I left out the part about being bothered.
“Corey is being very childish,” my mother interjected. “But through it all, I’m most disappointed in how he’s handling the girls. He’s so busy with work that he can’t get them on a consistent basis, but he has time to make babies and get engaged.” My mother kissed her teeth with a deep frown on her face.
“I don’t care about him being with that girl, but my kids will not be around her. They can play house all they want to, but she won’t be playing mommy to my kids while he’s at work. She’s already proven to me that she’s immature and childish.”
“Men are so ghetto,” Josie scoffed.
I downed my wine like it was juice. When the glass was empty, no time was wasted filling it back up. I had to keep myself occupied with wine, or I was going to go off the deep end.
CHAPTER 17
HYMN
Leaning against my car,I watched Huncho amble out of the police station with a neutral expression on his face. I let him sit in jail for a month before I broke down and posted his bond. I expected him to be upset, but if he wanted to ride in my car, he would keep the attitude to a minimum. I wasn’t even sure where he was going to stay. Maybe at his father’s house, but I assumed he was staying in Atlanta.
“Thank you,” he mumbled when he approached the car.
“Where you going?”
Huncho blew out a breath and ran his hand over his thick coils. He hadn’t gotten a haircut since he’d been locked up. “You can drop me off at my grandma’s house.”
“Bet.”
Pushing up off the car, I rounded it and got inside. I had two cars in Diamond Cove and three in Atlanta. I honestly knew how it felt to be a parent that was sick and tired of preaching to their kid. I wasn’t going to interrogate Huncho about his plans or where he went from here.
“How is ma doing?” he cleared his throat and shifted in the seat.
He didn’t know how she was doing because when Divine wouldn’t post his bond, he stopped calling. If no one was getting him out, he didn’t want to talk. He wasn’t hurting me. I was free. “Raising hell and about to get put out of the rehabilitation center. She’s not one hundred percent better, but I think the doctor is rushing to discharge her because she’s in there feigning for heroin and showing her ass.”
“It’s probably not a good time for me to visit her then.”
He was probably right, and that revelation made me push out a low chuckle. They were both acting like two spoiled, stubborn brats mad because they couldn’t get their way. When my mother was released from the facility, she’d more than likely go to my grandparents’ house, but if she started that shit with using drugs, Grams was going to put her out. My mother didn’t really like being at my grandparents’ house because it was tucked away in the suburbs. There would be no walking around the corner and being able to buy drugs.
“This is the last time you’ll ever have to bail me out of jail. I wasn’t going to say anything because talk is cheap. I’ve done enough of that and not enough action. I can show you better than I can tell you. There’s no excuse for the way I’ve been fucking up. I won’t make any or try to justify it.”
I gave a curt nod because I agreed with him wholeheartedly. Actions spoke louder than words, and he had done more than enough talking. Even if he decided to keep messing up that was his business. I had reached my quota for saving people that didn’t want to be saved. Everyone deserved a second chance, but Huncho had used all of his chances. With me at least. I was washing my hands of the situation. Once the season was over, I planned to go to Greece for three weeks, and I was also going to Tokyo for three weeks. After those two trips, I’d go back to Atlanta and get back in the gym. I liked to rest my body during the off season, but I didn’t completely cut out exercise.
I couldn’t wait to be somewhere getting my mind right. When I went on vacations during the off season, I cut my brain off and shut out the world. The weeks I spent out of the game, had me super focused now that I was better. We lost two games while I was out. That had me wanting to come back and do my part. Even if we didn’t make it to the Super Bowl, I wanted us to have a good season.
I zoned out and was lost in my thoughts. Before I knew it, I was pulling up in front of Huncho’s grandmother’s house. He looked over at me nervously before getting out of the car. “Thanks again.”
“No problem.”
It won’t happen again,was on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t say it. If Huncho was smart that was something that he already knew.
Two days later, I ran my hand over my freshly done braids. I sat in a vanity chair staring at the space in front of me. There was a slight chance that I’d gotten in too deep, but it was too late to turn back. The fact that I was nervous was almost funny. When the door opened, my gaze shot over in that direction, and I watched her walk in. Brion had a smile on her face but the moment we locked eyes, her jaw slacked. “Hymn? What are you doing here?” she looked around the empty space.
Rather than answer her, I stood up. Brion nervously bit her bottom lip as I neared her. The closer I got to her, her scent crept into my nostrils making my dick stiffen. “Why has it been almost two weeks since we talked?” I inquired never taking my eyes off her face.
“I can’t tell you why you went a week without calling me.”
UNTITLED
I shook my head. “You knew I was out with an injury and once I could play again, I had to come back full throttle to make up for the games I lost. Between traveling, games, practice, and my family issues, I had too much shit going on. I apologize for the lack of communication, but I’ve reached out to you a few times. What’s good? Why did I have to make a fake makeup appointment to see your face?”
I knew from day one that Brion came with baggage. I didn’t really mind because I didn’t have a lot of free time, and I figured we could keep it light while she sorted her shit out. Brion began growing on me faster than I thought she would, but it didn’t help matters when I got hurt and had a lot of free time. She grew on me even more, and we were able to spend a lot of time together. Being in my own zone concerning football, my mother, and Huncho had me going from attentive to MIA, and I couldn’t be too offended that she felt some kind of way.
“I guess I was in my feelings a little bit the first two times you reached out. I realized I was getting in too deep, and I needed to reel it back. Then, things started going on in my personal life, and I realized I just need to sit my ass down and get myself together.”
