2 YEARS EARLIER...
"YOU READY?" kaiya's voice rang through the nervous man's ears. he took another look at himself in the suit she picked out, blowing an additional breath as he nodded to his girlfriend of 5 years.
she turned his body to face her and caressed his face. "you look so good" she attempted to lift his mood.
it was successful as his face lit up in a smile. the view of his straight, white teeth made joy rush through her heart. "thank you baby." he replied, leaving a light kiss on her lips.
she smoothed down his blazer before sighing at a knock on the door. in came his mother, denise. she held a camera in her hand, capturing the couple standing at the mirror.
"aww, my babies." she cooed while staring down at the screen. kaiya and tyrese had been together since freshman year, so she treated kaiya like her own child. kaiya's family was... weird to say the least.
they didn't treat her right at all, something that the maxey's hated. they understood that the fox's just wanted the best for their oldest child, but they just had a son and tyrese could tell he was already being treated better than sekaiya ever was in her 19 years of living.
the girl never let it bother her though, allowing herself to live her life how she wanted to because that's all she could.
"ma! you got us mid-kiss" tyrese groaned, departing from his girlfriend's touch. he moved into a hug with his mother while the room went silent and cheers being heard from downstairs.
because of covid, the camera crew was here in dallas instead of las vegas. the rest of their small friend group was watching the draft in the TV, waiting for them to call his name.
she could sense tyrese was getting timid when they called the 5th player and he still was sitting there, so she brought him upstairs in order to calm his nerves.
she knew him like the back of her hand 'n knew he would regret being nervous on the best day of his life.
he'd worked endlessly for this goal; working out everyday of the week, eating right, putting his sport above the parties that he always got invited to.
he'd met massive success at the university of kentucky, so him being drafted was a no brainer for everybody.
even with all this, he still made a priority to make time for the people he loved. especially sekaiya.
that was a thing she adored about him. the fact that he never wanted her to feel like she was alone in the world because she always had him.
"how do you feel boy?" the question that everyone'd been asking him.
he still didn't have an answer.
"ty, imma go downstairs with lina 'n them. come soon though 'cause i don't wanna look dumb as fuck boohooin' onnat camera." she left with a smile.
she left him and his mother alone in the room and went to go chat amongst their friends. she really just went down there to see if they were speaking mess in front of the camera.
"no matter how hard they try... no one can take the dallas out of that girl" denise laughed as the door closed.
tyrese smiled at her comment. the woman took another up and down look at her son, and he knew what was next.
"mama don't—" he warned and forced himself to look up. he knew if she cried he was gonna cry even harder.
she tried to hold back the tears but they just starting flowing freely. "my baby's going to the league," a sniffle left her nose "how can i not cry tyrese?"
he quickly wiped the tears that flew down his face. his bright smile never left his lips and was getting even bigger at all the kind words.
"you've done so much for yourself already.. you deserve this baby" denise continued on. it was now his turn to sniffle because she was right.
achieve this was something very few got to do, and he was nothing but proud of himself for doing so.
he decided to not suck it up for he was in trusting company. sobs began to leave his mouth as his face hid in his mothers shoulder.
he hadn't even gotten drafted yet, but just the mere fact that he was was enough to send him into a spiral.
all he'd accomplished, all he'd worked for. led him to this moment in his life. the start on his path to stardom.
his dad knocked on the door as well, ushering hik to come downstairs. "c'mon now boy, we don't wanna miss it!"
he wiped the streaks off of his face and trudged down the stairs to the remainder of his friends and family.
he took a seat beside kaiya, who placed her hand on his thigh and looked up at him. "you ready?" she repeated for the second time that hour.
he could seem only to nod this time. the sounds of Common the People's 'The Light" ran throughout the house, his friends joining him and his girlfriend at the table.
it was now pick 14 'n he still wasn't called. his nerves were bouta be on edge again, so the presence of his loved ones was much appreciated.
lina held her ribs and greens in her plate and flopped onto the gold chair. "y'know what maxey? íon care wherever the hell you go, but it better have some good home-cookin!" she pointed down at the plate.
shai took a piece of her slice of cornbread off the plate and earned a hit to the chest. luka laughed at the 2, along with ambiance. their gang took up the whole table, not even making room for the people that made tyrese.
well except shai, who instantly stood up. he was house trained better than that 'n as the boat rows, his other friends followed suite.
he intertwined their fingers and kissed between her knuckles before landing on her lips. "whatever happens.. i love you. okay?" the 6'2 guard voiced.
she welcomed the reassurances and turned her attention to the television screen. it was now pick 20, but she had a feeling that his name was gonna be next because the cameras set up in front of them.
she squeezed his hand as her thumb ran across the middle of his thumb and pointer. "i love you too maxey."
the familiar chime rang. it was time.
"AND IN THE 2020 NBA DRAFT; THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS SELECT... TYRESE MAXEY."
Philadelphia 76ers @sixers • 3s
Welcome to the city of Brotherly Love, Mad Maxey!!!
Tyler @user
congrats tyrese!!
❤️ 619
WadesCounty4 @user
never trade him
❤️ 102
Cam (Temp heat fan) @user
the best thing to happen to my sixers
❤️ 382
HOTDOG WATER @user
i can see this being good
❤️ 1.0K
Mr. gritz @user
next demar derozan
❤️ 491
cari @user
who dis 🌚😍
❤️ 750
nola unsworth @user
what is on his head
❤️ 139
reseSZN @user
that chip coming ASAP!
___
authors note.
idk why this took me so long whew but W CHAPTER????