Aphrodite
APHRODITE
“YOU WANNA COME with me to do something today?”
This man had actually taken the note where I put my yes to being his girlfriend in his top drawer until he could get a frame for it.
I was going to order a scrapbook for him because he was serious about saving items that memorialized our relationship, which made the feelings I had to settle here feel like the right ones.
“That sounds like a whole thing and you’re being cryptic.”
He walked further into the room with only a towel around his waist. Anthony had gotten a run in after we’d eaten brunch and come in to take a shower.
I’d done the stretching exercises that Marion had given me and done a resistance workout in the living room to move my body.
The more intense practices were going to start soon and I wanted to be ready.
I was going to lift later on but I would absolutely skip it if it meant we got to hang out.
My head had been too focused on the tiny details of this final grand slam of the year and I didn’t want to overtrain the way I had for Wimbledon just because I was stuck in my head.
“You ain’t answer the question, AP.”
He flopped back on his side of the bed before pulling me closer to him.
Anthony’s body was still warm from his shower and his natural bulk already had him running hotter.
I put my head on his chest and I was content to stay like this for the rest of the day, but it was obvious he had something we needed to do.
“I don’t have anything. I did my stretches and resistance training so the rest of my day is free. What do you want me to do?” His braids were damp, but as always I couldn’t help but run my fingers through them.
Anthony’s dick was pressing into my thigh and I was hoping part of his plans for the day was going to be using his dick to persuade me to go along with what he wanted.
“I need to get fitted for a few suits. ‘Twan and Money mentioned that shit to me at workouts the other day and I completely forgot that I needed them. The last thing I want to do is wait until we get back from camp because the turnaround might be too tight.”
“What do you need them for? Press and stuff?”
I normally saw players just wearing team apparel but I wasn’t well versed in football etiquette.
Damn, I should probably get on that since I’m making permanent moves or this man.
“Game day travel outfits. Press conferences and stuff like that. I’m not trying to jinx anything but my brother also told me I needed to stop living scared and plan for greatness. So that’s what I’m doing.”
“Oh, like when you see the men walk into the stadium and shit and they’re dressed to the nines?”
He lifted his head up and the look on his face would’ve been funny if I didn’t know how pissed he was. “Phro, who the fuck you been watching walk into stadiums?”
I waved him off because I liked fashion and those dudes were dressing their asses off when they walked into work. People were always making a deal about it and it would come across my social media feed from time to time.
“No, I’m just saying it’s like men’s fashion week when y’all do it. I love watching the designer travel bags and seeing who actually has good taste. A lot of people mistake having money with having taste and it’s tragic. I can’t let you be one of them, baby.”
“Most of them wear whatever their lady or their stylists puts them in.”
“That’s disappointing. So how many suits do you need? One for each travel game?”
“Nah, I’m not about to waste that kind of money. I figure the first game is important since we’ll be in New York and maybe one for the playoffs. But other than that, I’ll probably just rock some regular shit.”
I frowned up at him disgusted by the cautious way he talked about himself. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Short yourself?”
“Nah, I just got more important things to spend money on.” He looked at me and grinned and I wasn’t about to have him not treating himself just to take care of me.
Two can play that game.
“And I get that, but you also have to understand what is about to happen.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you understand how many brand deals and free shit are about to come your way? Not like you’re clocking your brother’s pockets but I know you understand how people will act when they want an athlete to rep their brand.”
I knew firsthand how much promo would get sent to you. I had a delivery service that took all my PR packages and forwarded them to where I was. I had a hold on the service right now but would have them sending it here starting next week.
“I’ve seen it but I’m not going to count on it for myself.”
“You already wear a bunch of Desperados stuff eighty percent of the time. I don’t think it would be such a big deal if you splurged on yourself.”
“I’d rather put money into a house than anything else.” This was the first time he’d said anything about moving and now my interest was piqued.
“You’re thinking of buying a house?”
“Potentially. I want to see how things go with camp first. Either way, my brother is here so it’s more than likely I’ll be here.”
