Page 24 of What I Needed

To wash it down, she got a red Kool-Aid, and I had to admit, I was jealous. After hearing her order, I was no longer interested in the Caesar salad, but because I was in season, I had to practice self-control. Besides, if I tried to get anything unhealthy on the menu, Erissa would be on my ass.

“Besides this situation with your ex, how was your day?” I asked when the server left.

“It was fine once my cramps subsided. How was practice?”

“Practice is always practice. It feels monotonous until the games start.”

“How do you think the team will be this year?”

“We’ll make it to the playoffs for sure. Of course, the goal is to win it all.”

“Have you won a championship since you’ve been on the team?”

“You really don’t follow sports, huh?”

“No. I spend most of my time reading, but I go through phases where I binge-watch TV shows and old movies.”

“We haven’t won a championship yet, but hopefully, this will be our year. I noticed you read a lot. What kind of books do you read?”

“Black romance.”

“Romance? Oh, you like reading about people falling in love . . . that sappy shit.”

“Whatever. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good story about Black people falling in love. What do you do during the off season?”

“The off season is like summer break, depending on how far we go in the playoffs, and it’s over before we know it. I spend a few weeks in Chicago, and one of those weeks I run a basketball camp. After family time, a trip out of the country is necessary.”

“All that sounds great, but what do you do on a normal Wednesday when you’re home during the offseason?”

I thought about it for a moment, and I couldn’t think of anything. I didn’t have any hobbies, unless you counted getting my dick wet. I didn’t do much besides work out, play basketball, and fuck, and the more I thought about it, I realized how shallow I was.

“I don’t know. I guess I don’t do much of anything.”

“Oh, well, the blogs say something very different.”

She laughed, but for some reason, I didn’t find anything amusing.

“Forget everything you’ve read about me in the blogs. They don’t paint a true picture.”

“If I’m still around next summer, I’ll put you on to the books I read and the shows I watch.”

“You planning on quitting?” I questioned, surprised by her uncertainty.

“No, but things happen, and nothing is guaranteed.”

The server brought our food, and my mouth watered when Erissa’s plate was placed in front of her. I looked at my salad, which had always been very good, and frowned.

“I’m going to the bathroom to wash my hands. Don’t touch my food.”

She stood, and my eyes were glued to her ass as she walked away. I had enough willpower not to touch her food, but I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to keep my hands off her for much longer.

“Where are you going dressed like that?” River asked.

I was wearing an orange maxi dress that showed off the little bit of cleavage I had and hugged my slim frame. Shakira had been bugging me about going out, and I finally gave in. I tried to use the excuse that I didn’t have anything to wear, but I’d ordered a few dresses recently.

It had been at least a year since the last time I’d let her talk me into going out socially. We went out to eat more often than anything. Most of the time, we hung out at each other’s houses.

“Like what?”