Page 103 of Fumble Into the End Zone

Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I opened the video from Harley.

Hi, Mrs. Mia! Please say yes, okay? I want you to be my mom,” she said through the video. Mia covered her mouth as tears cascaded down her face.

“She is already mine. I can’t believe she kept a secret from me,” she said.

“I told her before she left. You know Harley can’t keep a secret,” I said, and we both burst into laughter.

Mia

I pulled into Stacie’s driveway ringless, and it hurt my heart. Marcus and I decided this morning before he checked into the hotel to delay telling family and friends. We both wanted to tell Harley together and allow her space to express her thoughts. This morning, she popped on the screen with eye patches, and I couldn’t hold in my laughter. They were still in glam mode, and I didn’t want to interrupt. We needed to get our daughter on board with the surprise. I also didn’t want wedding plans to overshadow the Armadillos getting to the Elite Bowl. Marcus needs to be focused and a part of me wanted to keep things between us for a while.

This morning, Marcus and I struggled to separate. We kissed hard and hugged until I cried. I would rather stay in bed andrelax, but I promised Stacie we would get together. Kindness and I haven’t been good friends to her, with our lives spinning at the same time. Thinking about it, I haven’t been forthcoming with my life, either. With Marcus and me moving at the seat of our pants, I didn’t aspire to be judged.

I removed Stacie’s gift from the back seat and exited the door. If diamond earrings didn’t sayHey, friend, I’m sorry,I’m not sure what does. Walking to the front door, I heard voices yelling.

“It’s nothing to have the moving company get your shit, Rex,” Stacie yelled.

“Oh, shit,” I said to myself.

“Stacie, you’re overreacting. We don’t even know if the baby is mine and you’re ready to throw what we have away,” Rex’s voice boomed.

My mind traveled back to us at the baseball game and to my trauma. Nathan and I had this same conversation right after he told me about Onna.

“The point is, you fucked her. Hello, you sped past you cheating quicker than your weak ass fast ball,” Stacie yelled back.

Pieces of my heart broke for Stacie. I turned to go back to my car, no longer wanting to be part of their conversation.

“Your friend Mia stood beside Nathan,” Rex said, and it pissed me off.

A piece of glass shattered, and I pulled out my phone to call the police.

“Don’t you ever bring up my friend. Your cousin damn near broke her and you won’t get the chance. Now, get out!” Stacie belted, enraged.

Rex pulled the door open, and we made eye contact. I stepped away from the door and he passed me in pursuit of his exit. Stacie followed behind and found me before she brokedown. I opened the door, pulled her back inside, and wrapped my arms around her neck.

“I couldn’t get your voice out of my head after the baseball game,” Stacie said, as she cried into my shoulder.

I remained quiet, holding her hand. When I found myself in this situation, I didn’t want solutions because I wasn’t ready to hear them. At the time, I wanted someone to listen and not fix it.

“I went on a hunt and there she was, Tori. Six months pregnant with their first child. Mia, you know my past. This shit hit different.”

The name sounded familiar to me, but I couldn’t remember how.

“Nathan’s baby momma hooked them up. The one with the cheap lace front,” Stacie informed, and the pieces connected for me.

Tori had a bigger problem with me than her cousin, Latrice. Co-parenting was cordial until she would come around with her head rolling and smart-ass mouth.

“I’m sorry Rex said those things about you,” Stacie apologized.

“It’s okay. I’m not bothered by his comment,” I replied and wiped at one of her tears.

Stacie’s phone vibrated again and, at this point, we both lost count. We knew it was Rex again, with his lame ass excuses.

“I wish he would leave me alone,” Stacie said through gritted teeth.

“Friend, he isn’t going to walk away. This is the beginning of theI’m sorryand gaslighting. When you get yourself in a good place, you need to decide your next step. I will support you the same way you supported me,” I said.

Stacie removed her head from my shoulder and glared at me. “Be a better friend to me than I was to you. I should have told you to leave Nathan and not accept the bullshit he offered. Youdeserved a better man and a better friend. And I’m sorry for my role in watching you hurt,” she said to me.

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