Peer pressure was something Ja still dealt with even at 23.
The guard didn't want to drink the night of their last regular season game. He didn't even plan to but then when the final buzzer sounded and the Grizzlies won the game, Ja started to think.
The playoffs were about to start in a few days, and the Grizzlies would not be playing in them. The season was a failure and so was he. Ja didn't even remember which one of his teammates asked him, but none of it mattered right now.
At least this time, Ja was counting how many shots he took. He had just taken a 15th one, trying to block Malia from his mind.
Ja knew she was worried because she texted him 4 times since the game ended. She didn't know where he was but she could easily put 2 and 2 together to figure it out.
Malia paced Ja's bedroom, waiting impatiently for his text message. She was quickly going from worried to angry. Not only did he tell her to come over to stay the night, but he left her in the house with Kaari. The Kaari thing wasn't a problem but Ja was pushing the limits of being irresponsible and it was really pissing her off.
"Where Malia?"
Ja tried to focus his eyes on which person around him asked the question but gave up, looking at the ceiling. "Prolly plottin' my death."
Dillon looked at Ja, noticing how Ja was almost unable to keep his eyes open. "Why?"
"She at the crib." Ja mumbled, beginning to feel like shit. "Wit' Kaari."
Jaren widened his eyes. "You left her in the house with your daughter?"
The point guard sighed. "Who takin' me home, man?"
Malia carefully helped Ja onto his bed, sitting some medicine and a water bottle on the table next to it. "Don't kill yourself or your daughter."
"Malia. Where you goin'?"
"I'm going home." She rolled her eyes. "Look at you, Temetrius."
"I'm good, bro."
She crossed her arms. "Right. Who brought you home?"
He couldn't remember.
Malia wouldn't say she was fed up or done. She wasnt even close to being done helping Ja, but she couldn't be his savior every time he wanted to drink. He was a grown man with more going for him than any other person she know.
The guard laid on his back. "I need you ta' stay."
Malia stared at him, thinking really hard. Honestly, she didn't need this right now. She didn't need to be taking care of someone older than her. As she looked at Ja, all she could see was a mixture of Devon and her father, two people that had effectively ruined their own lives.
That couldn't happen to Ja and she refused to let it.
She sighed, taking the walk back over to the bed and helping him sit up. The guard stared at her with low, drunk eyes that only made her more sad.
"Take your hoodie off." Malia instructed. "I'm gonna check on Kaari."
She crossed the hallway to get to Kaari's room and the toddler was still sound asleep. Luckily, she didn't wake up while her father was tripping loudly up the stairs.
She reentered Ja's room and he took his hoodie and shoes off, laying there in joggers and a Nike t-shirt.
"You okay?"
"Mhm."
Malia assisted him in sitting up against the headboard, moving his dreads from his face. She wasn't mad like he thought she was but more like afraid.
