Chapter 8 Brion
brION
When my mother said she wanted to take me and Josie’s picture, I blushed.
The moment Josie’s mouthy butt told her I’d been invited to a game by one of the players, my mother almost had a fit.
She acted like she was seeing us off to the prom or something.
I actually felt very stylishly dressed in baggy denim shorts that stopped past my knees, a white fitted shirt that stopped right above my belly button, a black and white striped cardigan that hung past my butt, and black hard bottom flip flops.
I looked like a mom, but it was giving cute.
My hair was in a ponytail with loose curls, and I had done my makeup like I was going to walk somebody’s red carpet.
When our mother finished gushing over us, Josie walked to the door, and I followed.
She stopped walking abruptly, and I almost ran into the back of her.
As soon as she sucked her teeth, I peeked over her shoulder and saw the reason for her behavior.
Corey was walking up to the door, but I didn’t see my girls.
Pushing past Josie, I stepped outside first.
“Where are the girls?” he was supposed to be taking them to school on Monday. I was confused why he was in front of me on a Sunday, but I didn’t see my children.
By the way he drew back, I could tell Corey was stunned by my appearance. It had been a very long time since he saw me looking somewhat stylish with a full beat. “Where you going?” he looked me up and down.
“To an NFL game, fuck nigga,” Josie answered making me shake my head.
“Where are the girls?” I asked again with more attitude.
“NFL game? Since when did you start going to games? My mother wanted to take the girls to the park, so I came over here to talk to you. My kids shouldn’t have to keep telling me they want to come home. We need to figure something out.”
“We don’t need to do shit. I love my daughters, but I’m not being unhappy for anybody. Just be glad I don’t tell them the real reason we aren’t there is because you’re a cheater.”
I walked off making my way to Josie’s car. When I got in and closed the door, she busted out laughing. “That nigga is mad! Look! I swear I see smoke coming out his ears.”
“You’re childish,” I chuckled pulling the seatbelt across my body. Corey was still standing in the yard. The longer he stared at Josie’s car the harder she laughed.
“I told you getting your lick back was going to be fun. Look at his face. That nigga is sick. I bet he can’t even breathe,” she started the car engine.
I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but it did feel good.
It felt damn good actually. The way his eyes ballooned when he saw me confirmed that I in fact looked good as hell, and I didn’t have to be half naked to make people take a second look.
The fact that my appearance visibly shocked and angered him let me know that I had done something right.
I couldn’t care less about him knowing I was on my way to a game.
It was none of his business actually just like I didn’t worry about what or who he was doing.
“He has some nerve,” I stated as his words ran through my brain.
“Exactly. Trying to guilt trip you into going back home. He wasn’t thinking about the girls when his trifling ass was cheating. I can’t stand men like him.”
“Now that he knows I’m actually getting out of the house, and I’m not sitting around crying and sad, watch he stops getting the girls on the weekend.”
“And I already told you that me, mom, and dad got you. When I’m traveling, mom and dad will keep them with no questions asked.
They are five, Brion, and I can count on one hand how many times you’ve spent the night away from them before you left Corey.
You are always with your children. Don’t feel guilty about wanting time to yourself, and I’ll say that until I’m blue in the face.
And you for sure have a village that doesn’t mind watching them. ”
Lord knows if it wasn’t for my tribe, I probably wouldn’t have made it through my breakup with Corey.
My friends and family were holding me down for real, and I appreciated it.
Hymn had invited me to a game not out on a date.
I wasn’t sure how far things would go with us but if it ended up not being anything serious, I wouldn’t be out actively looking to date.
And it would for sure be a minute before I let the girls meet anyone.
I had a revelation that made me chuckle. “I wonder just how much the girls are actually with Corey. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was his mother that was really keeping them, and he just popped in here and there.”
“That man,” Josie kissed her teeth. “You really dodged a bullet by not marrying him. I promise you did.”
When we arrived at the arena, it was already packed, but we were kind of early, so the line moved pretty quickly. We stopped by the concession stand before going to our seats, and we had really good seats.
