Anthony
ANTHONY
“THAT WAS FUN!”
Aphrodite’s eyes were bright like she genuinely meant it and I was surprised that something like this would have her so happy.
I could only nod ‘cause the whole photoshoot thing was a vibe.
It had been a few years since I had to do promo for anything or be dressed and it came back like it was second nature.
Shit had my mind conflicted again because holding her felt natural and again I was wondering if I was imagining this shit and just getting caught up in the moment.
“It was.”
Her smile dimmed slightly and her head tilted like she were attempting to understand the hidden meaning in my words. “Why you say it like that?”
“I would just think that you were used to stuff like this.”
I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder at the building behind us.
It was cold as fuck so we needed to get moving before my ass froze to the ground.
It was just over forty degrees and she looked right at home in the cold.
The tip of her nose was flushed and her coat looked like it would block out all the elements.
But she grew up in this area so I was sure this cold ain’t bother her.
But I felt like my left nut was about to be in my chest if I didn’t start moving.
Her smile perked up again and those tilted eyes went back to sparkling. Aphrodite’s features reminded me of the San people of Africa with her extra high cheekbones and slanted eyes.
“Oh, I mean kind of, but it’s never with someone cool like you. I normally do editorials or try to fake playing so they can get candid shots. And then of course the shoots I have to refuse for moral reasons.”
“Do I even need to ask?” I almost didn’t want to because I could feel myself getting pissed off at the thought of what she was going to say.
“I mean you can.” Her voice had a slight note of humor in it so I hoped it wasn’t as bad as I’d assumed.
“What morality reasons?”
“Publications wanting me to pose in something far more risqué than the outfits they had for me today. And even those were fairly revealing.”
Like all female athletes, there was a lot of money in selling the sexual side of their talent than people focusing solely on their athletic prowess. Women in the WNBA and other professional sports leagues were inundated with offers to do shit that was salacious.
“What they picked was tasteful. The play on your name was a good touch.”
“Yeah, I’ve never had someone make me a giant clam shell to come out of before so that shit was cool. The interviewer was talking in absolutes since this will be released if I sweep this year. It made me feel like I could conquer the world.”
“ When you sweep it. You never feel like that?” I blew into my hands to keep them warm since leaving her wasn’t something I wanted to do right now.
She shook her head, the knit cap that covered her locs moving slightly. “No. I’m normally battling people’s negativity to sit around and think positive things about myself.”
I tapped the tip of her nose forcing her to look up at me. “You gotta change that.”
“I keep thinking that once I win enough or once I achieve enough that it will come naturally.”
“But?”
She bit her lip but a smile broke through as she started to laugh. “Damn, how do you know that I don’t still feel that way?”
I shrugged my shoulders because it was something I often felt. “Call it a hunch.” Someone exited the building drawing our attention for a minute before she spoke up.
“I mean you’re not wrong. I think today has just shown me that how I felt is wrong.
I should feel good about myself based on what I’ve already done, not wait around to hit some achievement that in my mind will have other people accept me.
” As she spoke she seemed to stand up taller than she had before so I hoped her words were being taken to heart.
I leaned against the side of the building so I could keep an eye out on who was moving around her.
New York was a weird place because you legit could walk two blocks from this warehouse and be around brownstones that cost multiple millions of dollars.
And then a block over from that was someone who had to eke out a living panhandling or scamming.
Even so, nobody was going to get the drop on us while I was here.
“Who do you need acceptance from?”
She blew a cloud from her lips shaking her head slightly while she avoided my eyes. “You’d be surprised.”
“Your pops is that hard on you?”
“Damn, we didn’t hide it well did we?” Aphrodite’s grin was more sarcastic than anything and I empathized with the way she was probably embarrassed.
“You were cool but your dad seemed…uptight. I mean I haven’t been an uncle long but my baby niece is my world.
I fight my brother to be in her face and he hates to share her with anyone.
I don’t see that ever changing but your pops wasn’t like that.
