7. Makari
Makari
I sat cross-legged on the sofa balancing my laptop on my knees while Avi kept herself entertained with the plush toys attached to her bouncer activity station.
I was grateful for the temporary distraction because I needed to take a video call with Brenden Kelsey, a rising Crescent Falls Royals star.
The call wasn’t going as smoothly as I hoped but I refused to let this man stress me out.
“I need you to understand that your comment was out of line. You can’t make blunt statements about reporters’ appearances. It’s inappropriate. Focus on the questions they ask and that’s all.”
I was working to keep my tone professional while hoping Avi’s babbling didn’t get any louder.
“It wasn’t that deep. I was giving shorty a compliment.” His brows pinched like he was annoyed and didn’t see the problem. “Shit, all I said was she was too pretty to be aggravating people with bullshit questions.”
I briefly closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “That’s my point. You demeaned her ability to do her job by focusing on her looks. She’s a professional journalist and the journalist who covers the Royals. She can make or break your career. Don’t you see how that poses a problem?”
“I hear you but I didn’t mean shit by it. Not like they’re trying to present it and she is pretty as hell. Damn, just take the compliment, shorty.”
He truly didn’t get it and that was going to make fixing this much harder.
“The intent truly doesn’t matter. It’s the nature of how what you said was interpreted.
Fans are labeling you as sexist. Your team’s PR department is flooded with calls demanding that you be held accountable, and when the season starts, you might as well be prepared to be bypassed for media coverage. ”
Avi squealed in the background and Brenden grinned big as hell. “That’s your lil shorty?”
“Yes, sorry, she’s having a little too much fun right now.”
“It’s cool, I get it.”
“Let’s get focused. We have to make sure we get the right apology out there before this gets worse.”
“Why the hell I gotta apologize for giving her a compliment? That’s bullshit.”
“You’re a ball player. No matter how good you are, public perception plays a role in how your team feels about you. Do you want a trade because you’re labeled as problematic and a liability or do you want to keep your spot and win another ring?”
“You already know.” His pride kicked in. “What do I need to say?”
I navigated to another screen and pulled up the draft I prepared. “I’m about to send you something now. It’s a statement that acknowledges the impact of your words and not in the ‘I’m sorry if you were offended’ way you guys like to apologize.”
“What’s wrong with that?” He frowned.
“There’s no accountability. You’re basically saying, I meant what I said but I’m sorry it offended you.”
“Shit, I did mean what I said. She’s fine as hell.”
“Brenden…”
“Aight, aight. I feel you.”
“You will apologize directly to her, promise to be mindful of the things you say and how they affect others, and also mention that you’ll do some sensitivity training.”
“Nah, I’m not doing that.”
“You are. It will show that you’re taking this seriously and want to learn from your mistakes. The worst thing you can do is be labeled as an athlete who doesn’t respect women.”
“This shit is about to have me looking weak as fuck.”
“What it’s going to do is keep you on the Royals roster which means you get another ring. The choice is yours.”
“Aight, I don’t like it but I trust you.”
For the next twenty minutes we went over his statement, adjusting a few things ,and my muffin provided commentary in the background with her babbles and squeals.
By the time we worked out all the details, I felt confident that he would come out of this okay.
But if he made any more sexist statements, he was going to pay the price, which might be a trade.
The Royals were very particular about things like this due to having a woman with part ownership.
Alexcia Stansfield didn’t play about the team’s image when it came to disrespecting women in any way.
“Alright, I think we’re all set. Post this to your social media accounts in exactly two hours. That will give you time to make sure the news cycle picks it up and makes it go viral because of peak engagement hours.”
“Bet, I can do that. ’Preciate you handling this for me.”
“That’s what you pay me for.”
“Damn, so it’s about the check.”
I grinned when he frowned at me. “No, I genuinely want to see you win, Brenden, but your mouth is going to get you in trouble. You have to do better or even I won’t be able to save your image and I’m the best.”
He smiled, showcasing beautiful teeth and a grill that outlined some on the bottom. It wasn’t permanent because I had seen him without it in plenty of times and he switched out the design.
“Just gonna stroke your own ego, I fucks with it.” He chuckled and pushed his locs out of his face. “I’ll holla at you though.”
