Page 13 of Overdue Feelings
“Bye, Nadine.” I shook my head before taking one last glance at Ares. How was I going to get through an entire school year sharing space with him?
I watchedfrom the track as Ares walked a limping sixth grader back inside the building.
“He said it might be sprained,” Zee muttered, jogging up beside me, looking like Brittney Griner.
“At least it ain’t broken,” I said, eyes still on Ares. “Malachi okay otherwise?”
“He good. Kept askin’ if he could still try out.”
“That sound like him. That boy just wanna hoop.” I shook my head, hoping this little sprain wouldn’t end his season. I turned back to the track. “Last two laps,” I said to the squad. Day five of middle school basketball tryouts was in full swing, and we’d barely gotten through warm-ups before Malachi was lying on the ground holding his ankle. I was thankful that Ares was still inthe building to take care of him. I scanned the track before my eyes drifted to the school doors just as Ares and Malachi made it inside.
“So… You really not gon’ speak to him?” Zee leaned against the bleachers. “Like at all?”
“Here you go.”
“What? The tension is thick as hell. Don’t act like you can’t feel it.”
“I don’t feel shit,” I lied, fanning her off. “I just ain’t got time to acknowledge a nigga who disappeared without even looking back.” I sat back, making myself comfortable on the bleachers. I couldn’t control Ares popping up here, but I ain’t have to be buddy buddy with his ass. Our friendship had expired long ago.
“He still used to be your best friend.” She shrugged. “It’s kinda weird that you can’t even be cordial. Are you going to spend the entire year using your little sister as a translator?”
I stared at Zee, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t like him being here. Didn’t like what him being here was doing to Creek. Didn’t like what it was doing to me. I’d never been a jealous nigga, never held grudges or been worried about minding another man’s business. Ares’s return, though, was fucking with me.
“What you think he back for?” Zee joined me on the bleachers. “You think it’s Creek?”
“If he came back for her, he should’ve moved faster.” I shrugged her off even though I’d been thinking the same thing. The way he looked at her made it obvious he still had feelings for her, but the way she avoided looking back was what had me tripping. I wasn’t scared of losing Creek, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pissed he still had a pull on her.
“So, no chance of The Three Musketeers making a comeback?” She smirked. “Cause y’all always had that weird ass, low-key throuple energy.”
I cut her a look. “We were just close. We were never a damn throuple.”
“Mmhm. Could have fooled me. As a kid, I always thought y’all were a threesome.”
“You need help.” I laughed.
“Maybe. But I’m not wrong. If Ares hadn’t ghosted y’all, the three of you would probably have been Harvest Hill’s first poly power couple.”
“Man, whatever. Creek’s always been my girl.” I meant that.
Zee sucked her teeth. “Is that why Ares is the one who took her virginity?”
My head swiveled in shock. Nobody but the people involved knew that.
“How you know that?” My jaw clenched, and my eyes cut to her.
“Lil’ sisters know everything,” she said with a shrug. “Heard y’all talkin’ one day. I mind my business, but I know what I heard.”
“Well, forget it.”
She laughed. “Aww. Look at big Isaiah gettin’ territorial.”
“Don’t play with me.”
“I’m not,” she said, her voice dropping low. “I know you love that girl.”
I didn’t say anything for a second. Just looked at her—my annoying, loyal, nosy ass sister. Somewhere in the last few years, she’d turned into my best friend.
“I don’t know, Zee. Me and Creek solid… but seeing him back?” I shook my head. “Got me thinkin’ too much.”
