Chapter 19 Javonte
“Aye man, don’t forget the Vipers Summer Bash on Saturday.”
I look at Jalen real crazy. “The Vipers what what?”
He sucks his teeth. “Man, don’t you read your emails.”
“No.”
“See, that’s your problem. You ain’t no professional. We have a team email for a reason.”
I had no idea. “Drummond on his We Are Family bullshit again?”
Jalen nods. “Most definitely. The picnic and now this, and yes, it’s in the contracts we signed last month.”
He shakes his head at me. “The one you signed and didn’t read.”
“I have a lawyer for that.”
“You might need an assistant too, to keep you on track.”
I point at him and wag my finger. “That’s not a bad idea. What time?”
“12-4.”
“Damn! All up in the middle of the day. It’s gonna be hot as hell.”
Jalen turns his phone towards me, and I take it and read over the email. “I can take Zea. She’ll eat this up.”
“You’ve turned into a family man, huh?”
“Something like that. Zea’s cool. I like having a little sister. She keeps me on my toes. Doesn’t let me get away with anything. And she appreciates every little thing. That’s my blood.”
Jalen smiles. “I’m not knocking it. My brothers are my motivation. They look up to me, and I only want to do good by them. I’m happy for you.”
I nod. “I been out here alone for a long time. It’s nice to have someone.”
“How are things with your girl?”
I can’t hide my smile. “I’m taking it slow and being around. I think she’s warming up to me.”
“That’s all you can do. I hope she takes you back. I told you before, but she’s good for you.”
“She is.”
After an uneventful week, Saturday rolls around, and it’s me and Zea rolling up to the park adjacent to the stadium. She’s like a tourist with her head out the window and her mouth open in a wide smile.
“Whoa.”
I smile over at her, then look at what’s before me from her point of view. Her reaction fits. This is a lot. There’s carnival rides, inflatables, food trucks. It’s a block party for rich people.
“Everything’s included, so go crazy. No to-go bags though, okay?”
“Can I text my mom and tell her to come?”
I take my sister’s face in. She’s almost lost all of her baby face, and looks a lot like me and my dad, just pretty. She can have whatever she wants. “Yeah, she’d like this.”
Zea bops her shoulders. “And maybe she can find me a step-dad.”
I snort laugh. “It’s a possibility.”
She takes her phone out and her fingers fly over the screen.
“Tell her to text me when she gets here, and I’ll make sure she can get in.”
We show our ids at the security gate, and enter. It’s not too crowded or hot, and I apologize to Drummond in my head for all the terrible things I thought about this. I need to get better at going with the flow. Drummond is a business man, and he knows what he’s doing.
“Javonte!”
Speak of the bossman. “Hey Drummond!” We dap up, and he greets my sister. Drummond was the first person I told when I learned about Zea. He helped me navigate making contact and establishing that she actually was my sister. He even set up our first meeting.
“This is nice,” I tell him.
“I know,” he says, like the compliment was offensive.
I chuckle. “I didn’t want to come.”
He rolls his eyes at me and nudges Zea with his elbow. “This guy. The most anti-social player on the team.”
“His circle is very small. Almost just a single dot,” Zea teases.
“Don’t do tag team me. I’m sensitive.” I put my hand on my chest.
“Only when it comes to Lily,” Zea says.
I scowl at her. She would bring her up right now.
“She’s going to be here,” Drummond leans in and tells me.
I hold my breath. I figured it could be a possibility, but I didn’t bank on it. I breathe out. I have a moment, at least, to mentally prepare.
Zea squeals and claps. “Yes! I get to watch you make a fool of yourself!”
Drummond laughs and daps up Zea.
What’s happening here?
“Let’s get you fed,” I tell Zea, grabbing her hand.
“Like the baby that I am!”
Drummond laughs. “I like this girl. She reminds me of Porsche.”
“Is Porsche fabulous?” Zea asks.
Drummond shows her his phone lockscreen. She does that finger tapping thing, purses her lips, and nods. “With a capital F. Compliment accepted!”
“Come on,” I tell her and we start walking towards the food.
“Are Porsche and Lily friends?”
“Yeah. There’s another friend named Charisse. They’re both married to the Martin family.”
“Married to billionaires, and Lily’s stuck dealing with you.”
I stop walking. “Hey!”
