Aphrodite
APHRODITE
I CAN’T BELIEVE I had to come to this shit.
“Girl, if I had to be here you did too.”
My head snapped to Sterling who looked just as annoyed as I did wondering how she read my mind.
Or…
“Wait, did I say that out loud?”
Sterling nodded her head slowly like she wanted to laugh but was in too much agreement with me to find any of this funny.
“Damn sure did. I don’t even know how I ended up in this.”
“Cause the dang MVP Wives got us in the mix and apparently we are supposed to like stuff like this. And it’s supposed to be something nice from the team to us so it would look bad if we didn’t come I guess. Hell, I don’t know.”
Sterling had been nice enough to tour the house with me, and I fell in love with it.
Nothing was going to move until Anthony got back in town from camp next week but I could see us making improvements and enjoying the place together.
When I’d gotten back home and an invitation showed up for me to come to this Desperados event I was sure they had the wrong person.
My brain was focused on the US Open and the pressure was high.
Every time we turned on the TV we couldn’t even find something good to watch because the news was talking about one of us.
The stress was manageable but I didn’t want my head focused entirely on what I had in front of me.
So Anthony suggested I take them up on the offer to come to this significant other event.
WAGs sometimes got the short end of the stick but at this point I had to suck it up because I was now unwillingly part of the club.
“Billy is your homegirl, she couldn’t get you a pass?”
Sterling bounced the baby lightly against her chest. Baby Ami had fussed some when we got out of the car but then settled down again once she was attached to Sterling’s chest in the carrier thing.
I could admit she was adorable as hell and gave me baby fever, but after we babysat her that one time I was good.
My next body modification might be adding an IUD along with my shot based on how much Anthony and I were fucking.
I ran my hand through my locs trying not to look as nervous as I felt. Sterling had her emotional support baby and I was just standing here with only her to help me out. Of course, she was just as lost as I was about how to handle going into the den of women.
“I didn’t want folks trying to start spreading rumors if I didn’t show up. They know we’re close and my not being here would’ve gotten folks talking.”
I’d tried to keep it cute but also look like I was showing up to my boyfriend’s job.
My mother would’ve been proud of the light blue linen high-waisted pants and tasteful floral bustier beneath the matching floral shirt.
I’d thrown on strappy gold sandals and diamonds to show I could dress outside of wearing athletic attire.
“This reminds me too much of the shit I avoided back home.”
Sterling fidgeted slightly adjusting the baby against her again. Her long hair was pulled up into a bun on top of her head, and she opted to wear a button-up sundress and flat shoes. We’d got a car together because I didn’t want her to show up alone if I rode with Rye.
I bumped her shoulder playfully before fixing the side of her collar. “Girl, you better use those upper-east-side, Jack and Jill etiquette classes to your advantage.”
Sterling giggled slightly as she smoothed her hands down over her hips. I knew she was irritated thinking about what we might be in for. The bubble that she and Money had built was definitely going to be tested today.
“I don’t feel like doing this shit but I guess I have to.”
“You damn sure do. You’re damn near married with a baby to the star running back on the team.
If he keeps doing what he’s doing his ass will end up with a league MVP and a bunch of records.
Folks already trying to be in y’all’s business so you need to show them there ain’t shit to talk about but your joy and let them choke on the jealousy. ”
“That’s easy for you to say, Ms. Tennis Champion. These hos are probably going to talk all that shit they say online to my face.” Sterling looked like she’d fallen into the trap of reading the shit folks said online about her and that was her first mistake.
“And if they do we can absolutely handle it. People love to hate from outside the club but from what I see, y’all are special. So, fuck anybody who would try to rain on your happiness.”
“You not about to mess up your chances at making history over these bitter women. I know they think I’m a gold digger or clout chaser but no one is entitled to our business but us. They can make up whatever they want and look stupid when the truth comes out.”
I gave her a high five to hype her up and to get her to loosen up. I thought I’d moved in uptight circles, but some of Sterling’s background made mine look like a free-love hippie commune.
