Page 13 of A Shot at Love
“Well,” Jadea draws out the word, “the team is thinking of going out tonight, and we were wondering if you would like to join us. We’re going to a club called Fire Town.” I nearly groan aloud at her choice. A club that takes itself too literally, keeping the room at a dripping-sweat 80 degrees. It’s swanky, expensive, and sexy. The only reason we can get in is because Jadea’s ex-girlfriend manages it, and they’re on good terms.
“Fire Town?” Daniel raises a brow. “Sounds intense.”
Jadea approves of his response. “It is! They play ‘Hot in Here’ every hour.” She grins cheekily, slanting a look my way. “And I’m sure Annie would love for you to join us.”
“What? No, I wouldn’t!” Realizing they’re both looking at me as if I’m crazy, I try to reroute. “I mean—not me, specifically.Everyonewould be happy, I’m sure!” I told Daniel I didn’t want everyone to know we’re exes, but now I’m wondering if I made a mistake. I can hardly keep up the lie for one small conversation.
Jadea cuts off my embarrassed stuttering. She doesn’t even look at Daniel, like we’re having a private conversation. “But, Annie, you’re obsessed withOur World Through Sports. I’m sure you’d love the chance to talk with him about it. You’re practically his biggest fan.”
If looks could melt, Jadea would be a puddle on the floor. I huff a breath, glancing at Daniel apologetically. “She’s joking.” How embarrassing to be your ex’s biggest fan! If Jadea knew the context, she would realize I was just keeping tabs on him. It was the only way I knew he was alive.
He grins at me. “So, you’re not my biggest fan?” He leans closer to me, puts a hand to his heart. “I’m wounded. I told you that I was a big fan of yours, and yet you don’t return the favor?”
I think back to the locker room when he said I was still one of his favorite athletes. Athletes…but not girlfriends?
My face is hot, and every fiber of me wants to curse at Daniel for playing his part a little too well. “I do…do care, obviously…” I stumble over my words, noticing the playful twinkle in his eye.
“So, you want me to come out tonight?” He reaches out a hand, clasping mine and pulling me closer to him. I bump into his chest, our hands trapped between us. “You’ll evendancewith me?”
His words break through the hypnosis of his presence. I jerk back and narrow my eyes at the two of them. Jadea watches the whole thing with a gleeful expression. Daniel looks pleased too, eyes still on me. I point my finger between them. “Did you two plan this? An elaborate scheme to get me to go out and go dancing? I don’t dance. Clubs are hot, dark, and most people are too drunk to form a sentence. I’d rather stay home and eat Twizzlers in bed.”
“You guys can do that tomorrow,” Jadea says cheerfully.
Daniel chooses to ignore her, which is wise. I’m thinking about ways to not ruin her beautiful braids and yet pull every hair out of her head. While I’m plotting, Daniel looks at me hopefully. “I’ve hardly seen the city, Annie. It would be nice to go out and do something. Is it really so hard to be around me?”
There it is, the challenge. Is it really so difficult to be around an ex? Obviously, it is. But no one wants to admit that, so I just sigh.
“Fine. Butnodancing.”
I head to the locker room, dread swirling through me. I should tell Jadea about Daniel and me, but I know she’ll just be hurt that I kept it a secret in the first place. Daniel will only be here two weeks, just long enough for us to keep up our lie. If I can stay away from him and his smile, I should be fine. Then, our past will repeat; Daniel will disappear, and we won’t speak for at least another five years.
That’s the only way this works.
*
Hours later, Jadea and I are playing dress-up. Typically, it’s my favorite part of going out, but tonight every outfit I try on feels wrong.Even Jadea, who usually relishes the opportunity to give my clothes a review, is getting frustrated.
“Annie!” Jadea groans from my living room, waiting for me to come out with my next option. “I’ve eaten all of your Twizzlers, even the sour-filled ones that I hate. Let’s go! I’ll be dead before we leave at this rate.”
I roll my eyes, stepping out of my bedroom. “That seems unlikely.”
She’s lying upside down on my couch, her red and brown braids skimming the hardwood floor. Her eyes are closed in dramatic fashion. “Maybe it’s my boredom. Makes me want to gnaw off my own arm.”
I huff a laugh. “I’m out with the next one.”
She opens her eyes, squinting up at me. “Outfit eleven, thank God!” She rights herself on the couch, eyeing me critically. I’m alarmed when her mouth falls open. “What are you wearing?”
Considering this is never what you want to hear, I look down at myself. I’m wearing a leather red mini skirt that I thrifted and lengthened to fit my long legs, and a black crop top. Black cropped boots, too. “What’s wrong with it?” After my first ten looks, this seemed a safe choice. “It fits the theme of Fire Town!”
Jadea crosses her arms over her favorite outfit—black ripped jeans and a graphic tee with Sheryl Swoopes’ face on it, as well as her red and black Jordans. She looks effortlessly herself, with just a little extra winged eyeliner. “That’s too tame. You never wear anything boring unless we’re at practice. You even dress nicely for flights.”
I join Jadea on the couch, slumping dejectedly. “I know. It’s just not working. I think I’ll have to stay home.”
I’m whining, and I hope she notices. My world is in turmoil, so you’d think she’d let me live my antisocial lifestyle. Even if she doesn’t know about Daniel being my ex, I have recently learned that my biological father might have been manipulating the system on my behalf and sabotaging my dream job. It isa lot.
“Don’t even try that on me, Annie.” She narrows her eyes. “You live for this part of going out. Okay, yes, maybe the club or bar scene isn't for you, but you love dressing up. Taking pictures with your friends. Sipping on an overpriced beer and taking an Uber home after an hour. This is not outside the norm. What’s the issue?”
“Nothing.” What a lie. There are so many things wrong with my life that it’s hard to keep track of them.
