18. Omiri
Omiri
“ Y our daddy doesn’t know what rest means, Avi.”
I grinned as I lifted my arms to finish my last set then dropped the bar on the rack above my head before sitting up. My body was drenched with sweat and my muscles burned when I sat up and grabbed the towel to wipe my face.
“It’s game time. There is no rest.”
I had training camp coming up then we moved right into the preseason. Every game mattered, which meant I had to be on top of my game.
“You’re just showing off.” Makari was sitting against the wall while Avi was standing in front of the small, mirrored section, slapping her tiny hands against the surface and talking to herself.
“Me being in game shape is showing off?”
Her eyes followed the movement of the towel over my bare chest and down my abs but then dropped to my lap. I was in shorts but had compressions under them.
“Working out like this is showing off.”
I chuckled and dropped my elbows onto my thighs, moving my hands over my head.
Makari had been in the gym with me for the past hour, pretending to entertain Avi but keeping her eyes on me.
She claimed she was going to work out but hadn’t done a damn thing but watch me move through my reps.
I damn sure didn’t mind having her in here though.
I lifted and crossed the gym, stopping to lift Makari’s chin and deliver a quick kiss before I dropped one on Avi’s head. She hit me with a string of da das before trying to touch my reflection in the mirror, turning to reach for me.
“Daddy’s all sweaty, pretty girl.” I tickled her tummy and she went back to slapping her tiny hands on the mirror.
“You know she doesn’t care. All she wants is your attention.”
“Just like her mother.” I winked and lowered to get my sit ups in. Avi crawled right to me so I lifted her and made her a part of my set, extending her in the air when I lowered and bringing her down for kisses when I sat up.
“I don’t want your attention; you want mine.” She cut her eyes my way right before her phone vibrated with a call. I chuckled and focused on counting my reps, half listening to her call.
“Makari Phoenix. Um, yes.” Her eyes darted to me. “No, that will probably work. I have to look at my schedule. No, I don’t mind.”
She frowned, watching me, and her eyes traveled down my chest then further south before they darted back up to my face.
“Would it be okay if I called you back later today? Okay, perfect. Thank you.”
“Your mommy is thirst trapping, pretty girl.” Avi giggled when I brought her to me and kissed her tummy while Makari grilled the hell out of me then shot me a bird.
“Sorry, yeah, I’m here. I can let you know in a few. I’m in the gym right now. Yes, I will. Thank you.”
She ended the call and narrowed her eyes on me. “Are you trying to make me look bad?”
I laughed, focusing on Avi as I finished out the last of my rep. “How am I trying to make you look bad?”
“By distracting me while one of the wives was inviting me to a brunch thing.”
“How you gonna put that on me when I’m in here minding my business and you’re in here thirst trapping?”
“The trap shouldn’t be so thirsty then.” She shrugged and smiled.
“Which one?”
“Zina Williams.”
“Oh aight, Mo is cool.”
“Mo?” She frowned.
“Moses. That’s her dude but I don’t think they’re married. When?”
“Um, next Saturday. You’ll be at training and I’ll have Avi so…”
“You know you’re going to have to deal with them at some point. That comes with this.”
“I already know Shiya and she’s enough. I don’t necessarily have to be in that crowd. I can just come to the games without all that. I’m not a wife…”
“You’re with me though and you’re my daughter’s mother.” I sat up and put Avi down. She crawled right to Makari and climbed into her lap and up her chest. “The Sharks are a family. They take that seriously, so that means they’ll expect you to be a part of that.”
“They don’t really fuck with me like that. I’ve seen some of them on the posts about us making statements. They already have their opinions about me, and not that I care one way or another, but I’m not about to kiss anybody’s ass to be a part of a fake ass clique.”
I nodded. “I’m not asking you to. I expect you to always be you, and if anything, they’re gonna be kissing your ass. Those that matter will be down with you, those that don’t fuck ’em.”
“You’ll be on the field, you don’t have to deal with it and I’m just the woman that trapped you with a baby.”
“Bruh, don’t start with that shit. I’m deadass. Fuck their opinions, but I can damn sure make you a wife if that will make you feel better.”