“That’s what I’m talking about. Now come on, let’s get this stuff over with.”
We walked toward the facility together and my eyes were scanning for the people we actually knew and wanted to spend time with. I’d missed family day in camp because of having to train, but I knew several people through Billy.
“Hello ladies, we need to see your IDs, please.” A friendly woman, who clearly worked for the organization was sitting at the table that was blocking the entrance inside the stadium. We did what she needed before she handed us folios with our names engraved on the front covers.
“What are these?”
I’d flipped mine open and saw that there was a tablet on the inside and in the right-hand pocket there was an envelope and packet of information.
“Inside there’s a prepaid gift card so that you all can shop inside the stadium with the vendors we brought in just for you all today.
In addition, there’s a list of preferred vendors throughout the city that offer discounts to the players or have worked with the organization.
Last, there’s a multitude of food options and we also have an area if you’d like to drop off your little one. ”
I had no idea we were walking into something this extreme today. Who knew things like this happened for the partners of the team?
“Thank you; that’s very nice.”
“Mr. Phillips has ensured that whatever you want within reason is on his dime because he realizes, especially since finding his own partner, that you all are the driving force behind ensuring performance in the players. The cards have a fifteen thousand dollar spending limit on them.”
“Fifteen thousand? I’m not sure how much merch I can conceivably get.” I liked t-shirts and team items, but not fifteen thousand dollar’s worth.
The woman in charge of checking us in perked up when she realized my concern.
“Oh, it’s not just Desperados outfits. There’s a custom tailor here that will design game day attire, there’s a Texas boot maker here to custom design boots that can be shipped to you.
On-site manicure and pedicure stations, as well as a station to make your own custom hats.
Ms. Tiana helped to ensure this day would be one that made you ladies feel as pampered as the men you love. ”
“That is crazy impressive. Thank you all so much.” For the first time since we arrived, Sterling looked excited to be here.
Her smile brightened like people never thanked her and I hated to think these women were walking around entitled. “You’re more than welcome. Please take advantage of everything here Ms. Harper and Ms. Williamson.”
Sterling thanked her too before we walked through the doors of the facility and into a whole new world.
“Hey, my loves!”
“Hey, Billy.” Sterling and I replied at the same time cracking us all up.
She walked over and gave each of us a kiss on the cheek before cooing with baby Ami. I was relieved that we weren’t going to have to navigate this place alone and I waved behind her at Rye who must have left Nia with Grams.
“Y’all come sit with us and grab some food before we check on our custom orders.”
Billy looped her arms through ours, a move that showed we were with her and people needed to leave us alone.
I was right to assume there were mean girls in the bunch and I prayed everyone kept it classy.
When we got to the table we exchanged greetings with Rye and were introduced to several other women there including Lyric who looked completely different from her rapper persona in the light pink silk dress she wore.
“I hope you guys are going to get your tickets early. Those scalper’s prices can be high as hell and they don’t care who you’re dating. Hell, they might charge you more because of it.”
We’d apparently been included in a conversation that happened before we sat down and I couldn’t fathom why we were being offered this random bit of advice.
I looked at Sterling and saw that she was biting the inside of her lip.
I knew she was on the same type of time as I was but was attempting to keep the peace.
We’d shopped and gotten a lot of team gear.
We’d both custom ordered pieces that were well beyond the limit but neither of us had issues with paying for what we wanted.
We’d stopped to grab food before we were going back over to the shops and it was clear we were about to run into our first messy bitch.
“Thanks for the advice, we hadn’t even thought about the tickets.” Sterling was doing her best to be diplomatic but I could tell she didn’t want to be.
The woman’s light tan skin seemed to gleam at being the one to burst our bubble. “Oh well, good luck. You’ll be spending a small fortune on them now.”
“No, they won’t.”
Billy had been sitting back observing what was happening. I wasn’t sure who this chick was but it seemed like she was trying to flex some dominance and didn’t realize who we were to Billy.
“Some trick you learned that we don’t know about?” The question seemed snide and that had me sitting up in my seat.