15. Makari
Makari
I grinned and looked at the notification on the top of my screen, multitasking while still listening to my client when I read the text and responded. Avi spent the weekend with Tiana a couple weeks ago and she and I hadn't spent time together in a minute.
Right after she had Avi for an overnight visit, they had two people quit and Tiana picked up extra shifts at the hospital because she wanted to bank the money and time for a vacation she said I was going on even if she had to drag me kicking and screaming.
Truthfully, I was down. I missed my girl and needed a break from all of the things that had been consuming my life.
Things with Omiri were good but he was occupied with training because the season was almost here.
I liked what we were becoming but I needed my girl.
She had been the only solid fixture in my life prior to all this and she was irreplaceable in my life.
Tiana: I miss you frennnn
Me: I miss you too. We have to do a girls night soon!!!
Tiana: I'll send you my schedule so we can make that happen. You gonna be able to hop up off the long enough to spend some time with me?
Me: the is so not sure frennn. We'll see
Tiana: Hoe, you were mine before you were his
Me: Me love you long time
Me: On a client call, gotta go. Send me your schedule.
Tiana: Sending now!
"I hear you and I agree but the best thing you can do is acknowledge the comment and provide a sincere apology."
He was in his car so we elected for a phone call instead of doing video. I reached for my tablet and pulled up his social media accounts, doing a quick scan before I added, "Blanket statements aren't enough anymore. Your fans want more than just words. They need a commitment to change."
Andre White was the starting point guard for Chicago. Insanely talented but very careless with his words. Unfortunately, in today's society, everyone had an issue with everything. It was damn near impossible not to offend someone for one thing or another.
"That shit was taken completely out of context. I wasn't even talking about?—"
"You're missing the point. It doesn't matter what you meant. What matters is what they twist it to mean. When you said competitive play wasn't for players that are too sensitive, it was twisted to be dismissive of mental health and diversity concerns."
"But that's not what I meant and you know it. I was talking about people who can't handle tough coaching. A lot of these players are entitled as hell because of the ‘everybody gets a trophy’ bullshit."
"Trust me, I get it and I agree but social media is not your friend. They don't care about the true meaning or context of what you say. They only care about hot mics and viral posts."
I swiped out of Trendz and pulled up the apology I drafted before our call and sent it to Andre. "I just sent you something but I'll give you the highlights since you're driving."
I went over the key points and he complained about the entire thing.
"I know you don't like it but it's the best way to go with this.
You'll be acknowledging what was misunderstood without making excuses but also expressing genuine regret for whoever was offended.
There's also a commitment to mental health advocacy with a generous donation to the cause. "
"Why the fuck I gotta give money to them when I wasn't wrong?"
My phone vibrated with another text from my mother and I dropped my eyes to the device, rolled my eyes, then answered him.
"It distracts them from dragging your name and it's a good cause.
It's not a bad idea to have the National Alliance on Mental Health standing in support of you, and with that type of donation, they will.
It also shows you're sincere without looking like you're throwing money out there just to make yourself look good. "
"That's exactly what I'm doing," he muttered.
I grinned, knowing he was annoyed and had every right to be. It was definitely some bullshit but this was the life they lived.
Hell, the life I lived because of the man I had a child with…
"I've seen worse but try not to worry too much. We should be able to get this turned around for you in the next week or so."
"Aight, if you think this will work, let's go with it."
"I do and I'll be monitoring your accounts to make sure we keep a handle on shifting things."
My phone was going off again with another text from my mother and I groaned internally. I wasn't in the mood for her criticism.
"’Preciate that. I know you have your own shit to deal with, and no matter how crazy it gets, I fucks with you heavy. Don't let them people stress you. You're solid as hell. I'm sending some people your way too, so be looking out."
I smiled, appreciating his words. "Thank you so much. The past month has been stressful and annoying, which is why I really do understand what you're dealing with."
"Nah, them folks are on your ass just cause they're minding your business when they shouldn't. They're on mine ’cause I speak my mind."
