There was a part of me that was grateful over how shit played out because it gave me the chance to get closer to and experience Eli, but I didn’t need the constant reminder of what got us to this point. Justine wanted me to record a statement responding to her sentence, and I told her I would once me and Eli got settled. She suggested Eli be with me and said she’d send over talking points and a full statement if I wanted her to create it. I told her she could and that I’d tweak that shit and make it my own.
No sooner than I’d set Eli’s bags in her room, Isaac was making his way inside. He was naturally funny, standing there shirtless rubbing his stomach while eating an apple and looking from me to his sister.
“Y’all have fun?” he asked.
“Lots of fun!” Eli answered before rattling off a full list of the things we did and promising to send him pictures once she was settled.
“What you about to get into?” I asked, looking at the talking points Justine had sent me.
“Shit. Chilling for the day. Wassup?”
“I need you to record a video of me and Eli real quick so I can get this shit over with. I’m not about to wait until we can get a professional to do it.”
His head slowly tilted as he clutched his chest as if I’d offended him. “I might not have gone to school for it, but I’m pretty good at taking pictures and videos.”
“Of food,” I clarified, smiling as Eli laughed.
“He’s got you there, Junior. I don’t think anyone is topping your food videos, but you take horrible pictures of people when they ask you to. All you do is stand there and snap. You don’t try to get the right angle or nothing.”
“Aye, that’s for y’all to decide. Then you be asking about the lighting and shit. Wanting me to squat and stand on tables around this bitch. I’on be having time for all that.”
“You are so dramatic,” she said through her giggle.
“Whatever. That’s all you have to say because you know I’m right.”
I did an Irish goodbye and let them do their thing. Even without them saying it, I knew they missed each other. That kind of made me feel bad. Was having her worth potentially coming between her and her brother? Logically, I could tell myself it was her right to create her own family with whomever she wanted, regardless of the family she was born into. I could also tell myself if he chose not to support our relationship, that was on him. But the truth was, I started this shit, getting close to her, knowing I shouldn’t have, so I couldn’t blame Isaac even if I wanted to.
About ten minutes later, they both were making their way down.
Eli sat next to me, and I showed her the talking points so she’d know what I was about to say. I still planned to speak from the heart and freestyle the shit, but I’d stick to the topics and be professional so I wouldn’t have to hear Justine’s mouth. Both Eli and my team had been working hard as hell fixing what other people had broken, and I didn’t want to say or do anything that would make it worse.
She yawned, and I instinctively tossed my arm over her shoulder and gave her a temple kiss. “I’ma make this quick so you can go to sleep, aight?”
“Okay. I’m just glad it’s over and you can put this behind you.”
“Same.” I agreed, removing my arm as Isaac fiddled with the tripod Eli had given him.
“Aight, I got it. I’ma count you down, bruh,” he said, and I relaxed in my seat.
When he got down to two, I took Eli’s hand into mine.
“Wassup, y’all? It’s ya favorite wide receiver coming at you with a quick update and anticipated response. If you’ve been following me for the last couple of months, you know what transpired right after the Super Bowl between me and a young lady named Lauren Summers. She was sentenced to a year of probation and got a fine. I’m supposed to say I’m cool with that and that justice has been served. I’m also supposed to say I hope my personal experience inspires anyone with wealth, fame, and power, to make better decisions. To be even more careful of who you allow around you.
“But the truth is, it doesn’t matter what you do. You can’t control the actions of others. Instead, I’ll say make sure you surround yourself with people who have the same integrity and principles as you.” I looked over at Eli, then lifted her hand and kissed it. “The one great thing about this whole ordeal has been getting closer to my best friend and teammate’s sister, singing sensation Eli Tate. She’s shy and won’t want me putting the spotlight on her, but I do want to publicly say I appreciate you. You’ve helped me more than you know. I wasn’t expecting to come out of this with a new best friend but?—”
“Wow,” Isaac said with a shake of his head, making us both laugh.
“That’s number thirteen, y’all, the infamous Isaac Tate. As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, you’re mynewestbest friend, and I hope I’ve added the same value to your life over the last two months as you’ve added to mine. You are so sweet, kind, fun, smart, talented, and beautiful. My life has been filled with peace, happiness, acceptance, support, and love, and I’venever known how that felt until feeling it with you. The world might have seen you during one of your darkest moments, but you are light, and don’t ever forget that. I love you, Eli.”
She squeezed my hand gently as her eyes watered. “I love you too. It’s been my pleasure getting to know you more intimately, and everything you said I’ve been to you, you’ve been to me, and then some. I hate what they did to me, but I’m glad it led me to this moment with you.”
I bobbed my head and clenched my jaw, because that was the only thing that could keep me from kissing her.
“Aight, y’all. Peace and blessings, and as always . . .” They both joined in when I said, “Built to demolish!” I ended the video with, “See y’all soon in the wrecking zone!”
“That was good, my boy. Hopefully this will be a valuable lesson for anyone planning to try and do what she did,” Isaac said.
He told me he sent the video, and I thanked him before standing so I could leave.
