Basketball Jones by E. Lynn Harris Read Free Book Online

asked, intrigued by my new friend. I’d heard of girls moving to a city to meet local celebrities, especially football and basketball players, but I’d never actually met one. Dray called them jock sniffers or cleat chasers.
    “I do, but I’m keeping that to myself. Oh, shit,” she said, with a glance at the huge clock on the wall. “If I don’t leave now, I’m go-ing to be late for my interview.” Jade grabbed her fake Louis Vuit-ton bag, rose from the table, and took a final swig of her coffee.
    “You gonna leave me hanging?”
    “We’ll see each other again,” she said, and just like that she darted out of the café and into the steamy New Orleans morning.
    In spite of the heat, I took a leisurely stroll through the Quarter. By the time I got home, I was soaking wet from the humidity. I cooled down with a shower, and when I got out I could hear one of my cell phones ringing.
    “Hello?”
    “Hey, baby.”
    “Mama, where are you calling me from? The number came up as private.”
    “I’m at the department store. I was looking for a dress for Bella’s sweet-sixteen party and I wanted to know if I had a limit,” Mama asked. I could tell she was clearly hoping there wasn’t one.
    “No, you don’t have a limit,” I said. This was one of the more enjoyable fringe benefits of having a rich boyfriend, being able to take care of my mother and little sister. But even if I didn’t have Dray, I still would be able to make a decent living on my own. Thank God for my degrees.
    “Okay, because I see this cute black lace dress with a pink underlining and they have them in both Bella’s and my size.”
    “Does she still wear a zero?” I asked playfully.
    “Yes, that dancing keeps that girl rail thin.”
    “I was thinking about surprising her in the next couple of days. They have a little more work to do on my place and so I was thinking about getting out of this hot city.”
    “It’s hot up here in Raleigh too, baby. I think it’s hot everywhere.”
    “Thank God for central air,” I said.
    “But come on. We’d love to see you and get to hug that neck of yours.” Just as I was getting ready to tell her I was coming up soon, the phone that Dray called me on rang.
    “Hold on a second, Mama.”
    “Okay, baby.”
    I picked up the other phone and clicked it on. “Hello?”
    “What’s up, AJ?”
    “Hey, Dray. What up?”
    “Check the flights to Los Angeles and get the first thing you can.”
    “What?”
    “I’m in Los Angeles working a camp with some of the Lakers players. They hooked me up with a nice suite in Beverly Hills.” Then, in the low sexy voice he used when he wanted me, Dray said, “It will give me some time to give you da business.” I’d not heard from Dray all week and the thought of a few days alone with him got me excited just thinking about it. “Give me da business” was the term Dray used for really putting it down in the bedroom.
    “When?”
    “Today.”
    “Oh, I don’t know if I can do that,” I said.
    “Why not?”
    “I was thinking about going to see my family.”
    “You see them all the time. Now do what I said, Mr. Richardson, and get that fine ass of yours on a plane ASAP.”
    “But, Dray, I also have my second meeting with the foundation this afternoon. They were excited to hear from me and think that I can help them.”
    “That’s all well and good, AJ, but I’m sure you can reschedule the meeting for after you get back. I really need to see you. Don’t you know what tomorrow is?”
    “What?”
    “My birthday, silly. Even though you already gave me one of my birthday presents, I know you got something else cooking.”
    “You think so?” I asked. I had somehow forgotten tomorrow was his birthday, even though I had spent days buying gifts for him, including the new iPhone I knew he wanted. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford one on his own; he just liked it when I bought it for him. It didn’t matter that it was his money to start with.
    “Okay,”