Me:Baby.
Goldie:Whatever. Are you gonna be able to catch the game tonight? Or will you be too busy?
Me:I wouldn't miss ya game for nothing, baby.
Goldie:I hear you, baby. I'll talk to you after the game.
I'd just left the airport and was headed to the penthouse I'd rented for the next couple of days. Atlanta was bustling per usual and was never a quiet trip when I went there. I wasn't there for business, though. My moves were in direct correlation with Naomi's moves.
Inside the penthouse, I arranged for room service to have dinner promptly ready by the time Naomi's game was done. Considering that she'd be tired afterward, I planned for us to enjoy an evening dining inside the suite and to watch a movie.
I had a few hours to kill before the game started, so I handled a few emails, picked up two new clients, and checked on my parents. As the time approached for the game, I set the music low, filling the suite with classic R&B hits. Inside the bathroom, I showered, moisturized my body, and lined up my beard before moisturizing it, too. I slipped into distressed jeans, a wife beater, and a plain white tee. Next came my jewelry and sneakers. As I sprayed on cologne, my cell chimed atop the bathroom counter.
Zoo:Yo' punk ass hopped a flight without me? When you said you had somewhere to be, I thought yo' ass meant the clinic. Yousneakin' off to see shawty. Her ass better be pregnant when you get back. Tell Pen she better answer her muhfuckin' phone the next time I call her.
Cracking up, I texted Zoo back, warning him against fucking with Penelope. He'd been hush mouthed since we treated her and Naomi to dinner.
In the middle of texting him back, another text came through.
Toya:You been acting really funny, Sin. Were you serious about not fucking with me anymore? I've been calling you for weeks. Wtf is up?
Blocking Toya's ass, I proceeded to finish texting Zoo.
Me:My pops' name is Jaxon, and I'ain tellin' Penelope shit. Obviously, she'on wanna talk to yo' ass. Leave me be while I finesse my wife.
Zoo:YO' WIFE????!!!!
Zoo:NIGGA!!!
Zoo:TF!!!!
My phone started ringing. It was Zoo.
"What?" I answered.
"Aye, look, bruh," he began, "whatever it is, we can get through it, aight? I won't tell Unc and Auntie you on that shit, I'll just take you to rehab the quiet way. Come on, Sin. When we were kids, we agreed we weren't gon' be on that drug head shit. I'on know how I'ain see you slippin', mane." Zoo sniffled like his ass was crying.
"Zoo!" I barked. "The fuck you talkin' 'bout?"
"You talkin' like a nigga that's tweakin'," he said.
"Fuck outta here." I snickered, then hung up on him.
The car service I'd ordered notified me they were waiting for me at the entrance to the hotel, so I grabbed my wallet and headed out the door. I couldn't wait to lay eyes on Naomi.
It'd only been two days since I last saw her, but it felt like forever. Last night, I went to sleep wishing she were lying next tome. Sometime in the middle of dreaming, I knew I'd be making my way to Atlanta to see her play tonight. Hopefully, she saw my presence as a good thing and not it being weird as shit that I'd popped up on her ass.
The arena was loud as shit and packed with some of Atlanta's royalty. As I walked to my courtside seat, I dapped a couple of rappers known to support women's basketball. Now that I was after Naomi, I found myself wanting to know more about what she loved. To say that I was intrigued by the skills the women possessed was an understatement.
After the pregame lineup, the arena erupted in applause as the teams filed onto the court. Only one woman caught my attention. Mid conversation with her sister, Naomi did a doubletake when she saw me. Her eyes widened, and her mouth slightly dropped.
Grinning, I stood and nodded at her. I swear it looked like she wanted to take off and leap into my arms. She settled for blushing, smiling, and biting her bottom lip to keep the smile from blossoming into a full-on Kool-Aid smile. I nodded at PJ, too, who waved back.
Like the first game, Naomi's team dominated this one and came out on top. I did more officiating than the fucking referees, who had me heated by the time it was said and done. One of the refs almost got his head knocked off, calling a late foul.
While watching them play, I realized Naomi and PJ were like Pitbulls in the paint. They weren't the shortest on the court, but they damn sure played like they were the tallest. If it wasn't Naomi getting in the paint and scoring, then it was PJ getting in the paint and schooling her opponents. PJ was one of thoseplayers that couldn't be guarded. She was a threat in and outside the paint, making guarding her a nightmare. She proved play after play that she couldn't be fucked with.
The same went for Naomi. She had ball handling skills that rivaled any of the best ball handlers, male or female. Her pink manicured fingernails contrasted against the basketball, making me smile.
