Aphrodite #4
We headed in the direction that Rachel pointed us and met a woman named Lilly who also ignored my father.
She was more excited about proving herself because apparently this project was one where assistants got their own families to style and she wanted to make a good impression.
The clothing for this was elevated tennis attire: cashmere sweaters to be draped over our shoulders, designer shoes, and couture tennis clothing.
It was a different take on the sporty look and channeled a lot of what the observers of the sport wore instead of those of us who played.
I loved the styles they had for us and I was excited to get started.
“So we’re gonna do the whole daughter and father playful tennis thing if that’s okay with you all.” Lilly was going through what she was looking for from the photographer and I barely registered what she’d said.
My ears heard her but there was another man that had garnered my attention.
He had deep brown skin, like the hull of a pecan and his hair was braided up in elaborate cornrows.
He had a light goatee and five o’clock shadow and he looked godly.
Like he was the embodiment of the god Nyame I’d learned about.
He looked powerful, like he was the creator of all things and I knew I was staring but couldn’t stop.
Next to him was someone that I was visually more familiar with because he was always on Sports News .
It was Antwan Phillips and the god beside him looked similar enough that I assumed they had to be related.
The god was slightly shorter than Antwan and the fact that they had matching smiles let me know they were definitely related.
Even from a distance, his personality seemed to pull me toward him and I wondered if I would get the chance to talk to him.
Girl why are you worried about talking to this man?
“Sorry, the sound stage is so big we’re trying to get as many of these done at once. I hope that’s okay.” She’d caught me staring and I hated that she thought it was because I was irritated instead of intrigued by the unknown man.
I smiled at her because I should’ve been paying closer attention instead of ogling a man who was going to find his clothing like I was. “I’m not a diva. It’s not—”
“Someone should’ve clarified that we were going to have to share space with all these people. Do you have sufficient dressing rooms for everyone? I’m not trying to share with a stranger I don’t know.”
“Dad.” Because of course he didn’t care about me, he was more worried about himself.
“Yes, we have a dressing area that is set up for each individual. We would never compromise someone by not having everything that was needed for their comfort.”
Lily looked completely disgusted at my father’s attempt to make himself seem more important than everyone else. Or to suggest that they weren’t prepared to handle this level of famous people.
Folks had entourages hanging around and I was so glad that we didn’t have anyone with us.
My father wanted as few witnesses as possible to how he was going to act, especially since he was probably still sleeping with his agent and newest assistant.
My agent was at home and I’d told her there wasn’t any reason for her to fly up here just because I was going to take pictures.
I refused to have a full-time assistant because I had enough people trying to handle me as it was.
“I guess if that’s all we have we’ll have to make do.” He sounded like he was doing them a favor and I could tell by the way she kept the odd smile on her face that she was only putting up with him because of me.
“We appreciate your sacrifice so that we’re able to get this shoot together.
We were very excited that you would join us for this today.
This is part of the anniversary issue so it’s going to be a big deal.
We’re thankful to have everyone here today.
” She was talking a mile a minute, her blonde head swinging from side to side as she motioned through the different areas of the room.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of it. It’s a tremendous honor.” I let my media training kick in because I wasn’t about to have him making us look bad to yet another person.
Her smile returned before she nodded at me. “If you guys will follow me, I’ll be more than happy to lead you into your dressing area.”
“So we know that your father has left but we wanted to get the okay from you to do a separate spread from what is going on here today.” I’d changed out of the clothes that Lilly had selected for me and now Rachel was prepping me as I finished getting my makeup done.
“What do you mean?”
I knew I sounded and looked exhausted but I couldn’t help it. It was a strain to spend any time with my father but he’d taken it to the next level with how he’d acted.
“Well, contrary to earlier conversations, you have absolutely been a legend for years. With the way you’re winning, there would be a very good chance that you sweep all the singles majors this year.
We’d love to have a jumpstart on the article we’re going to write when you make history this year.
” Rachel’s smile was wide and I wasn’t sure if she was just saying this or if she truly believed it.
I shifted in my seat because it was still difficult for me to hear people so positively about what they thought I could do.
Even when my father said something positive there was a negative thread of doubt that he didn’t truly believe I could accomplish what I was attempting to.
Deep down I felt like he thought it would make me better and in some ways it did, but truthfully it gave my ass a complex about any of my success.
“That seems presumptuous.”
“You don’t have any faith in your talent?” Her hand went to her hip as if she wanted to challenge me about my personal feelings about myself.
“Faith I have but I’m also not trying to jinx it.”
My locs were down and curled slightly at the ends so they were almost touching my waist. When I’d decided to loc my hair the length was the reason my mother was so furious.
She’d kept my hair long like hers for years and even when I pointed out that it was still long, that wasn’t good enough for her.
“You can’t jinx what’s written in the stars. So what do you say?”
I was still hesitant but I didn’t want to pass up this opportunity. “What type of shoot?”
“Nothing crazy but the concept is one that is traditional but unique. There is one aspect that we need your help with, though.” Her eyes were gleaming and I was trying to see if this was an exploitative gleam or an excited one.
My curiosity was high since normally I wasn’t involved on this end of things. I was told where and how to stand and I went through the pre-selected motions.
“What do you need help with?”
Rachel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced around.
“The photo we wanted means we need you to select a “younger” athlete that is here. One of the guys. We had you guys pose by yourselves so we could superimpose you all into a picture as a passing of the torch from one generation to the next. But this article will be strictly focused on you.”