We ended the video call, and when I looked at Avi, those big bright eyes were on me. Their mismatched color had me thinking about her father and I slammed my laptop shut and smiled at my baby. “What do you think, Avi? Did mommy do a good job?”
She offered a smile that had my heart melting. “I’ll take that as a yes. Mommy once again saves the day for these silly athletes who keep putting their foot in their mouths.”
I placed my laptop to the side and climbed off the buttery soft section of the sofa, hating how much I had been enjoying it since it had been delivered. Avi and I snugged on here and I had a few naps that were heavenly.
Once I lifted Avi from her bouncer activity station, I kissed her cheeks. “Okay, muffin, let’s get you ready for our girls’ day out. I need to get you clean and pretty.”
She squealed and slapped her tiny hands on my face while kicking her legs. “Are you happy?”
The babbling kicked up so I kissed her face several more times. “We’re going to see your Tee Tee today and I’m sure she’s going to spoil you rotten.”
I balanced my baby while getting her plastic tub seat then turned on the water, getting it just right, letting it fill while I undressed Avi.
Once it was ready, I eased her down into the seat and let her splash around until my shirt was soaked. I reached for the stack of washcloths on the shelf across from me and her baby wash and began cleaning her up.
I bypassed her hair since it was still cold and we were heading out. When I draped the washcloth over the tub seat, she grabbed it in her fist and tried to shove it in her mouth. “Okay, little miss, that’s not food. But with the way you are downing milk lately, I bet you would make it work.”
I reached for her hooded towel and lifted my baby from the tub, snuggling her in it while we headed to her room so I could get her dried off and dressed.
Once I had a diaper secured and her body lotioned with Baby Please coconut whipped body butter which was designed for babies delicate skin, I held Avi in my arms and walked to her closet so we could pick out her fit for the day.
My baby’s room was the one thing I splurged on.
I wasn’t a pink person so her room was teal and pearl, with silver and crystal accents.
The crib was pearl with teal bedding and a bumper that lined the bottom.
I had a fuzzy teal rug on the floor. The dresser and changing table matched her crib and Avi’s name was on the wall in twenty four inch teal crystal letters.
She deserved a beautiful peaceful place to exist even if my life was chaotic and a mess.
With Avi’s help we selected a long-sleeved jean jumper and her UGGs.
I got my baby dressed, brushed her hair, and placed two bows in the front, leaving the back in thick curls.
While Avi babbled away on my bed, I tugged jeans up over my curvy hips and sucked in to button them, pairing the jeans with a cute sweater and UGGs that matched my little muffin before I raked my fingers through my braid out that I let loose right before my call with Brenden.
I sprayed on coconut lime perfume and slipped on hoop earrings to keep it cute. It felt good being dressed in real clothes after lounging in sweats and hoodies over the past couple days.
Once we were both fitted for the day, I lifted Avi, grabbed my phone, and had an impromptu photoshoot in the full length mirror in her room since I had too much clutter in mine.
As soon as we were done, Tiana sent a text saying she would be here in twenty minutes to pick us up so I placed Avi on the floor in her room while I refreshed her diaper bag.
The last thing I did was grab two bottles since we would be gone for a while then we chilled on the sofa until Tiana pulled up.
I was excited about today, ready to get out of the house.
I needed to escape the constant reminders of the man who hadn’t cared enough to check on us in five damn days after forcing his way into our lives.
I stabbed at a sweet potato fry with more force than required while Avi sat in her stroller contentedly gnawing on a teething ring. “I’m over this already and we’re just getting started. We haven’t heard from him in five days so I’m struggling to see the point in any of this.”
Tiana arched her brow and pulled Avi’s stroller closer so someone could pass by our table. “You know how many days?”
I narrowed my eyes and she laughed. “I’m just saying, friend. You’re clocking that man.”
“I’m clocking how he made all these promises about being in his daughter’s life and not bailing on her. This is exactly what I knew would happen. He made all those demands, singing that fresh out of jail I’m gonna do right talk after threatening to take me to court, and where the hell is he?”
“You know that man’s schedule has to be crazy. I’m sure something came up.”