Page 33 of Love's Instant Replay
Tracy’s head bobs up and down before she turns her phone toward me, and a gasp escapes my mouth when I see what’s on her screen.
#UCRSports: Columbus Bobcats’ cornerback Kaeden Evans Strikes Again.
Somebody be a sport and tell this beauty she’s only the temporary flavor of the week.
Accompanying the staggering headline from the online gossip site, Undercover Room, are pictures of Kaeden and me. One is from the coffee shop, another from the practice I attended where Kaeden sat beside me afterward, and the third is from the season opener with bile stirring in my belly. Heat crawls up my neck, and the hair on my arms tingle as I shift my weight from side to side. The post has over seven million reactions and over eleven million comments, causing my stomach to flip at what people are saying.
“I think you should call your man,” Tracy says, pulling her phone back.
Shaking my head, I wipe the tear trickling down my cheek, quickly replaced by several others.
“Fl-fl-flavor—they called me his flavor of the week,” I say lowly as my throat constricts in pain.
Am I? Has Kaeden been pursuing me until he got what he wanted? Shit, what could he possibly want from me? I’ve already had sex with him a few times. Does this mean I’m falling for the man who’s only capable of temporary frills?
“I see your thoughts running rampant. Call Kaeden, bestie,” Tracy says, snapping me out of my silent ministrations.
“I-I—” My thoughts begin swirling, hindering my logical sentence formation.
“Don’t start overreacting, Kyelle. You know how these gossip sites make up shit. Kaeden has been on your ass like white on rice, so I’m sure they’re lying. Besides, what would he gain from playing with you?”
“Another notch on his belt.” The words tumble out without me being able to stop or prevent them as my shoulders slump at the thought.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I pull up Undercover Room, and my eyes burn as I fight not to fall apart at seeing my picture under such a headline. Like a hardheaded child told to stay away from a hot stove, I tap on the post and open the comment section. The commentary from strangers causes my legs to become wobbly as more water releases from my eyes.
Diggsandwigs 5h: This man is just as popular as a merry-go-round. I wonder how much he charges for admittance because I know a bop or two he might like.
B_b.sleezy 5h: As fine as Kaeden is, who knew he loves chicks with more handles than Undercover Room.
Crunch.Dawg 5h: Yo, y’all ain’t tell me that my man Kaeden is a chubby chaser. *pig emoji* *laughing emoji*
Rinnnnyybabyyy 5h: Look at the stars in her eyes. She really likes him forreal. I feel sorry for her. Run girl, #28 is for the streets. *laughing emoji*
“I’m—uh—I’m gonna leave early,” I say shakily, exiting the app and locking my phone.
“Do you want to talk about this, bestie? You ain’t gotta leave.”
“N-no. I just need to go home,” I say over the lump in my throat as the sob in my stomach begs for exit.
“Damn it.” Swiping angry tears from my face, I continue pacing around my living room while my thoughts turn me every which way but loose.
I don’t know what time it is or have a reference for how long I’ve been walking since getting home. Lifting my phone, I read another wave of comments on the post haunting me like Sully fromMonsters, Inc.The comments are steadily climbing in number, and my self-worth and confidence are waning with every think piece I read. Yet, it’s a trainwreck I have yet to pull away from.
Dkrpto_1 3h: Sista, here’s some food for thought . . . the more you let this community play in your face, the more he wins. Walk away with your peace intact.
Xxxmanaroundtown 3h: This gives me hives. What can C. Evans offer big mama besides a king-size Reese cup and a twenty wing combo?
SurrealJdeezy 3h: These women really be low on self-esteem. Let me love you right, when he’s done playing wit you, mama. *laughing emoji*
TazmaniaRaj 3h: Here go that WhoopDeyDew, these thirsty women fall for thinking they’re getting a prize. Meanwhile, all bro sees is a bop.
Krissywins 3h: May this typa delusion never find me again. *praying hands emoji*
Regal_Nisha 3h: In other words, he’ll talk u through it and then put u through it when he starts dodging ur calls! Stay tf away from this typa flex sistas.
My breath hitches, and a sob shoots from my stomach through my esophagus, falling out of my mouth like vomit after reading that statement.
“Oh God!” I cry, dropping to my knees, rocking back and forth feeling like a fool for allowing myself to believe someone like Kaeden is genuinely interested in me. “It feels so real. Gosh, it feels real. Why would he let me around his daughter if he’s only stringing me along? Wh—” The chime coming from my phone stops my final thought as I lift my shaky right hand as my chest pinches upon seeing Kaeden’s name on the screen.
