“Oh wow. I’m sorry. Were you two in love?”
“We were young, and I thought it was love. But even at the time, I knew it wasn’t that deep. So it worked out for the best for both of us. I need something real, and she only wanted to be with a pro baller.”
I furrowed my brows in confusion. “But youarea pro baller…? You literally play football as yourprofession… That’s the definition of a pro baller.”
“She didn’t see it that way.” He chuckled. “I got a professional schedule without the perks. And the scheduleisdemanding. During the regular season, we practice four days a week, one day is for meetings, conditioning, and training, and then there’s game day.”
“That’s why she broke up with you?”
“Officially, she left because she said I didn’t have enough time for her. But unofficially, yeah. I have a league schedule without the big contract, the money, or the fame.”
“And that’s what she was after?”
“Yeah. That’s what she told her people. She meant to send the text to them, but she accidentally sent it to me.”
My eyes widened. “Wow… that’s messed up,” I murmured.
“It worked out the way it was supposed to. We weren’t friends. We weren’t compatible. Turns out, she didn’t like football. She liked the idea of being with a football player. Those are two completely different things. My life is football, and I can’t be with anyone who doesn’t love it.” He paused. “It was a good lesson to learn.”
The knot in my belly tightened. “Anytime you can learn and grow from a situation, it’s a good look. But still… that sucks.”
“Yeah, but it ended three and a half years ago. That’s why I said there’s not much to tell.”
“You haven’t dated in three and a half years?!” I exclaimed.
“I’ve dated and talked to women since then. But you asked me about relationships, and I haven’t had a relationship since then. I don’t have a lot of time, so I haven’t invested in anyone. Have you dated since your divorce?”
“No, I haven’t,” I answered sheepishly.
That’s why I couldn’t control myself around you the last time we saw each other, I explained silently.
“Why not?”
“After what I went through, I just didn’t have the energy. I’d rather spend my time with people I genuinely like than to spend my time on dates with strangers.”
“Valid. But everybody was a stranger to you at one point in time.”
I rolled my eyes. “You sound like Aunt Addy.”
“My mom said that at any point of the relationship, anyone can be a stranger to you. Whether you’ve just met them or you’ve known them for twenty years.”
I reflected on that. “That’s deep. That’s that old-school mom wisdom.”
He paused. “So now I sound like your auntandmy mom.”
I laughed. “That’s not a bad thing!”
“I mean…” He yawned.
“Aight, it’s time for bed. I have to wake up early for my swim pretest, and you have your meeting tomorrow,” I told him.
“Yeah. It’s not until the afternoon, so I’ll probably try to sleep in, but hit me up and let me know how you did.”
“I will. You, too!” I put my hand to my chest. “Have a good night.”
“Goodnight, Jazmyn.”
I exhaled as I ended the call.
