Chapter 10
It was Friday, and it was almost the end of my workday. I’d been on a high since I saw Nyomi this morning, and I had to work extra hard not to blow up her phone with text messages. The only thing that stopped me was the back-to-back meetings I had.
I’d just made it back to my office after the last meeting with the strength and conditioning coaches. As I checked my email, I saw a tall figure near my door from the corner of my eye just as I heard a knock.
“Wassup, Nyeem? Come in and have a seat.”
“I’m sorry to bother you. One of the ladies up front said I could come back.”
“You’re not a bother. Everything good?”
“In general, yeah, but I have some news you probably won’t like.”
His statement, combined with the serious, almost solemn look on his face, had me very concerned.
“All right. Let me hear it.”
“Unfortunately, I’m no longer interested in being a part of the football team.”
“Damn. That’s not what I wanted to hear. Did something happen to make you change your mind?”
“After giving it more thought, I decided I don’t want to take on too much. Football is very demanding, and—”
“Aye, the Kurrie kid ain’t all that—Oh, my bad. I didn’t realize you had someone in your office,” Ward said, stopping mid-step.
This was awkward.
“Nyeem Kurrie, this is Ambrose Ward. He would’ve been your position coach.”
Ambrose’s eyes widened, and his body stiffened as he slowly came further into my office and stood behind the chair next to where Nyeem was seated. The air became thick, which didn’t surprise me after what Ambrose had said, but it was almost suffocating.
Nyeem appeared to be taking slow, deep breaths as he stood with his hands holding the straps of his backpack. He turned to Ambrose, folded his arms across his chest, and mean-mugged him. It seemed like he was sizing Ambrose up, and honestly, it was warranted.
Ambrose returned the stare, but he looked like he’d seen a ghost. This went on for about fifteen or twenty seconds before Nyeem unfolded his arms, grabbed the straps of his backpack again, and shook his head as he left my office. I had no idea what I’d witnessed, but I definitely had questions.
“What the fuck was that about?” Ambrose asked me nervously.
“You were about to talk shit about him.”
“I didn’t know he was in here.”
“Regardless, you should’ve apologized. He came in to tell me he’d decided not to play football.”
“Why would I apologize for my opinion? If he can’t take a little constructive criticism, he did the right thing by quitting.”
“It didn’t sound like you were about to say shit constructive, my nigga. The way he mugged you makes me wonder if you’re the reason he quit?”
“How would I be the reason?”
“He was about to give me some excuse about football being too demanding when you interrupted. His whole energy changed when I said your name.”
He shrugged. “I can’t help it if I wasn’t impressed with his film. We’ll be all right without him.”
He turned to leave, and I didn’t bother to stop him. Something was up, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it. I looked at my watch and saw it was approaching four o’clock, which meant it was seven in Atlanta.
I went to my phone and found Levi Moore’s contact info. He, Ambrose, and I played together for three years before I graduated. Levi and I didn’t talk often, but we were cool. After selecting his name, I got up and closed my office door. He picked up after the first ring.
“Long time no hear. Is he already causing trouble?” he answered.
“If you suspected he might cause trouble, why didn’t you warn me?”
“You offered him a great opportunity. He has a family, and I’d never interfere with a man’s livelihood. Wassup, though?”
“Do you remember Nyomi Kurrie?”
“Shit, yeah. She ran track and was easily the finest girl on campus.”
“I believe that shit. She’s still fine as fuck.”
“Oh yeah? Is she still in Black Elm?”
“This is her hometown. Do you know anything about her and Ward being a thing?”
“I never saw them together, but he told every nigga who showed interest in her that she was off-limits. He claimed she was like a little sister to him, but I had my suspicions. Why? Wassup?”
“I don’t want to say because it’s not my place to, but that information is very helpful.”
“No problem, man. I hope this works out for him. He’ll always be my boy, but we will never work together again.”
“Damn. It’s like that?”
“Unfortunately, it is. Hit me up if you need anything else, though. I was thinking about getting a few of our teammates together to come out for a game or two and show our support.”
“That would be dope. Let me know if you’re serious, and I can have something set up for y’all on this end.”
“Bet. I’ll be in touch soon.”
When that call ended, I found Nyeem’s contact. I had no idea what I would say, but I wanted to check on him and let him know there were no hard feelings. The phone rang several times before going to voicemail, but I didn’t leave a message, opting to send a text instead.
Me:
If you need to talk, I’m here.
I waited a few minutes to see if he’d respond, but when I got nothing, I gathered my belongings and headed to my car.
