Page 79 of In the Safety's Zone
Money knew he was more than lucky, he was talented as fuck. He had the same mindset as my brother and me when it came to staying in shape. He didn’t let himself slip too farbecause he wanted this body to always be running like a well-oiled machine.
“Gone make history being a geriatric running back in the league.”
He laughed as he set down his beer bottle again, trying to keep his eyes off Sterling. “Shut the fuck up, Ant.”
“I’m just saying—” My sentence was cut short when I felt Aphrodite tug on my shirt and Money’s ass sat forward with a frown on his face.
“Aye, chill bruh. She's just trying to chill tonight.”
I hadn’t been as worried about what was going on because the section we were in was limited to very few people. Another team perk was that having a section in a club on a night wasn’t a hard task to accomplish. But clearly there was static and I had no issue helping figure out what was up.
I saw his eyes were fixed on Lucky Jones who was a backup tight end behind our boy Marcel. Lucky was the type of nigga I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy’s sister because he was just that fucked up with women.
He started talking a lot of shit that Money ignored but when Lucky called Sterling a bitch, Money was on his feet and Aphrodite was keeping Sterling seated. I was up cause if one of the niggas that was cool with Lucky tried some shit I was jumping to stomp somebody’s head in. For now, Money would handle this situation how he needed to.
“Sterling is here with me. Ain’t nobody gonna disrespect her. Ion’t give a fuck what you think this is but until a woman tells you that she’s here for some easy shit, treat them with fucking respect.”
“You bring a bitch dressed like she’s down to fuck and thing nigga’s ain’t gone try her?”
I glanced at Sterling and I could tell she wanted Money to ignore this nigga but that wouldn’t fly. They started jawing backand forth and I was hopeful this shit would die down but when Lucky played with his life and said some foul shit about Money’s baby, Money rocked him in his shit so hard he fell immediately to the ground.
Sterling gasped and Aphrodite cringed like she felt that shit. Lucky should hope a sore jaw was the only thing he had when he woke up and not a broken one.
Money sat back down but this time it was right next to Sterling and he put his arm protectively around her shoulders. They talked for a minute as two of Lucky’s friends moved his ass into a seat. Nobody wanted to rock the boat and say anything, so they minded their own business.
“Is this how it is?”
“Nah, AP but it’s the reality of the situation. That nigga had opened his mouth to address you and he would’ve gotten worse. Rich took it easy on his ass to be real and it was probably because y’all were here. He ain’t want to do too much and have y’all upset.”
I caught Money’s eye and raised my brows questioningly. He still looked murderous but he was trying to keep his head on straight because of where we were and who we were with.
“You good?”
Money’s nod was quick and I could tell he wasn’t feeling the situation anymore. “Yeah, y’all wanna eat?”
Aphrodite’s eyes lit up and she was the first one to throw out a suggestion. And I be damned if it didn’t throw me for a loop. “Strip club wings?”
Rich looked just as shocked when he glanced at me and shook his head. “That wasn’t what I had in mind…”
Her shoulders slumped like she was disappointed in us. “Oh. Damn I thought we were gonna live like ballers for the night.”
I pulled her closer to me and whispered in her ear. “You trying to throw some ones and watch some ass?”
“I mean…maybe?” She wanted to but again, it was something we would have to save for a later date.
“Nah, AP you not stripper ready yet. Let’s have a good night tonight. You’ve had enough shit happening. We don’t want someone to see you throwing twenties and shaking ass and have you worried before New York.”
She had too much on her plate with being one grand slam away from making history. I wasn’t going to allow her desire to celebrate to put more pressure on her when she was out living life. I’d be happy to celebrate with her after she had that last trophy on the shelf.
“Why do you say it like that?” Money was looking between the two of us and even Sterling was staring at us funny.
“Like what?”
“Like she’s been locked in a tower or sum.” He was looking at Aphrodite like he wanted her to blink twice if she was in danger. Might have to rock his shit at training camp a few times just to prove a point.
“I mean, I kinda have. My season differs from y’all’s and while your games are weekly with one break, I basically play all year from January to September. My father is very strict so I was always in the house. This is probably the most fun I’ve had in years.”
Money tapped his chest and I could see he felt bad for knocking that nigga on his ass and stopping that part of the night.
