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I eyed him. Then the scoreboard. “Winning against the home team feels…” It should have felt amazing. But the excitement hardly filled my pinky finger. “Cool, I guess.” It wasn’t like I could ask him the same. The kid from Alabama didn’t have a chance to rep a home team like me.
“Man, listen. Alabama ever gets a team, you’d have to offer me a pretty penny not to persuade someone to trade me.” He laughed. “This right here? Hearing the crowd. The chants of your name, even though you are playing for the other team. Shit.” He shook his head. “Can’t beat that.”
When I was twelve, I thought it would be like that. I walked into the stadium with my dad, Jared, and Cam. I’d convinced him to not only get tickets for the two of us, but told him, “Can’t forget Cam and Jared.” He made it happen. It was in that stadium when we all decided we’d one day be playing pro ball. Back then I imagined taking the field, as a member of Dallas’s team. Running out to my hometown cheering for me.
The dream came true. But being on the opposing team felt like betrayal somehow. Still, I was glad we were continuing our winning streak. If it had to be against the home team.Oh well.
“I don’t know, something about winning on your home turf.” Tree scanned the crowd. “Make all these haters mad.” He laughed.
“Something like that,” I said with little enthusiasm.
“Damn, bruh, who spit in your protein shake?” He scrunched his nose.
“My mind is somewhere else.” I watched Dallas’s QB line up for another pass. His arm was slacking, like there was something wrong. I mumbled, “He’s playing hurt.” I pointed to the field. When the ball released it hardly made it to the receiver.
“Sucks for them. He’s the best they got. They put in that number two, and they might as well pack it up and send us home early.” Tree laughed. “But what’s going on with you? Gotta clear your mind before you are out there looking like him when we take the field.”
“Trying to get my girl back.”
Tree cringed. “Damn.” He informed me, “Not my area of expertise. I’m trying to soak it all in. Stay single for as long as I can.”
I smirked. “Thought that’s what I was on too.”
He smacked my back as he pulled his helmet over his head. “Then you met her.” His head shook back and forth as his eyes met mine. “If she has you out here like this, I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to get back right.”
“Damn, I hope so.” I jogged onto the field. As soon as we huddled, I could only think about the ball. The receivers, and the Dallas defense who was trying their hardest to put me on the injured reserve list.
Thankfully for me, Jacobi lined up perfectly to catch my pass and sprinted his way into the endzone. Never has a play been easier. In the crowd, there were chants ofAngeloandTraitor.I laughed. They acted like it was my choice to go to Phoenix.
By the end of the game, I was thankful I made it off the field with no injuries. But getting on the plane was my highest priority. After hugging and kissing my people, I was on a mission to get back to Phoenix. The whole flight, I thought of Gigi, and what I could do to flatter her. Yeah,flatterher. She had me all fucked up.
One time, I saw this rose wall. Something some rapper had delivered to his girl for her birthday. Shit was dope. I didn’t know how it happened, but I needed one. I searched my phone for the details, and when I found them, I was testing the flight’s Wi-Fi submitting an order. A few more details solidified before landing. And the next day, the plan was to give Gigi’s office something else to talk about.
I could hardly sleep that night. Tossed and turned, eyes wide open until my alarm finally buzzed at six that morning. I got in my workout, making sure my muscles were firm for what I planned to do that night. I had a few hours before Gigi would be getting off work. Since being in Phoenix, I did little in-person shopping. I had to search the internet for the closest mall.
Walking through the mall wasn’t as easy as it should have been. Every other person stopped to congratulate me on the win the night before. And people between wanted to tell me about their bets for the season. That it’d be us andwhoeverin the championship. Each person I’d warn, “Still have a while before that can happen.”
An armful of bags later, I was leaving the mall. Racing home to meet the driver for the night, and to make sure everything arrived and was setup as expected.
I popped my collar and looked in the mirror. If this plan didn’t work, I’d need to phone a friend. Someone from the early nineties who knew how to beg and plead.
“Right this way sir.” the driver held the door of the Maybach open, and I tried to conceal my grin. Tried to act like paying five stacks on a rental car was chump change. My third-round salary wasn’t anything to laugh at, but it wasn’t like I was on some Tom Brady cash yet. That night though, I planned to make Gigi feel like she was the number one pick.
“Thank you,” I said, climbing into the back. I couldn’t lie, the shit was dope. If I ever madethat typeof money, I’d consider it.
Pulling up to Gigi’s office had my palms sweating and heart racing. I cleared my throat a few times as I practiced what I’d say to her. “You remember the plan?” I asked to the driver as he parked.
“Yes, sir. I got it.” He watched me in the rearview. “Trust me, I got you.” The older Black man knew his assignment. And I trusted he was exactly the person I needed to help me ascend to the next level.
As he hopped out and opened my door, he told me, “Stand right here and look all suave.” I did what he said without hesitation. I avoided my mama’s advice and failed. I was learning quickly to listen to my elders.
He took a step toward the front door. His steps seemed to slow. As if he was walking through quicksand or some shit. I wanted him to put a little pep in his step. And if it took him a long time to get inside, it was even longer for him to come back out. I started thinking of all the things that could go wrong with my plan.
Was she not in the office? With a patient? Not wanting to come outside? Stuck on her plan to remain friends—
Then he stepped outside with Gigi on his heels. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. “What’s all this?”
“Me leveling up.” I met her halfway and asked, “Will you join me at my house for dinner?”
