The Guilty Pleasures of Reverend Such and Such

By Saadiq La'Rue

This book is addresses the obvious elephants in the room. Antoinette Wiggins is a collegiate athlete that is engaged to Patrick Willis who is also a former professional basketball player. Patrick leaves the court to preach the gospel. Toni has been supportive and stood by him throughout his gospel journey, but there is one thing that Patrick forgot to tell Toni............He is already married. This book is full of drama many twist and turns and the characters are easy to relate to because it is based on a true story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456710699

Saadiq La'Rue

Saadiq La'Rue was born and raised in Louisiana. She found a love for writing at an early age and an interest in sports during her junior high school years. Many of stories include sports drama from a womans perspective. She has made her debut into the wonderful world with her first published novel "The Guilty Pleasures of Reverend Such and Such which is based on a true story about her life and some of her friends. When asked what she loves most about writing she said, "It gives you the opportunity to be free, free to write what you want, express your emotionsand it doesnt have to be to anyones liking except your own. Writing is my therapy."

Book preview

Chapter 1

2.3 seconds left on the clock, the crowd was roaring and Toni was shaking at the free throw line. The pressure was on heavier than ever before because the winner of this game would advance to the Conference Championship. The score was tied as the referee handed her the ball, 2 shots #41. Toni took the ball not ready to shoot so she called a time out.

Both teams approached their benches and the coaches began their speeches. Coach Smith had been at West State University for 25 years and more than anything he wanted to win a championship before he retired, and this group of girls was capable of getting it. Antoinette Wiggins was a senior this year and she worked hard during the off-season to become his star player and leader on the floor. She had blossomed into much more than he expected watching her as a freshman. Alright ladies it’s here, this is what you’ve been working for, all the two a days, all of the suicides, all of the drills, have paid off and brought you to this very moment. We are in perfect position the game is tied up and Toni you have two free throw shots, all we need is one, Helena, A.D., be ready to rebound. Let’s go ladies make it count. After Coach Smith finished his speech Toni stacked up her team "Eagles on 3,….1,2,3 EAGLES!

The teams took the floor, the referee handed Toni the ball again and she launched the first shot, boink, she missed. Dammit! Toni slammed the ball on the floor and gave it back to the referee. The referee gave it back to her after she stretched and worked on her form a little at the free throw line. A.D. yelled, It’s ok Toni just concentrate. Toni knew Coach Smith would be mad but she had a riskier way of getting the two points she wanted. She had been practicing grabbing long rebounds all week and now was her chance to use her craft. Toni bricked the second free throw on purpose, took off down the middle of the lane got her own rebound, put it back up and scored. The buzzer went off and the crowd went wild, the lady Eagles were on their way to the conference championship in San Antonio, TX.

After the teams shook hands with each other Toni headed into the press conference and then off to the locker room to celebrate her victory with her teammates. Before she entered the locker room she saw Coach Smith standing in the hallway. Wiggins get over here Coach Smith was bright red, startled Toni approached him. He put his hand on her shoulder, smiled and said kid you almost gave me a damn heart attack, I’m getting too old for stunts like that. Whew! What a relief Toni thought to herself, she was expecting him to be extremely upset with her and ready to call her out in front of everyone. Coach Smith hated show boating or what Toni called ball handling. When Toni first came into the program at West State University the two of them were well known for their disagreements on the court. Toni often adjusted plays in the game or just did her own thing, and the one thing Coach Smith hated more than loosing was a smart ass. Over the course of time the two began to work out their issues. Toni was good at scoring and Coach Smith was excellent at drawing up defense, this caused the two to find some common ground.

Toni was one of the best female athletes in Louisiana but she had one of the worst tempers known to man. She had a short temper on the court and had been seen on ESPN flipping a chair over while arguing with her 63 year old coach. She was passionate on the court but outside of the game she was a kind and loving individual. Being a popular athlete in her small state brought her local fame and many perks. Whenever she was out in the community, she along with whoever she was with ate free, got deep discounts, or attended clubs and parties as V.I.P. Tonight she would attend a victory celebration at Club Illuminations as the hero of today’s game, and she planned to turn it out. On the court Toni was a beast but off the court she was a lady indeed. Toni’s closet consisted of Nike basketball shoes and stilettos. Being a female athlete could sometimes land you the label of being gay, and Toni was sure to show her softer side on a daily basis.

It was 10:00 P.M. as a black BMW M6 pulled up in front of Club Illuminations. When the doors of the car opened, Toni stepped out with 3 of her teammates. Yo Toni the bouncer was beckoning Toni and her friends to enter the club through the side door. Toni, Helena, A.D., and Katrina followed the bouncer and were seated in the V.I.P. section of the club on a plush white leather sofa. There was a complimentary bottle of Moet chilling on the table. Ron Jernigan who was the club owner loved having the Lady Eagles attend his club because they brought him business. Natchitoches was a small college town on weekdays traffic was thick on all of the main streets, but on weekends the place looked like a ghost town. There were only two things to do in Natchitoches and that was to attend a collegiate sporting event or the City of Lights Christmas Festival.

