Page 91 of Lucky
“Always, my brother.I got your back and hers too.”
I move over to a quiet corner, away from the rest of my teammates.My thumb hovers over my phone.I want to call her.Ask outright.But something holds me back.
I need advice first, so I call my ma.
She picks up on the second ring.“Honey?You at the airport?”
Of course she knows I’m here.She knows it’s a travel day and has watched me play enough, she knows the flight would be early.“Yeah.Hey, real quick—can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” she chirps.
I tell her what happened.
The bathroom.The women.The way Winnie didn’t say anything.
“She gets a lot of positive comments, but some of them are really nasty, Ma.And now people are confronting her.I don’t know what to do.”
There’s a pause on the other end, then she says gently, “You can’t protect her from every mean girl or troll on the internet.But you can be the voice she hears louder than the rest.”
I nod, swallowing the frustration rising in my throat.“For the most part she acts like it’s part of the game, but… I’ve got to assume it really bothers her.She’s a sensitive person, and well… I don’t want this shit to drive her away.”
“She’s strong,” my mom says.“But strong people still bleed.Just quieter.You should talk to her about it.”
“I will.I’ll call her right now.”I close my eyes for a second.“Thanks, Ma.”
“Tell her I said hi.And don’t forget—she’s the one choosing to stand beside you.You make sure she knows she’s not standing alone.”
“Love you, Ma.”
After I hang up, I pace a small circle, going over in my mind what I should say to Winnie.When I have it straight, I dial her number and it feels like a fucking hug when she answers, voice warm and sleepy.“Hey you.”
“You’re still in bed,” I say, smiling at the rustle of sheets through the phone.“Hungover?”
“Nope,” she says, and I imagine her sitting up against the headboard, hair mussed.“But I did enjoy the sleep-in.You should have woken me before you left.”
“I wrote a note.It’s on Buttermilk’s cage—unless he ate it.”
Winnie yawns.“What time’s your flight?”
“Soon.”I shift, my back against the wall.“Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Farren told North what happened in the bathroom at the Rustwood and he told me just now.”
A beat of silence.“Oh.That.”
“Yeah.That.You didn’t tell me about it.”And I realize now that the words are out, it actually stings a little she didn’t share.
Winnie exhales.“It wasn’t a big deal, Lucky.Just a couple of mean, entitled girls who think TikTok is their whole reason for existence and professional athletes should date Instagram models.I gave them a look and walked out.It would have done no good to engage them and it’s the price we pay for putting ourselves out there.”
“Yeah… I get that.But it doesn’t make it right.And it shouldn’t have to be tolerated.You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m good.Promise.”
I analyze her tone.She sounds confident.Appears to be unbothered.I know I have to take her at face value, but I feel like I’m missing something.I want to press, but I don’t.“If it ever does get to you… I want to be the first one you tell.Part of my job is to protect you.”
“I’ll be fine,” she murmurs.
