Chapter 1 #2
“It’s competitive on the court, especially during the post season.
I expect this type of heart to be shown out there.
That’s all it is, is everyone wanting to achieve the same goal.
My team just happened to pull it off.” I was remaining classy rather than saying what I really wanted to.
If I had faced Gina on the street courts, her ass would’ve gotten knocked the fuck out for some of the shit she’d said tonight.
Each reporter vied for the last question.
I wished they’d just hurry the fuck up. My eyes watered again.
I had to get the fuck out of there! I kept glancing at Zoo, and his eyes held just as much weight as mine.
Once the last question was answered, I was running out of there and going straight to my sister.
ZOO
I’d been by Pen’s side an entire season, now.
It started with me not wanting to see a damn game to me being at every game.
It was almost as if I had to show up to make sure the referees and players were doing right by my shawty.
Somehow, I ended up making myself her friend even when she gave me some pushback in the beginning.
Growling, I wanted to storm to the table and snatch up Pen.
It irritated me that no one had the decency to let her skip this shit.
Nah. Entertainment was just that. These muthafuckas didn’t give a damn what a person was going through.
It was only about their next story they had the feed the vultures on the other end of the tube.
Ol’ boy with the activated waves was gon’ get his head knocked off. I recognized his curl and swirl ass from one of the sports networks but couldn’t place his name. Either way, I was gon’ send him home with those waves peeled back for trying to play on Pen’s name.
I gave Brooklyn Pen’s things and sent him to retrieve my truck while I waited for her to finish answering questions. By the way she kept making eye contact with me, I knew she’d be ready to dip once she was done. Although she kept her cool up there, I felt Pen’s urgency to get to her sister.
Bri, who stood next to me, looked on just as impatient as I was. She, too, was ready to get out of there. She fidgeted with her fingers and kept biting her lips, anxiously waiting for this shit to be over with. Slipping my phone from my pocket, I shot a text to Brooklyn.
Me: I think you should drive Bri. She looks too upset to be driving anywhere.
Cuzzo: Bet.
“Brooklyn is gon’ drive you to the hospital,” I informed Bri without giving her the opportunity to decline. In her state, she’d wreck her shit trying to make it to the hospital.
She peeked at me under thick, wet eyelashes and nodded. “Okay.” Taking an audible deep breath, she squared her shoulders and went to join Pen in front of the cameras.
As upset as I was that Pen had to endure this, I was proud of her for holding her own. My girl was strong and poised in front of the cameras, but the friend in me saw straight through her. She was ready to break down. If I could, I would’ve stepped into her place and handled this shit for her.
Accidently, we’d become close in the months since we’d met.
I went from wanting to fuck the life out of her, to wanting to really see the best for her.
Pen pried her mean ass into my existence, and somehow, I was fine with it.
I wanted to protect her like I would someone I loved.
The thought had me moving closer to the stairs leading to the stage as I saw her standing from her seat.
Reaching for her hand, she took it and barely fell into my arms before I swooped her off her feet. As if she’d done it a million times, her legs went around my waist as she buried her head in my neck. Her arms wrapped around my neck, holding on as if I would drop her.
Effortlessly, I carried her through the tunnel.
Any other time, my hands gripping her ass would’ve produced sexual urges that only she’d be able to fulfill.
Right now, none of that shit ran through my mind.
Being photographed and recorded but tending to her gave me no concern either.
My concern was the woman in my arms whose tears wet my neck.
Outside, I spotted my truck parked behind a row of other cars positioned near the exit. Heavy security manned the parking lot as fans were usually rowdy after a game of this magnitude. Although the players’ parking lot was roped off from through traffic, one couldn’t be too careful.
Brooklyn had the passenger door open, ready for me to deposit Pen in the passenger seat. Once I had her comfortable, I buckled her seatbelt.
“Relax, Baby Girl,” I told her when she sniffled. Wiping her tears, I then kissed her forehead before closing the door. I dapped Brooklyn, who went to meet Bri, who’d been steps behind me and Pen.
Climbing in the driver’s seat, I immediately took her hand into mine while easing out of the parking lot. I double checked to make sure Brooklyn and Bri were right behind us so we could arrive at the same time.
“Shit,” she uttered when something started buzzing. Digging in her bag, she retrieved her phone.
“Daddy,” she tearfully answered. That was all it took for her to break down.
Taking the phone from her, I put it on speaker then addressed her father.
“This is Zeus, Mr. London. I’m takin’ Penelope to the hospital now.”
“Zeus,” he replied, “we’ve heard about you.” I couldn’t stop to gloat about the fact that Pen mentioned me to her parents. Instead, I listened to her father. “My wife and I are already on the way there. There wasn’t a flight leaving soon enough, so we’re on the road.”
“Okay, cool. We’ll be at the hospital waiting for you. If I get any information, you’ll be my first call.”
“Thank you,” he responded gruffly.
“It’s no problem. Penelope is safe with me, so y’all safe driving,” I assured. He thanked me again before we disconnected.
“I feel like I’m going to pass out,” Pen stated. I put the AC on full blast and pulled over to the side of the road.
Snatching her seat belt off, I pulled her shivering frame into my lap.
“Pen,” I crooned, cupping her chin and bringing her face to mine. Softly, I pecked her lips. I felt her heart pounding as she fought to control her breathing. Kissing her lips again, I smoothed my fingers down her face and shushed her. “You feel me holdin’ you?”
She nodded.
“You feel safe in my arms?”
Her head bobbed up and down.
“Gimme that worry and fear. Let me hold on to ‘em, aight?” I coaxed. Tears slipped from her closed eyelids as she hiccupped.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“I’m not givin’ ‘em back,” I stated, bringing a smile to her face.
“You’re so crazy.” She chuckled.
“A lil’ bit,” I responded with a tweak of her chin. “Let’s get up here to Naomi, aight?”
She blew out a deep breath. “Okay.”
I helped her back into the passenger seat, then eased back into traffic. This time, she took my hand. Firmly, she held it. Although her gaze followed the scenery outside her window, her fingers followed the veins on top of my hand as she sat quietly.
“You’re not over there worryin’, are you?” I questioned, breaking the silence.
She snickered and shook her head. “Nope. I gave it to you.”
Grinning, I sped up the road towards the hospital.
Hopefully, Pen trusted my word because I was dead-ass serious.
If I could’ve taken every one of her worries and fears and crushed those bitches, I would’ve.
I vowed to. The best way for me to show her that I could be there for her was to be there for her.
Keeping my word wasn’t going to be hard because I truly liked Pen.
Hell. At this point, my ass was falling quick as fuck.
When we arrived at the hospital, I parked as close to the entrance as I could. I assisted Pen out of the truck and brought her into my arms.
“Look at me.” Gently, I turned her face towards mine.
She’d been quiet the fifteen minutes it took to get there.
I needed to make sure she was still straight.
“Whenever you feel you need to, just climb into my arms, take my hand, or whatever gives you the most strength. That’s if I don’t recognize ya need for me, first. Understand? ”
“I understand,” she softly replied.
As Pen walked off, I got back into of the truck to park.