8. Banks
My phone started ringing while I was getting ready to go get Leilani. I had it on ‘Do Not Disturb,’ so whoever it was called back-to-back. I expelled an irritated sigh as I checked to see who it was. Of course, it was Paisley, so I tried to hide my annoyance before answering.
“What’s good, Pai?”
“Hey, Banks. What are you up to? Are you okay?”
“I’m good, about to go pick Leilani up and go to the cages. What are you doing? I thought you were having dinner with your friends tonight.”
“I am, but something told me to call and check on you. What’s wrong? You only go to the cages when something is on your mind,” Paisley stated.
I pulled my shirt over my head and debated on whether I wanted to talk about it or leave it in my mind. Paisley was good about respecting when I didn’t want to talk, and I wasn’t quite ready to talk to anyone about it.
“I’ll talk to you about it when I’m ready, okay?
Paisley was silent for a moment. “Okay, Banks. Don’t make me be the one to call you again. You know our sibling senses be on point on my end. I do have a question before you go.”
“I’m listening.”
“How is it that you can be around Leilani when you’re like this but no one else?”
All I could do was chuckle. That was a question I was asking myself and still searching the answer for. I didn’t understand it any more than Paisley did. I believed it was another reason I was sinking deeper into my thoughts.
“When you figure it out for me, let me know,” I replied.
“Ah. I got you. Well, I love you. Be careful and tell Leilani I said hi.”
“I got you. I love you too.”
I ended the call and gathered my things before heading out to my black-on-black ScatPack.
It was rare that I drove myself anywhere, but I needed the time alone.
The hum of the engine soothed me as I pulled out and turned up Daniel Ceasar.
The lyrics of “Do You Like Me” hit differently as thoughts of Leilani plagued my mind.
The emotions I felt for her were beginning to make me feel crazy. I couldn’t understand how I was starting to fall for her in such a short amount of time. While the feelings should’ve pushed me away, they were drawing me closer to her.
Whenever I wasn’t around her, we were talking or texting. I’d find myself scrolling through her profile, rewatching the same lives of her over and over just to hear her voice.
Maybe it was infatuation. Maybe I was falling for the idea we created and how it would potentially be a positive impact on both our lives. Maybe that was why I was willing to treat it as if we were in a real relationship.
Maybe was what I was going to continue telling myself.
Twenty-two minutes later, I was pulling up to Leilani’s house.
Before I could get out to get her, she came skipping out the house in an all-white workout set.
Oversized shades covered half her face, but that captivating smile of hers shined brightly.
She waved at me before locking her door and making her way to the car.
I got out and opened the door for her, discreetly inhaling her scent as she passed by and placed a quick peck to my lips.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a Scat, Banks? I would’ve been asked you to take me for a ride.” Leilani gushed, running her hands over my red seats engraved with my initials.
“Because I hardly ever drive anywhere anymore, but I felt like bringing her out today.”
“She’s nice as hell. You had it completely customized, didn’t you?”
I smirked and pulled off. “You know I did. She was my second big purchase after my house and paying my parents’ house off. I was determined not to spend all my money at once like most people, so I invested and waited. Best thing I could’ve done.”
“That’s what’s up, for real. I can’t wait until my talent and passion brings me in the big bucks. I’m trying to do it big like you.”
“Trust me, your talent is going to take you far, Leilani. What you do is dope as hell. Your parents noticed it from a young age, and I see people are beginning to catch onto your dopeness. Don’t think I didn’t notice your followers went up.”
I gently nudged Leilani’s cheek with my free hand, and she blushed. “I have you to thank for it. After I tagged you in the picture, confirming our ‘relationship,’ followers started rolling in. I even hit a new high on viewers.”
“I saw that too. I had to refrain myself from cussing some of them out.”
Leilani leaned over and laughed. “Oh, whatever. I don’t say anything about all the women talking about how they’ll fuck you if you give them the chance. Even after you posted me, they still be disrespectful. I’ll slap a bitch over mine, Banks.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Oh, it’s like that?”
“Straight like that. We gotta play our part, right?”
I glanced over at her and nodded. “You’re right.”
The remainder of our ride to the facility was silent as we both were lost in our thoughts. I turned the music up and vibed until we arrived.
“What are we doing out here, Banks? Will we not get in trouble?” Leilani asked as I led her through the Cougar facility, outside to the cages.
“Nah, we’re good. We can come here anytime we need to. We have twenty-four-hour access to everything year-round. It’s one of the perks I love.”
“That’s nice, for real. How often do you come here alone?”
I moved my bag higher on my shoulder. “Depends on my mood, for real.”
“And what mood are you in today?”
My answer didn’t come right away. We made it to the cages where I turned my playlist on the big speaker and set up the pitching machine.
Instead of my usual R&B playlist, I went to my old school rap one to get me in my element.
Leilani intently watched me the entire time.
From the way her head was tipped to the side and her eyes lowered, I could tell she was trying to read me.
