Page 48 of In the Safety's Zone
“So not too different besides the zip code, huh?”
“Nope. That doesn’t bother you does it?”
“What?”
“The money thing.” She was toying with the wineglass that held the red wine she’d requested. She limited herself to the one glass and said she was only having it because she won.
“I should be asking if it bothers you. I know that it ain’t really the thing that women look at doing right now. Dating below them—”
She scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. The move tugged at her shirt pulling down the neckline even as it flattened out her chest. “You’re a professional athlete the same way I am, so how are you beneath me in the dating pool?”
“Financially—”
“Oh my God, Anthony, not this again.” Aphrodite threw her hands up and dramatically fell back against the sofa as if this conversation was pointless.
“I have no problem with where I am. I just don’t want you to.”
“Why would I? You never let me spend my money the few times we’ve been together. You’re constantly spending money on me—” her eyes darted up and her head tilted. “Wait, are you doing that so that I don’t feel some kind of way?”
“No, I’m doing it because I want to impress you. Because I want to court you the right way.”
“I thought you were joking about that.”
“Why would I joke about it? I’ve already thought about ways to get out to your matches once you’re comfortable with me being there. I want you to know you have the same support that I’ve always felt.”
“You trying to make me fall in love or something?” She was smiling at me thinking that her question was going to be taken lightly, but it wasn’t.
“And if I were?”
“Why would you want to?” A worthy question and I appreciated that she wasn’t about to have me playing around with her.
“It’s something that’s inevitable when it comes to you, Phro. There aren’t words to explain the shit; it’s just a fact that swims around in my head. That you’re somebody to me. That somebody.”
“You quoting Aaliyah now?” She was being playful but I wasn’t.
“I mean, if it fits.”
Her face reddened slightly and I loved thinking that my words had the impact on her that they had on me saying them. She was…beautiful. More inside than out but the outside wasfucking perfection. How could I not want something legit with her?
“You know the craziest thing about how I feel around you?”
“Enlighten me, Phro.” I leaned back against the sofa but made sure to keep my distance so she could speak her mind without my interference.
She angled her body toward me, something that was dangerous as hell with the way her thighs were playing peekaboo in them shorts.
“You make me feel like a human. And not like a product. Or someone just waiting to exploit me somehow. With everyone around me, I know they need something from me. My parents need me to win so they can continue to be involved in the world that has kept them bonded for twenty-plus years. My father can’t let go of the game so I have to withstand his pressure just so he can feel relevant. My coach needs me to perform so she stays employed. I mean you saw how her ass acted earlier. Everyone from my nutritionist to my masseuse needs something from me.”
“I can’t lie, I need you too, Phro.”
“How do you mean?”
“I’ve grown addicted to the feeling you give me. And not in an arrogant way butyour presence just makes me happy. And I want to give you the same feeling. So I send you flowers to let you know I’m thinking about you. Or to tell you I’m proud of you. I’m conscious of the feelings I may have internalized because of how I was raised so I make sure I’m present as much as possible along with the presents.” I motioned to the table that held dinner and the flowers.
“You’re doing both well.”
“Good. That’s exactly what I want to hear. And I’m not ignorant of the fact that our schedules will get complicated but I want you to understand now that you’re a priority for me. So thatyou know when I’m missing for a minute it’s out of obligation not my lack of care.”
“You’re killing me, Anthony.” She had her hands pressed against her chest like my words overwhelmed her.
