Page 124 of In the Safety's Zone
“You’re getting excused from practice today—”
Antwan’s head fell to his chest and I hated they were kicking us out of the facility.
“Coach—” I was ready to plead our cases because being sent away made me feel even worse.
He held up his hand before looking between me and Choo. “Nah. Get your houses in order and warn your people what’s going on. You need to let them know not to talk to the media but also prepare themselves for what could be heading your way.”
APHRODITE
“I GOTTA TALK to you.”
Anthony had come in the house looking like the world was ending. I’d been packing up the clothes and items that I’d been slowly accumulating over the last few months. My two trophies were in their secure cases and I was going to travel with them in the car and not allow the movers to touch them. Anthony insisted that we could just have our friends help move and it might’ve been fine if they weren’t busy with work. If it were the off season I might not have had a problem with it but they had better shit to do.
Nervously, I set down the shirts I’d been folding and focused on him. “Okay, what’s going on?”
He was pacing back and forth and unable to look me in the eye. I knew this man in a way far deeper than I’d known anyone else in my life so something was wrong. My stomach was clenched and I felt that I was dripping sweat. These were the nerves that I didn’t even feel before I played a match. Something far deeper was at stake besides money or acclaim: my heart was on the line.
“What do we need to talk about, Bam?”
I was digging my nails into my palms the pain a reminder that this wasn’t a nightmare and was my reality. Whatever he said might make me wish I were dreaming.
Anthony’s hands went to the top of his head and I saw him squeeze his braids lightly before he exhaled heavily.
“We need to chill for a min—”
“Hell no.”
His head snapped up and I could see the stress in his eyes. He didn’t want this shit any more than I did but he was still trying to hold whatever line it was he was supposed to be holding.
“Understand that there’s a lot going on.”
Anthony tried to sound strong but his voice was wavering. I was trying not to panic and let my mind wander, so I took a deep breath to focus my brain. He was still dressed for practice but it was too early for him to even be home.
“And your idea is to run away from me? That’s what we do to one another? Run when shit gets tough? You were right there for me when everything crazy happened over the last few months. Stood in the gap between me and my dad when he tried to bully me. But you think I’m going to break up now? Now that you've got me in love? Nigga, I willMiseryyou.”
“Misery me?”
“I will tie you to the fucking bed and break your damn ankles. See if you can play zone then, nigga.”
He was fighting a smile but he lost the battle. “That first part was sexy as fuck but you ruined it in the second half.”
We were staring at each other and he was trying to keep whatever this secret was to himself but I wasn’t having that shit.
“Tell me what’s going on, Anthony. There’s nothing in this world that would make you walk away from me unless you're thinking about putting your hands on me or you stick your dick in someone else. Which is it?”
“Neither. You think I’d do some trifling shit like that?”
“I never thought you’d be coming here to tell me you wanted to break up with me but here you are with this. So either we talk or I get the damn cuffs. I have gotten all these fly-ass outfits and shit to cheer you on and moved in with you and put my faith in you. We’re not about to do this secret shit. You don’t get to tell me we need to chill without an explanation. That’s some major fuckboy shit and I’m not tolerating it.”
I was willing to pull out all the stops if I needed to. Uncle Silas gave me his number if I needed to get Anthony together and Grams did the same in case he developed a case of the Ain’t shits. I was wondering if this was his way of running scared and I can’t lie; it hurt. He’d been the driver behind everything and now he wanted to pull back?
“You have cuffs?” He looked partially intrigued and wary.
I grinned slyly despite the way I was feeling right now. “Rye got them for me.”
He threw his hands up and took a step back. “I don’t even want to know.”
When he went back to pacing I had to push him to see what the hell was going on.