The sound of Soulja Slim’s song I’ll pay for it filled the club. I’ll pay for it, I’ll pay for it, I’ll pay for it, I’ll pay for it, if I want it, if I want it, if I want it, if I want it I’m a leave some passion marks are fire red suck on that neck like a vamp when we in that bed I’m not ‘Jada’ I stopped ‘kissin’ along time ago

The club was packed wall to wall and the sororities and fraternities were strutting while the non-Greeks shook their asses on the dance floor. Toni popped open the bottle of champagne, poured a glass for each of her teammates, sat back and began to take in the party scene. While sipping her champagne and accepting many accolades and congratulations on wining a tough game Toni decided she was too tired to dance. The D.J. gave a shout out of congratulations to the lady eagles and Katrina yelled to her teammates let’s go dance. Toni told her teammates to go ahead without her, because her feet were sore from today’s game, but that still didn’t stop her from wearing her 3 inch Carrie by Guess Marciano stilettos. She also wore a tiny black fitted dress which she had purchased from Express which she practically had to pour herself into.

While sitting in V.I.P. a familiar face appeared from the crowd and approached Toni. The tall and very attractive man invited himself to sit down next to Toni and asked her why she wasn’t dancing. My feet hurt and I just want to chill tonight Toni looked him over this guy was definitely up on his fashion game, he was wearing a black Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater and twill pants with a pair of black Prada drivers. His face looked familiar but she couldn’t remember where she could have known him from. The gentleman reached over and put his arm around Toni she pushed him away and said, Excuse me but I don’t know you so please don’t put your arm around me. The young man with a shocked look on his face said I’m sorry I thought you would remember me I’m Patrick Willis, I use to play in the same conference as u at McNeal State a few years ago. Toni remembered him, Patrick was 7 years older than her and they were from the same town. He was very popular because he was good at basketball but also because his father Frank was a well known minister in Shreveport. Patrick played in the NBA for one season but was released for an unknown reason. There was a rumor that he was having an affair with the owner of his team’s wife. Many people had expected him to follow in his father’s footsteps and preach the gospel but he had dreams of his own. Toni stuck her hand out, I’m Toni Wiggins, with his ego bruised he grabbed her hand and said I’m Patrick. So Miss Toni that was one hell of a game you played today. With a smile on her face she bid him thanks. It’s my senior year and I’m not going down without a fight, it’s now or never. My Coach told us during pre-season that this would be his last year coaching he wants to retires so it’s not just about me I want us both to leave this place with a ring, ya feel me?

The entire time that Toni was talking Patrick couldn’t help but notice her long, smooth and sexy legs. So Mr. Willis what has brought you to the great city of Natchitoches, I’m more than sure the highlight of your week wasn’t a lady Eagles basketball game. He began explaining to her that he was in town for the weekend visiting a friend and he just happened to catch the game with them. Still checking out her perfectly built body he asked, Why are you sitting her all alone and where is your man? Toni never thought she would see the day that Patrick Willis would be asking about her man, was he flirting with her? The 6’1 caramel complexion having Diva made eye contact with the handsome man and said, I don’t have one. Uh oh, please don’t tell me you are flipping on the wrong side of the fence. What? Oh hell no! Toni was offended at his comment, There you go stereotyping me. I am not gay I am just single right now. I had a boyfriend that played football at LSU but we broke up after he went pro.

Patrick grabbed Toni’s hand, I’m very sorry to hear that but happy at the same time because I would love to take you out for lunch tomorrow. Toni declined his offer; I eat my lunch on the way to the coliseum every day, thanks for the offer but maybe some other time. My team will be having 2 a days this week for the championship game next Saturday and I plan to leave San Antonio owning a championship ring. Shut down again, Patrick wasn’t used to being turned down, women worshipped the ground he walked on. This made him want Toni even more, now that he knew she wouldn’t be an easy win. I understand that but basketball season will be over in 4 weeks, what are your plans after the season Miss Senior? Are you walking across the stage in May or what? I saw the media guide today and I didn’t read anything about your future plans. The truth is Toni wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do after college but she knew she wanted to help people. Yes sir as a matter of fact I will have my B.S. in Biology and I am thinking of going back to Shreveport to do some coaching and maybe teach a few science classes. Speaking of career plans what is it that you are doing now with yourself Patrick? I’ve been playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico for the last 3 years. Sweet! I use to think I wanted to play professional but I think I am ready to retire from the game and besides I heard that women don’t make as much as men do. Still intrigued with his life Toni continued to ask questions. What is Puerto Rico like? Honestly it’s a very beautiful place but at the same time it’s a very lonely place. I have no family around, I make very good money but I am constantly homesick. Toni believed Patrick she had heard that part of the story many times and that was her main reason for deciding not to play professional sports overseas.

The night was getting old, it was after 12 A.M. and Toni was