I doubt that being a teenager or whatever would change how we feel about her. ”
“You’re right. We’re not really that cool with one another. Probably too close to one another at this point.”
“He’s coaching you and shit?”
My face was frowned up because even I knew it wasn’t smart for a parent to coach a kid. I’d seen it often growing up in sports where people were always playing favorites with their kids and also going too hard on them.
The shake of her head was quick but it made me feel easier that he wasn’t that hands on with her.
“We all live under the same roof but we don’t see each other a lot. I think it’s the fact that we have the same profession that messes up our ability to bond.”
I could tell when they were taking their pictures and I was watching them on the sly what the deal was. I wondered if she could see it as clearly as I could.
“Oh, he’s threatened by you.”
Aphrodite opened her mouth to refute what I was about to say and then stopped. Her eyes traced my face looking for sincerity, before she spoke again.
“Do you have a degree in psychology or are you really good at reading people?”
“Nah, I have a Ph.D in fucked up toxic parents so I can see the signs. My brother is famous and it only makes me even prouder of him. And every time I win, he’s the one cheering for me loudest. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
No bullshit or trying to outdo one another. It’s supposed to be all love.”
“I don’t have that. I doubt I ever will.”
“Maybe not from them, but you can always find someone who will cheer for you. Our people ain’t shit and I know I’m lucky to have my brother.
And he’s got a group of people who love us like we’re family.
Hell, we are family. Add in our uncle Silas and it takes away the sting of how bad our parents are.
” That was mainly true but there was still always that kernel of pain that lingered despite how well other people loved us.
She folded her arms studying me again as if she was buying time before she spoke up again. “You say this like you’ve healed but somehow I can still hear the hurt creep out.”
I hesitated to be so honest but I knew that I wasn’t about to lie to her. Shit felt wrong on a level that went far past simple morality. Opening my mouth to speak a lie to this girl was against every fiber of my being.
“Oh, the wound is there. You might get the scratch stitched up but you have the reminder of the scar for the rest of your life. Shit even aches sometimes but it no longer bleeds.” I shifted around suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the level of vulnerability I’d just expressed.
I wasn’t a man who hated emotions but looking weak in front of her was bothering me.
“That was painfully beautiful and it makes me sad for you.” Her hand went to the puffy coat of my sleeve and even through the down I felt her give it a squeeze.
“Nah, the last thing I deserve is someone’s sadness or their pity. I ain’t no angel, and I’ve made more than my share of mistakes in this world.”
“Athlete frame of mind?”
“More like the spoiled little brother who thought the world owed him greatness without him having to do anything but show up. So yeah, I can speak from both sides of shit because I’ve been on the top and the bottom. You know the major difference?”
“What?” She looked thoroughly intrigued by what I had to say and I was glad my honesty and lack of perfection wasn’t a turnoff.
“I refused to stay down. Defeat is not a frame of mind I will associate myself with anymore. Not personal or professional. I know this time I’m not trading on a name or just getting by on talent and it’s coming to fruition the way I worked hard to get to.
And from the way you look and the wins you’ve already racked up, I know you have the same work ethic.
So anyone who doesn’t see greatness in you is only looking at you through jealousy-colored glasses and you can’t trust their asses, anyway. ”
We’d gotten way deeper than I’d expected but I truly wanted her to understand what I was saying. None of it was for clout, it was so that when she walked out of here and had to face the world; she did so with her head high the way it should’ve always been.
“I don’t know if I should start shouting praises or let a tear drop. Or get up and go train or something. Can you say all that again so I can record it and play it before my next match?” She pulled out her phone and I wanted her to keep it out for something, but not this pep talk shit.
“You silly as hell. But I can’t take the credit. I’ve been speaking with a spiritual advisor who helps me keep my mind right even when I get low.” I communicated with him long distance via video message so he could help me get my head straight.
“I’m serious. You know coaches can only be so nice and the public will like you one second and then call you overrated the first time you’re not perfect.”
“That shit happens a lot to you?”