Page 93 of In the Safety's Zone
“Parker has a place close to the facility that he’s thinking of letting go. He sent me the preliminary information and the address from when it was last for sale. You think you’ll have time to check it out to see if you’ll like it? I’ll send you the link so you can look at the older pictures of it.”
“What did you think of it so far?”
“It’s a nice house. It hasn’t been updated in about ten years but it looks really solid. It’s big but not too big where we’d get lost. And if you think about marrying me one day and giving me a few babies we’ll be glad for the space down the line.”
I could practically hear the smile in her voice when she spoke again.
“Send me the link so I can see this paradise for myself.”
APHRODITE
I CAN’T BELIEVE I had to come to this shit.
“Girl, if I had to be here you did too.”
My head snapped to Sterling who looked just as annoyed as I did wondering how she read my mind.
Or…
“Wait, did I say that out loud?”
Sterling nodded her head slowly like she wanted to laugh but was in too much agreement with me to find any of this funny.
“Damn sure did. I don’t even know how I ended up in this.”
“Cause the dangMVP Wivesgot us in the mix and apparently we are supposed to like stuff like this. And it’s supposed to be something nice from the team to us so it would look bad if we didn’t come I guess. Hell, I don’t know.”
Sterling had been nice enough to tour the house with me, and I fell in love with it. Nothing was going to move until Anthony got back in town from camp next week but I could see us making improvements and enjoying the place together. When I’d gotten back home and an invitation showed up for me to come to thisDesperadosevent I was sure they had the wrong person.
My brain was focused on the US Open and the pressure was high. Every time we turned on the TV we couldn’t even find something good to watch because the news was talking about one of us. The stress was manageable but I didn’t want my head focused entirely on what I had in front of me. So Anthony suggested I take them up on the offer to come to this significant other event. WAGs sometimes got the short end of the stick butat this point I had to suck it up because I was now unwillingly part of the club.
“Billy is your homegirl, she couldn’t get you a pass?”
Sterling bounced the baby lightly against her chest. Baby Ami had fussed some when we got out of the car but then settled down again once she was attached to Sterling’s chest in the carrier thing. I could admit she was adorable as hell and gave me baby fever, but after we babysat her that one time I was good. My next body modification might be adding an IUD along with my shot based on how much Anthony and I were fucking.
I ran my hand through my locs trying not to look as nervous as I felt. Sterling had her emotional support baby and I was just standing here with only her to help me out. Of course, she was just as lost as I was about how to handle going into the den of women.
“I didn’t want folks trying to start spreading rumors if I didn’t show up. They know we’re close and my not being here would’ve gotten folks talking.”
I’d tried to keep it cute but also look like I was showing up to my boyfriend’s job. My mother would’ve been proud of the light blue linen high-waisted pants and tasteful floral bustier beneath the matching floral shirt. I’d thrown on strappy gold sandals and diamonds to show I could dress outside of wearing athletic attire.
“This reminds me too much of the shit I avoided back home.”
Sterling fidgeted slightly adjusting the baby against her again. Her long hair was pulled up into a bun on top of her head, and she opted to wear a button-up sundress and flat shoes. We’d got a car together because I didn’t want her to show up alone if I rode with Rye.
I bumped her shoulder playfully before fixing the side of her collar. “Girl, you better use those upper-east-side, Jack and Jill etiquette classes to your advantage.”
Sterling giggled slightly as she smoothed her hands down over her hips. I knew she was irritated thinking about what we might be in for. The bubble that she and Money had built was definitely going to be tested today.
“I don’t feel like doing this shit but I guess I have to.”
“You damn sure do. You’re damn near married with a baby to the star running back on the team. If he keeps doing what he’s doing his ass will end up with a league MVP and a bunch of records. Folks already trying to be in y’all’s business so you need to show them there ain’t shit to talk about but your joy and let them choke on the jealousy.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Ms. Tennis Champion. These hos are probably going to talk all that shit they say online to my face.” Sterling looked like she’d fallen into the trap of reading the shit folks said online about her and that was her first mistake.
“And if they do we can absolutely handle it. People love to hate from outside the club but from what I see, y’all are special. So, fuck anybody who would try to rain on your happiness.”
“You not about to mess up your chances at making history over these bitter women. I know they think I’m a gold digger or clout chaser but no one is entitled to our business but us. They can make up whatever they want and look stupid when the truth comes out.”
