Aphrodite
APHRODITE
THIS WAS SOME bullshit.
I truly hated social media but when I woke up with over six hundred notifications I knew something was wrong. We’d been low key since we’d gotten back to Texas but I knew who had to cause this shit: my father, my mother or even Christopher.
Pictures from that ridiculous lunch my parents tried to spring on me surfaced and folks immediately started to put us together.
With Anthony’s actions on the court, those rumors were immediately pushed to the back burner for our relationship taking the forefront.
I had no problem as long as people kept it respectful but this new headline had me ready to go off.
“Don’t let it bother you, Phro.”
“Don’t let it bother me? It’s disrespectful as hell.
I’m ready to call Bobby and have him take this shit down.
It’s ridiculous.” My parents had sided with my enemy.
My abuser, if you let Anthony tell history.
At the very least, he was somebody who took advantage of a situation he shouldn’t have.
When asked about the situation on the court where Anthony helped off, my parents tried their best to downplay it and make it seem like Christopher and I were together.
Not even in his fucking dreams.
We’d spent three days in Trinidad before flying back to Texas. Antwan had off-season training he had to do and was prepping for training camp in less than ten days. We didn’t have time for my family’s shit.
“It’s how social media goes, Phro. You know this.”
He was way too nonchalant about how all of this was happening.
My father was trying to make Anthony sound like some overbearing thug who forced his way into my life.
I was ready for the magazine to release our pictures so people could see that was a lie but they wouldn’t move the release up until after the result of the US Open.
So I was stuck having people talk shit about my man when he didn’t deserve it.
“I know but I hate it. That shit is disgusting and I want to know what the hell he was thinking trying to stir some shit up. This is why I wanted to tell you about the meeting. I knew they were absolutely going to twist it around until it was something it wasn’t.”
For Christopher to act as though I was cheating on him with Anthony and trying to get a few minutes of fame and make us look bad pissed me off. We hadn’t even confirmed anything with our relationship but here he was talking shit about us.
Anthony pulled me closer to him by my hips before using his powerful arms to lift me up and put me onto his lap. I wasn’t short by any stretch, but he picked me up effortlessly every time.
There was little venturing out when we arrived in Texas.
We got to his place and were lucky that the media wasn’t here waiting on us.
Bobby had put out a statement that I was on vacation out of the country so people were on high alert to find us elsewhere.
I was sure they’d be back, especially now that my dumbass parents were throwing us back into the spotlight.
With the way Anthony had his dick pressed against me, I was about to stop worrying about Christopher and think about getting some dick.
I wanted to be fresh so when he lifted my chin so I was looking at him; I thought for sure he was going to kiss me. Instead, he stared at me thoughtfully.
“What does dancing with the past get us?”
“I’m sorry?” He was being philosophical when I wanted to be stroked.
“What does dancing with the past get us?” He repeated it and I knew I wouldn’t get my way until I answered him.
“Nothing.” I rolled my eyes at him wanting to have a moment of growth when I just wanted to be young and wild. But deep down, it made me fall for him even harder because he wasn’t content with allowing negativity to fester.
“Then leave that nigga where he at.” Anthony was speaking like it was no big deal but this was the same man who threatened someone the first night we met because he was being disrespectful.
Now he was out here hollering peace. Sounding like MLK Jr. when everybody knowns he’s Malcolm with the machine gun.
“But…how are you so calm?”
“I’m not. Truthfully, I want to go smash his face in with a racket and use his head to serve, but that won’t get me anywhere but away from you.
Which is why he’s mad. I’m in the position he wants to be in.
I ain’t ever gonna lower myself to deal with a nigga that’s envious of me.
What’s the point in that? He can stay mad and I can stay blessed, it’s that simple.
” He shrugged again and damn if a nigga calling you the prize wasn’t a boost to my self-esteem.
Guess I gotta take back all that shit I was just thinking.
“That sounds wise.”
“It’s not wise; it’s just facts. He can say what he wants because his motive is clear: he’s jealous. Right now he’s harmless so I’m chilling. If he changes his position, I change mine.” The way he smiled let me know he almost wanted Chris to keep stirring up shit.
