by Ni-Ni Simone
“Hey, baby,” I said weakly. I held my head up a little, pointed to the balloons and said, “Aw, boo. You shouldn’t have.”
“I just wanted to check on you. You know it’s Sunday so I was at Big Ma’s. And when I told her you were sick, she wanted me to bring you her homemade chicken noodle soup with a splash of brandy.”
“That’s so sweet.” I lifted my head and looked over at Zaire.
“Why do you have on makeup if you’re sick?”
Dang! Think... think... think... “Because,” I said. “I, umm, was thinking about surprising you and maybe coming to see you.”
“Oh wow, love. But you know I don’t do sick. The last time I was sick I missed work for a week. And then I got sick again once I looked at my paycheck.”
“And heaven forbid if that happens to you again,” I mumbled.
“What you say, love?”
“I was saying, thank you for checking on me.”
“I wanted to see you.”
I gave him a quick smile. “Well. Now you see me.”
“I miss you.”
I hesitated. Because the truth was I missed him too. I missed who he was when we first met. I missed the spontaneity. I missed the surprise. I missed being in love with my man. I missed wanting to be with him. And I wanted so badly to tell him that, because I needed him to know that if he didn’t hurry up and start to love me the way I needed him to, that these feelings . . . these unexpected feelings for Josiah, would keep hitting me like a gut punch. And force me to have to choose between them.
Talk to him . . . Talk. To him. “Zaire, umm, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute. Can you come sit down?”
“Nah. But what I can do is call you when I get home. This way we can kick it on the phone and I don’t have to worry about having the flu and missing work.”
Was he serious?
“All right?” he asked.
He was serious. And no, it’s not all right. “Yeah, sure.”
“Cool. I’ll hollah at you in a minute.”
“Yeah, you do that.”
He waved, and a few moments later, he disappeared from the doorway. Once I heard the front door close, Khya and Courtney rushed into my room.
“Whew, girl.” Khya wiped invisible sweat from her brow. “That was close.”
“Sure was.” Courtney fanned his face. “Scared the fruitloop outta me.”
I shook my head. “You know I asked him to come sit and talk to me.”
“You did?” Khya said, surprised.
I nodded. “Yeah. I did. But of course, he didn’t.”
“You knew he wouldn’t.”
“I know, but . . . I just wanted to really express how I felt. I don’t think he understands how unhappy I am. And I need him to understand that.”
“Seven, I am not trying to sound like Shae. But. If you want to be with Zaire, then be with him. Stop trying to change him. Like really, you know how much time you’re about to waste with that?”
“But, Khya—”
“But, nothing. If you’re feeling that sad about your relationship with Z-boring, then don’t go to Jo-hot’s game. Sit here. And I’ll tell you how it was when I come back. Right, Courtney?”
“Not exactly. I need to go run up on Big Honey for a minute.”
“How gross.” I frowned. “Anyway, Khya, I never said I wasn’t going to the game.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” Khya snapped her fingers. “Trust. If you follow me and play it right, I’ma have it so tight that you gon’ be able to marry Zaire on Friday and Josiah on Saturday night. Hollah.”
19
You want me to stop . . .
The stadium was packed and screaming fans were everywhere. People waved Stiles U Wolves flags, hoisted jerseys, and held homemade signs in the air. Sororities were on one end of the stands catcalling. Fraternities were on the other end making drumbeats with their Timbs and canes, and, of course, the Ques were barking.
The cheerleaders were on the floor doing the tootsie roll while the teams lined up and prepared to be introduced.
Television cameras were all over and coaches were doing spot interviews. The atmosphere was on ten and everybody was chanting, “Getcha howl on!”
Hands down this was the place to be.
The Wolves were the best team in the college league.
Now all they had to do was prove it.
Khya grinned extra hard as Bling’s stats were called and he strutted out into the center of the court. “That’s my man, y’all! Bling, Bling, Bling! Owwww!” She popped up from her seat and broke out into the snake .
“Can you calm down?” I looked at her like she was insane.
“Don’t hate, Seven.” She took her seat. “You already see I’m trying to be calm and not be too over-the-top.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m trying to be less groupie-fied and more wifey-fied. I’m not getting any younger, and my next phase of Operation Snag-an-Athlete is to have one put a ring on it.”
What? “Oh. Okay.”
Khya paused and pointed toward the court. “There goes lil Hot Tamale. Josiah in the house!”
I looked and Josiah gave me a small wave. I couldn’t believe out of all the people in here he spotted me.
Or was he just waving at the stands?
Stop thinking like that.
I gave him a thumbs-up and the cheesiest fifth-grade smile in the world. I didn’t know if he saw it or not, but I was hoping that he did.
Shae shook her head in disgust. “You are really playing your boyfriend.” She frowned.
I looked over at her, arched a brow, and said, “Excuse you?”
“You heard me.”
“Would you just drop it, Shae?” I turned away from her and did my best to focus on each team as the players were introduced.
Shae continued, “Yeah, the lights, and camera, and attention are glamorous. But they don’t last.”
