“Yes, you do. You want him to miss you, so then it validates you being in love with him. Have y’all even talked about being a couple?”
I shook my head.
“Baby sis. From one basketball lover to another, don’t let this sport ruin you. Don’t let it ruin the good person that you are. Don’t let it ruin your opportunity at love. Sin came in and showed me that there was more to my life than being an athlete. He supports me wholeheartedly in whatever comes along.Imagine if heonlywanted Naomi the basketball player, and not Naomi the woman off the court. ‘Cause I know I’m getting on my man’s last nerve.”
We both chuckled.
“Zoo sees you as a woman off the court and fully supports the woman on the court. He’s been stuck to you like glue. And honestly, it’s refreshing to see men like Sin, Zoo, and Brooklyn have their soft sides with us.”
Sighing, I agreed with her. Zoo was so damn hard but was as soft as a teddy bear when it came down to me.
“So, you gon’ have to do something to get your man back, ‘cause you’re not gon’ be crying all over my shoulders while I’m crying all over Sin’s about this baby.”
I busted out laughing and rubbed Mimi’s baby bump. “Aww! I’ma be an auntie!” I screamed.
“I’ma call you auntie-sister-cousin-in-law,” Sin said, joining us on the patio. He came over to kiss his woman’s lips, bringing a smile to my face.
“I’on know about the cousin-in-law part, but I’ll be auntie and sister-in-law all day,” I replied, chuckling when Mimi smacked her teeth.
“Quit frontin’. Zoo ain’t goin’ nowhere. That nigga in his feelings like niggas get when y’all hit below the belt. My cousin ain’t used to dealin’ with a woman that doesn’t mind speakin’ her mind. And we all know how slick ya mouth is. Ouch!”
Mimi popped Sin’s arm so hard, I felt it.
“Her mouthisslick, Baby,” he defended.
“So! That doesn’t mean you gon’ talk about her! We’ll jump yo’ ass. One thing about us, we ain’t never been scared to get down.” Mimi grilled Sin, and for a second, I was scared for him.
Sin grinned. “See how mean she is to me?” he directed my way. “But I love her ass. Another woman could neva!”
“Boy!”
Sin darted off before Mimi could punch him.
“And you gon’ watch that ‘boy’ shit, woman! The only boy ‘round here is the one you carryin’!” he yelled from inside the house.
Mimi and I busted out laughing, falling into each other like gossiping teenagers.
“I’m proud of you, boo.” Mimi hugged me, beaming.
“Sis, I miss you out there.”
“I miss being out there. However, I wouldn’t trade the position I’m in now, for the court. Just like I was telling you, at some point, you’ll realize there are other things,peopleyou will love more than you love basketball. It took all of this to show me that.”
Sin peeked his head out the door. “And a basketball ain’t put no fuckin’ baby in you, either.”
Mimi took one of the lounge pillows and threw it at Sin, who easily dodged it.
Cackling at Sin and Mimi’s antics had my stomach hurting the rest of the evening. When I arrived home to an empty house, I wanted to turn around and go back to Sin’s house. Hell, I’d sleep in my car in the driveway just to feel closer to Zoo.
Opening my front door, I launched myself into my daddy’s arms, grateful to see him and my mama. The last two days had been horrible. Loneliness and a tad bit of depression slipped in after my last conversation with Zoo. Not once did he reach out to me, and it stung. I didn’t blame him for wanting to put some distance between us; it just hurt like hell. I never thought I’d miss his loud mouth and arrogance. Even his ratchetness causedme to laugh until my stomach hurt. Underneath his craziness, Zoo was a sweetheart, and I missed him something serious.
“How’s my baby?”
I embraced my mama smiling from ear to ear. “Good, Mama. Ready to get this series over with.”
She chuckled. “You say that as if things are going to settle down once the season is over. Next, you’ll be drowning yourself in schoolwork.”
“Don’t remind me,” I groaned. “I picked up books and nearly died when I saw how thick one was.”
