Aphrodite #2
“I know you’ve been out of all of this for a minute, but not too long that you don’t understand proper etiquette. The answer to your request was no. I wouldn’t do it for an old friend and I absolutely won’t do it for you. A friend wouldn’t request clout off of someone else’s hard work.”
“Aphrodite, I don’t understand where this new attitude came from but you need to fix it.”
My mother was right about one thing: I had a new attitude.
It came from the understanding that these people really didn’t see me as a person, not even when the cameras were off.
I was something that needed to be managed.
A commodity to be traded on or for or leveraged.
Being treated like I was priceless by damn near a perfect stranger really had me seeing things clearly.
“It’s that boy she’s been running around with. The little hoodlum. I’m sure he’s got it in her head that she can be disrespectful to her parents just because he does his that way. I heard his brother doesn’t even take care of his mama. What next, are you going to do the same to us?”
My father was waiting on me to react. Waiting on me to question how he knew about Anthony but I already knew.
Terri was the only person who had even laid eyes on him and somehow she’d found out way more information than I’d provided.
Another strike against her and confirmation that she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I wanted to scream out to them YES but I refused to show my hand.
Disgusted with the entire exchange I scoot back in my chair after setting my menu on my plate.
“I’m sure you all are enjoying this lunch on me anyway so I don’t truly need to be here for it. I’m going to rest up.”
My father shook his head but didn’t bother to ask me to stay. Even when he wanted something from me he couldn’t lie and say he enjoyed my company.
Feeling was mutual asshole.
“You need to be doing laps.”
I frowned even though I should’ve expected him to behave this way. “Dad—”
“You need to do laps so that your muscles are warm. Teresa is too easy on you. Prioritizing all of this rest when it’s not needed.
It’s why you’re behind Serena. You might have more singles titles than she did at 25, but she put in the work to almost double that in two years.
You’ll never break the record if this is how you continue to move. ”
I grit my teeth because he knew that was the way to get me.
“I’m more than happy to do that if it means I don’t need to finish this meal.”
“Hold on, that’s not—”
“Nope. I’m off to practice. Christopher, the answer is no and trust me I will deny any of this and expose whatever scheme you’re up to if you try to go behind my back.
Enjoy your food. Try to keep it to a reasonable number because I will dispute the charge in real time if it’s something ridiculous.
I’m sure y’all would hate to be washing dishes in order to cover your tab. ”
I met each of their gazes as I spoke conveying that they held no power over me. There had been a few changes I’d been making slowly, but right now it was all going to pick up. They’d played with me for the last time.
I hit the video call and tried to do the mental calculation of what time it was in Texas. I was used to East Coast time but Anthony was an hour behind that. It was already eight at night here, which meant it was only two in Texas.
“What’s up, AP?”
He picked up the call with the same enthusiasm he always had.
My heart was hurting because I wanted to be with him so badly.
I was thankful that I had a break coming up after this last match and I was going to head his way.
We’d made the plans before we went our separate ways in Miami and I’d been counting down the days until it happened.
I grinned hearing the nickname and laid back on the bed feeling far better than I had when I got in my room.
I sighed knowing this man could handle my emotions and would do so without complaint. I still didn’t want to constantly dump them on him. I’d been keeping my interactions with my parents from him not because I didn’t want him to know but to protect the peace I found in our bubble.
“I’m frustrated but it’ll be fine.”
Seeing the way his brows crinkled let me know I was right about him being ready for war if I said the wrong thing. “What’s good?”
“My father is being shady, but that’s nothing new. I just don’t feel like dealing with it right before a match.”
I had only two more majors before the end of the season and I needed to stay focused. Anthony was the only distraction I would entertain so my father’s shit was more unwelcome than normal.
“I would usually say fuck that nigga but since he’s your daddy it’s probably not appropriate.” Anthony was trying to be diplomatic but he still had a scowl on his face, which was hilarious.
“I mean…it might not be that far off today.” I rolled my eyes feeling my anger start over again with the shit they’d brought up at lunch. And who they’d brought with them.
“Damn, that bad?”
“Yeah. If you see any pictures of me sitting with a random dude, there’s nothing romantic going on. Just my father trying to give someone else a leg up and using my back to do it.”
“Say word?”
His tone seemed light but there was something about it that I didn’t trust. Almost like when a psycho started to giggle and you knew they were imagining hitting someone over the head with a brick. It sounded just like that.
“Word.”
“That’s fucked up AP. I would never think you were out here moving foul cause I know what this dick does and so do you.”
“So humble.”
“Who told you that lie? I’m an arrogant muhfucka about shit I know as facts. You not about to alternative facts my dick, Aphrodite. My mans be happily putting in work with you.”