I nodded my head in recognition of how sound his logic was. “Whenever your thoughts become more concrete, include me in the conversation, okay?”
He looked at me, eyes studying mine for the meaning behind my words. When I grinned he grinned and our silent agreement to take another step with each other was solidified.
“Deal. Now, are you going shopping with me today or not?”
“Yeah, I’m going.”
“Cool. Sterling and baby Ami will be there since I’m meeting Money.”
I pushed him off of me because now I needed to get ready. “Why didn’t you lead with that? You know I’m not about to be around people looking a mess.”
“You’re always beautiful, baybeeh and we got time.”
I snatched my hair down out of the bonnet it was in and headed to the bathroom. “Spoken just like a man. Give me half an hour and I’ll be ready.”
I was holding baby Ami in the haberdashery we convened in to get their suits together.
She was snuggled next to my heart to give Sterling a break and I could understand baby fever so much better now.
I didn’t want one soon, but it was easy to imagine yourself with a ball of combined DNA between you and your partner when you were holding someone else’s.
She was as pretty as she wanted to be and getting more active by the day.
She currently had one of my locs in between her chubby fist as I bounced her gently and waited for Anthony to come out of the dressing area.
We’d gone to the shopping district avoiding the mall to a bespoke atelier that did custom men’s suits.
Since Money was far flashier than Anthony there was no way they’d walk out with similar outfits.
This place did everything custom and kept impeccable records so that they knew who ordered what so there weren’t any duplicates between teams or players.
“You look good holding her.” Sterling was grinning at me as she sashayed back from wherever she’d been looking at fabric.
“Girl, don’t even get me started on babies. That man is probably trying the fuck the shot out of my bloodstream right now and in this state that’s a dangerous thing.” I sniffed Ami’s hair again falling deeper into the trap.
“Facts. Have you figured out your first-game outfit?”
The way her eyes lit up I knew she’d been planning something and I wanted the deets on how things had shifted between her and Aldrich .
She refused to call that man by anything but what his mama named him and it cracked me up watching him chastise her every time she did it like it would intimidate her into calling him what he wanted.
“I’ve thought about a few things but I’m not sure.”
I bit my lip because now I was worried I was going to embarrass this man at work. The first game was an away game but like Antwan I believed that Anthony was going to show out during camp. I didn’t want him to be unprepared for what was to come and I couldn’t be either.
“Would you mind if I made you something?”
“Made? You make clothes?”
She shook her head and then leaned over to check on Ami before she responded. “Alter is more like it. I’ve already started working on Ami’s outfit and mine so it’s nothing to throw in something for you.”
“I wouldn’t even know what to do.”
“Well, since you’ll be coming from winning and making history you’re going to want something that’s comfortable because I know your body is going to be tired.”
I grinned at her words because she spoke about me doing this thing like it was a fact. “Y’all really speaking life into me.”
“Definitely are. You’re too damn good to let anything throw you off your game. That’s all you've gotta say to yourself.”
“Maybe.” I watched him walk around the room laughing with Money before I turned back to Sterling. “What do you think about a custom jersey dress?”
She nodded her head and tapped her finger and her thumb together. “Oh, that will be cute. What are we thinking? Mid thigh? Boots that will reach the bottom? Slightly fitted? Oh, I could probably style you some thigh-high boots out of his jersey. Those would be fire.”
“All that sounds good but that also sounds like a lot of work. Are you sure you’re going to have time for all that with her?” I nodded down to the baby in my arms as though she’d forgotten she had responsibilities.
The interior of the atelier smelled like cedar wood and ylang ylang.
There were notes of wool and leather because of the fabric and the rest of the accessories offered.
There was something for everyone and they could customize anything to the client’s liking.
I was already thinking of things for Anthony based on what he would get today.
“You gonna tell him what you’re wearing?”
My eyes went to where he was as I shook my head. “Nah. He’s asked me about it but he doesn’t want me to lose focus of what I have in front of me.”