“I get that you’re overwhelmed, Penelope. Anyone would feel the pressure of such a task being placed on their shoulders. You’re a professional athlete who’s playin’ for a championship. Who wouldn’t be stressed the fuck out about that? However, since we’ve been close, I’ve been steady about keepin’ you uplifted and encouraged. All I can do is plant the seed, baby girl. It’s up to you to water that part of Penelope, instead of the part of Penelope that likes to bottle shit up and wear it like it doesn’t cost ya whole mental to carry it. I’m all for understanding you, but I’m not gon’ be that nigga you can beat up on just ‘cause you in a bad mood, overwhelmed, or stressed. I would never do you like that.”
Zoo had my eyes blinking heavily to rid the moisture from them. He’d called me Penelope one too many times and, knowing how much he hated my name, it only brought me grief. He was truly upset with me. I’d fucked up our friendship.
“You gotta be stronger than ya doubts, shawty. That’s the only way you gon’ learn to reign those muthafuckas in. Otherwise, they gon’ continue to keep getting the best of you.”
Gulping, I agreed with him. “I just want to know that we’re cool, Zoo. I didn’t mean a single word that I said. If I could take it all back, I would.”
“Of course, we’re cool,” he said. “I’ma support you, just from a distance. We’re just on different paths, and I understand that.”
My heart did a nosedive.
“Just like I’vebeentelling ya hardheaded ass, fuck what these people outchea sayin’. It’s time for you to show them better than you can tell them why they shouldn’t throw dirt on ya name. That’s all on you.”
The phone clicked in my ear, hammering another nail in the coffin of my heart. Zoo and I weren’t even a couple. Yet, this call just felt like he’d broken up with me.
Deciding I couldn’t see Mimi today feeling the way I did, I sent her a quick text.
Me:I’m gonna have to come another day. I ran into an issue.
Mimi:?? Everything okay?
Me:Of course. I’ll call you later.
Wasn’t a thing okay with me. And it was my damn fault.
CHAPTER 8
BRIANNA
Igrabbed up all the towels out of the locker room then dumped them in the hamper. We just had an early practice so the team could go out to enjoy the rest of their day. I, on the other hand, had no plans at all. For one, Naomi wasn’t here so I couldn’t go off to have lunch with her and PJ. For two, Brooklyn had been on my mind heavy since he left the house the other day, and I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy myself because again, all of my thoughts had been of him. It was the comfort and peace that he gave me when he didn’t even have to stay and be there for me.He didn’t have to give me hours of his time when he still barely knew anything about me.
Could be crazy on my part for even telling him to come over let alone to stay the night with me, but I felt safer with someone I ain’t know but a hot second than with someone I'd known for years. I had yet to tell the girls what happened with Teddy because I didn’t want them worried about me. Zoo was there, so I’m sure PJ was only waiting for things to calm down before she was on my line going off. She didn’t say much at practice today, and it seemed like her mind was still heavy with something, but I didn’t push to find out. We both had a lot going on right now and sometimes, allowing your friend to have that moment to themselves is cool, then once it’s over, y’all get y’all shit together... together.
“See you later, Coach B.”
“Be safe, Tessa, and please no drinking heavy like you did before the last game. I need to coach not make sure yo’ ass does not throw up on the other team.”
“Coach, I wasn’t drunk. That bitch was musty and that had me weak in the knees and ready to throw up everything I ate... and drank the night before. See no harm, no foul on my end. She just smelled foul.” Casually, she shrugged her shoulders.
“Bye, Tessa. Call me if you need me.” I always told the girls to call me if they got into any shit they felt like they couldn’t get out of safely.
“You got it. You enjoy your night, too. You’ve been real uptight for a few weeks now. I know the look of someone who’s dick deprived, and it’s written all over your face, mama.”
“Again, bye Tessa. All over here in my business.”
“Somebody gotta be all up in something of yours.”
Laughing, we walked out of the gym together, but my strides stopped when I saw Brooklyn standing by my truck.
“Damn, he fine,” Tessa blurted out.
“Indeed, he is,” I spoke softly so he wouldn’t hear me.
“Guess I’ll stay in my lane. You may not be dick deprived for too much longer.”
Ignoring her, I walked towards him with the biggest smile stretched across my face. It’s a damn shame that even in basketball shorts, a white tee, some Nike socks and slides, he looked even better than how he did when I first bumped into him.
“What are you doing here?”
