eat dinner with Mom, Aunt Brenda, and Kia and make sure Kia gets put to bed early. Afterward, they head in to get an early rest because of the big meet tomorrow. 

"You okay babe?" Shay says when she gets out of the shower. "Wanna call room service before we leave?"

"Yeah babe, I'm good. What do you want to eat?"

"I'm in the mood for something light."

"Me, too."

* * *

The first runners start warm-ups and Shay and Jamal do theirs with Coach Liu. She hopes Jamal will loosen up by the time they're ready. Shay takes the lead in hyping their team.

"You were fucking amazing." 

"Let's do this."

"Jamal, come here for a second." She grabs him by his sweats and they are kissing in front of the team.

"Go ahead with all that. That can wait," the team yells.

Jamal smiles but he has the look of a champion who only wants to be alone cherishing the moment.

Jamal came in first in the men's and Shay did too in the women's. Track & Field season is finally over and their track team reaches number #2 in the world.

"Let's go see the little one," Jamal says before the press conference starts.

Shay's mother, Anita and Aunt Brenda are close by, having been escorted through the stands by security. Kia lays her head on her grandmother's shoulder as she stares at the crowd. It's been a big week for them and everyone will be glad when they get home.

* * *

Shay and company arrive in Atlanta and they are greeted by Shay's father, Henry who opens the door. He whispers something in Kia's ear as she passes and Kia bobs her head. "Grandpa!"

"Hey sweetheart," Grandpa says picking up Kia.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, Grandpa." 

"I see my granddaughter already trying to take my husband." 

Earl kisses Anita. "Hey, baby!"

"Time to start getting ready for bed. Little Mama, you had a long day. Hey, Dad," Shay says, kissing her father on the cheek.

"Hi, Shay! Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Dad."