First Round Lottery Pick Read Online Free PDF Page B

dream?”
    Tori held my hand extra tight.
    â€œYup. I got a call from the front office of Barcelona. They want to take me number one.”
    He was silent.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI don’t know if you’re ready. You’ll be playing with grown men, Langston, in another country.”
    â€œI play with them all the time, and all the rims all over the world round and the backboards square.”
    â€œNot on this level. It’s a whole different game.”
    â€œYeah, I know that’s why, as soon as graduation is over, I’m going over to start working out and get in the flow of things.”
    He paused and started thinking. He started to say something but turned his head and waited a few seconds. “So it sounds like this is pretty much a done deal? Nothing can be said to hold you back?”
    â€œI made up my mind last night, told Barcelona I would love to play for them. Just told mom, and you were next on the list.”
    â€œAnd how does your mother feel about it?”
    â€œShe’s cool with it. Told me the sky is the limit.”
    Kenny walked in from the hallway, where he was all up in our business. He peeked out and said with his feminine voice, “Of course, she is.”
    I stood up. “What you say about my mother?”
    â€œI just—”
    At the moment his voice was giving me the creeps, and I didn’t want to hear it anymore so I cut him off and just snapped. “You don’t know me, you understand ? And you don’t know my mother. So you don’t have a right to say a damn thing about what the hell goes on in my life.”
    Kenny’s boyfriend told me to calm down.
    â€œCalm down? Forget that! First of all, I didn’t come over here to ask your permission, man. I came over here to let you know my plans for my life. My life . . . the life that you thought wasn’t good enough to stick around for because you felt you wanted to lay up in here with this punk.”
    Now he was on his feet too. I was waiting for him to swing, so I could knock his ass out.
    â€œYou better watch your mouth, boy.”
    I inched closer to him and felt him move back an inch or two. “Or what? What you going to do to me?” I turned around grabbed Tori by the hand and lifted her up out of her seat. “I’m out of here.”

Chapter Seven
    Up in Here
    Jalen wasn’t bumping his system on the way home. All we could hear was the tires rolling on the pavement. With a cigarette dangling from his lip and one eye squinted to keep the smoke out, Jalen tried to keep his other eye on the road. Tori was sitting in between us in the front seat. I could tell she was trying not to cry. She always hated drama. Most of the way home I just looked out the window. I couldn’t wait to get away. The man that made me was just that. I decided it was probably the last conversation I would ever have with him.
    When Jalen pulled up in front of my unit, I couldn’t believe Toy’s car was parked in front. We stepped inside, and there was Slick Willy sitting on our couch, talking to my mom.
    â€œWhat you doin’ here, man?”
    Toy looked at my mother with a fake smile then back at me. “Congrats on your decision to turn pro. I see you finally decided to take my advice.”
    â€œMan, what are you talking about?”
    He looked at my mother again, trying to draw her in. “I was just telling Reecy how I’ve been talking to you on and off about this very subject.”
    Mom was sharp and to the point. “And I was just telling you, Toy, my son has told me all about you and your advice.”
    Toy looked at me then back at my mother. “Oh, is that right?”
    I nodded at him.
    â€œWell, good. Then you know what kind of a future I think L has.”
    â€œYes, I know he has a very bright future, Toy. He’s worked very hard for everything he’s