“Not at all, man. He may have sealed the deal for the organization,” I chuckle and stick my hand out for him to shake.
We shake hands and he grins. This team has done a lot to get me to sign. Christian was on my list of players it would take to get me to come here.
“That’s good to hear. The ink is just drying, but I’m hoping to play with you this coming season. You were a big deciding factor for me.”
“Yeah, I was amped to hear they were in talks with you for a new contract. They’re putting together a strong squad. It’s kind of hard not to consider taking the leap.”
“Do you mind if I ask what’s stopping you?”
I pull a hand down my face, then fold my arms across my chest. Placing my weight on my right leg, I try to figure out the best way to say this. I want to come home.
It’s long overdue. My family has been through so much and it’s time I get my shit together to be there for them. My mom’s words exactly.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I don’t want this to be another one. Coming home might not be the right thing to do,” I say.
Yeah, I’m here to claim what’s mine, but that might not work out. I can’t see myself living here and watching my biggest regret breathing in my face. It’s why I came here first.
I need to clear my head before I jump into the fire waiting for me. This day has the potential to turn into shit real fast. My gut twists when I think of why I’m truly here in Arizona.
“Well, I hope things work out,” Christian says as he lifts his son into his arms.
“Same here, buddy. Same here.”
“You ready for that ice cream?” he says to his son.
“Yes,” Sean cheers.
“You enjoy your ice cream. I hope I see you around sometime,” I say to my new little friend.
“You want to come with us?”
“Not this time, bubby. I have somewhere to be.”
“Aw, okay. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Coswell. Thanks for signing my ball.”
“We’ll have to get a pic next time.”
His eyes light up and he nods excitedly. If only everything else in my life could be this simple. If it were, I wouldn’t be here, ready to tear my hair out.
My dad used to tell me what makes a man is not the things he does wrong, it’s how he takes the lesson and does better from it. You never fail; you learn. I’ve done a lot of learning.
“Bentley.”
I turn to my youngest brother, Eddy. He has a somber look on his face. “Mom’s been blowing up my phone. If we’re going to make the rehearsal dinner, we need to head out now.”
“Well then, let’s go crash a wedding.”
Zahirah
I lookin the mirror at the sexy black dress I have on. I chose it because it says classy but confident in who I am. I need the reminder to get me through this.
“What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing?” I keep repeating the words as I shake my hands out in front of me.
“I’ve been asking you that for the last four months,” Erica, my childhood best friend, grumbles at me.
She’s not happy about this. I think I get why. It has nothing to do with my fiancé, Gilbert. Well, not really.
Things were never supposed to get this far. Gilbert is a nice guy; he should be engaged to someone he loves, not me. I’m still trying to figure out how we got here.