“Which person has been selected for this photo?” My mind went straight to him , but I knew it was probably going to be someone hand-selected for their palatability to the masses. Meaning a white guy.
Lord, the last thing I want is for them to think that I’m going after one of them. Once is a choice but twice is a pattern…
“It’s up to you.” Rachel was smiling like she knew where my mind had gone and I shifted again.
“Up to me?”
“Yeah, we don’t want you to shoot with someone that you’re not comfortable with.
That wouldn’t look good and even though you’ve done this before you’re not a professional model.
We wouldn’t want you to be in a compromising position.
The assumption is you might know someone here or if you can at least find someone that you can get along with for a time. ”
I glanced around with furrowed brows and a nervous smile on my face. “I don’t know any of these people.”
“Well, take a few seconds and get to know them or watch their pictures. That will tell you everything you need to know.” She shrugged it off but I could tell it wasn’t because she didn’t care.
She had a job to do and I knew she needed me to figure it out.
I’d agreed so there was nothing I could do but figure it out.
I nodded but stood still even as Lilly walked away to get things set up but I wasn’t sure about any of these folks.
There was a boxer and his father who’d been in the NFL, several father-son and, mother and son, and father-daughter NBA duos.
Hell, there was one whole family that was filled with athletes, including Olympians and Hall of Fame inductees in their respective sports.
Several other young track stars, a pair of cousins that were in gymnastics were there and I wasn’t convinced that I was going to pick someone without offending someone else.
And then I saw him again.
The man from before as he stood and watched his brother get filmed. I don’t know what struck me about him first. I mean, yeah he was fine as fuck, especially with how they had him all oiled up for whatever their photo theme was and it had every muscle on his body glistening.
But the thing I truly noticed was the look of pride on his face as he watched his brother.
When I was in pictures with my dad he was always trying to stand in front of me or make sure he was the center of attention.
Even the playful game of tennis they had us playing with the golden rackets and couture outfits turned competitive when he tried to aggressively serve the ball at me with a bunch of people around.
I’d laughed it off but there wasn’t anything funny about it.
When I was in pictures by myself I could see that he was pissed at the attention I got and stood to one side frowning.
But not this man. He was shouting out words of encouragement and teasing his brother from the sidelines all while wearing a look of pride on his face.
This man seemed to cheer for his brother even when it wasn’t about him.
And I was intrigued. It bothered me that the man was half naked and plenty of women couldn’t help staring at both of them.
Not like I had a reason to feel possessive but it was there.
Damn, is my libido waking up from such a long slumber?
I saw Rachel heading toward me and I needed to know who he was before I decided on him. “Rachel, can you tell me who that is?”
“Antwan Phillips? He’s the star wide receiver for the Desperados .
Girl, I understand that he’s fine but leave that one alone.
I heard his wife is crazy as hell.” She was looking at me like I was my father’s daughter and I had to reset her opinion of me because nothing could be further from the truth.
“No, not him, the one on stage with him.”
They’d switched up the positions again and now both brothers were playing around and joking with one another as the cameras kept flashing.
They were in reimagined football pants that made them look like warriors.
The material was kente fabric, with their thighs encased in pads and their upper bodies bared.
Someone was tossing a ball and having them go after it and I could tell they played opposite positions on the field.
Her face lit up and had a look of relief. I knew she was glad I wasn’t a weirdo like my dad. “Oh, that’s his little brother Anthony. He is really good even though he is just on the practice squad but he would’ve been a top draft pick if he hadn’t messed it up.”
“Messed it up how?”
I’d seen the NFL draft overlook plenty of transgressions as long as they felt like a player could produce.
From sexual assault to battery, to many other criminal offenses, they were all swept under the rug as long as it meant their player could suit up and make them money.
As attractive as he was, I couldn’t have someone with serious transgressions tarnishing my brand.
“He took money from a booster right before the NIL happened. He legit got kicked out of school and lost everything only for the courts to turn around less than six months later and make it legal for players to profit off of their names and likeness. It was really fucked up.”
“Dang. You know a lot about them.”
“I from Baton Rouge so it was big news back then. I’m not a stalker or anything like that. I’m trying to be the next Ana Wintour, not the next sports wife.”
“I heard you. Thanks for the information. I don’t have time for other sports but I like to see how everyone is getting along with their people.”
Just then, Anthony went up and snatched the ball out of the air jumping just higher than his brother to get the interception, The people on set were going crazy and even his brother was grinning and congratulating him instead of being angry he missed the ball.
Is that what familial love looks like?
It was crazy to see how his brother hyped him up and the bashful way that Anthony almost shied away from the praise. Like he wasn’t used to the limelight. But if he’d been a star in college, I wondered what made him run away from the praise now?
Don’t get started trying to analyze another man, Dite. Your father is more than enough for anyone to handle.
When he turned around and looked back out presumably toward the camera our eyes caught for a second.
The smile on his face didn’t dim, it widened and he gave me a respectful nod of his head.
When he didn’t look away and held my gaze I felt my breath catch in my chest. The feeling blossomed and seemed to spread throughout my body like smoke just before a fire flashed over.
I wondered whether having this shoot with him was going to be just as combustible.
Even with the questions in my head I still couldn’t look away from him.
I felt my face heating and even then I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him.
Yeah, this was absolutely going to be trouble.