Chris POV

I got a text from Shawnie's dad out of nowhere, and it caught me completely off guard. It had been a while since we had last spoken, back when he came to watch the kids while Shawnie was in Vegas. So when his text message popped up, saying he was at my gate, I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and surprise.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I quickly opened the gate and stepped outside, anticipating his arrival. As his car rolled up the driveway, I couldn't help but wonder what could have prompted this unexpected visit. I was nervous. There were so many questions racing through my mind, but I knew I had to keep my composure until we had a chance to talk. I felt like I was in trouble.

Ben opens the door and he gets out of the back of the suv.

"What's up, Pops!!" I say as I go in for a hug. I was happy to see him.

"How you been?" He asks

"I'm good. What are you doing here?"

"I live here now."

"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback by this unexpected news.

"I know that's all Shawnie. She's been wanting you to move for a while." I say.

"Yeah she talked me into it. So I'm here." He says

"Come in," I said, gesturing for him to enter. "Have a seat. You want a drink?" As I spoke, I walked over to my bar cart, ready to offer him a beverage of his choice.

"I'm good. I just wanted to come and check on you to see how everything was going."

"Everything is going well. I can't complain," I replied, maintaining a positive tone. "I've just been over here, living my life and staying busy. Been hitting the studio, recording for my new album. You know how I like to keep things rolling and make the most of my time."

"Yeah, you like to stay busy." He says

"I hear you have a new girlfriend."

I paused for a moment, slightly caught off guard by his comment. "Ah, yeah," I chuckled. "Yes, I do have a new girlfriend," I confirmed. "Her name is Karrueche. Interestingly enough, we used to date in the past, but recently we rekindled our connection."

"That's good. I'm happy for you. Did you and Shawnie finally officially close that chapter?"

"I just wish Shawnie and I could've worked things out but we're just not meant to be. It's cool." I say

"You don't think you have a chance anymore?"

"Nah she's with Joe now, and she seems to be very much in that relationship and happy. Same with me."

"They haven't told me anything about a relationship. They're together?" He asks

"That's what it seems like." I say

"I think I would know if something was going on between the two of them. I mean they're close, but why wouldn't they be?"

"I think you're just fishing for information, Pops," I chuckled, playfully teasing him. "You know damn well that things might seem a little suspect over there."

He joined in the laughter. "I agree," he replied with a nod. "Until they decide to share something with me, I won't jump to assumptions. It's always best to let things unfold naturally and allow them to reveal their true nature in due time. Patience is key, my friend."

"Well, she basically told me something was going on between them and she slipped up and said she loved him but she quickly changed it and said she likes him a lot. She also let him kick me out of her house. So I don't think it's just a professional relationship going on, I believe it's personal too. I think they are secretly together and they're just not telling anyone. You know I know her and on numerous occasions she's basically told me something going on between the two of them without actually saying it."

"She slipped up, saying she loved him before quickly correcting herself and settling for liking him a lot. On top of that, she allowed him to kick me out of her house." I say. "I can't help but feel that there's more to their relationship than just professionalism. It's like they're keeping it a secret, deliberately not telling anyone. I know her well enough, and she has dropped subtle hints in the past about something happening between them without directly stating it." I purposely keep the detail Joe told me about them sleeping together. I don't think her dad needs to know that part of the story.

"Well, you can't force her to say anything, and if they are together, then I'm fine with it. I think he's good for her... You don't think so?"

"He's cool. He ain't me though." I laugh

"But if you remove yourself and your feelings out of the equation and you look at the situation, wouldn't you say she's doing good?"

"I mean, yeah. She's doing very well. I just don't like that she's doing so without me."

He laughs, "What?"

"I don't mean it like that, I mean, I feel like we could do good together. I've expressed this to her before Pops. She's not having it." I say

"Boy, you're in a relationship now." He says.

"Yeah I know but...you know. It's Shawnie..."

"And that's her right if she doesn't want to go back to you. Understand that and move on."

"I know I just don't like it. I really am happy for her though." I say

"I know you are. You just have to learn to see the good in why you guys aren't together. You both have grown tremendously, and to be honest with you you guys just grew apart. You have to let go of the aspect of a relationship and look at your situation for what it is. You guys are friends now, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"She tells me all the time that you guys are really good friends and she is really standing on the fact that she wants to remain friends. You guys are great parents and you have a good relationship outside of a romantic one. Keep that going." He says

"I want to and I agree, but off I'm being honest Pops, it's still hard to see her with someone,"

"I'm sure it's hard for her to see you with someone too." He says. "You guys gotta put yourselves and each other's shoes."