I said that shit so smoothly and unbothered that I almost fucking laughed at how much I meant it.
“I don’t want a ring because you think I need it to survive those childish ass women.”
“Good because if I make you my wife, it damn sure won’t be to appease any of them. Everything we do is about us, Kari. How I feel, what I want, what you need, so relax all that. The option is there.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She grinned and looked me over. When I stood, letting her eyes linger, I did a dick adjustment.
“Damn, I see the shit you’re on. You only want me for my body. You’re not trying to have anything real with a nigga.”
She burst out laughing and I lifted Avi and held her in the air, tilting my head back. “Your mother only wants Daddy because he’s sexy.”
Avi kicked her legs and reached for my beard when I brought her down and kissed her face.
“Don’t corrupt my baby.”
I kissed Avi again and handed her back to Makari. “Let me go hit this shower so we can head to this meeting.”
Mercedes had reached out about a partnership.
They wanted the whole family vibe for their new ads with their GLS SUVs.
When I showed Makari the whip, she fell in love with it, so I agreed.
Because if the numbers were right, and I signed off, they would gift her a custom one of her choice.
I hadn’t told her that yet, because she was dead set on a GWagon.
I would still get her one but them shits were uncomfortable as hell, not meant for tall people, and drove like mid range trucks.
For all the money they cost, they needed to do better.
They were fly as shit but damn sure not worth it.
We pulled up to Crescent Towers where the meeting was planned for Mercedes with me carrying Avi because she crashed on the drive over.
I had her in one arm against my chest with Makari on my other side holding her hand.
We were taken to the back into one of their conference rooms where a short, overly animated woman greeted us.
She also looked young as hell and I knew Black didn’t crack, but she damn sure didn’t look to be any older than a teen.
“Hi, I’m Kelly Davis, marketing director. Thank you so much for coming today, Mr. Hayes and Ms. Phoenix.”
“Thank you for having us.” I nodded and shook the hand she extended to me first and she repeated the motion with Makari.
“We’re excited to show you what we have in mind. Please have a seat.” She motioned to the table and I pulled Makari’s chair out, waiting for her to get settled before I sat next to her, adjusted Avi, and placed my hand on Makari’s thigh.
“Hayes…” A guy entered, smiling. He nodded at Makari but extended a hand to me which I shook.
“I’m Calvin McKnight and we’re honored that you accepted the meeting.
I didn’t think we would be able to get you in here.
Been trying for a little over a year to partner with you but Tony kept shutting us down.
When we reached out to Sovoya and she agreed to get you in front of us, I half expected you not to show. ”
He flashed a smile, showing his excitement and I fought to keep my expression from showing how fucking annoyed I was.
Raaj had been working to get me completely detached from Tony after he fucked me over and I still believed he was the one who leaked the information about me and Makari but I couldn’t prove it.
He was also being a bitch about making this transition smooth because he was losing a lot of money with me but that was on him.
An old friend, Tayah Alexander, recommended her homegirl, Sovoya Lanier, who had some notable clients in Atlanta that played for the Chargers and Cannons. Sovoya’s career started by her working with Kenyon Porter who was the agent for a vet player I had hella respect for, Trevor Holt.
I took the meeting with Sovoya and out the gate, she was bringing in reputable deals. This was one of many deals she pulled together and she also put me on game about what Tony had been holding back because it wasn’t enough money.
He never even brought the offers to me. His greedy ass was just trying to get more money in his pockets and it made me look bad because they thought I was the one trying to cash out with ridiculous amounts.
“I apologize for the miscommunication but we’re good now,” I clarified with a tone that noted I wanted to move the fuck on.
“I’m not sure if Ms. Lanier discussed everything with you but what we would like is to feature your family for our new campaign for the GLS SUV line.
With the intense research we’ve been doing, we understand that families want safety but they also don’t want to feel cheated on luxury. Both fit your brand.”
I smirked and arched my brow at the safety part. That damn sure wasn’t me and Calvin cut in. “Your new brand that is.”
“I’m assuming you already have the concept figured out.” I looked between both of them and Kelly nodded and lifted a remote.