Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Eli
It was the first game of the season, and despite there being a clear disconnect between Falcon and Isaac, the Demolishers were in the lead.
Usually when I came to games, I would share a suite with Senior.
This season, it looked like I’d be sharing the suite Falcon had gotten his aunt and uncle. I was cool with that.
I’d talked to them and his cousin, Andre, a few times over the years.
They were cool people. More than anything, I could tell they wanted to be closer to Falcon, but he was guarded with them like he was guarded with women.
Apparently, that had changed lately, because his uncle Jake mentioned having drinks with him a few nights ago.
During halftime, his aunt Veronica struck up a conversation with me by asking, “Sooo, those rumors about you and Falcon breaking up were just rumors, huh?”
I’d forgotten all about that. The plan was for rumors to spark last month and for us to announce that we’d broken up officially after their first game.
Since we were together for real, that wouldn’t be the case.
I didn’t know how much he wanted to share with his family, so instead of telling them the complete truth, I said . . .
“Yes, they were definitely just rumors. We’re very much together.”
“Ooh, that makes me so happy!” she said, pulling me in for a warm side hug that I happily returned. “Being with you has softened my nephew. I know he’s started coming around more because of you.”
“You think so?” I asked.
“I know so. He had this thing about love and getting close to people, but now that he’s opened himself up with you, his family is getting the overflow of that.
He actually called to talk to me last night for no reason at all.
And last Sunday, he joined us for dinner.
That might not sound like a lot, but it was the first time he’d joined us for dinner that wasn’t a holiday since he went to college.
The most we used to see Falcon was at his games.
This means so much to us, and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you. ”
“Aww, I love that, but I can’t take credit for it.”
“You can, and you will. What’s going on within my nephew is the power of love, and that’s because of you and your power as a woman. Embrace that.”
Her words brought tears to my eyes as she pulled me into her arms again, and seeing as I hadn’t had a motherly embrace since my mom died, I relished in it.
We continued to talk, and Jake and Andre would join in our conversation here and there. By the time the game started again, I felt even more comfortable around them and happy to be here. As happy as I was, I thought my heart was about to stop when Falcon took a hard hit.
So hard he didn’t move for seconds on end.
I jumped out of my seat, watching powerlessly as they stabilized his neck, rolled him over, and started trying to move his arms and legs.
Having seen enough, I rushed out of the suite and down to the field.
By the time I’d made it, I was out of breath, but nothing mattered to me more than making sure my man was okay.
He was up on his feet, and to my surprise, Isaac picked him up and carried him off the field.
Even though I wasn’t fucking with my brother right now, I respected him carrying Falcon off the field.
Coach tried to tell me I couldn’t follow them to the locker room, but I wasn’t trying to hear that.
“She’s cool, Coach,” Isaac said. “That’s my fucking sister and his girl.”
Coach’s eyes squinted as he looked at me. “Lil Eli? My fault, baby girl. I didn’t recognize you with your hair covered under that hat. Usually, I can spot you just off that.”
I’d flat ironed my hair for a change, but I’d gotten tired of it being on my neck, so I put it in a low bun and put on a hat. I smiled but kept my attention on Falcon as he walked down the hall with the help of their medical team. He was scrunched over with a grimace on his face.
“Are you okay, Fally?” I asked as he struggled to pull in a breath.
“Yeah. Got the wind knocked out of me, and my ribs are sore as fuck, but I’m good.”
“We’re gonna take him to the hospital. Make sure he doesn’t have a concussion and broken ribs,” a man I didn’t recognize said.
“Nah. Just let me rest for a minute. I’m straight.”
“Look, bruh. I know we ain’t really fucking with each other like that, but you need to go and check on yourself,” Isaac said.
“If your ribs are broken and you take another hit, you’ll do more damage.
I know you ain’t tryna sit out for the season, so sit out the rest of the game and go see about yourself. ”
Falcon groaned and shook his head. His eyes locked on mine, as if he was pleading for me to take his side, but I cared about his health more than anything else.
“Junior is right, baby. Please go to the hospital and see about yourself.”
Falcon huffed and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, and as much as I didn’t want to, I laughed. Coach made the call, and Falcon agreed to go to the hospital.
Isaac went with me to the locker room, and I grabbed Falcon’s personal belongings. I felt his phone vibrating, and I was sure it was his aunt or uncle. As I reached for it in his bag, Isaac said, “You really care about him, huh?”
“Duh. I love him. I told you that.”
“Fuck!” he roared, pounding his fist against his palm. “I guess I have no choice but to accept this. But if y’all relationship comes between the team—”
“Isaac, respectfully, fuck the team. If you want to be in my life, you can, but you’re gonna have to consistently treat me right.
I want nothing to do with your father, and if you can’t accept that, stay away from me.
Also, you can’t tell me what to do or who I can be with.
You also can’t control me because you think you’re all I have.
If you ever say some shit like that to me again . . .”
“I won’t, baby love. I’m truly sorry for that. I can admit Senior got in my head and I fucked up. I’ll make it up to you, but I gotta get back out there. I’ma see you after the game, aight?”
I nodded and accepted Jake’s call, letting him know we’d switched gears and were heading back out so Falcon could go to the hospital.
They said they’d meet us there, even though Falcon insisted they stay and watch the game.
I think he was surprised they cared more about him than the game, which was weird, because they loved and cared about him.
It was in that moment I realized how little Falcon allowed his family to show their love and care, which made me even happier that they were getting closer now.
If Veronica was right and I had something to do with that, I’d be grateful to God for the influence of my love.