I laughed. "True but it's all still annoying. I'll reach out to you later this week to check in. Maybe pull back from speaking your mind for a while."
He chuckled. "I'll see what I can do but no promises."
After I ended the call, I leaned back and rubbed my eyes. Avi, who had been occupied with oversized Legos, crawled over to me and pulled up on my legs. "Hey, pretty girl. You ready to get some lunch?"
She flashed me a smile, exposing her peggies.
I was exhausted but locked in on her eyes, which had me thinking about her father with a smile.
Three hours of back to back client calls and two hours of composing drafts for my clients' scheduled posts had my brain on empty. I’d lost several but also gained a few thanks to clients like Andre who sent over recommendations to their teammates because they hated how my life was being dragged for no reason.
The ones that pulled back were mostly players with wives or girlfriends who decided they didn't want their men doing business with someone like me.
It messed up their brand alignment. Fuck them and their brand alignment.
They believed the rumors and thought I would try to push up on their men, which would never happen.
I grabbed my phone, lifted Avi into my lap, then carried her to the kitchen and placed her in the mobile walker while I moved to the refrigerator to find us something for lunch. After a quick scan I decided on pizza puffs for Avi and spinach artichoke dip for me with tortilla chips.
All of which was prepared from scratch by the chef Omiri used to make sure he was eating properly and getting in game shape.
I truly couldn't tell the difference because the man's body was impressive.
He also insisted that his chef prepare homemade baby food for Avi and whatever I wanted to eat, which was never healthy.
Cheese was a food group for me. While Omiri's dinners and lunches were lean proteins and fresh vegetables, mine were carbs, cheeses, and starches. I was a work in progress.
Once I had everything warmed up, I got comfy at the kitchen table and left Avi in her walker to feed herself while I dug into my spinach dip.
After the first few bites of heaven, my mood was disrupted again by another text from my mother.
This had to be the tenth one today, so I sighed and clicked on the thread.
Mom: We need to talk immediately.
I rolled my eyes because what was there to talk about?
I had a baby she didn't want me to have and she disowned us both.
End of story. Fuck her and her talk. It would be nice if she would at least reach out to check on her granddaughter.
She could be upset or disappointed in me all she wanted, but my muffin was innocent in all of this.
I grabbed another tortilla and scooped out a heavy amount of dip, moaning when the cheesy flavor met my tongue.
I wasn't about to allow that woman to ruin my mood.
Avi pushed herself over to me, opening and closing her hands when her tray was empty so I lifted a few more pizza puffs from the bowl and placed them in front of her.
She smiled, grabbed one and was off again, moving around the massive open kitchen. I grinned at how happy she was. We were both happy. After the first couple nights of being here, things felt right. I used Omiri's card to purchase what we needed to be comfortable.
The three of us settled into a routine that worked naturally but I hadn’t acknowledged that waking up in his bed every morning shifted things between us. I was getting used to us being a family unit.
My phone rattled on the table with three more texts coming through from my mother.
Mom: Your life is completely out of hand.
Mom: My friends are calling me daily, asking questions about my unwed daughter and her baby.
Mom: Answer the phone, Makari, or I'll be on the first flight to Crescent Falls to have this discussion in person.
I tensed at the idea of my mother hopping on a flight to discuss my scandalous life.
The thought was laughable because she would only do so if it meant convincing me to do what she wanted me to do.
I refused to let her insert herself into an already complicated situation between me and Omiri, nor would I let him be exposed to her entitlement.
I lifted my phone and typed out a response.
Me: You don't have the right to have input on my life. In case you forgot, you want nothing to do with me or Avi. Please leave me alone.
Mom: When you're tarnishing the Phoenix name, I have the right, Makari.
And that was the problem. It wasn't about me or Avi, only her reputation with people whose lives were even more fucked up than mine. Honestly my life was pretty damn good but there was no way she could be okay with her daughter getting knocked up.