You said you’d carry my worries and fears. You said you’d never return them. This gift is my heart. Will you carry it? I don’t want it back.
Your very best friend,
Pen
I opened the box and had to laugh at what laid inside. A chain bearing Pen’s whole uglass name stared back at me. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t move me…a lot.The fact that it was my type of taste added to the sentimental piece.
“Yo’ ass better get back to lovin’ on that girl,” Brooklyn drawled from my doorway.
“I would cuss you the fuck out, but I’m on some humility type shit.”
He chuckled and came further into my office, whistling as he took the jewelry box from off my desk like I wasn’t about to take the chain out of the box.
“Damn!” he exclaimed. “Lil’ baby got some taste.”
Snatching the box back, I grilled him. “How ‘bout you mind ya business.”
“I try to, but I’m watchin’ my fam self-destruct over his woman. If it ain’t you lovin’ on her, it’s gon’ be another nigga.”
“Pen ain’t mine. I think I already told you that.”
“Aight,” he snorted. “I’ll make sure she sends you an invite to her future wedding.”
“Fuck outta here,” I grumbled.
“Nah, I’ma be the one to rub it in every time I get the chance. I’ma remind you how fuckin’ stupid you are every time I feel like it.”
“You call ya’self giving me advice?
“Goodadvice. A woman like PJ, who actually wants to put up with yo’ big head ass, shouldn’t be kicked to the side just because she hurt ya lil’ feelings. The fact that she hurt you says you reallydo care about her. So, what the fuck you gon’ do? ‘Cause I’m tired.”
Donning the chain, I smirked when it hung perfectly around my neck.
“You gotta love her ass,” Brooklyn commented. “‘Cause you can’t stand her name for shit.”
I busted out laughing. No, I couldn’t stand her name, but I loved the woman. Her gift was a symbol of the pure heart she had. A heart that I couldn’t bring myself to break and would never break if she gave me the chance to actually be mine. I took this gift as her way of opening the door to more possibilities with us.
“Tomorrow night, she’ll be a champion. You’ve missed her last few games. Don’t miss her shit tomorrow, or I’m gon’ fuck you up.”
“One day you gon’ stop threatenin’ me, bruh.”
“One day you gon’ listen to me,” was Brooklyn’s parting words.
Snickering, I went back to admiring the chain and reread the card several times before I was satisfied enough to know it word for word. I finished up work, retrieved the jewelry from the safe, then closed up for the evening. Before calling it a night, I checked on Sin. He was going through the usual with Naomi, which had me laughing. Regardless of how frustrated he sounded, my fam was in love with his woman and worshiped the ground she walked on. All his frustrations would vanish the moment he held his baby.
That night, I fell asleep dreaming about my own family, something I’d never done. I dreamed about the family I could have with Pen. Damn, I was so deep, I didn’t want to be free of her.
The next evening, I prepared for the game, careful to wear what I knew Pen liked right down to the cologne. Of course, I’d already planned to be there tonight, courtside. Brooklyn didn’thave to threaten me to be show up. I arrived at the arena alone and quickly found my courtside seat. Brooklyn took one look at me and shook his big-ass head. Next to him, both Pen’s parents and Bri’s parents sat. I hugged the ladies and dapped the men.
We endured pregame antics and a solo before the players came onto the court. Pen looked sexy as fuck like she always did. I thought I’d never find a woman in a jersey fine as fuck. Pen was that and more. She had her hair piled into a top knot, showing off all her beautiful skin and silky neck. Her lips were plump and juicy like she’d applied balm on them before coming out. When her eyes locked with mine, I knew this moment was necessary. I wouldn’t have missed this night for anything.
She eased my way while going towards the players’ bench, questions dancing in her eyes.
“Show me what you got!” I said to her. The smile she gave me made my night worth it.
Win, lose, or draw, I was going to stick by Pen’s side.
PENELOPE
