My head snaps up, and I notice how quiet the room has gone. I look around to see all eyes on me, and hear a few of my teammates snickering. I quickly apologize before sliding the phone back into my pocket. As I settle back into my seat, my eyes lock on the tall man standing at the podium. He looked annoyed, but also slightly familiar. I couldn’t put my finger on it, though.
“Sorry about that,” Coach Brandy apologizes to him with a smile. “The floor is all yours.”
“Yes, right, okay.” He nods, clearing his throat. “Good afternoon, ladies and…other friends.” I glanced at Yari, and we shared an unamused look. “My name is August Fontenot, and I’m one of the new owners of this team. I hope we can all get along, and I want you all to know that we’re here to support the team in any way possible. I’ve always loved the game of football and dreamed of owning a team. Granted, I never thought it’d be a women’s team, but I see the hard work y’all do out there, and I’m pleasantly surprised and impressed. Who’d have thought, right?”
He chuckles at his joke, but I could feel the tension in the air. No one, including me, found his backwards comment funny. Having a broke owner didn’t sound too bad compared to having an owner who seemed fully unaware of the team that was in charge of. I could smell the fakeness from where I sat three rows back.
“Hm, tough crowd,” he mumbles. “Anyway! As I said, Ihope we can get along and make this season even better than the last! Go, team!”
There was scattered applause around the room, but I didn’t even attempt to join in. I could already tell that he and I were gonna have problems, and I hated that for me.
The meeting continued for another 15 minutes with the coaches going over the schedules for the next month and a half. I nodded along, but I couldn’t really focus because I felt eyes on me the whole time. Every time I would look up, I’d see August staring back at me as if he knew me or something. It made me beyond uncomfortable. I tried ignoring him, but even when I wasn’t looking, I could feel him staring a hole in the side of my face.
When the meeting was finally over, we were dismissed to practice. We had a small practice game, and it worked wonders at keeping my mind off things. The next two hours flew by in a breeze, and soon we headed into the locker room to shower. I was the first one to get done, so I popped a squat on the bleachers to wait for Yari and the others. We’d decided to go get a drink before heading home. Since we were taking a bus to the game early the next day, I was going to stay with Zee tonight anyway.
“Look, sis, I keep trying to tell you that this was a smart money move for both of us. The money is gonna be good, I promise.”
My head turns in the direction of August’s voice. He was a few feet away with his back towards me. I could make out a slightly shorter figure standing in front of him, whom I could only assume was the sister who couldn’t make it to the meeting earlier. I rolled my eyes and stood, planning myescape. He was walking backwards in my direction, and I didnotfeel like talking to them right now.
“It better be, August, because the family business is teetering on bankruptcy because your ass borrowed money from the Prescotts that youknewwe couldn’t pay back. I don’t know about you, but I wanna live to see my 28th birthday,” the woman replied, and the voice made me stop in my tracks.
I stood there, frozen in place, as they finally made it to where I was. My jaw dropped when she came into view, and I prayed to the universe that the ground would open and swallow me whole. There was no way in hell the new owners of his team were none other than Zee’s ex and her brother. No wonder he looked so damn familiar! I remember meeting him at the wedding. Maybe that’s why he wouldn’t stop staring at me.
“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” I groaned as we made eye contact. A look of surprise spread across her face as her eyebrows furrowed. “Well, my day is ruined.”
“Jakayla,” Sasha replies, looking as if she’d seen a ghost. “You play for this team?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Sasha.” I sighed. “I know that you have a roster of everyone who plays for and works for this team. Is that why you bought this team? To try to worm your way back into Zee’s life or something?” I step forward. “Imma let you know right now that shit ain’t happening.”
“First of all, I had no idea you played for this team.” She rolls her eyes. “Hell, I didn’t even know you played football. My brother purchased this team without my knowledge. I only heard about it yesterdayand had to fly in just to see what kind of mess he’d gotten us into.”
“Save the family drama for someone who cares. Just know that what I said still stands,” I reply, matter-of-factly. “I don’t know how long you’re in town, but don’t come around trying to disturb Zee’s peace. She has been doing well, and the last thing she needs is to be bothered by the same piece of shit who broke her heart.”
“Seems like you’re the one starting shit,” she retorts. “I haven’t even done anything, and you’re on my case already. Besides, Zee is a grown-ass woman, and you have no say-so over who can be in her life.” She smirks, crossing her arms. “So if Ididwant to reconnect with her, ain’t shit you can do about it. I bet you’re still in the friend zone with her after all these years, am I right?”
I don’t say anything, and she chuckles. My jaw tightens, and I have to stop myself from knocking her off her feet. I hated this chick with every fiber of my being.
But what I hated more was how right she was…
“Exactly,” she smirked smugly. “If I wanted her to be mine again, I’m sure it wouldn’t be that hard to get her. Tell me, Jakayla, does she ever talk about me? You know I was her first love, something you’ll never be.”
I lunge at her, but am held back by someone. She cackles like the witch she is, and I glare at her, ready to cuss her the fuck out, but before I can, Yari whispers that Serenity is a few feet behind us. I pull free from her grasp and turn in time to see her running over to me. Instantly, my mood is brighter, and I’m crouching down to welcome her into my outstretched arms. I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek as she hugged me tightly around the neck.
“Hey, Mama’s girl. How are you, Princess?” I ask with a smile.
“Good!” she replies with a thumbs up. She then signs “dinner” like I taught her and looks at me in anticipation.
“You came to take me to dinner?” I ask with a smile, and she nods enthusiastically. “Okay, I’d love that. Where’s Mommy?”
She points behind her, and I see Zee making her way over to where we are. I begin to walk towards her, trying to keep her from seeing Sasha, but it’s no use.
“Zseyah?” She asks, and Zee’s head turns in her direction.
I can see the exact moment when the color drains from her face and hyperventilation sets in. Yari asks her if she’s okay, but as soon as her eyes land on Sasha, she already knows what’s up.
“You take them home, and I’ll bring your truck,” she tells me, and I nod, handing her my keys. She had Ubered here, so she didn’t have to worry about leaving her car behind.
Without another word, I escorted both Zee and Sera back to Zee’s car and made sure they were buckled in. The whole time, Sasha and August stood at the edge of the parking lot, staring. I didn’t have time for either of them. All that mattered was getting these two away from them.
