Page 66 of The Trade

“Thank you.” I give him a grateful nod, appreciating the small victory. “Shan, it’s good to see you.”

“Hey, West,” Shannon chimes in, her voice as warm as usual. “Glad you made it.”

With the spotlight back on me, Mica refocuses his piercing gaze. “So, Lili tells me you’re a running back.”

A weighted pause lingers as I assess his agenda. It’s clear where he’s trying to steer the conversation. He’s testing me, anticipating that I’ll spend the night talking about myself, hoping for a connection through football, all while vying for the approval of an NFL player.

But tonight isn’t about that.

Yes, I’m awestruck by the guy. He’s undeniably one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and his talent as a defensive back is legendary. However, my primary focus is on the woman by my side—Jade, my girl, and her family.

I’ve already made enough mistakes tonight; I can’t afford to lose sight of what truly matters.

“Yeah,” I say, maintaining my composure and subtly steering the conversation. “That’s right. But first, I need to graduate.”

“Really?” Mica probes further, continuing his examination. “No plans for an early declaration?”

I wave off the suggestion, deflecting his attention. “Nah. You finished your degree, right? Jade mentioned your ridiculously high GPA in college.”

“Oh, she did, did she?” Mica smirks, reclining in his chair. There’s a flicker of amusement in his eyes now. “Well, I’ll be damned, Lil.”

Jade rolls her eyes playfully, failing to suppress a smile. “Oh, shut up. You know I think you’re smart.”

“She does,” I say, seeking to boost the man’s ego even further. “She almost never takes off that hand-me-down sweatshirt you gave her.”

“Really?” Mica chuckles, his tension dissipating like smoke in the wind. “Little Lili just loves me so much.”

Jade snorts, attempting to hide her amusement but failing miserably. “You’re full of yourself.”

“I mean, he’s not wrong,” I chime in once again. “Actually, man, do you have any tips on becoming Jade’s favorite person?”

“Oh, so you think you can just take over my spot?”

Leaning back in my seat, a sliver of tension finally rolls off my shoulders. “Well, I guess that’s up to Jade.”

“Yeah,” he murmurs in response, a newfound ease in his voice. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

With the arrival of our food, we indulge in another round of drinks. Jade sticks to a simple gin and tonic, while Shannon opts for a virgin margarita. As for me, I remind myself to pace my alcohol consumption, limiting myself to two drinks at most.

After that awkward first impression, the last thing I want is to stumble through the night, intoxicated in front of Jade’s brother.

Surprisingly, the conversation steers clear of football altogether. It’s a nice feeling knowing that our connection can go beyond the realm of sports. And as we eat, we talk about our favorite movies, reminisce about shit we got up to in high school, and the siblings delve into the nostalgia of growing up together.

Mica, it seems, was a rebel with a brain, his intelligence shining through even amidst his rule-breaking antics. On the other hand, Jade, though a rule-follower by nature, has always possessed an inner fire, a certain feistiness to her that can’t be tamed.

“Lil, remember that time you fell in a ditch outside Mr. Grady’s house?” Mica leans back in his chair, his beer bottle tipping slightly.

“It’s hard to forget,” Jade mutters, her voice laced with a mix of exasperation and fondness, a delicate burst of laughter escaping her lips.

“She didn’t want us to call Mom and Dad,” he says with a chuckle, his eyes flickering toward Shannon and me. “But I had to play the hero and rescue her with a rope from Dad’s shed.”

Jade folds her arms across her chest. “We weren’t supposed to be playing there.”

“Yeah, well.” Mica snorts. “You’re lucky I was there to save your life.”

“You always exaggerate!” Jade scolds, a playful glint in her eyes. “You know, you and West are two dramatic peas in a pod.”

I join in, embracing the lighthearted banter. “She likes to pretend I’m some kind of drama queen.”

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