I scooted to the edge of the couch and turned the volume up to hear her better. “How areyou?”
“I’m okay. When are you going to see Lamar again?”
A nervous laugh jumped out of me at the quick, unexpected shift. “Um. The season has officially started, so… I’m not sure.”
“Do you want to see him again?”
“I do,” I admitted.
“Then do it.”
If only it were that simple.
I cleared my throat. “Okay, what about your party? I haven’t seen my invitation in the mail. Are you trying to uninvite me? Because I’ll just show up.”
She laughed, sounding slightly winded. “No, no, no. It’s coming though. Where are you on your list?”
We talked for a little while longer, and then we said good night.
Closing my eyes, I slumped into the cushion because I could hear it in her voice. I wasn’t in denial, but I wasn’t ready for her to go.
I need to work on my book, I thought, before pushing myself up and getting to it.
I woke up early on Sunday to write before going to the sports bar up the street. I was still thinking about my storyline up until I watched the Monarchs jog out onto the field to start the game.
“Hey!” Aaliyah greeted me, touching my back as she took the seat next to me.
I hugged her. “Hey, Liyah! I love these glasses!” Smiling at her man, I hugged him as well. “Hey, Ahmad!”
“What’s up?” he said, before taking the seat next to Aaliyah. “We didn’t miss anything, did we?”
“The first quarter just started. Monarchs lost the coin toss so they’re getting the ball first.” I’d caught them up. “You didn’t miss anything.”
The game came back on, and the Monarchs ended up scoring. So, when the Wasps were on offense and the Monarchs were on defense, I paid close attention.
“Something is going on with Channing,” I pointed out as Channing missed a tackle. “Watch the way he moves on the ball. He used to be quick. There’s something wrong. I’m telling you.”
“He got hurt last year,” Ahmad reminded us. “Maybe he never fully recovered because his ass be on the field limping.”
I laughed. “Itisa limp!”
“Who are you talking about?” Aaliyah asked, looking between us.
“Number ninety-nine,” Ahmad answered her, pointing at the screen.
“On the Monarchs?” she wondered.
I looked at her with my brows furrowed because they’d just showed the replay twice. “Girl!”
“Baby, take those glasses off, and you might be able to see something,” he teased.
She looked like she was holding in her amusement. “I need my glasses to see, thank you very much!”
“Those glasses ain’t got the first bit of prescription in them.” Ahmad chuckled. “They might as well not have lenses!”
Aaliyah was trying not to laugh as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
I, on the other hand, was weak.