Don’t say a word. Just concentrate on the jump ball . . . Dang, the opposing team got it. Made a shot. They missed. Bling grabbed the ball. Passed it to Josiah. He made a three-point play.
“Yes!” I cheered as practically everyone in the stands—except Shae, of course—jumped up from their seats and screamed.
After a moment of excitement, I sat back down, and as if she’d been on pause, Shae resumed her rant. “But you know what will last? Love. Someone loving you enough to come and see you and bring you soup when you lie and say you’re sick. Not someone who will cheat on you the first moment they get.”
That did it!
“What is your problem?” I snapped.
“You. And your stupid decisions!”
“Whether you think they’re stupid or not, I have a right to make them. So step off and stop sweatin’ me so hard. Let it go. You act like I’m cheating on you or something!”
“Excuse me.” Khya leaned over and whispered, “Can you two save that for when we get back home? I can referee a fight at that time. But as for now, we’re at the game.”
I guess Shae agreed because she was silent for about three minutes and then she started up all over again. “You know what you’re doing isn’t right, Seven!”
“So? And? Why are you all up in my business like that? Fall back. So Zaire brought me balloons and soup. And? But I tell you what, since you’re on it like that, next time I’ll tell him to bring you some! But as for me, I can’t put up with that anymore. If you like it, then you date him. I’m done.”
Khya nodded. “Finished. Now can we get back to the game, please?”
“That’s crazy, Seven!” Shae screamed.
“Crazy? Really? So was it crazy when you were sick a few weeks ago and not only did Country not do a gig, but he came to your room and crawled in bed with you? Was that crazy?”
“Nope,” Khya said. “That was real cute.”
Shae didn’t respond.
“Now you don’t have anything to say. But you know it wasn’t crazy. And you wouldn’t accep
t anything less. But I should accept less, because you wanna be all up in my business. Shae, beat it with that.”
“So you’re trying to say that Zaire doesn’t love you?” Shae pressed.
“He loves me, but it’s not enough.”
“Do we really have to have this conversation here?” Khya asked.
Shae carried on. “Well, I know you don’t think that Josiah loves you, because if you do, you’re about to be played and suckered all over again!”
What?
Khya gasped. “That was low, Shae.”
“Whatever,” I said. “I don’t have to explain my life to you. All you need to know is that Josiah’s not going anywhere and if you’re my friend—”
“If?”
“Yeah, if you’re my friend, then you need to learn to play your position and be happy with who makes me happy. Period!”
“Seven, that sounds crazy. Especially if I know that who makes you happy is going to hurt you again!”
“I’m hurting now. Zaire doesn’t make me feel good. It’s to the point where I feel like I don’t even want to be around him.”
“Then break up with him.”
“I’m not ready to do that yet.”
“That’s just a mess. All I know is that Josiah is not the one.”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because when Josiah hurt you, he hurt me!”
“But you weren’t with him. I was the girlfriend. Not you.”
“Y’all about to come to blows in a minute. Drop it,” Khya insisted.
“Seven, let’s not forget how many nights I cried with you. You know how many of your tears I wiped? And then he comes along and the first I’m sorry he drops on you, he has you wrapped around his finger again! Really, Seven? Really! Seriously?”
“Shae, you are straight outta pocket. And in case you missed the memo, you are not my mother. You are my friend. And that’s who I need you to be. You can’t run my life. ’Cause at the end of the day, I’ma handle my business my way. So stay in your lane and let me live.”
Shae stared at me and I could tell that she had a million thoughts running through her mind, pulling her in every direction. “You know what, I’ma let you get that. And when he acts stupid again and you have effed things up with Zaire, I’ma be there. But I’ma have a million I-told-you-so’s and I will not be saying them behind your back!”
“Whatever!”
“Yeah, whatever. Josiah gon’ mess around and I’ma punch him in his face.”
All I could do was chuckle at that. “I already told you that you are five-three and he is six-four.”
“Look,” Khya said, “can we please get back to the game? ’Cause I have missed all of my baby’s shots waiting for you two to bust it out to the white meat.”
I guess silence was our way of moving on, because before long we’d refocused our attention on the game and soon got our cheering on.
I promise you the cheerleaders didn’t have a thing on us, as we chanted, “Go Wolves!” And everyone in the stands joined in, with the exception of a few who were fans of the other team.
Whatever.
This was the Wolves’ house.
Period.
By the time the fourth quarter came around and the game was down to the last few seconds, my heart thundered in my chest.
The score was tied.
I swear I wanted to close my eyes for fear that we would lose. But every time I placed my hands over them, I would peek between my fingers and look at the scoreboard.
Come on, y’all!
The Wolves had to win, because Josiah had a lot riding on this. And if they didn’t beat the Chiefs—the other team—then they would be second best. And second best wasn’t good enough. Not when you’re supposed to be number one. And besides, I didn’t want anyone saying that the star point-guard had led the pack down the wrong track.
Jesus, please . . .
Josiah raced from one end of the court toward the basket. But out of nowhere, one of the Chiefs’ point guards snatched the ball, rushed toward the other end and scored.
I slapped the palm of my hand against my forehead. I could look in Josiah’s face and tell that he was nervous.
