Epilogue
M akari.
Super Bowl Sunday
I wanted to make the pregame activities, so we had less than an hour to get to the stadium.
I had already been up since five when Omiri’s alarm went off and he attempted to climb out of bed to start his day.
My feet hit the floor before his, and while he sat on the side of the bed, I swallowed his dick with a champion effort to relax him.
When he attempted to fuck me after, I shook my head, kissed him, and told him to get ready so he wouldn’t be late.
Today was important. The Sharks had a chance to make history with a three-peat. Three back-to-back Super Bowl wins and I wanted that for him as much as he wanted it for the city, the team, and lastly, himself.
Now I was in our room watching Avi stumble around in a Sharks jersey with her father’s name on the back.
I couldn’t stop smiling when he came home two days ago with a matching set for both of us.
One of the wives on the team made sure each wife was geared up for the day and I was grateful, because with everything going on, I hadn’t so much as thought about getting them ordered.
I glanced at my baby who was standing in the full length mirror, placing her tiny little messy hands all over it chanting “Da Da” because in her mind, that Sharks logo represented Omiri.
It was almost overwhelming to be here at this moment because we could have missed out had that night at the pharmacy never happened.
Avi was loved, I was loved, and he was learning how to forgive himself and let go of the demons in his past because he was loved.
This was my first true Super Bowl. I had seen the game on TV with various teams, but never attended, and how fucking insane was it that I would be there as the wife of Omiri Hayes?
After I wiggled into my jeans, I headed to the bathroom to do something to my hair.
There was no way in hell I would be caught on camera not looking flawless today.
The media attention over the season had been hit or miss.
They were so comfortable following our family that they didn’t give a damn what they posted.
We fell off the radar at times and they found other stories to latch onto, like Ryland’s sex tape.
Apparently, there had been some happy endings when he spent time at Tranquil Breeze—and with more than one of the massage therapists—so they recorded him and leaked the video.
He loved all the attention, even if the team didn’t.
Then there was the issue with McClain. His performance did a complete one-eighty and rumors started circulating about enhancement drugs.
All media outlets ran with the story, causing discourse in the league.
Even after he was tested and cleared, they still spun the story but it shifted to the Sharks presenting false results to protect him.
Omiri took that hard. Regardless of how he’d originally felt about McClain, they became teammates.
Omiri was a mentor for him and they’d eventually become friends.
The team, however, rallied around McClain and stood by him. He was better now but still struggling with the way they dragged his name and image. Today was important for the entire team; they needed this win.
After I made sure my curls were perfectly defined and my fit was on point, I lifted my baby into my arms and kissed her little face.
“Okay, muffin. Let’s get out of here so we can go see Daddy make history.”
She returned a chorus of “Da Das” as we left the room and met Janice in the hallway.
She had been packing Avi’s bag for the day.
I wasn’t sure if I could handle the stress of the game and Avi, so she was going with me.
Janice had no complaints because she was getting VIP treatment for her first Super Bowl.
Omiri scheduled a driver for the three of us and I was grateful because traffic was crazy around the stadium.
We were able to move through the crowd with an escort once we made it to a certain point.
The place was crazy with fans and media everywhere, which had my stomach in knots.
I had no clue how Omiri survived all this, but when he texted earlier to make sure we were on our way, he seemed relaxed.
Once we were at the entrance, security approached our car. After I delivered my name, he spoke through his earpiece then helped us out of the vehicle. “This way, Mrs. Hayes. Tim will escort you and your family to the suite where you’ll be watching the game.”
Family…
I was Omiri’s family and he was mine. It was just us. His mother still refused to be a part of his life and his father refused to do right by his son. He checked himself out of rehab and was back to the same things that tarnished his relationship with Omiri.
My mother came around for a minute, and I thought she would work her way into acceptance of my life as it was, but she lost her damn mind, sending me information on how I could get the marriage annulled along with a texted list of respectable men who would be willing to take on the burden of me and Avi.
In a heated argument I asked her why she couldn’t accept Omiri in my life and she scoffed and said he was a cliché that would end badly.
