Page 126 of In the Safety's Zone
“I don’t have one. My only thought was to keep you from getting covered in my bullshit. I’m still worried about it but if you say you down, then I’m going to keep my stress down.”
“I’m a big girl and I can handle whatever comes at me off rumor. If people are going to believe things without proof then they’re not people I want to be associated with.”
“The first person who tries to take away what you’ve accomplished it’s done, Phro.”
This man had been my safety since the day I walked up to him. If he thought he was kicking me out of his zone of protection or removing himself from mine, he had another thing coming.
“Yeah okay. That’s what you think.”
I knew it wasn’t going to be good but I wasn’t going to shy away from the confrontation that I knew awaited me on the other end. One of the best things about this shitty situation was that Anthony and I had the same representation and the same PRteam. Bobby had already put out statements to get ahead of the situation since the story had been leaked on social media. I knew that was the reason for this call. Instead of ignoring it I answered it for the first time in months.
“Yes?”
“Is that how you respond to us?”
“What is it that you want, Mother?”
I was still moving forward with everything we had planned including my packing. When we released our statement people had plenty to say and a lot more of it was positive than I think Anthony expected. Fans, of course, were sticking up for him but people who were just looking for a reason to doubt him were having fun talking shit. And my parents seemed to be among that number.
“It’s both of us on the phone.”
Oh great, a double dose of bullshit.
I rolled my eyes wondering why she thought that would make it any better, before I spoke up. “Okay, what do either of you want?”
“Why are you being so rude to us? There were so many people who wanted to interview you after your win in New York but you just disappeared. And then when you resurface you’re at his game and being spotted at abodegaof all places!”
I put the finishing touches on the food I’d ordered for everyone. The women in my circle, couldn’t believe I had a circle, were coming over to offer moral support. I’d talked to Rye and she was handling this far better than me. It probably came with the years she said they spent in the tabloids that gave her a tough skin. I appreciated everyone wanting to make sure that mentally I was good, especially since I’d been carrying the emotional load for Anthony and me.
“The way I remember it happening was that he protected me from someone who was trying to get in my face. I know you don’tunderstand how it feels to have someone who puts your needs and your peace ahead of theirs, but I do. Anthony saw that I was in distress and that y’all were driving me crazy so he got me out of the situation. If you think I’m going to let you talk shit about someone who cared more about me than either of you, you’re wrong.”
“He’s going to be your downfall. Do you see what’s happening? These rumors going around. How do you think that makes us look? How do you think it makes you look?”
That was rich coming from my father who swore that rumors had no basis and were just for people who were jealous. Funny how they were evidence-based reporting when he needed to manipulate me.
“Funny because it seems like he’s been my salvation. Stepping in and helping me become better and less dependent of people who don’t mean me well. Giving me tips on my workouts even if he doesn’t expect me to take his advice. No matter what good I say about him you won’t care because he’s not who or what you want me to be with.”
“That boy is going to be out on his ass and looking for you to take care of him.”
I chuckled as I set out the wine glasses that had been delivered with the food. He must have forgotten I knew where the bodies were buried. “You mean like all of your groupies do with you?”
“Watch your damn mouth! I’m still your father!”
I kept the phone to my ear and braced my arm across my chest to steady it. “You are. And you’re the man who taught me what I didn’t want in a partner. You know nothing about Anthony yet you condemn him for being nothing like you. I have to tell you, Ashe, that’s the reason I love him as much as I do. He’s nothing like you. He purchased us a house to ensure that no matter what I always had somewhere to go despite howbusy my travel schedule is. He ensures that every aspect of my being is well taken care of. So, since I see you’re not calling to congratulate me on making history or finding love, we can get off this call. My friends will be here soon and I’m not going to entertain my guests pissed off with you.”
“Please, Dite. We want the best for you. We’ve been fielding calls for weeks about appearances and opportunities but we couldn’t get you on the line.”
And that was what he truly cared about me getting in line. My mother was silent since I’d mentioned groupies but she wouldn’t stay that way for long.
“People should know by now that neither of you controls my appearances and if you’ve been talking to people on my behalf nothing is legal. I hope you haven’t taken money because you’re going to be in a world of hurt. I have a representation and it isn’t either of you.”
“You’re so ungrateful. You think you’re so much better than me because you could have a tennis career. If my knee would’ve stayed healthy—”
“Your knee wasn’t unhealthy. You got into a fight because you were sleeping with another man’s wife and he shattered your shit with a bat. Why do you keep insisting on upholding this lie? I know the truth. I always have. Everyone does. The only ones living in delusion are the two of you. You put your ability to provide for your family at risk for some random woman and then you had the nerve to make us cut down on expenses so that you could continue playing the field. And then I had to play professionally to make sure the money you had would last. But I guess I got too good for you. I just made history, something that no other Black woman has done and instead of being happy for me you’re berating me about something that has nothing to do with you. Anthony is innocent, by the way. Not that you cared. I’m happy and for now I think it’s best if we don’t talk to eachother. I have a lot of good things going on in my life and talking to the two of you brings me to a negative headspace.”
“Don’t come crawling back when he drops you.” My mother’s parting words to her daughter.
“Even if he did I would get more support from him withdrawing his love than I ever did being basked in yours. We might not work out but the respect and love are there. People fall out of love all the time and I’m not speaking about the end of my relationship for anyone, but I’m also not stupid. Right now, you should probably focus more on yours. If the DMs I’ve been getting from random women are true, you’re going to have another mouth to feed in a few months. Tell me, Dad, is that why you’ve been trying to silently wrestle control back over my career and what I do? So that you could make sure you had enough money coming in to support multiple households? You realize that you’re about to become bigger news than this thing with Anthony.”