He bit the left corner of his bottom lip.
That meant he was scared.
Please...
Bling and a few of the other Wolves ran to the opposing end of the court and did all they could to regain the ball. Josiah hung out center court and every which way he turned a guard was on him.
Dang, back up!
The clock was winding down and the other team was up by two.
“I can’t take this!” I turned to Khya and buried my head in her shoulder.
“Me either!” Khya said. “ ’Cause if this fool loses, that’s it for me and Bling.” She sniffed.
Was she crying? I looked up at her. She had a glimmer of tears in her eyes. “You can’t be for real. Are you crying?”
“I’m just feeling a little emotional right now. Because I’ma hate to break up with Bling.”
“Why would you break up with him?”
“Because . . . my rep is on the line here. I can’t date a loser. That is so anti-cute.”
All I could say was, “Something is not right with you.”
I turned back to the game.
Josiah ran toward the opposing end. He stopped. Scanned the floor.
Ran over to the player with the ball, the one who Bling was guarding.
The player aimed. Took a shot. He missed.
Bling caught the ball.
Yes!
He tossed it to Josiah.
Josiah caught it.
Yes!
Everybody in the stands stood up, and for a moment, it seemed the whole world had paused.
Josiah dribbled the ball.
Get closer to the basket, baby!
Dang, his guard was on him.
He spun around.
His guard was still on him.
Josiah looked from left to right.
Dribbled the ball, chanced it, and sailed it across the court.
Bzzzzz . . .
Just as the clock ran down, the ball swished through the basket and the crowd went wild! Josiah made a three-point play and the Wolves had won!
Reporters, fans, and players filled the center of the court.
Khya and I slammed each other with a high five. Shae jumped up and screamed, “Even though I can’t stand Josiah, that mofo can play some ball! Whaaat!” She gave me a pound and we bumped hips. “Okay now.”
“Pow!” Khya screamed in excitement.
“Seven!” came from behind me.
I turned around and there was a sweaty and smiling Josiah. He hugged me so tight that my feet came off the floor. He spun around with me in his arms and said, “Thank you for always bringing out the best in me.”
“Josiah,” I said, in utter surprise.
“I fly better when you’re around.” He kissed me in the center of my forehead. I closed my eyes and hugged him with all that I had. And usually I didn’t do sweat and wringing-wet uniforms, but the imperfections of this moment were what made it perfect.
“I fly better when you’re around too, baby.” I laid my head in the center of his chest, closed my eyes, and melted into his winning heartbeat.
20
Refill . . .
This party was everything. Country killed the ones and twos, as my girls and I stepped into the Wolves’ impromptu celebration and maneuvered our way through the thick crowd.
Folks were everywhere, getting their groove on and celebrating tonight’s championship win. Some were poppin’ bottles, a few were reenacting what they’d thought were the best shots on the court, and everybody else was straight up tearin’ the wall down.
The crowd spilled from the apartment and into the hallway. Everyone was on a winner’s high.
And why not?
Hmph, we had the best team in the college league!
Amen.
“Roomies, I can see
it now.” Khya did a spontaneous running man. “My name in lights and I’ma be the top housewife on a reality show. I’ma be the one who starts all the drama.”
“You don’t say.” I gasped as theatrically as I knew how.
“I just knew you’d be the peacemaker.” Shae laughed.
“And get fired? Chile, please.” Khya waved her hand.
“Oh my God!” Khya squealed, as a Frank Ocean slow song played. “This. Is. My. Jam!” She spun around and looked from side to side. “Where is Bling?” She paused. “Oh, there he is. Look-a here—y’all my girls and all, but I gotta go. ’Cause this is my song and I need my boo to hold me.”
As Khya disappeared into the crowd, Shae cleared her throat and said, “I hate to break our lil session up, but Khya is not the only one who needs to be held. So I need to go and greet my man.”
“Bye, Cornbread.” I playfully rolled my eyes.
Shae sauntered over to Country and I walked over to the small square table in the far corner of the room and poured myself a cup of Sprite.
And, oh my God . . . as I sipped my drink, “Aw, Big Honey. Give it to me now!” came from the left of me. “Let me wrap my boa around you, girl!”
“Ill.” I looked over and there was Courtney with some chick who made four of him. His boney arms barely made it around her hips as they did the slow wind, grinding on each other. I was disgusted so I had to step away before I what?
Threw up all in my mouth.
“Yo, I was standing across the room.” A whisper poured over my shoulder and instantly sent chills through me.
I knew it was Josiah. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I smiled.
He continued, “And I was looking at you and saying to myself, she looks cute enough to kick it to.”
“And?”
“So I came over and figured I’d just step up to you. Introduce myself. And see where we could go from here.” He turned me around in his arms and I faced him. “What do you think about that?”
“I think that’s a fly idea.”
“Oh, really?” He moved in for a kiss.
“Yes, really.” I kissed him back and just as we got lost in the heated passion of our tongues, I felt someone bump into my back and immediately Zaire invaded my thoughts.
“Oh God!” I spun around.
A chick, whom I’d seen around campus here and there, looked at me apologetically and said, “I’m so sorry.”
