30. Talitha
Talitha
Stepping into the bathroom, I wrapped my arms around Law’s waist and laid my head on his bare back. “What time do we have to be at the stadium?”
“No particular time. The game starts at one. They’re going to start delivering the food as soon as the first person checks in. You did give Rossi and Marsha their tickets, right?”
“I sent it to them on the app.”
“Cool.”
“I’m gonna go ahead and get dressed so I can make sure Gema is good.”
Law nodded his head.
Since he came from visiting his mother, he’d been distant.
I asked him if his visit went okay. He claimed it did, but he was different.
I noticed it and so did Gema. She told me to give him the chance to tell me about it instead of pressuring him to talk.
Taking her advice, I told him repeatedly that I was here for him whenever he was ready to talk.
Speaking of Gema, she was back home and happy as ever. When my mama came to drop her off, she showed up with the whole crew. They only came to make sure I kept my word and signed over their houses.
My mama dropped the case so of course I signed the paperwork, giving them their houses back. I never promised my mama I would sign hers over, but I didn’t want shit else to do with her, so I did the honorable thing and signed it over.
Betty Jo told me they were planning on having Thanksgiving down at her house this year and asked if I wanted to come down. They wanted Gema to come and since this would be the first one with us living away, I told her I would bring her down so she could spend it with them.
Christmas was a different story. Law wanted to take me and Gema to his house in Veal. I’d never been skiing so me, Gema, and Mrs. Jessie was looking forward to that.
Once I had my clothes on, I went downstairs to check on Gema since she and Mrs. Jessie was coming to the game with us.
“Gema, you dressed?” I asked from the other side of her door.
“Jessie putting on my shoes now!” she yelled.
“You look cute.”
I had gone out and purchased us some jerseys so we wouldn’t look like oddballs today. According to Law, the Demon fans were serious when it came to these games.
He claimed everybody in attendance would be in some black and red. I didn’t know not one player on the damn team so I found some random jerseys and settled on them.
Mrs. Jessie had pressed Gema hair out last night so it was hanging down her back. I had this black headband I’d bought from Fashion Nova a while back that I gave her to use so she could push the hair out of Gema face.
Plopping down on her bed, I propped my body up on the pillow and hung my feet off the side of the bed.
“Law driving or we riding in that fancy truck of his?” Gema asked.
“Baker is coming to pick us up.” I giggled. “Him and his wife are coming with us.”
“How many people gon’ be there?”
“Why? You don’t want to go now?”
“No, I’m going. Just was wondering who all was coming.”
“His brother and a few friends. I think his brother is supposed to be bringing his mama now. I’ve got two friends from work coming. You remember Rossi?”
“How could I forget him?” Gema tittered.
“Right. But that’s all I know off the top of my head. I guess we will have to wait and see when we get there. I ordered you some pasta to eat. I didn’t want you eating all that other stuff. We don’t need to end the night in the emergency room cause your pressure done shot up.”
“I got all of her medicine right here. Do I need a clear bag or is my purse fine?”
“I’m sure you will be okay. Law said we’re being driven directly into the stadium so I’m guessing we’re going past security.
” When Gema decided to go with us, I asked Law if I needed to bring her scooter.
He said there was no need seeing as though we would be driven directly to his suite.
So, I was in agreeance with what Gema said next.
“That sounds fancy.”
“It is fancy,” Law’s deep voice bounced from the hallway. “You ladies in there dressed?”
“We are,” Gema sang.
“Baker is almost here. Pass me your bags so I can get them loaded when he pulls up.”
I didn’t have a bag. I tossed my phone, wallet, and lip gloss in the Tory Burch belt bag and strapped it around my waist. Mrs. Jessie was bringing her big Michael Kors tote bag so she could bring all of Gema meds.
“Talitha, you got everything?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’mma hit the lights upstairs,” he said before walking away.
“Law moves around here like he own the place,” Mrs. Jessie teased, making Gema agree.
When they said that, I kept my mouth closed. The man had inserted himself into my business to the point where my mortgage payments were now coming out of his account.
The only thing I paid for were the utilities and, groceries and believe me he tried to take on those expenses as well. I had to beg him to let me do it myself. My mortgage was my biggest bill so when he offered to take that one off my hands, I didn’t hesitate to let him.
One night we were laying up after sex and I was venting about needing to trade in my Mercedes. Gema was getting older and I knew getting in and out of my car was becoming uncomfortable for her.
