When It Unfolds

19

Seven months later

Kharyi threw the ball in the air and watched as it soared through the air and landed in the ring.

The buzzer went off just as the ball landed and his teammates rushed to hug him.

"Great game man!"

Sean yelled as they hugged.

His eyes found the sidelines as he saw his father nod in approval. He gave the man a smile as their team shook the other players' hands and made their way to the locker room.

Jeston was at one side of the room and Regius felt weird approaching the man.

They'd been good and Regius had admired that Jeston kept his feelings off the court. They didn't discuss his past relationship or its end.

They were teammates above everything else.

Regius walked over to the man.

"I'm guessing congratulations are in order?"

Jeston grinned.

"Yeah, he's a force to be reckoned with."

Jeston unlocked his phone and showed Regius the tiny human that occupied his screen.

"He looks just like his dad."

"Right, everyone keeps fighting me that he's all Ariel. But that's me right there."

Regius hugged the man.

"I'm happy for you. See you next week."

Regius changed and met his father outside of the room.

"Good game son."

Reggie complimented him as Regius nodded pulling his hat low on his head. The last thing he wanted was someone recognizing him and asking him questions he didn't want to answer.

As they walked to the car, he saw the figure waiting that made him pause.

The last time he'd seen her was at the hospital.

Her eyes were fixated on his as his father's steps faltered beside him.

"Kim."

His father's voice sounded hollow as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Reggie."

He didn't know when last the two had ever been in the same room together. Nor could he imagine how they both felt in this moment.

"Hi Regius."

She addressed him as Regius nodded.

"Maybe I should leave you two to talk."

His father was about to excuse himself when Kim spoke.

"I think you should stay Reggie. I mean we're here because of your selfishness right?"

Her words were bitter as Reggie gulped.

"I don't think we should go there."

Kim huffed.

"We shouldn't? You stole our son Reggie. You faked his death and attended his funeral. When else are we going to go there?"

Regius could hear the bitterness in her voice and he knew she had every right to be upset.

She stared at Regius.

"Mya told me you knew and I've been giving you the space to reach out, but I realized that was never?"

Guilt ate at him but what was he supposed to say to the woman?

He didn't know her.

"It was better this way."