Page 40 of In the Safety's Zone
“That girl is taken, Ant. I’m talking about my other little sister.” Billy was grinning like she knew a secret and I hoped the blogs weren’t on any bullshit.
“Who?”
“Who the fuck else you talking to, Anthony?” Her smile was gone and she looked ready to fight.
“I got a girl but I know she’s not related to you.”
Billy waved me off and the playful smile was back on her face. “Of course she’s not. I’ve been her agent since she was a teenager. Aphrodite was one of the first rising names we signed years ago. I just saw her and she talked to me about you.”
I grinned because damn she was bragging on me to other people? That meant she was feeling me something serious.
“For real? I’m planning to see her but damn I could’ve jumped on the jet with you, Billy. Let me know next time.”
“Nuh uh. All my girls getting booed up and sometimes we like to have one-on-one interactions. But I will say you better be legit.”
“That’s my lil baybeeh.”
“Oh, lord I’m sure you said it just like that too. Yet another charming ass Phillips man that I got to deal with.” She rolled her eyes and I wanted to remind her she asked for this but I wasn’t about to play with my life.
I shrugged because she was the one signing my ass so I don’t know why she was acting like she didn’t enjoy it. “We make lifefun. But it ain’t charm with her. Shit is real. I can’t wait to spoil her pretty ass and spend more time with her.”
“If you ever need me to help let me know.”
“You out here playing matchmaker?”
“God already did that. I’m just helping love flourish because I know what the two of y’all have in your pasts and I think you’re both good for one another.”
“‘Preciate that, Billy. And there is one thing I needed to talk to you about.”
After leaving Billy, I had to work out some of the excitement I was feeling. She got me hype and I was more than ready to work out. I pulled up to the practice facility and parked my truck before grabbing the bag of workout gear that I always kept ready to go.
Before I could get in the building my phone buzzed and I was laughing at the thought that Billy left our meeting and immediately called Aphrodite. When I looked at the message on the screen waiting from me I frowned.
I chuckled angrily but knew it was pointless to let myself get upset. It was wild how I hadn’t heard from my mother in months and the last time we’d talked was her asking for some bread around Christmas. Like a fool, I’d sent it to her and chalked it up to me being in the spirit of giving. I never got so much as a thank you back and the only time I heard from her since then was her dropping links to articles about Anthony and her digging for more information. That’s why she was left on read.
I changed and headed into the weights complex to lift and saw AldrichMoneyDinero already in here. His name alwayshad me calling him Dolla Bill in my head because all his names revolved around cash. On the field they called him Fast Money, a play on his speed and his last name, and he shortened his first name to Rich. Somebody in his bloodline was manifesting like a muthafucka.
“What’s good, Ant?”
He hopped up and dapped me up as he wiped his face with a towel. We were roughly the same height, with him being slightly shorter at six feet. He was tall for a running back but it never diminished his play.
“‘Bout to work off some stress.”
“Nigga why you think I’m here?”
I felt bad because the media had been on him about a paternity situation. It was the last thing I would’ve expected from him. He was laid back and he liked to celebrate but fucking some random chick raw and then denying a baby wasn’t something that seemed in his character. He’d already stated that he was going to do the right thing if it was his kid, but for the chick that was supposedly carrying his baby that wasn’t enough. She seemed desperate to have him worry about her instead of focusing on their supposed kid.
“I know that shit weighs on you but it’s all going to work out, bruh. You gotta believe that.”
Money was working his shoulders like all the stress was concentrated there. “Seems damn near impossible to do so right now.”
“If you need somebody to talk to—”
“You volunteering to be my living diary and shit nigga?” He was trying to make it light but I could tell he really needed somebody to talk to.
“Hell nah. I can’t give advice worth a damn. I’m fucked up enough as it is. But between my spiritual advisor and talking to the team shrink I keep it together well.” I shrugged because Iwasn’t anyone to take credit for some shit I had to learn from other people.
“You and your brother are good people cause he said some of the shit. I’m glad real people know how y’all really get down without all the gossip.”
