Page 41 of In the Safety's Zone
I appreciated that because a lot of folks still tried to hold both of our mistakes over our heads. “And that’s the same shit for you. But for real, let’s knock this shit out and we can go eat or something.”
“You asking to be besties?” Money was grinning and his ass was just as crazy as my brother. The shit he was going through right now wasn’t anything ‘Twan dealt with. The look in his eyes meant that he was just trying to smile through this shit instead of dealing with it.
“I know that look and it means you’re close to fucking spiraling. Let’s work out the shit that's weighing on us both and keep our heads on straight so we can get to the money.”
“Facts. Ain’t shit I can do about it now.”
“Damn right. Can’t unstick ya dick in a bitch. But some shit that seems awful can be the biggest blessings. Feel me? Find the blessing in the mess.”
Money contemplated my words before he chuckled and went to chalk up his hands so we could lift.
“You and your brother are both fools. Rack this shit up so we can get going.”
CHAPTER FIVE
AP²
ANTHONY
I WAS DAMN near giddy about today and even my brother’s surprise visit wasn’t going to stop how I was feeling. He’d popped up looking as though he was here to chill and when I headed back to my room instead of going to the sofa, I knew he was about to ask questions.
“What you doing?”
I glanced down at the bag and the shit I was tossing in it then back at my brother.
“Packing.”
I grabbed the last few shirts I needed out of my closet and tossed them onto the bed. My condo was a two-bedroom, two-bathroom that was on the west side of the city. It was nice as hell and as soon as I got my first check from being on the practice squad; I paid the rent on it for the year. Jacoby and Billy had offered their rental for me, but it was way too big for just me.
Antwan rolled his eyes and I laughed at his ass before I folded the last few shirts inside. Since I wasn’t sure what all I was going to be doing while I was gone, I wanted a variety of items just in case. If we did something I wasn’t prepared for, there were plenty of places I could grab something to throw on.
“I can see that fool, but where you going?” He plopped his long ass on the edge of the bed and pulled my bag to him as he started to go through it.
“Gimme my shit, man.” I fought my smile snatching it back and zipped it closed. “You know where I’m going, man.”
I was avoiding his face but when I looked up he was grinning at me. That smile had fully funded my niece’s education,wedding and house funds. His endorsements were money he never spent and once Aania was born he set it all aside for her. Billy said we had the same smile so I needed to make sure my shit stayed on point because people were going to be clamoring for me to represent them. I wasn’t so sure about that but I wasn’t about to argue with that lady.
“We going to bae watch?”
I had to laugh because his ass couldn’t help but be funny. “Yeah man. I’m trying to be supportive and shit. She’s finishing up her last match in a few hours so I’ll be there as soon as she’s done.”
“You miss her don’t you?”
His tone had changed and when I looked up he was staring at me not surprised but like my words were confirmation of what he’d already thought.
“Hell yeah. We met and that shit was just right. I ain’t ashamed to say it either so shit with me is serious.”
“And her?”
I couldn’t be upset with how he was feeling because Antwan was always overprotective. He had only met her briefly and since we were still new and undefined as to what we even were I understood where he was coming from.
“She wanted me to come so I’m gonna say yeah. We feel good. She ain’t got a lot of folks in her corner so I’m happy to be that person. Even if I can’t be her man I’m good being her friend. Besides, she didn’t want me to book a flight until she knew how she was gonna do and of course she’s about to rack up another trophy.”
“She a loner?”
“Yeah, her people kept her isolated for a lot of her childhood so she ain’t have many people to chill with. And then being who she is she never knew if they were her friends for real or if they were just trying to get ahead.”
’Twan gave me a smile of understanding as he nodded his head. “Yeah, we both been a part of that.”
