He’s constantly surprised by the way people are nice to him. That proof helps me drive home that they’ve always liked him. They’ve always admired him. They’ve always wanted to be friends. He doesn’t always believe me, but the more it happens, the less of an argument he puts up.
My lawyer called me right before the game to tell me my divorce was finalized. I’m officially a single man. No longer married. It’s a weight off my shoulders as much as it is a huge sadness. I’m not sad because it’s done. I’m sad because I know how much Jessica struggled with this entire thing.
It’s not her fault. None of it is. And yet, she’s the one suffering the most.
Especially since pictures started popping up more and more of me and Lemon. The world continued trying to figure out who the ‘mystery woman’ was for months, something Lemon thought was hilarious.
But the picture that changed it all was taken earlier this month while my team played the semi-finals. I’d dragged my man with me to the game because we all enjoyed his presence. As I always do, I brought Lemon to the bus, his hand in mine. I kiss him right before he gets on the bus and I stay outside to make sure my team is all accounted for, as is their gear.
A series of pictures from that moment went viral. Suddenly my cheating scandal was a real thing and there was a face to the figure I’ve been seen with.
Lemon was horrified, slightly hysterical, and filled with apologies. Even when I told him I’m not sorry, he was beside himself. What probably made me truly fall in love with him was when he asked if Jessica would be okay because she’d see it too, and he didn’t want her to be even more upset.
That he had been concerned with my wife in that moment meant a whole fucking lot to me. It proved that while this man thinks he’s selfish and self-centered, he has a really big heart. He’s not only aware of how other people around him feel, but is also concerned about their feelings.
Jessica wasn’t surprised at all. The public revelation didn’t make her more upset since I’d already said I wasn’t going to stop seeing him.
That didn’t stop the slander of my affair all over social media. Honestly, I let it be. My lawyer released a statement on my account stating that my divorce with Jessica has been underway for several months now and I’m definitely free to date during that time.
I’ve chosen not to comment on it at all. Because, quite frankly, denying that I had an affair is an outright lie. Nothing I say would matter, one way or the other. The media will write whatever they want, regardless of whether it’s true or not. So I haven’t bothered to say anything at all.
Instead, I confirmed my relationship status with Lemon online and watched as the media went up in flames. Quite frankly, I don’t give a fuck. As long as they stay off our property and away from our workplace, they can say whatever the fuck they want. It doesn’t do anything but entertain them, so if they have that little going on in their life that’s meaningful and they want to make up stories about mine, that’s fine.
We have an early flight home in the morning and I stay up far too late just staring at my boyfriend as he sleeps. He told me allabout watching the game with Alka and Declan. It was difficult not to grin hugely as he did.
Yes, I want him to get along with them because they’re good friends. But more than anything, I want him to be comfortable making friends. He doesn’t have to share mine, I just want him to know that there are a lot of people who would love to be his friend. He’s not a kid anymore. He’s not in high school or college. Lemon is an adult at this very unique university with one of the best communities, if notthebest, I’ve ever seen.
It's a very different world than the one that hardened him and made him erect barricades around his heart. In this little slice of the country, he’s safe to be who he is and trust there are people around who like him just as he is.
I think the entire team stayed up far too late since we climb on the bus together like zombies. Exhausted. It’s silent as we head to the airport. Silent as we lounge around the terminal and wait for our flight. Silent as we climb onto the plane and get comfortable.
Behind me, I hear, “Yo, you have a leech on your neck last night, Sethy?”
“Yes,” Seth says. “Don’t be jealous that you haven’t experienced the power of a leech suck.”
I cringe with laughter, shaking my head.
“Damn, Hakeem. Share that mouth.”
“I offered two years ago, and you said no. Your time has passed.”
“Oh my god,” someone else murmurs.
“We’re on a plane,” one of my boys hiss.
“I’m sure they’re all familiar with leeches and how they suck,” Seth mutters. “Besides, I didn’t bring it up.”
“Seth’s love bite is completely explained, but let’s talk about the real mystery in the room.”
“Oh no.”
“Please don’t.”
“Damari, Braxton, and Ryan all have leech bruises and Damari has a very loud bite. Is that from a wolf or something?”
“What about the scratches on Ryan’s arm? Those look… intense.”
“Stop,” Damari pleads.
