Chapter 9
At twenty-six I was coming to the realization I didn’t know how to make friends.
During school, people gravitated toward me with little effort.
I never had to overextend myself or travel too far out of my comfort zone to find individuals I clicked with.
In Minnesota shit was easy because I was from Philly and a basketball player, and people found that interesting.
I stood out because most folks had normal jobs.
In Vegas everyone was a celebrity, all the men were gym rats and played in a band, and all the women were sculpted and drank lattes with oat milk.
No one was checking for me like they were in Kansas City and that’s why against my better judgment, I was at a party.
Who was throwing this party? I wasn’t entirely sure, but the home was impressive, and half my team was in attendance.
I was holding up the wall, nursing a ginger ale trying not to stand out like a sore thumb.
Everyone seemed to know one another already so it felt weird trying to insert myself into conversations.
Like what was I supposed to contribute? The trendiest restaurants in town, I didn’t have a clue.
Casinos with the best payout? I wouldn’t even know where to start.
GPS was needed to find this place because each street still looked the same to me.
Was being here looking like a lame better than just cutting my losses and dipping?
The few people I did know weren’t checking for me.
When I first arrived, I caught the eye of Dante with two drinks in his hand.
He tossed me a nod but then fled in the opposite direction.
Can I ask you a question? Taking into consideration all you know about me, would you consider me cool?
No, on second thought, don’t answer that.
If I had to ask the question the answer was no.
I spotted Colin Pratt moving through the crowd with his entourage.
The more I got to know him, the more I hated him.
As a Ramblers veteran, he believed his superstar status was solidified.
But he was a ball hog who assumed the team was only there to make him look good and if we weren’t supporting his inflated ego, we were useless.
Basketball teams were no different than a regular nine to five.
You had employees who showed up and did what they were asked.
They didn’t make waves or expect any fanfare.
Then there was the office manager who’d been with the company for years and gathered a clique of minions who did their bidding.
That was Colin. And then you had me, the new hire who questioned everything.
I didn’t give a fuck if this is the way it’s always been done.
If shit isn’t working, you don’t keep doing more of the same thing.
Okay Aldi, you just can’t stand in one place all night.
You have to say hi or initiate a conversation.
I searched the crowd for another lonely loser.
If I just had a drink, a few sips even, it would really take the edge off.
Hi, I’m Aldridge. How about this weather we’re having?
Is it always this hot? What’s up, I’m Aldi.
Do you want to go somewhere and suck my dick?
You laugh, but that has actually worked in the past. Did you know Pope John Paul the II was named an honorary Globetrotter?
I glanced at the sun-kissed blonde standing next to me, dancing offbeat to the Ying Yang Twins. “Hi, did you know they’re not twins?”
“What?”
“The Ying Yang Twins. They’re not twins, not even related.”
“Okay?”
“I’m Aldridge by the way.”
“Persephone.” Her handshake was weak.
“Like the Greek goddess, I dig it. My name, Aldridge, means alder tree or village.”
“Cool.” She turned, giggling with her friend.
I felt like the old man in the club who didn’t know everyone was laughing at him, not with him.
Heading to the backyard, I hoped for better luck.
This yard was just as impressive as the house with a covered patio and a pool and hot tub combo in the middle of the yard.
Past that, there were tons of places to branch off and have intimate conversations.
To the left there was cornhole, large-scale Connect 4, and Jenga.
“I know that’s not who I think it is.” Colin Pratt’s voice called out.
“Newbie, thanks for gracing us with your presence.” I wasn’t interested in a dick measuring contest, so I attempted to head in the opposite direction.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Colin stood, pushing a woman who wasn’t his wife off his lap.
“It’s a party. You should learn how to chill out,” I said.
“It was a party until your bitch ass showed up.”
“Why, are you scared I’ll steal all your hoes?”
“Ain’t nobody checking for a brother who still has the taste of Similac on his tongue.”
“You know Colin, this ole G hating ass behavior is wearing thin.”
“What do I have to hate about? I’m living the dream. Look at my wrist, check out my whip in the driveway, not to mention the bad bitches on my arm and no bad bitches on yours. I’m who you’re trying to be.”
“Ain’t nobody trying to be a washed-up ballplayer, with a bad back, and two, maybe three salvageable years left.”
“You hear this guy?” Colin shook his head, getting support from the random clinger ons around him. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be here.”
“Trust me, I know. If you were doing your job they wouldn’t have hired me. But don’t worry, I’ll get you a championship ring as a parting gift.”
Colin literally stepped over people to get at me. “You think you have it all figured out don’t you?”
He was inches from my face. Colin was trying to provoke me into doing something stupid. I wasn’t taking the bait. “Not all. But I definitely have your number.”
“You want to talk about what you know? Well let me jump in. I know you’re just another hood baby trying to make good.
I know your brother’s a felon and your father ain’t much better.
I also know you’re not ready for prime time.
” Colin leaned in close so only I could hear him.
“I mean are you going to make it through the season without a trip to Cirque Lodge Wellness?”
The fact Colin was so pressed he’d decided to dig up dirt on me meant he was more shook than I first thought.
Yes, I’d gone to rehab in Utah. Fortunately, I had a coach in KC who did all he could to shelter and support me.
Only a handful of people knew about the extent of my addiction.
The Pioneers organization closed ranks around me to shield me from exposure.
In the off season I voluntarily admitted myself into treatment and got the help I needed.
After successfully completing rehab, I went on to take us all the way to the finals.
Colin was a bitch for bringing it up. But I was well versed in the art of playing dirty.
I offered up a dry handclap. “You did your homework, congratulations. So did I. I know about all your little proclivities and vices. And boy do you have a fuck ton of baggage. So maybe you should watch your mouth before I implode your picture-perfect life … Bucking Bull.” That was his username on some back page hookup site for people who were into freaky shit.
My assistant, Nori, was also an unofficial private detective.
Before I dated someone, she took it upon herself to search the web for reasons I shouldn’t.
When I asked her to look up Colin, I was hoping to find a talkative side chick not that Colin liked rope play and being peed on.
The muscles in his jaw tightened and ruminated. “You fucking piece of shit. Someday I’m going to knock that smug smirk off your face.”
“Why not right now? I dare you. But we both know you ain’t gonna do shit. You talk but you can’t back none of that shit up. Now me on the other hand, I’m just waiting for you to test me so I can shift your fucking jaw.”
Fuck playing nice and making friends. If Colin wanted to test me, I would make his life a living hell.
It sucks because I was actually excited for the chance to play with him.
He was a talented veteran who would eventually be in the Hall of Fame.
But you know what they say, never meet your idols because you always end up disappointed.
Colin leaned in expecting me to flinch. I’d been hit before and could take a punch. If he swung on me, it would be rockabye-baby. The last thing he’d see was my fist before his body hit the grass.
“Hey, we’re all here to have a good time. Let’s cool out.” Dante inserted his body in between us. When Dante was the voice of reason, you knew you were tripping. Colin and I both backed away, but I didn’t take my eyes off him until he went inside the house.
“He’s an asshole,” Anika said. I hadn’t been here long enough to notice she was here. My eyes widened as I canvassed the area. “She’s in the bathroom. And you’re welcome.”
“For what?”
“For convincing her to come out yet again so you could have another shot.”
“Who are you, my matchmaker?”
“I’m just a former faux sister-in-law with a soft spot for you.”
“Well Danessa and I are just friends now so—”
“Okay, sure sparky.” She patted my shoulder like I was pathetic.