Continued from You Going To Answer That?

Let’s get something straight right now. When something is not right, and I get this nagging gut feeling about someone I am with, I follow that instinct. The thought just doesn’t appear out of nowhere.

So, when Preston’s phone kept ringing through the night, and he kept leaving the room to have conversation, I knew something was up. My first thought was maybe it was his coach, agent, or one of his teammates. Then, it stung me like a hundred bees. Preston has not told me everything. He is holding something back. We’ve only been together for two nights, and this was nothing serious, so I had no right to question him. WRONG!!! I had every right.

I did just that. I asked him if there was something I needed to know- more importantly, if he had a family. “I have two children. They live with their mother. I see them on the off-seasons.”

He didn’t offer anything else. I took that and I accepted what Preston told me. But, of course I knew he was sleeping with women. Preston is a professional sports athlete. He is a basketball player. He’s on the road and travels a lot. Women are always throwing themselves at him. He told me about the many women who hand the pussy over on a platter. Besides, he has to keep his cover.

So, maybe the person calling was his woman. His girl that serves as his cover, but unbeknownst to her, she is unaware of Preston’s lifestyle.

I have been with many men who have women on the side, especially in this entertainment game. When I was a down low man I had my girl, and my man on the side. It was nothing out of the ordinary. It is part of the program. Most down low men in the entertainment business will not date another man who doesn’t have a girl. A down low man needs the assurance that the man he is sleeping with has just as much to lose as he does. Neither of us are going to run the risk of being outed, and losing our careers, family, and relationships.

With that, me and Preston continued our sex sessions strong for the entire week. I began to ignore his cell phone constantly ringing and him leaving the room to have a conversation. I just accepted it. Preston had me sprung. Yup, he sure did. Because to solidify he was serious about me and him, by the end of the week he brought me one of his personal team’s jersey.

“Here you go,” Preston said as he pulled the jersey from behind his back. “This is for you.”
“This is for me,” I said jubilant. I stared at his number. I had memorized the double-digit number from when I googled him on-line. I was going to make sure to find his number while I watched him run up and down the court.
“I want you to have it,” he said.
“WOW!” I was over the top in excitement. I immediately tried it on. I pulled it over my head and stood in front of the mirror. His smell was still lingering on it. I smoothed it out and profiled with him standing behind me. And he was standing there with that huge beautiful smile on his face.

This wasn’t the type of jersey you go into a sports store and buy off-the-rack, it was his own personal team jersey. No man had ever given me his personal jersey. Did this mean he and I were serious? Did that mean he trusted me and knew I wouldn’t say anything? Well, one thing for sure, I was hooked on Preston now. He had me and he knew it.

That weekend Preston introduced me to one of his best friends. He wasn’t an athlete, but one of his childhood friends. A cool brother and unaware of me and Preston’s relationship. Now that I was hanging with the best friend, Preston began to let his guard down further.

One day he told me to meet him downstairs in the lobby. “Ride with me,” Preston smiled sneakily.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
We pulled up to a beautiful home. As soon as the car pulled up, an older woman came through the front door. It was his mother. Preston was taking me to introduce me to her. A wonderful woman. Such a warm spirit and very loving. She readily accepted me. I was now on the “in.” I met two important people in his life.

Maybe this was love? Maybe Preston was the man of my dreams.

Check back Monday when Terrance goes deeper.

Terrance Dean is the Author of “Hiding In Hip Hop – On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood”

www.myspace.com/hidinginhiphop.com