Shortie - Jayson Tatum

Sixty Eight.

Hello, my love's!

A year with no update is crazy. Half, if not all, of you are probably gone or done with this story. And that's on me lol but hey. I am back. I had some rather new health issues. Mental health was whooping my behind.

Anywho. This is my first chapter back. You can definitely tell I started writing this last year at some points as well.

Jayson's POV

"I really don't want a party baby. I made my announcement and now it's time to move on."

"Jayson. Please be for real. You have to have a party dude. You're retiring from the NBA. You're going to be considered one of the greats. You deserve to celebrate." Naomi said as she stood in front of me while I sat on the couch.

"If I say I'll think about it, will you leave me alone?" I'm really trying to relax and watch tv and she's harassing me.

"No. I want a yes." She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.

I stood up and placed my hands on her hips before kissing her on the forehead. "I'm going for a drive."

"Jayson." She called after me but I kept walking.

I got in my car and started driving nowhere in particular. I've been a little moody since announcing my retirement. I guess actually sitting down and realizing that it's over is taking a toll on me.

Basketball was my first love and I worked extremely hard to achieve everything that I have. I feel like I'm regretting making the decision but it was the right thing to do. My family needs me.

Naomi is finally healthy, Journey is about to start kindergarten, Deuce is heading to high school. This is a transitional time and I need to be here.

But I'm also grieving the fact that I'm done with basketball. Now what am I supposed to do? Be a stay at home dad? I'm worried I'll get bored then resent everyone around me.

My phone started ringing and I saw it was Toriah. "Hello?" I answered.

"Are you busy?"

"No."

"Ew. Your tone is funky. What's your problem?"

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want man?"

She sighed. "Deuce got in a fight at camp today. You need to talk to him."

"What do you mean he got in a fight? Like an actual fight."

"Yep but he won't tell me why so I'm calling you."

"Aight. I'll head your way." We hung up and I arrived at the house with food for Toriah and Deuce. I don't feel like going back home right now so I'll eat lunch here.

"Thanks dad." Deuce grabbed his food and was heading out but I grabbed the back of his shirt.

"Sit yo ass down. What's going on? Why you fighting at camp?" He shrugged. "You gotta do way better than that so start talking."

"A boy in there was talking junk."

"Talking junk like what? If I have to ask again for a straight answer we gon have a problem."

He groaned while looking up at the ceiling then mumbled. "He kept calling me white boy."

"You deadass right now?" I asked him with a straight face. "You decide to do something stupid because someone called you white despite you knowing that you aren't?"

"Dad it's annoying and I kept telling him to stop. He said it again and I hit him."

"Sure it's annoying but it's not a situation where you need to be hitting anyone. There's no valid reason to be doing that."