A few minutes later, I parked in the parking lot closest to the university library, hoping Nyomi hadn’t left for the day.
Once inside, I went to what looked like a help desk and asked if she was available.
“Can I have your name, sir?” the woman asked.
“Kilo.”
“One moment, please.”
She picked up the phone, pressed a few buttons, and turned away from me. Her voice was low, and I couldn’t hear her, but I assumed she’d called Nyomi to tell her I was here to see her. When she turned around, she hung up the phone with a smile.
“Follow me. I’ll take you to her office.”
She stepped from behind the desk, and I followed her to an office in the corner.
“Thank you,” I told her before she walked away.
I peeked my head inside and found Nyomi sitting behind her desk. She looked to have a lot on her mind, and I was certain it had everything to do with why I’d shown up in her office unannounced.
“Come in, close the door, and have a seat,” she said in a low voice as she stared into space.
I did as she asked, and once I was seated, neither of us spoke for at least a minute. I didn’t know where to begin, and something told me she had some things to get off her chest.
“I should’ve known he was on some bullshit when he wanted to keep our relationship a secret.
He befriended me at the beginning of my freshman year, and ultimately, I fell crazy in love with him, but I was just something for him to do.
When I told him I was pregnant, he snapped, said the baby couldn’t be his, and if it was, to get rid of it.
That was the last time we spoke. I may have thought I was in love with him, but I loved myself more and would never stoop low enough to beg a nigga to be with me. ”
“I didn’t know.”
She finally gave me her eyes, and I could tell she’d been crying, and I wanted to put my fist into the face of the person who caused her tears.
“I know. Only my family and best friend know the identity of Nyeem’s father.”
“I’m sure Nyeem spoke with you about quitting the team before he made the decision.”
She nodded. “I just got off the phone with him. Today was his first time ever seeing his father in the flesh. He’s hurt, Kilo. I believe he’s more hurt than he is angry. It’s killing me because I can’t fix this for him.”
“If I’d known a week ago, I wouldn’t have hired him.”
She smiled. “You would rather have Nyeem on your team than have Ambrose as your coach?”
“Knowing what I know now, yes. I suspected something was up when his energy was off the first time I mentioned you and Nyeem.”
“What do you mean?”
I shared with her some of the conversation Knox, Ambrose, and I had when we met up at Lovers we might as well let it flow.”
“Damn. That wasn’t nearly as sweet as what I said, but I guess I’ll take it.”
We shared a laugh before I asked for her hand and blessed the food. After we ate in silence for a few minutes, she said, “Nyeem told me you called him and left a text message.”
“I wanted to check on him, but we don’t know each other like that, so I understand why he didn’t answer or respond.”
“I was talking to him when you called. He felt bad for ignoring you, but he wasn’t in the mood to talk. He didn’t say much to me after telling me what happened.”
“He probably needs time and space to process it all.”
“Yeah. He’s staying in his old room at my parents’ house tonight. That’s where he goes when he has a lot on his mind. Plus, my parents baby the shit outta him.”
“They aren’t the only ones. I peeped how you are with him.”
“That’s my baby, but it’s not the same. He’s been their only grandchild for over eighteen years. They’d move mountains for him.”
“He doesn’t act spoiled or entitled.”
“He never has. He’s always been humble and gracious.
He doesn’t want me to see him upset, especially about Ambrose.
I told him who his father was when he was ten years old.
There were a lot of tears, he asked a lot of questions, and I was appropriately honest with him.
He hasn’t asked me anything about him since then, but I know he’s done his own research and probably asked my parents and brother some questions. ”
“And rightfully so. I can’t believe that nigga has a kid out here that he’s never acknowledged. I loathe men like that, and he’s lost all my respect.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to get through the season coaching with him?”
“At the end of the day, this is a business, and I know how to be a professional.”
“Thank you for trying to be there for my son.”
“No need to thank me, baby. I’m just practicing for when I’m officially his stepdaddy.”
Her eyes widened as she playfully threw a balled-up napkin at me. She probably didn’t take me seriously, but there were very few things I’d ever been more serious about, and none of them concerned a woman until she came along.
“That’s the second time you’ve alluded to being my husband.”
“And I was serious both times.”
“Kilo—uh—excuse me.”
She suddenly slapped her hand over her mouth and rushed to the bathroom. I followed her and waited outside the door for the next five minutes, listening to what sounded like her vomiting. Of course, my wheels began to turn, and only one thing came to mind.
Could she be pregnant after all?