Was this what being friendly was like with her? It had been less than ten minutes, and I barely gotten three sentences out. Between her infectious energy—considering Daya was ready to bite her last week—and my slow processing, I really wasn’t prepared for the shift in our relationship. I thought there’d be a few more awkward instances, more threatening juices in the fridge, and maybe one more fight.
Instead, it felt like I was walking on the beach our balcony overlooked. I felt light, bouncy, dare I say even a little silly.
What the hell is going on?
Before I could decipher Brittney and Daya giggling over the phone, the door rang, and thus began the night I was dreading.
“My favorite nieces!” Allison bounded in and wrapped me, Daya, and Brittney in a hug as if we all didn’t tower over her by at least a foot.
Allison never had an issue breaking tension, and I knew it was the plan for her to walk in first and have my Aunt Rashida come in behind with the food. Smart women.
“Hi, Auntie.” I held on the longest, missing this small and scary woman, regretting the stone wall I’d put up in the name of icing everyone out.
Allison slapped my shoulder. “You will never go that long without talking again, you hear me?” Her southern twang popped out as she reprimanded me.
“Is that your declaration as aunt or as boss?” I retorted with more attitude than I meant.
“Woof,” Brittney mumbled behind me before she was dwarfed in Rashida’s arms in the longest hug, breaking my focus on Allison.
“Okay, okay I’ve known her longer.” My jealousy streak popped out briefly before I tamped it back down.
“Yeah, yeah whatever. I’ll take the food.” Brittney grabbed the bags then headed over to the kitchen island, leaving me and my aunt to break the ice.
“Hey kid.”
“Hi Auntie.”
“I promise I didn’t know anything. Which you would’ve known if you’d picked up our calls.”
“Thanks. I just really needed space.” I leaned against the countertop, the cold marble keeping me steady as I opened up. “Auntie Evie was there so you can see why—”
“Excuse me?” Rashida interjected as Allison gaped. “Come again?”
“Evie Jones, the commissioner was at your meeting with your GM?” Brittney cut in, equally confused. “Why would she interfere?”
“What do you mean? She’s my aunt and Henry thought it’d be good to smooth it over, I guess?”
Rashida shook her head and Allison’s fingers started flying across her phone. “She knows damn well she shouldn’t have done that.”
“I mean, aren’t our whole lives just big overlaps?” I tried to defend one part of my family. Even if Evie was the toughest of my mom’s best friends.
“Yes Nola, she probably said she was there because of the gray, but her presence makes the gray even murkier,” Allison ranted without looking up. “It should’ve been someone else from the league.”
“Do you know how many callswehad just to make sure we could legally and ethically pay your salary for the Waves?” Allison’s fingers danced on the countertop and I knew she was growing irritated.
I didn’t know how to deescalate this. I knew my aunts would give me a hard time for the silence, but now my hurt feelings were growing into controversial league decisions, and I just didn’t have time to process that. There was already too much energy in the room, too much focus on me and basketball, and we hadn’t even gotten to practice today.
“Is this Filipino?!” Brittney screeched from the table, her excitement shifted the mood immediately.
“Oh, yum.” Daya peered over her shoulder as Brittney placed the spread in the middle of the dining room table.
“Oh yeah…” I cleared my throat. “I wondered if you missed your mom’s food, so I figured we might as well try this spot.” Imoved to grab the plates as I felt everyone’s eyes on my back. The silence was loud but I knew I didn’t say the wrong thing. “It’s fusion, but if it’s good, we have a go-to spot.”
“That’s the kindest thing ever. Thanks Nola.” Brittney said, as I approached her. Her round eyes were so big I could fall into them.
I shrugged the moment off, still not used to the shift in our dynamic. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
Allison handed me glasses for everyone, her eyes narrowed and a smile widening on her face. Daya and Brittney talked loudly to Rashida, giving my aunt and I a moment alone.