It would be hard for her to when I learned to hide myself as a kid.
Thankfully, Leilani respected my silence as I geared up, putting my helmet and batting gloves on. The first crack of the ball connecting with the bat soothed my soul. Each time I hit one, my mind settled more and more. It was crazy how something I despised as a child calmed me as an adult.
After about thirty hits, I went back to the pitching machine to adjust it.
I waved Leilani over to me. She kissed and hugged me before I could get a word out as if she knew I needed it.
We stood there for what felt like hours engulfed in one another.
The person who was creating the noise in my mind was also the one silencing it.
“Are you going to tell me what mood you’re in, Boss?”
My stomach bounced against her as I laughed. “Oh, that’s who you think I am now?”
“Sure do. You shut down on me quick. Banks doesn’t do that.”
“Don’t act like you know me,” I teased and kissed her forehead. “But I’m good, Leilani. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Like what?” Once again, I avoided her question by taking my helmet off and placing it on her head. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“Prepping you to bat.”
She swiftly shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m not coordinated to do this.”
“Trust me, I got you. I’ll guide you on what to do.” Hesitantly, Leilani agreed. I led her to the batter’s box and lined her up. “Keep your feet like this and keep the bat up. Don’t let it drop on your shoulder, or your swing will be too late. I’m about to start the machine, but don’t swing yet.”
“Okay.”
I jogged back over to the machine and turned it on. The speed was much slower than what I was used to, so I sat back and watched the balls a few times before going back over to Leilani.
“You see how the ball is coming straight down the middle, right over the plate?” I asked, standing behind her with my body pressed against hers.
“Yes.”
“To hit it, you must keep your eye on the ball and swing when it’s close. Timing is everything. Form is everything. Confidence is everything. I’m going to help you the first few times, then I’ll let you try after that.”
“Okay.”
I positioned my hands over hers, correcting her placement. “When I tell you to swing, swing. Hike your front leg up and drive with your hips. That’s where you’ll get your power from. Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Swing.”
Leilani swung as I guided her, and she connected.
We did it a few more times before I backed away to let her do it on her own.
The first five swings, she swung too late and the next five, she swung too early.
Her pretty face was red and scrunched. She was about to take the helmet off, but I stopped her.
“Don’t do that. You can hit it, Leilani.”
She stomped her foot and huffed like a child. “No, I can’t, Banks. This shit is hard.”
“It is but listen to me. I’ll guide you step by step. Give me five more swings, and if you don’t hit it, you can stop.”
Leilani kissed her teeth and rolled her eyes while getting back in position. I timed the machine in my head and instructed, “Swing.”
Too early.
“Swing.”
Too late.
She was off by a hair, so I adjusted my timing. “Swing.”
The sound of the ball cracking against the bat filled the air. Leilani turned around and peered at me with wide, surprised eyes before jumping up and down. She ran out the cage to me and leapt into my arms.
“I did it! Did you see that?” she exclaimed.
“Hell yeah. You whacked it, for real. All you had to do was get your timing right.”
“It’s a lot harder than it looks. I don’t see how y’all do it, for real. It was frustrating and fun.”
“Want to get back in and do it again?”
I chuckled as she dramatically wagged her head from side to side. “I’m good. I’ll leave that to the pros.”
“You cool if I get a few more in?”
“Go for it. I’ll be cheering you on outside of the cage.”
With a quick peck to her lips, I took the helmet and went back inside the cage. After adjusting the machine and getting some good hits in, I finally decided to answer Leilani’s question. “Our situation has been heavily on my mind.”
“What about it?”
“The now. The outcome.”
“Does it scare you?”
I turned around to face her. “It does. Mainly because this is all new to me, and I’m putting my all into it.”
“It’s the same for me, Banks. You’re not in this alone. Sometimes, it keeps me up at night because it’s not going how I thought it would.”
“How did you think it would go?”
Leilani ran her hands through her locs and sighed.
“Things are going too good. That’s scaring me.
I thought we wouldn’t be spending time together outside of your games and social media.
The extra time we spend together, it’s tugging on me.
You’re growing on me, Banks. I guess Banks and Boss are two different people. ”
“See, there you go with the jokes,” I teased, laughing.
“I get what you’re saying Leilani. I do because that’s the battle for me too.
Maybe let’s not think too deeply into this and keep going with the flow.
We’re only two weeks into a six-month contract.
Why not continue making the best of it? We want things to be good, right? ”
“You know what, you’re right. I’d much rather it be like this than us secretly hating one another or something. Us getting along and getting to know one another is making this easier to do.”
Leilani feeling the same as me, eased my mind some.
While I didn’t go in-depth with everything, we touched the surface on my emotions.
Between us talking and the cages, the noise in my mind wasn’t as loud anymore.
Leilani was a new outlet for me. She was becoming a new safe place for me to build trust in.
All we could continue to do was go with the flow and build on what we were creating for ourselves. Everything would fall into place as it should. It always did.