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“You can’t cut Momma out of your life. She’s still going to come over to help take care of you. She’ll take you to the doctor and all that fun stuff.”
I think for a moment, but really, there’s nothing to think about. It’s either my own space with little spurts of my mother, or seeing her full time, 24/7.
“That sounds perfect,” I say.
“Good because she’ll be over first thing in the morning to help you get settled.”
“I would expect nothing less.”
“And she doesn’t know anything about what’s been going on?” He asks.
I shake my head back and forth. “She was at the hospital when I had my surgery, and she drove me back to my dorm. But that’s it.”
“Who took care of you after surgery?”
“Some girls from the team took turns coming to my dorm and making sure I was okay.” A whisper of a smile crosses my lips, thinking about my former teammates.
No, the word teammates isn’t nearly strong enough. They were my friends. They were family.
“That was nice of them,” Jessie says. “What did they say about you having to quit the team and all that?”
“Not sure. I haven’t really talked to them.”
“You didn’t tell them goodbye?”
“I haven’t talked to them much at all since I found out I wouldn’t be playing anymore,” I mumble.
“Why?”
Anxious to change the subject, I say, “Can we not talk about this before I start the waterworks?”
He gives me a sympathetic nod. I’m not in the mood to tell him how I don’t want to talk to them because I feel like I let them all down. And although I’m sure they’d never make me feel like that, they still don’t need my pity party bringing them down.
After a few minutes, Jessie breaks the silence between us. “I’m just going to say this one thing, and then, I’ll let it go.”
I let out a heavy sigh as he goes on. “You’re going through some rough shit right now. Don’t push the people who care away. Take it from someone who ran away from everyone I loved. It was lonely as fuck.”
I know Jessie went through a rough time a few years back and had issues with drugs and alcohol. But our two situations are as different as night and day. I’m not going to get into it, though, and start an argument. I don’t have the energy. Plus, I am grateful to him and my other brothers for coming to my rescue.
“So, should I expect Momma to come knocking tonight because that sounds exhausting,” I say.
“Nah, I’ll hold her off until tomorrow. You should probably get some rest tonight.”
Looking over at him, I give him a big smile. “Have I ever told you that you’re my hero?”
Chapter Seven
Jenna
“Rise and shine, baby girl!” My momma’s thick southern accent cuts through the good dream I’m having.
My eyes open to see her shuffling around my new bedroom. I can’t help but squint when she flings the curtains open.
“Momma, what time is it?” I groan.
“Time to get up,” she replies with a smile.
“Cute,” I mumble, rolling over to look at my phone. “Jesus, Momma, it’s 7:15.”
