Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Falcon
Forget my social battery being low, that junt had left my body and refused to be recharged.
As soon as the game was over, the whole team came through.
My family was here along with Eli, who hadn’t left my side.
It was one visit after another, and while I appreciated the love, it was starting to overwhelm me.
By the time Coach and Isaac came in, I just wanted to be left the fuck alone.
Groaning, I shook my head as they entered the room. Eli giggled and stood, then gave me a kiss. I didn’t mind her being amused at my expense. Anything to keep that pretty smile on her beautiful face.
“Do you want me to get rid of them, baby?” she asked, gently stroking my hand.
“Nah. Let me at least thank this nigga before I put them out. I’m sicka people.”
She laughed but I was serious.
“How you feeling?” Coach asked while Isaac stayed behind.
“Fine. Sore but it ain’t shit I can’t handle.”
“What is the doctor saying?”
“My ribs aren’t broken, but two have minor fractures. I’m out for the next two games.”
“Shit. Okay. That’s better than a few weeks.”
“It’s actually perfect, because there’s something I wanted to talk to you about anyway.”
“I’m gonna go so y’all can talk,” Eli said, but I tightened my grip on her hand.
“Nah, stay here.” My head bobbed in Isaac’s direction. “Get a lil closer. This concerns you too.” I waited until Isaac was standing at the foot of the bed next to Coach to continue. “First, I appreciate you helping me off the field.”
“Wasn’t shit,” Isaac replied.
“Nah, it was. Like you said, we ain’t really fucking with each other right now, so I appreciate you being solid and looking out.”
He nodded while Coach asked, “What’s going on between you two?”
“Long story short, Isaac feels a way about me being with his sister, and with the way we handled the situation, I can respect that. To avoid creating discord within the team, I want to be traded. The Titans are down a player and—”
“Hell nah,” Isaac said before I could even continue. “You ain’t finna go to the Titans or nowhere else for that matter. Not because of me.”
“That’s really not for you to decide. I feel like this is what’s best for all parties involved.
I’m sorry for not being transparent when things became real between me and Eli, but I’ll never apologize for loving her and being with her.
She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I love this game, and I love you and my team, but I ain’t letting anything come between us.
I’m also not about to resent you if we can’t get along and play the same way we’ve always played.
If we can’t be friends anymore, it’s best if we not be teammates anymore either. ”
“If you would just slow your ass down and listen, you’ll understand why this ain’t necessary,” Isaac said, gaining my interest. “When you got knocked down and didn’t move, my reservations about you being with my sister no longer mattered.
All I cared about was you being good. And seeing how worried she was fucked with me.
I realized in that moment I’m doing more harm than good to two of the closest people to me for no reason beyond me tryna be in control.
“I’ve already apologized to my sister, but I apologize again, Eli, and I’m sorry, Falcon.
Yeah, it fucked with me and felt like a betrayal knowing y’all were together, but I can understand why you kept it from me, looking back on how I reacted.
If y’all can forgive me for that, I can forgive y’all for keeping this from me. Really, I just want us to move on.”
I looked at Eli, and her warm eyes and beautiful smile were already on me.
“You forgive him?” I asked.
“Yes. I forgave him before he apologized because the forgiveness was for me. I’m open to reconciliation with boundaries, and I’ve already told him that. Whether you stay or go is up to you.”
My eyes shifted toward Coach and Isaac. “I can take responsibility and say shit wouldn’t have gotten bad if I hadn’t betrayed your trust, so I do accept your apology, and I am willing to stay and work on our friendship just as long as you don’t try to insert yourself into my relationship with your sister.
I’m not going to let anyone mistreat her, bruh.
Not even you and Senior. You gotta trust that I’ma treat her well and make sure what we have doesn’t come between us or the team.
She’s going to be my wife, which means you’ll be my brother-in-law.
In love. As long as you can act like it, we’ll be good. ”
Isaac rounded the bed and extended his fist for me to bump.
I did, and we exchanged a brotherly hug.
Coach made sure we were good before leaving and letting me know he’d check on me tomorrow.
Isaac stayed a little while longer before leaving, which I appreciated.
The only person I wanted here was Eli. That was the only way I’d be able to rest. She went out to the waiting room to let Unc know they could leave and that she’d keep them updated on my release, and I appreciated that.
When she came back into the room, she tried to sit back down, but I adjusted myself so she could get in bed with me.
The pain medicine they gave me had me drowsy as fuck, and I was irritable and ready to sleep.
It took some gentle urging to convince her she wouldn’t hurt me, but eventually, she got in bed with me. Not long after, I drifted off to sleep.