“If you need anything else, call me.” Doc stood up, and we followed suit, Aldrich’s fingers wrapping around mine. “For right now, I think the two of you should go and kiss that sweet little girl of yours. Congratulations on making it official.”
He was playing like he had something to prove.
Thanksgiving night was clearly when everyone brought out their style A-game because people were dressed tonight. It was probably the combination of the time slot for the game and how much family was in town that made people step it up.
Saying he had something to prove could’ve been a theme for this whole year. After a slow start to the season, his words not anyone else’s, he had really turned it up. Today he was going for what seemed to be a single-game record. Grant was being pressured and the O-line wasn’t as able to protect as long as they normally would. TheSentinelswere clearly still pissed about what happened during the first game of the season and were trying to turn up the pressure to get revenge.
We were the Primetime game today so everyone would be having their true Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow instead. The team had hosted a dinner for everyone, but even Tiana and Parker had plans to redo the holiday tomorrow with Coach Stew. Since Aldrich’s family was here, he was having dinner at his house tomorrow and camping out in front of the TV to watch football since we didn’t have a game on Sunday.
The food for the team had been catered by Sampson’s restaurant and I was thankful I’d had the forethought to wear something loose and comfortable for the game today. The blue wide-leg pants were high-waisted but very forgiving. With the crop sweater I paired it with, I was comfortable even though the outfit looked put together. Since everyone wanted to talk about me, I gave them something to talk about by putting a largeDesperadosblue $ sign that covered the length of my sweater. Folks online were shocked that he was with a plus-sized girl, some even going so far as to say I was a downgrade from his baby mama. I was damn sure going to give them a reason to keep my name in their mouths since they wanted to speak on shit they knew nothing about. My face was beat, my outfit was beyond perfect and my hair was up in a high bun, showing off my features. I always felt beautiful but today I was on goddess status.
One of the highlights of the season had been some of the clothes I’d designed for my friends ending up on theDesperados’ website. They held a whole catwalk for the women who were part of the organization. It went all the way from Tiana to the women who worked at the facility. If you wanted to dress to impress, this was your chance. They posted us with our permission on their social media and people loved a lot of the clothes I wore and the outfits I’d designed. My mother would’ve been appalled at the idea of me relishing being a homemaker. The idea of my being happy with who I was and chasing my interests instead of goals to prove my self-worth would’ve confused her. But I was happy with my choices. My man and the life we were building together.
“That man playing like he’s wanting to be MVP of the game.”
Reese was sitting next to me, sipping tequila, watching the game just as closely as I was. She and Runt had been talking for a year according to her but he wasn’t her boyfriend like that. Whatever that meant. He didn’t play about her and she wasn’t mad about it so to me that was her man. She was trying to be inconspicuous by not wearing anything with his number on it like the blue designer dress she had on today. But Runt would beeline to her after each game after greeting his people who’d traveled to see him, she was being delusional.
I watched the offense huddle up again and smiled just seeing him on the field doing what he loved. Aldrich had been moving like his mind was settled and he had no worries after I’d agreed to Ami’s adoption.
“He already said he’s not eating that turkey leg if he gets it this year. He tried to be polite last year but he said it tasted like ass.” Aldrich’s brother hadn’t even looked up from his phone as he dropped that tidbit of information.
“Mateo, I know you’ve lost your whole mind saying ass in front of me like I’m your lil friend.” Ms. Sonya was holding Ami in a seating area just behind us as Ami tried to gnaw through the netting holding the grape slice she was eating. We’d done alot of baby-led weaning and slowly introduced foods. One thing I was happy about was that Miss Sonya never tried to overstep with Ami. She followed whatever we were doing and never did the back in my day stuff I’d seen so many people complain about. When Rich told her about my being okay with adopting Ami, she cried for what had to be five straight minutes. And when she hugged me and did the side-to-side rock I’d only witnessed in movies, my soul exhaled and I cried too. I hadn’t realized that being accepted by her was so important to me, but her calling me a blessing and welcoming me to the family made it hit home.
“My fault, ma. I was just quoting Richie. Be mad at him; he said it first.” He looked up dead serious and didn’t have any qualms about throwing Aldrich under the bus.
I threw a piece of popcorn at him, which he dodged with wide eyes shocked at my actions. “Not you being a snitch.”
His face broke into a grin as he tucked his phone in his pocket as they broke the huddle. I wanted to ask if he was on the phone with somebody’s daughter but I wasn’t about to pry.
“I’m saying, sis, she can’t do anything to him cause he's grown. She can and will beat my ass. Help me out.” Mateo’s voice was low but I could tell his mama knew exactly what he was saying by the way she looked at him.
“I ain’t in it. Ms. Sonya is not about to stop liking me cause you wanna drag me into this.”
“See I knew you had good sense the first day I met you. Just like I told you that you were exactly what they needed. Was I wrong?”
I got choked up again as I shook my head. “No, ma’am.”
“And you over here trying to will him to victory with that outfit on. I see you. Go ahead and make me a grandmother again. The twins will be in college by the time the next one gets here. I’ll happily move to Texas.”
“Mama, don’t wish a baby on her like that!” Cassie was sticking up for me but it wasn’t like I didn’t think often about what the future might hold
“You see she ain’t protesting, Cass. Watch what I say. We’ll be renting out the house in Sun Valley. Let me look for a place here. I get the feeling I’ll need it. And probably sooner rather than later.”
ALDRICH
“IS THIS HOW we doing it?”
I was staring at Ling like she was a piece of meat and I swore I was trying to be respectful but I couldn’t with what she had on. I was glad my mama wasn’t at this game because I was about to do some real nasty shit to my girl when we got the baby to sleep.
She looked embarrassed but I circled my finger in the air because I wanted her to turn around despite my being able to see her ass from the front. Sterling rolled her eyes playfully but obliged and the back view was just as good as the front. Sterling was wearing a black wrap dress that hugged her every curve like a second skin. She had it paired with some blue fur boots that made her legs even longer and had a short matching fur jacket to match. She looked classy as fuck and I guess since it was December and we’d just clenched our spot for the playoffs Sterling was comfortable in her spot as my girl. This season had been better than I could’ve imagined. I was on pace to break my single-season yardage best. I was contributing to my team’s success and the two losses we had were by three points or less. Being in first place in our division had us extra focused and I knew I could work at peak performance because of the love and support I had at home.
“I felt like dressing up a little. It’s the Christmas season and all so I thought I’d bring out the fur.” She was explaining like I was criticizing her and I hated that she still did that shit. I knew it would take her a while but I bit my lip and let my nostrils flare so she knew I ain’t have a problem with what she was wearing.
“Definitely a big deal and definitely a good idea. You look good as fuck, Ling. You been keeping the baddest outfits in the guest bedroom closet haven’t you? I’m glad you didn’t let me see this one, my ass would’ve been distracted all game.” The offensive line had worked its magic against our instate rivals and I’d had another hundred plus yard game. If I would’ve known Ling was in this, I definitely would’ve been mentally saying, fuck this game all night.
This is why her ass didn’t want to walk the sidelines before the game.
Just before our Thanksgiving game, I asked Ling if she wanted a sideline pass. I’d always had them available but didn’t think she’d use it. I understood her desire to stay anonymous especially with people coming at her crazy. But when she started boldly wearing my number and had no issue with being on the team pages, I got up the nerve to offer it to her. And she’d accepted. I was so damn happy I made her learn a handshake and everything. One of the guys from the social media team captured us on the sidelines doing it and now I had a video of it on my phone. I was slowly building up a collage of moments between the two of us because I wanted her to know that in every part of my life, she and Ami were my reason.
