Anthony #2
“For one, that shit wouldn’t stop me because I ain’t new to this shit. I’mma do whatever the fuck I want. Two, I ain’t gotta be faded to be funny. Shit is natural. Besides, you act like you ain’t the same way.”
“You take that shit to a whole new level though.”
“She’s a good look for you.” I glanced up and he was smiling proudly at me like he hadn’t just been cutting up a few seconds ago.
“You think so?”
“You lighter. Not your skin cause we two fine ass dark skinned niggas. But your mind and heart aren’t weighed down.
Finding somebody who fills some of the holes in your soul makes you interact with life differently.
And you’re thinking more grown up than before.
I know a lot of that is based on how your hard work has paid off but I know what the effect of a good woman looks like. It’s all over you.”
“Yeah. I already feel like she’s it for me and it’s only been like six months.”
“Time doesn’t matter. You’re more than ready to be better than I was at your age. That’s something to be proud of. You and that nigga Money being friends is a good look. Y’all got each other and your girls cool too. When your circle holds you accountable it makes all the difference in the world.”
He was speaking from experience of having that with his circle of friends who were probably going to head over this way soon. Jacoby, Grant, hell even Coach Stew were my brother’s keeper when I couldn’t be. I would always be grateful to them for that.
“I’m going to be looking for a house here.”
His brows jumped and a smile broke over his face. “Deadass? Here?”
“Nah, bitch on the moon. Of course I’m serious. We all we got so it makes sense to make this home.” I was being playful about it but we both knew we wouldn’t ever move back to Louisiana permanently.
“Folks always got property for sale so I’ll ask around to see if they know anyone. With people moving in and out of the team, you need to know who has something available.”
“Appreciate it. I’m about to head out and go work on my routes.” I gathered up the trash to throw it away.
“Always looking to improve.”
“Always. I've got a pretty lady to impress and a point to prove to myself.”
He nodded his approval and I could tell he was proud. “You gone make history this year right along with your girl. Mark my words.”
“I heard you were looking for a property.”
I looked at Coach Stew with my brows furrowed because this team was entirely too close. I’d just started to think about finding something but here he was with the information I hadn’t provided.
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking of putting down roots. Me and ‘Twan talked and we decided that this was probably the best place for us to call home.” I pulled on my clean shirt before tossing the team issued practice clothes into the large laundry bag to be laundered.
“Cool. I got information on a house near mine that’s close to the facilities that you can check out.”
I shook my head and chuckled at the no-nonsense way he relayed the information. Coach’s swole ass was standing several inches taller and wider than me with his arms crossed. His bald head was glistening and he’d worn a hat to protect it from the sun.
“Y’all really don’t waste time do y’all?”
“With what?”
“Helping people out.”
He smirked as he shook his head. “Nah, we don’t, actually. So Parker has—”
“More money than like two countries—”
“Facts, but apparently there’s a house that has been a part of his holdings since the player got transferred. Him being the do- gooder he is didn’t want the cat to be stuck in the house so he took over the mortgage payments.”
I nodded cause all this sounded good but what did this have to do with me?
“That’s cool. Nice bump in the last few years.”
“He’s giving you the same chance.”
“Chance for what?”
“To assume the mortgage.”
Parker walked up dressed just as casually as Coach Stew and added the additional information that had been missing but still cleared nothing up.
I sat down on the bench in front of my locker because I didn’t understand what he was saying. “I’m not following.”
“I’m not one to fuck up my capital so I invest a lot.
Taking the mortgage for one player that left meant I didn’t have to lay out all the money at once and dude had a crazy low interest rate.
I mean he was a pro athlete and it was the last of the Obama years when those shits were in the single digits. ”
“So how much is left on the loan?”
“Not a lot.” Parker wasn’t giving specifics, which gave me pause.
“This feels like some type of setup. Or charity. Neither is sitting well with me.”
They glanced at each other before looking at me. I wasn’t trying to be offensive but I told them I didn’t want handouts with my position with the team. This was one thing I would always stand behind.