Not only that but anytime we went somewhere, I was bringing her wheelchair because the last thing I needed was for her to slip and fall while we were out.
The older she got, the more it seemed like her legs gave out on her at any point. I’d shared that information with my mama and her siblings multiple times so that’s why when the allege abuse rumors started, I was confused.
I said all of that to say when I mentioned needed a bigger vehicle, Law offered to buy me one. I declined, of course, but when he took over my mortgage, that freed up some income. Within the next few weeks, I planned to go car shopping.
“Might as well gon’ move in,” Gema tried to whisper to Mrs. Jessie, but I heard her loud and clear.
“Might as well not,” I butted in. “We could fit three of this house into his. If anybody is going to be doing the moving, it’ll be us,” I teased, knowing good and damn well I wasn’t about to be moving into that man’s house.
“Well, what we waiting for then?” Gema countered. “If the house that big, you can gon’ put me and Jessie a room downstairs right next to Graelyn.”
Furrowing my brows, I peered up at Mrs. Jessie. “Gema, who is Graelyn?”
Waving me off, Gema shook her head. “Don’t pay me no mind. You know I’on be knowing what I’m saying half the time.”
“If you say so.” I laughed. “Let’s go. I’m sure Law is waiting on us.”
Shuffling out of the room, I walked into the kitchen and grabbed Gema a bottle of water out of the fridge. By the time I made it to the front of the house, the three of them were standing by the door waiting on me.
Law locked up the house while Baker helped get Gema into the truck. Once everyone was seated and strapped in, we pulled away from the house and started for the arena.
* * *
Poppa didn’t lie when he said Law had a huge suite inside of the stadium. When we first arrived, he took me around so I could meet the owner and the general manager. He’d also explained that next to the two of them, his suite was the biggest.
According to the owner Kovi, Law had purchased it as soon as the sale for the Demons had gone through. Around the stadium, there were various banners for different businesses; Tech Law being one of them.
On top of owning a suite, Law also donated an undisclosed amount of money to the organization yearly. I guess that’s the reason Poppa enlisted his help for one of the players signed to his agency.
The game hadn’t kicked off yet and Gema was already enjoying herself along with Mrs. Jessie. I’d even spotted her fixing herself a cocktail. I didn’t mind not one bit. She was off the clock and welcomed to enjoy herself.
I’d met a few of Law’s not so professional friends and so far, Promise, the girlfriend of the guy Hendrix I’d heard him speak to on the phone, was the most welcoming. We were still waiting on his mama and brother to show up. Law explained that the two of them didn’t actually live in Atlanta.
His mama and brother weren’t the only ones running late. Rossi and Marsha had yet to show up. Rossi claimed they were trying to make a fashionable entrance or whatever. I wanted to wait for them to get here so everyone could eat together but after so long I said fuck it.
Baker’s wife was a little on the snooty side and after learning that she was close to Law’s ex, I kind of understood her hesitancy to welcome me with open arms.
“Love.” Law slipped up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Are you okay? Need anything?”
Titling my head back, I stared up at him and smiled. “I’m good. Just taking all of this in. It’s so nice in here.”
“It is. When Kovi bought the previous owner out, he worked out a deal with Mercedes Benz and had the entire stadium redone.”
“Well kudos to him because it was definitely worth it. I hope I get to come to more games.”
“I own this love.” He chuckled. “You can enjoy as many games as you’d like. Just let me know and I’ll set it up for you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Have you ate?”
“I had a few wings. I’ll get more. Right now, I’m busy nursing this.” I held up the cup that contained whatever concoction Promise had whipped up.
“Eat before you overdo it.”
“I will,” I promised.
Law pecked me on the cheek and let my waist go before saying, “I’m going to call Preme and see where they are.”
“Okay.”
Giving the field one last look around, I walked over to where Gema and Mrs. Jessie was seated and copped a squat. “Bertha Mae, you good? Want me to fix you something else to eat?”
“Jessie said them crab cakes was pretty good. I’ll get one after a while.”
“Just let me know and I’ll get it. Law gon’ walk you down to the field in a minute so you can meet some of the players.”
“I sholl hope Deuce one of ‘em.”
“Who is Deuce, Gema?”
“The wide receiver, Tali. I swear Joe should’ve taught you more ‘bout sports.” She giggled. “That big heavy hunk that got all the girls going crazy.” She stared at me like I should’ve known who she was talking about.