"I guess I never considered it from that perspective before, because I tend to be self-absorbed sometimes. It didn't occur to me that she might be struggling with the idea of me being with someone else too."

As those words sank in, a wave of remorse washed over me. How had I been so blind to her inner turmoil? My ego and self-centeredness had clouded my judgment, preventing me from recognizing the pain she was silently enduring. In my selfishness, I had never truly grasped the weight of her emotions. I'm an asshole.

"You're right. I think we all know why I only be thinking about myself. I never really considered the fact that she doesn't wanna see that shit either. I asked her to come to my party to introduce her to my new girlfriend and she didn't show up. Maybe that was why."

"Possibly." He says. "That gives you something to think about the next time you see her or want to introduce her to your girlfriend. Why don't you fill out the situation and see where she's at with it. I think having a conversation with her before you just bring something like that on her would make her feel more comfortable. And the same thing goes for her."

"Thanks, Pops. You always put things into perspective for me."

"Yeah, well I live here now so you'll be seeing a lot more of me and I'll be putting you in your place."

"Her too. I'm not always the problem." I joke. But he knows I'm serious.

"That's true. You're a good man, Chris. I have to admit, we've had our fair share of ups and downs when it comes to your relationship with my daughter. It's disheartening to see that things didn't work out between you two, considering the effort and love you both invested in your relationship. Personally, I genuinely believed in your connection and hoped for a different outcome."

I'm a little taken aback by his words, because this man could not stand me in the beginning of our relationship but I don't say anything I just let him continue.

"I sincerely hope that you two can find a way to resolve your issues because I believe that you both need each other, regardless of whether you end up together or apart. The bond between you is undeniable, and it's clear that there's a deep care and affection that exists between you. My wish is for both of you to find happiness and fulfillment, whether that means finding a way to reconcile and rebuild your relationship or finding separate paths that lead to personal growth and contentment. Ultimately, what matters most is that you both find what truly makes you happy, individually or together."

"Thank you. I hope so too."

"Things will get better." He says. "I love you, son." We hugged. "Have you heard anything about the president?"

"Drake? Nah, I haven't. Not since he pulled that jail shit."

"It took everything in me not to fly in. She said she's handling it though. I have to keep reminding myself that I have to let her find her own battles because she's an adult."

"I don't know what she's doing to handle it but that's what she said she's doing. She told me to stay as far away from it as possible because she knew I was gonna hurt him."

"Joe did right by covering her. We don't want those photos out and the good thing is she wasn't booked. No mugshot."

"Right. He didn't have to take his shirt off though.."

"What's the matter? Scared he's gonna have more fans than you?" He laughs. "That photo alone is up to a few million views. Regardless, if you like it or not, and I understand he's just her bodyguard, but he's a big deal to. I actually googled him and he has all kinds of fan pages. It's crazy."

I wave him off.

"I don't care." I say

He laughs. "Alright I'm gonna get out of here, I'm sure she knows where I am." He says

"She doesn't have a problem with you being over here does she?" I ask.

"No, she doesn't. She just doesn't like not knowing what's going on. You know she likes to try to control everything."

We both laughed.

"That's true." I agree. "Well, you can stop by anytime. I appreciate you coming over today."

We say our goodbyes and hug again then he leaves.

I don't think he understands how much I really do appreciate him.

*****************

A few days later, it was Odell's first home game for the LA Rams. Throughout the preseason, he had been persistently asking me to attend a game, and despite my initial reservations, I couldn't resist his enthusiasm. It was an important moment for him, and I wanted to show my support.

Dori, and I made our way to our suite. It turned out to be a lavish cabana right on the field, and while I appreciated the luxury, I couldn't shake off a sense of unease. I knew these suites came with a hefty price tag. I feel like that automatically brings unwanted attention. But what added to my discomfort was the fact that this was his personal suite, a space he had used for the past two seasons being with the Rams. Dori noticed my unease and urged me to relax, assuring me that everything would be fine.

"So... Odell Beckham?" she nudged, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah," I responded, my gaze darting around. "Can we sit back inside? I don't like being out in the open like this. I should've brought Joe."

"Ben is here, and he's going to make sure you're safe. He's standing at the door. You're fine." she reassured me.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety, a sensation I hadn't experienced in a while. It felt like the air around me was getting thicker and it was starting to become harder to breathe. Taking Dori's advice, I scanned around and noticed that everyone seemed engrossed in their own activities, paying no attention to me. I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I tried to regain control.