I blocked her number and refused to put myself through any more trauma from her delusional, selfish ass. She could go straight to hell! Do not pass go or collect two hundred dollars.
My anxiety was high as we traveled through the stadium. One of the veteran wives set up a Ladies Lounge in one of the suites for the wives to enjoy the game together. I refused at first because I wanted to enjoy the game in peace but Zina and Shiya begged me to join them. I gave in.
When we made it to the box, I walked in with Janice behind me and did a quick sweep until I found my girls. They were already posted up with drinks, talking shit.
“Ay, look at my married friend,” Shiya squealed, putting her drink down and pulling me into a hug. “You’re glowing and shit, hoe.”
“Um, she’s been married for two months. Can we not? Y’all just gonna keep throwing that in my face since I couldn’t be there.” Zina rolled her eyes but smiled.
“Don’t be salty, friend.”
“Where’s my baby?” Zina put her drink down, lifted from her chair, and walked toward us.
She kissed my cheek and hugged me then grabbed Avi from Janice and snuggled with her.
“Hey, beautiful girl. Look at you repping your daddy. You look so stinking cute.” She squeezed my baby and planted kisses all over her face.
Avi ate it up, then wiggled, trying to get down. Janice smiled and pointed to the corner where Zaya was running around in circles. “I think she wants to play. I’m going to sit over there with her.”
I nodded. “Okay, get whatever you want in here.”
Janice followed Avi’s unsteady movements toward her little friend while I filled the seat between Zina and Shiya. I noticed Layla sitting with some of the other wives but Sabrina wasn’t with her. You usually didn’t see one without the other.
I arched my brow and nodded toward them. “Where’s your girl?”
“Who?” Shiya asked, looking in the same direction before she grinned smugly at the same time Zina did a cutting motion across her neck.
“Sam axed her ass. She stole one of his cards and ran up a tab. He’s pressing charges.”
“Damn,” I hissed.
“Yeah, the shit was crazy. They had to call the cops and everything because he was mad as hell,” Shiya said.
“As he should have been,” Zina said, then grinned. “But then again, he knew she wasn’t shit; so that’s on him.”
“Girl…” I laughed, keeping my eyes on the field. I could see Omiri standing with the coach and McClain who had his head down, nodding like he was listening to whatever they were saying.
“It’s karma,” Zina added.
We talked until the game started, then I was locked in.
“Shit…” I mumbled and gnawed at my nail while my knee bounced uncontrollably.
The first half of the game was tense and we were now in the third quarter and it didn’t look any better.
We started receiving a kickoff and it seemed like I was the only one worried about the game.
Most of the wives were drunk and talking about vacations planned for after the season ended.
I was praying that they pulled this off.
We only had a three point lead and that was literally nothing with these two teams. There were two quarters to go, and based on what was currently happening, things were going downhill.
Omiri got sacked on the third down, and when he got up slowly shaking his head, my heart dropped. I was on my feet but Zina grabbed my hand and gently tugged me back down.
“He’s fine, Kari. Relax.”
My knee was bouncing again because Omiri sent the perfect pass, which McClain caught, but was hit by defense, which caused him to fumble the ball. Miami picked it up and ran in for a touchdown but missed the extra point, which put them up by three.
“Fuck. What the hell are they doing.”
“Playing ball, friend. We got this. I need you to calm down. Let me get you a drink.”
“No…” I shook my head. “I have Avi.”
“Janice is here.”
I shook my head again. “I can’t with that tonight. I need to focus.”
Shiya grinned. “Zee, leave her alone. The virgin is stressed and getting her cherry popped.”
I swung my head toward her and she pointed to the field. “First Super Bowl. You’re a virgin, boo.”
My eyes rolled and I smiled.
Omiri was on the field with offense again and on the second drive he threw the most beautiful pass right down the sideline for forty yards, but the minute I started to feel hopeful, a yellow flag launched through the air.
The ref stepped up. “Holding. Offense. Ten yard penalty. Repeat first down.”
“Fucking holding. Are you kidding me? That wasn’t holding.” I was on my feet again and Shiya tapped my thigh.
“Girl, sit your ass down. What you gonna do, fight the refs?”
“I might,” I mumbled and sat down.