She shrugs. “What? Her friends are around rich rich men. You’re rich, but not Beyonce and Jay-Z rich. But she gave you a chance when they could’ve hooked her up with anyone else.”
She gives me the stink face. “And you fucked it up.”
I close my eyes. “Stop cussing.”
“Don’t focus on my words. Focus on my point, Giant Bro.”
I hate when this girl is right. Her ass is always right.
“I’m working on it.”
She pulls me to the line for the ribs food truck. Of course, it’s the longest line.
“Working, as in the physical labor at her events? Do y'all even talk on the phone? Text? Snapchat? Facetime?”
She stands with her hands on her hips like someone’s mama.
“I don’t have Facetime. I hate those fruit phones.”
“Sir.”
I laugh. “No, we don’t. I’m taking it slow.”
“Well, you aren’t getting anywhere at this pace.”
That’s not true.
“We’ve been out on a few dates.”
“You. Aren’t. Talking.” She claps between each word.
“Zea.”
She shrugs. “I’m trying to put you on.”
“How many boys are you talking to?” I ask then immediately regret.
“Mind your business.”
I nod. “I will, my bad.”
She turns to take in the park, and her face lights up. “Lily!”
Sweat immediately beads on my forehead. I get why Tank walks around with a sweat rag like the old Unc that he is.
“Hey Zea!” I hear Lily say. I don’t see her say it because I haven’t turned around yet. I focus on the menu, even though this food truck only serves ribs. There are a variety of sauces, and I need to know what I want when we get to the front of this very long line.
The line moves a few spaces forward. I move with the line, leaving a crater of space between me and Zea and Lily.
I know I’m being a punk. Zea’s in my head, and I don’t know how to step into that situation over there.
“Javonte, look!” Zea’s closed the divide between us and tugs on my arm.
I put a smile on my face and turn around, even though I want to run. “Hey, I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Yes, you did, Drummond just told you.”
I tilt my head towards Zea and open my eyes wide, hoping she understands I want her to shut the hell up.
“I didn’t know before we got here.”
Zea stands between us, looking from me to Lily and back again. Then she claps her hands. “Well, I’m going to get some ribs and wait for my mama.”
Lily smiles at Zea before she turns to me. “She’s something else.”
“I know. I learn new things about her every single day.”
“She looks just like you.”
I nod. “I know. Drummond was adamant about a DNA test, but once I laid eyes on her, it was undeniable that we were related.”
Lily watches Zea order, still smiling. “She adores you.”
I look over at Zea. “Same. She’s my favorite person, and it’s almost like she’s my kid. Whatever she wants, she gets.”
“No, that’s just the power of the baby sister. My brother Andre is like that with me.”
How the fuck did I not know she had a brother? I don’t deserve to be back with her.
“Oh yeah?”
“He lives in Chicago now, but yeah, when we were growing up, he spoiled me and beat up any boy that made me sad.”
Our eyes meet.
“He woulda beat my ass good, huh?”
She laughs with her whole body. “He wanted to. I had to keep him from flying down here.”
“Damn.”
“He’s almost as tall as you too, so your height wouldn’t help you at all.”
I run my hand down my face. “Oh, you got jokes?”
“No, I have a big brother. And he loves me.”
So do I.
“Of course, you’re over here by the food!” A voice calls out.
I look away from Lily right at Porsche. Her smile fades. “Basketball player.”
“Hey, Porsche. You look nice.”
She cuts her eyes at me. “Don’t try to flatter me. I know I look nice.”
“P, take it down a notch.”
Zea walks over to us, holding a plate of ribs in one hand and a single, halfway eaten rib in the other. “We got a party now!” She turns to Porsche. “Heeey! Your man said I remind him of you.”
Porsche gives Zea a thorough once over. “You look like him.” She nods in my direction.
“My daddy was a hoe...our daddy was a hoe. Charge it to the game.”
Porsche laughs. “Ah, now I see it.”
Zea points to her plate. “You hungry?”
“I like you even more. Yes, I am.” They walk away to one of the tables set up, leaving me alone with Lily.
“We keep randomly running into each other,” she admits.
“Yeah...” I scratch the back of my neck. “I want to say something and then... I don’t.”
She looks at me. “Why not?”
I shrug. “Trying not to mess it up again.”
Her expression shifts, softer, but she doesn’t let me off easy.
“You might if you keep acting weird.”
I huff a small laugh.
“Noted.”