“What’s her name?” he whispers.
“Tell me,” he starts singing.
“It’s Lily, y’all,” I mutter. “Damn. It’s Lily.”
They go silent, and I stiffen and roll my eyes.
“Man, let her go.” CJ shakes his head and huffs. “You fumbled. It’s over. Let it be. Revisiting the past never works out in your favor.”
“Nah, man, that’s justyou. You always try to run it back with the same girl when she doesn’t want you, and you have someone right under your nose ready and willing,” Jalen butts in.
Tank smirks and nods. We all see it with CJ and the person he’s supposed to be with, but he’s playing it scared. Always doing his little handshake, and nothing else.
CJ crosses his arms over his chest and sits back in his chair.
“I say go for it,” Devon adds. “You two were good together. You played your ass off when you were with her, and you seemed happy.”
I was happy. For real.
“He’s right, but what’d you do to mess it up? We never got the story. One day you were together. The next you weren’t.” Jalen leans in across from me.
I never told them what happened. I barely understood it myself. Looking at her last text to me last night gave me a little insight, but it’s still fuzzy.
“Someone’s girlfriend said something mean to her at the club around Christmas. I didn’t take it seriously, and she left the club, texted me about it, and never spoke to me again.”
“That’s it?” CJ asks. “You never texted her back? Asked any questions?”
“I didn’t say I put any work into getting her back, did I? I know I messed up.”
Tank clears his throat. “What do you want?”
“Her.”
“Then you gotta own up to how you messed things up. Really figure out what she wanted from you that night and give it to her and more. You can’t just try to weasel your way in. You’re gonna have to be intentional and humble.”
Devon laughs. “Good luck with that.”
“I’m humble.”
They all give me a look.
“I can be humble if I try to.”
Tank levels his eyes at me. “You’re going to have to do everything differently if you really want her back. No one walks away from a life with us over something small. Figure out why it’s a big deal, and do better.”
I stare at him, the wind knocked out of me.
“That’s all good and well for a man who’s kept someone his girlfriend for 15 years, 9 seasons, and 3 kids,” Jalen adds.
“Man, keep my love life out of this. I’m trying to help Javonte. I didn’t ask for any help.”
Jalen nods, and I respect it. We all do.
Tank’s words stay with me. I can’t just keep popping up on her.
I'm going to make things right.
Chapter 4 Lily