His humor made me feel more relaxed the longer we talked. “He does. I just didn’t want you to think that I was hiding anything from you.”
“You’ve let me into almost every part of you. Been vulnerable with me. Ain’t a picture online about to tell me more about my girl. My eyes could lie to me, people can spin shit, but your soul speaks directly to mine and nobody can hack that connection.”
“You are killing me.”
His laugh was light-hearted as he ran a hand over his braids. “Well, we can’t have that. You got a final tomorrow.”
“I do. I need to be getting to bed soon.” I was tired but wanted to stay on the phone with him despite knowing I shouldn’t.
“That’s cool. Go open the door for me.” His smile was devilish as he casually made the request.
I immediately sat up in bed just as there was a knock on the door. I looked in his background trying to see if he’d somehow green-screened his room and was waiting for me at the door.
“Are you—”
“It’s not me, but it’s something from me if that’s okay.”
“Yes!”
I hopped up from the bed and made my way to the door. I peeked outside to ensure it was staff and saw a woman standing there with a large box.
“I wasn’t gone have a man showing up at your room late at night, Phro. Ain’t having a reincarnated Jack the Ripper comin’ after my ol’ lady ‘cause of me.”
I grinned at him before opening the door.
“Your delivery, ma’am. Good luck tomorrow.” She handed me the box with a nod and I took it with a smile.
“Thank you.” I moved to give her a tip but Anthony spoke up again.
“I already took care of it, Phro. She good.”
The lady was nodding as she stepped back with her hands up like I was about to assault her to give her some money. Laughing, I nodded and shut the door. I was excited to open whatever was in this box especially with the way he was grinning as he watched me carry it.
“What’s in here?”
“Open it up and see, my baybeeh.”
I swear he was turning up that accent because he knew it did something to me.
I sat down the large box and saw it was addressed directly to me.
I pulled the tab of the tape on the side and propped Anthony on the counter so he could watch me.
I glanced up every few seconds and his grin got wider as he sat there watching me.
“What?”
“Not much. I’m just watching you and your excitement is making me happy. That’s cool?”
“It is.” I looked down and saw a box inside the box that was wrapped with bright lavender paper. “All these boxes killing me, Ant.”
“Patience, my baybeeh, it’s worth the wait.”
He sounded too confident but I was eager to see what was inside.
I got the wrapping opened and saw there were multiple gifts inside.
He’d shipped me a large gift basket of items and I was speechless.
There were custom lavender headphones with the initials AP blinged out on the side.
I reached in and saw a lavender warm up jacket that had a set of Roman numerals on one sleeve and when I figured out what they were; I teared up.
The numbers represented the date that we met.
Nestled in the center was a black cylindrical velvet box that had me looking at him, wondering what was inside.
“What did you do?”
“I put a smile on my face and my baybeeh’s. You gone fault ya man for wanting to see you smile?”
“No. I’m not.”
His grin told me that was the answer he was looking for. “Good. Gone ‘head and open that shit up.”
I pulled out the box and carefully opened it up, and a gasp left my lips. “Anthony!”
I pulled out the necklace that was inside of the box and it was a diamond AP2 on a white gold chain.
“Don’t get on me about sending you nothing, Aphrodite. A nigga wanted to be there for you even if it was just in spirit. That way you knew I was gone be with you no matter what.”
The sentiment had me crying yet again as I fastened the necklace around my neck. The necklace fell right in the hollow of my throat and I loved the closeness of it.
“All of this is so perfect, Anthony. Thank you so much.”
“It’s nothing my baybeeh. The first of many ways I’m gone spoil you ‘cause you deserve it.”
I wiped the tears that had fallen and nodded. “I’m so thankful I have you. I feel like…sometimes you’re the only person that’s really on my side.”
“You know that ain’t true. If you got me, you got all my people. You got Billy fa sho and she count for like ten muhfuckas by her damnself.”
I burst out laughing because he wasn’t wrong. “This is true. Did you know I was wearing purple tomorrow?”
“Nah I figured y’all had to wear tennis whites and shit so I got you that to wear while you warm up.”
I pinched my arm and grimaced while he burst out laughing. “What?”
“I keep telling you I’m real. You keep it real wit’ me you always gone get this side of me, Aphrodite. Ain’t no need to pinch yourself to feel that pain. Me and my man gone take care of you and my girl good the next time I see that pretty face.”
I nodded my head and smiled, hating that I needed to get off the phone. “I got a full schedule in the morning with interviews and such. But I’ll be sure to text you.”
“You handle your business, baybeeh, and I’ll be waiting for you when you done.”