“Would you buy a house that was a foreclosure?”
“Of course.”
Stew pushed it further by taking up the argument. “You looking for something that’s brand new?”
“No.”
“Then look at the house, Anthony. Nobody is trying to give you shit. I’m making you pay for the house because I no longer need it.
For the last few years, I’ve let players who’ve needed emergency housing rent the place out during the season.
Other times it’s been a short-term corporate rental.
I’d rather not be the asshole who’s keeping a single-family home off the market just because it’s in his portfolio.
The people on the team have places to stay.
You’re the one who is in need and I’m not saying you have to take the place.
At least go look at it. You might hate it.
” Parker was making sense but this still felt like getting something for nothing.
I hesitated because my pride was warring with me.
There had already been talks of moving me up from the practice squad based on my performance during camp.
That meant I would be competing for an active roster spot against veterans on the team.
There was a small part of me that felt like things were happening too fast and were still too good to be true but looking at their faces this wasn’t it.
They had a solution to the problem I had and I knew it would be stupid for me to turn it down just because of my pride.
“Do you have any information on the house?” If nothing else, I could share the information with Aphrodite and get her opinion on what we should do.
“I do. It’s about six miles from Stew’s place.”
“It’s not really in a neighborhood but almost like a network of homes on large plots.
I don’t know what type of property you were looking for.
The houses are all spread out and the house is on a good bit of land.
” These two were giving me the information like they’d rehearsed this before coming to talk to me about it.
“It ain’t something crazy big is it? I like space but I don’t need a farm.”
I didn’t want something that was like Antwan’s place. As beautiful as it was, I had a very different style than my brother. He was flashier and his taste was far more expensive than mine. I wanted a nice house, even a big one, but it didn’t need to have granite columns and extra flashy features.
“Nah. It’s a pretty nice place. About seven thousand square feet.
A few things have been updated inside but some still need it.
Maintenance has been done regularly of course.
There’s enough for you to move in now and do what you want to whenever you get a chance.
Ain’t no pressure. Like I said, the price is good cause I ain’t looking to make a crazy amount of money on it—”
“Damn, you looking for a come up?” I was just joking with him but Parker shot me a pointed look back.
He smirked before sliding his hand in his pocket. “You said no special favors right?”
I had to give him that one because he was only using my words against me. “Missed out on my blessing with that.”
“You did. I won’t knock your head off too bad with it. I know you've got somebody else that you need to consult with about this. I’ll send you the address and you can look at it.”
“Just like that?” I looked between him and Coach Stew and both seemed unfazed by this entire interaction.
Rich people shit for real.
“Yep. I trust you. Ain’t like you can steal the house, man.”
“I’m from ’Nawlins, Parker. You never want to underestimate how creative my people can be. We the ones who fried gators like the natives when everybody else was running away from them. If my people will tussle with a dinosaur, figuring out how to steal a house ain’t hard.”
“True indeed. I’m still not about to tell your ass not to steal the shit. Sounds racist as fuck.”
I nodded at his discomfort but had to give him credit. “And this is why your people like you, Parker. That awareness.” I tapped my temple with a smile.
“I ain’t about to fuck with my soul or lose my lady over saying some stupid shit.”
“How soon do I need to get back to you on this?” The more the thought of looking at this place sunk in the more excited I got.
Parker looked lost at my question and I realized he had no timeframe because he probably hadn’t even been to the house in years. I bet he had someone in the office manage it for him.
“Few weeks is fine. All depends on how fast you want to move.”
“Cool. She’s—”
“We know she’s playing and I’m sure you want to get someone else’s opinion before you pop it up on her.
Would Sarayah be able to look at the house for you?
It’s got a keypad that anyone can get the code to in order to check it out.
Just let me know when they want to look and I’ll get it to you.
” He held out his hand and I stood up to shake it.
“Deal. I appreciate this man.”
“It ain’t anything big. You been doing the work out there during practice. Anything I can do to help facilitate keeping you here and happy I will.”
“I’m thinking of buying a house.”
I barely let the girl say hello before I dropped that news on her.