Page 104 of In the Safety's Zone
“Always. Get your rest, AP. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
“You here by yourself?”
TheDesperadosGalawas held on the team campus and just like every year before no expense was spared. Parker had the entire team staff, the roster players, the people who managed the stadium and the practice squad players and their families in attendance. The event was open to the public but they had to pay a hefty price to be able to attend.
I turned away from the bar that was in the shape of theDesperadoslogo made out of ice and saw the face that was attached to the voice I’d heard. I was immediately on high alertfor multiple reasons. The first being it was a woman. The second being she was beautiful and dressed like she wanted to get chosen. Since she was unfamiliar to me it made me feel like she was wanting me to be the person that picked her. Even if I hadn’t met AP this year, this was the type of woman I wanted to avoid. She was a hunter: putting herself in the position to be in a room surrounded by her chosen prey. I wasn’t about to get myself caught up in her trap. Hell, I felt like I was doing something wrong by just being here talking to her.
“What’s good?” I gave her a dismissive head nod hoping it was just seen as polite and not an invitation. It seemed to have the opposite effect this time.
“Not a whole lot. I wanted to see what was good with you.” She licked her lips tossing her blonde extensions over her shoulder as she stepped closer to me. She wore a black dress that was made of some sparkly shit and her grin was hinting at the good she wanted to see with me.
“Enjoying the party.”
“We can always get out of here and make our own.” She nodded her head toward one of the exits without taking her eyes off me.
“Absolutely not. I got a girl.”
“If you ain’t made her your wife then that means you’re fair game.”
I took another step back damn near using the corner of the bar as a buffer between me and her. I ain’t care if the bartender thought I was crazy for the way I was surely invading his workspace, I wasn’t about to get caught up in bullshit this close to the start of the season.
“I’m not even going to honor that with a follow up. I’m not interested and I have everything in her I want and need. Enjoy the benefit though, make sure to donate to the cause.”
I gave her a nod and turned to find something that was safe to do when she grabbed my arm.
“That’s it?” She looked offended that I wasn’t giving her the attention that she wanted but I couldn’t give a fuck.
“Yeah. I got a girl that ain’t you. I’m not messing up my forever up for anybody.”
“You should be lucky that anybody is even paying attention to you in the first place. You’re a fucking second or third string player. Getting some play from me ain’t something easy to come by.” She rolled her eyes as she insulted me and I did my best not to laugh in her face.
My smile was tight because it was the only way I kept from cussin’ this slag out.
“What’s that say about you that you gotta lower your standards to hit on someone that’s second or third string. Don’t let me hol’ you. I hate for the taint of my mediocrity to rub off on you.”
“Your brother wouldn’t waste this opportunity.”
I smirked because this bird thought highly of herself and clearly had a death wish if she went that route. “If you like playing with your life go over there and say that in fronta his wife. She’s been known to put a disrespectful woman in her place when it comes to my brother. And his ass is bout crazy as a one of them zombie deer so I’d advise you not to test your luck.”
I knew she wasn’t expecting me to say some off the wall shit like that so she just rolled her eyes and stomped away.
“And here I was coming to save you.” Money’s ass was grinning as he walked up in a damn hunter green, paisley print tuxedo that only he could pull off.
“Not necessary but very appreciated.” The bottle of water I’d gotten from the bar was cracked open and I took a swig to calm my nerves.
“Bruh, you seen who Runt’s ass brought to this shit?”
“I saw she was beautiful but should I know her or something?” I wasn’t checking her out but Runt’s ass bringing a date when he normally had his head in a book or was on some chill shit was shocking.
Money slapped my chest with the back of his hand like I should’ve known her. “She’s Sampson’s sister.”
“Oh. I mean he’s a good dude and she definitely knows her shit as far as football is concerned if Samp is her brother.”
“He better not mess that shit up cause if Sampson starts shutting down access to the restaurant because his big ass broke her heart I might need to have a word with him.”
“With him? The man that holds the line that allows you to rack up all them yards. You want to fuss at him?” I gave him anigga try that shit againlook.
Money poked out his bottom lip like he had his thinking cap on before shaking his head. “Damn, that sounds like a bad idea.”