“Oh shit, we’re with the WAGS,” I mumbled when I spotted London.
Her eyes widened as she jumped up and ran over to me. “Hymn invited you?” I nodded, and she squealed. “I think he’s a good one boo, and I’m not just saying that. I’ve never seen a woman in this section for him.”
“Okayyyy, sister,” Joise sang while bumping my hip with hers.
Dropping my head, I tried to hide my simper. They could hype me up all they wanted to, but I refused to get my hopes up.
“You look so freakin’ good,” London took a step back and observed my outfit. “That’s what I’m talking about you better show up and show out.”
As we took our seats, I caught a glimpse of the other women in the section.
The designer purses, shoes, and iced out jewelry was out in abundance but oddly enough, I didn’t feel out of place.
I was carrying a Louis Vuitton purse, but my shorts had been $48 when I got them, the shirt was $6, the cardigan was $25, and the shoes were $29.
I didn’t have on one designer label, and I sat amongst the other women with my head held high because while I didn’t look rich, I looked nice, and that was good enough for me.
Looking around, the game was just what I needed.
A reason to get a little cute. Some fresh air and adult time.
It was the invitation that I didn’t know I needed and still I couldn’t even fully be one hundred percent happy.
The ache in my heart still made it feel heavy.
And that heavy feeling it was uncomfortable.
Some days, it felt as if I was suffocating.
As much as he currently got on my nerves there was a time that I loved everything about Corey.
When his flaws began to rear their ugly heads, I stuck beside him because that was my man, and no one is perfect.
Married or not, I saw us being old and gray together.
Now, I had no idea what my future looked like, and that was beyond scary.
The players ran out onto the field, and that snapped me from my pity party.
Hymn’s number was seven and when I saw him, I had to pull my lips into my mouth to refrain from smiling.
I couldn’t believe I was blushing at my big age, but seeing Hymn on that field had me feeling all giddy.
It was almost sickening. Especially when I knew firsthand that those feelings of butterflies could turn into feelings of my heart being penetrated with a knife.
Liking a person was a gamble. They held the power to disappoint you and have you feeling lower than dirt.
And there wasn’t anything we could do about it.
Josie nudged me with her arm. “Maybe you could buy a cheerleader uniform. Hymn could wear his helmet, and you guys could role play in the bedroom,” she whispered in my ear making me turn to look at her like she was crazy.
“Crack. Is that what you smoke? Is it crack?”
With a laugh, Josie shrugged one shoulder before sipping her drink.
My phone vibrated inside my purse, and I never took my eyes off the field while removing the device.
When I finally looked down, my lip curled when I saw that I had a message from Corey.
Once he started coming to get the girls as much as I didn’t want to, I unblocked his simple ass.
Idiot: I swear to God, Brion, I’m sorry.
Being out in the streets trying to catch the attention of these lame ass niggas isn’t going to do anything.
You’re going to get played trying to prove a point to who?
There isn’t shit out there in the streets.
I made a dumb ass mistake, and I took you for granted.
I’ll spend the rest of our lives kissing your butt and apologizing. Just come talk to me, please.
Clenching my back teeth together, I shoved my phone back inside my purse.
Had Corey always been so manipulative? I was one blind dummy for sure.
The fact that he was so certain that I was going to get played was comical.
I didn’t ask nor did I expect Hymn to invite me to a game.
Contrary to what Corey believed, I wasn’t out in the streets chasing anything.
I was trying to heal a wound that he caused.
His text message wasn’t worth a response.
Corey wanted to ruin my day, and I refused to let it happen.
Sitting there watching the game, I realized how intense and entertaining football could be.
I actually enjoyed myself. The Diamond Cove Cougars lost, but they still played a great game.
Not knowing if Hymn was one of those athletes that became angry or withdrawn when they lost had me on edge about waiting around for him.
London finished her drink and tossed the cup in the trash. “It’s time for me to go home and love on my man. I’ll see you Tuesday, Brion.” She hugged me then my sister.
“Bye boo,” I smiled at her.
“Stop looking so nervous,” Josie instructed.
“Stop staring at me.”