“Damn, is this type of maturity something that I need to be reaching for?”
“Nah, you're doing heavy lifting on your own right now. My job is to cover you. Just like I picked you up from the prying eyes of the world on the court I’ll cover you in our home. You yell, scream and holler and I’ll ensure that no one gets to witness your vulnerability but me.
That way, you’re able to be composed whenever you need to leave the house. ”
He had to be something I dreamed out of my brain. God plucked the man from my subconscious and put him in my presence. Who talked like this? Who felt like this? But more than anything, he backed up everything he’d said and I knew he would this time as well.
“I appreciate that so much. Thank you for getting my head on straight.”
He kissed me quickly and I knew it was because we had a bunch of stuff to do today. “It’s always my pleasure. But get off me before you have Billy mad ‘cause you miss this meeting. Tonight though, we got a meeting in the bedroom.”
“Hey, Billy!”
I rushed inside the restaurant with the media being shut out behind me.
I was grateful that she’d given me the heads up when I was in the car that a few were always hanging around this place.
As soon as the driver opened my door, the few who had been lingering jumped to attention when they saw it was me.
Sunglasses were on my face but I couldn’t deny I was recognizable.
They shouted out a bunch of questions that I of course ignored as the valet opened the door to the restaurant for me.
“Girl, them folks better get the fuck away from this restaurant. Sampson is my brother-in-law and he doesn’t play about his restaurant or his customers.
He will be out there with his shotgun if they keep up.
” Billy was frowning at the paparazzi who were still trying to snap pictures through the door.
When she turned to me, a smile was on her face and she looped her arm through mine.
“Damn. Who don’t you know?”
“Well, I have a knack for picking talent and they become family. And then they tell a friend and then it just snowballs.”
She shrugged as if she weren’t basically saying that she was one of God’s favorites and I could only shake my head.
We didn’t have to wait for anyone else to lead us to a room, Billy headed to a separate part of the restaurant.
I could tell she ate here often and the place was beautiful inside.
Ornate wood, a large carving station I got a glimpse of as we moved past the dining room and images of Black cowboys were on the walls.
I didn’t doubt the food was good because one thing Billy loved was eating.
“I can’t imagine teams like that.”
She scoffed as she pushed open a door and we stepped into a private room. She was wearing an expensive silk romper and I was glad I had gone with the linen dress I was wearing.
“Don’t give a damn what they like. I already had to cuss out a coach in New York today, if someone slips in here they’ll have a very good sound bite for whatever media outlet they represent.”
“That’s the last thing we want. ‘Cause then your entire family is going to be somewhere causing havoc and I know the city doesn’t want that.”
We sat down and she picked up her glass and grinned.
“Jacoby’s daddy will figure it out.”
“Not you leveraging that man like he’s your henchman.”
“Like a white lady tripping over a branch running from a serial killer. I’ll be a damsel in distress all I need to. Mac doesn’t play with people messing with his family.”
“Crazy.” We got settled and placed our orders and I had to admit it wouldn’t be too much of a hardship to be around her and the people I knew really cared about me on a regular basis.
Anthony was still waiting to take me to visit his brother but that was going to be happening this weekend.
I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t nervous.
Especially when he talked about how feisty his sister-in-law was.
“So, tell me what I need to know about you and Anthony.”
I could only grin because Billy was not in agent mode but firmly in her bestie bag. “Do you want to know details?”
She gagged slightly and shook her head like that Prince GIF. “I don’t need to know positions or anything like that but I know he’s treating you well, right?”
“He is. You know how things are with my parents—”
Billy sighed and I knew they’d probably been blowing up her phone trying to figure out where I was. They were sure to have that answer after the paps sold those pictures.
“A whole other topic we need to cover.”
“I’m sure. But he’s gentle with me in a way that makes me feel okay not to have to be strong all the time. I’ve been basically on my own my whole life.”
“Girl, we’ve been cool for years.” The expression on her face was hilarious and I had no problem laughing at how offended she was at my statement.