"Okay." I nodded, trying to ease my worries.

Dori smiled, extending a beer towards me. "Have a drink." she suggested, offering a side hug for comfort.

As I began to relax, two women walked into the suite. Dori raised an eyebrow, clearly curious.

"Who are they?" she asked.

"That's Odell's mom and little sister." I sighed in frustration. "...great."

Dori reminded me, "What did you expect? We're here for him, in his suite. It was bound to happen eventually."

"Yeah, but he didn't tell me." I grumbled

"Hello!" Odell's mom greeted me as she walked over, her warm smile putting me at ease. "You must be Shawnie."

Returning a smile, I nodded. "Yeah. It's nice to finally meet you."

We exchanged pleasantries, engaging in a friendly conversation that quickly eased any tension I had felt before. Her genuine warmth and welcoming nature made me feel comfortable in her presence.

"I've heard so much about you from Odell," she said, her eyes sparkling with fondness. "He speaks highly of you."

"Really?" I responded, a mix of surprise and uncertainty evident in my voice. I hadn't realized that Odell had been sharing details about our relationship with his family. That revelation caught me off guard, and a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me.

In the back of my mind, I recalled our agreement to keep our connection discreet, something to be cherished and guarded between us. It was meant to be an intimate bond shielded from prying eyes. Yet, being present here, in this suite, felt like a public declaration that contradicted our intentions.

I glanced around, taking in the surroundings and the people, trying to make sense of my thoughts. It seemed that the lines between the private and public aspects of our relationship were becoming blurred, and I wasn't sure how to navigate this new territory.

While I had genuine affection for Odell, I also valued my own privacy and the boundaries we had set. It was a complex situation that demanded careful consideration and a deeper conversation between us.

For now, I plastered a smile on my face, keeping my concerns hidden. There would be a time and place to address these feelings, but in this moment, I chose to focus on the game and enjoy the company of those around me.

As the players took to the field for warm-up, my eyes scanned the sea of jerseys. My heart raced as I searched for the familiar number 3, knowing it belonged to Odell. Then there he was, warming up. I just watched him for a few minutes.

After a few minutes, I spotted him making his way towards us. Panic surged through me.

"Oh, shit!" I muttered under my breath, caught off guard by his sudden approach.

Odell reached our section, enveloping his mom and sister in warm hugs. I had forgotten that this was his pre-game ritual, a display of love and support for his family. Memories of his time with New York and Cleveland flooded my mind, and I remembered witnessing this very routine as a fan.

Now, he turned his attention to me, extending an open invitation with a warm smile. "Come here." he chuckled.

My nerves coiled within me, but I knew I couldn't refuse his gesture. Slowly, I rose from my seat and walked towards him. Leaning over the guardrail that separated us, I felt the football pads as I hugged him.

As we pulled away, our eyes met, silently acknowledging the complexities of our relationship. The crowd roared around us, filled with anticipation for the game ahead. I genuinely care about this man but he's single-handedly maneuvering us towards relationship status. I don't know if he's doing this on purpose but I will be addressing this at a later date.

"It means a lot that you're here." he whispered, his words filled with sincerity, before planting a tender kiss on my lips. In that fleeting moment of connection, my worries momentarily melted away.

As I broke away from the kiss, my eyes caught sight of a camera, and my heart skipped a beat. A sinking feeling settled in, and I saw a sports journalist was making their way towards us.

"I have a pregame interview. I'll be right back." Odell informed me, breaking our intimate bubble as he walked away.

A feeling of concern gnawed at me. Had the camera been rolling? Did it capture our exchange? The thought of our private moment being captured and potentially scrutinized by the public sent a shiver down my spine. Oh my god and what about Aubrey. I wasn't prepared to take on this just yet. I actually wasn't trying to take on this at all. My plan was to end it before people caught wind of it.

I sat back down, my mind racing with unanswered questions. Would our relationship be thrust into the spotlight like my other relationships? Of course it would. This is OBJ. This is exactly what I feared and why I didn't want to date anyone else that was famous.

The uncertainty swirled around me, and I couldn't help but wonder how this unexpected turn of events would affect us moving forward.

*********

After the game, Odell and I found a quiet spot to grab something to eat. The weight of what had transpired on the field lingered heavily between us. Things had gone haywire during the game, and we needed to address the situation head-on and discuss the implications of that unexpected kiss and everything that went along with it. The truth was, it shouldn't have happened, and we both knew it.

