Page 17 of Pretty and Loco

I turned to him with a smile. “Great. I’m glad you agree.”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, I uncovered the domes and slid the plates I had ordered for him toward him. He stared at me like I had two heads, then picked up his utensils and started to eat.

“No, let’s pray.” I stopped him.

He put the fork down slowly and then placed his hand in mine as we bowed our heads. I prayed over our meal; we both said “amen” and began to eat.

I tried my best to make conversation to distract him from my earlier outburst, but truthfully, I don’t think it worked. However, the morning was still young, and I planned to make it up to him in more ways than one.

Iwoke up this morning confused about where I was. Why did the ceiling look different, and why weren’t the sheets as soft? When I saw Leah sitting on the edge of the bed, it took me a minute to realize that I had asked her to spend the night with me. Between busting my ass at practice yesterday and Leah giving me the best sex that I ever had, I had been knocked out.

When I say Leah’s shit was the best I ever had, that’s not me just talking because she was sitting five feet away from me. There’s a difference between good sex and something that would make a man question his priorities.

But now I see why it’s so good. She is crazy as hell. We had been talking enough for me to know that her mouth could be reckless. She said what was on her mind and sometimes didn’t think twice about how it came out. I could respect it, though. I dealt with way too many people who told me what they thought I wanted to hear.

This side of her that I had just seen? That was different than telling me what was on her mind. Although I didn’t like it, it definitely wasn’t anything that I couldn’t handle. I’m a grown-ass man; I don’t lose my cool easily. I had coaches screaming in my face, reporters baiting me, and hecklers from other teams sending me death threats daily. A five-foot-five woman pouting because she thought that I didn’t want to have breakfast with her wasn’t enough to ruin my morning.

Though I wouldn’t tolerate disrespect from anyone, her attitude didn’t shake me.

If anything, it told me she cared, which I knew would happen but wanted to avoid.

Even as she sat across from me, trying to talk but still pouting, I knew that she was still in her feelings but trying to play it cool.

“You aren’t hungry?” She asked, breaking me out of my thoughts as she took a bite of the fruit on her plate, noticing I only had some eggs and toast.

“I don’t have a big breakfast; I normally drink a shake in the morning. I don’t eat until later.” I admitted.

She had a strawberry in her mouth. I took it from her hand and bit it. Then I ate the fruit on my plate.

We sat in silence for a while before she spoke again.

“Look, I apologize for earlier. I didn’t mean to be a bitch about it. I know you said that you don’t want anything serious. I didn’t think breakfast was serious. I guess my ego just didn’t take kindly to being fucked and dismissed.” She laughed as she swiped her hair away from her face.

“Chill, that’s not what I was trying to do.” That was the truth. I didn’t mean to brush her off; I just had a full day ahead of me, and my schedule didn’t give a damn who I had lying in my bed.

“I know you have a meeting, but that’s what it felt— like- ah!” She yelled as she dropped the container of syrup into her lap.

She kissed her teeth, stood, and took off the robe, letting it fall to the ground.

“Perfect,” she mumbled.

“You good?” I asked.

“Do I look good? She snapped back.

My eyes roamed her body, then dropped.

“Yeah.”

She rolled her eyes playfully.

“I need to shower; I’ll make it quick.” She disappeared into the bathroom, and a few seconds later I heard the shower running.

While she was in the bathroom, I picked up my phone and checked my messages. A message from my agent reminded me about the meeting. Then I responded to one from my trainer.

“Rocko,” Leah called out.

“What’s up?” I answered, putting my phone back on the nightstand.