As we sat down, my phone began buzzing incessantly, causing a surge of anxiety to course through me. Jason Lee's messages and calls kept pouring in, while Aubrey bombarded both Odell and me with an overwhelming number of notifications and Amanda was livid. It felt like the world was demanding answers from us, and I wasn't sure how to navigate this sudden surge of attention.

I looked at Odell sitting across from me, his expression mirroring my own apprehension. The once private bubble we had carefully created had burst, exposing our personal lives to public scrutiny. Again. We needed to find a way to manage the fallout and regain control over the narrative.

Taking a deep breath, I turned off my phone and placed it on the table, a resolute look in my eyes.

"Odell, we can't ignore this. We need to have an honest conversation about what happened and how we're going to handle it. The media attention won't just disappear." I say

"I know..." he sits his phone on the table as well. "We're going to deal with this together. We're going to talk to Amanda, issue a statement, a post, whatever.... And we're going to talk to him together."

"I don't know about that part."

"We gotta face it. He's pissed, as we knew he would be. Tackling it is how we should do this. I'm up for this." He says

"Listen, this is a lot, O. The news wasn't supposed to come out about us...why did you bring the cameras over there?"

"I didn't. I came over as I usually do. I never do interviews over there, always on the sidelines. I don't know why the journalist came over there but their camera isn't the reason this is out. Your friend is the reason it's out. She conveniently took a selfie with us in the back and posted it. This isn't my doing."

I sigh, "This is a mess."

"What did she say?"

"She deleted it but you know how quick they pick up things." I say. "But this is what you wanted anyway."

"Yeah, but not this way." He says.

"You told your mom and sister about me too. Why?"

"Because they knew I was involved with someone. I told them a while ago, and they didn't say anything. We've been at this for months, and the secret was safe on my end," he explained. "So, are we going to go through with this?"

"I really don't think that's a good idea. Plus, I really don't want to deal with Aubrey. I don't feel that he deserves a conversation."

"But you just said we could speak with him together."

"No I didn't, you did. I never agreed to that. That's a conversation that needs to happen between you and him. I don't owe him anything. Plus I'm trying to stay away from him. He tried to put me in jail." I say

"Aight. I'll talk to him then."

"I know you haven't talked to him in a long time. He's not the same person anymore. He's a little unhinged." I warn him.

"I got it. Don't worry about it."

"So like I was saying, I really don't think it's a good idea for us to go through with this and basically confirm a relationship. You and I have had relationship talks but we're still not there yet. I don't want to confirm a relationship when we're not actually in one."

"Okay, let's talk then." he suggested. "You know I want to be with you, you know I care about you and love you."

"But I don't feel the same way." I responded honestly. "I'm not in love with you, and I don't think I can provide what you're looking for. We agreed we weren't stepping into anything serious."

He looked disappointed. "I thought things would change as we progressed. Things between us have gotten better, but..."

"We're not even intimate. How good can things be?" I ask

"Well, that's another issue I wanna address." He says. "It's either him or me."

"Oh..." I chuckled, kinda look at him like he's crazy. "Do you think you're in a position to make a demand like that?"

"I'm tired of this situation. Me or him?" he pressed. "We have a strong enough connection where I can ask."

"Are you giving me an ultimatum?" I asked, amused.

"I guess so... yeah." He says, confidently.

"Okay then, I choose him." I say with a shrug.

He looked taken aback. "Damn, you're not even gonna think about it?"

"I don't handle ultimatums well, and the fact that you gave me one makes the decision for me." I calmly stated.

"What if I didn't give you an ultimatum and allowed you time to think about it?" He proposed.

"It would still be him." I replied firmly.

"You told me something different a few weeks ago." he reminded me.

"True, but that was before today," I responded, gathering my belongings.

"You're leaving?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes." I confirmed.

"Are we done?" he inquired.

"Yes." I answered decisively.

"Are you serious right now?" He says

"Yes, I am. I wish you nothing but a successful season and life. You're really great and I know you can make someone happy one day..."

"That sounds so rehearsed." He says

"It's not rehearsed. I had no intention of the outcome of this conversation being this, but it is what it is at this point." I shrug.

"Aight. Have fun in Vegas with the other him." He says then picks up his phone. "Remove my pics from your IG."

"I will." I say.

He stands up and walks over and hugs me. "I'm still here if you need me...back to just friends we go."

I smile at him then Ben and I leave.

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