Chapter 4
PENELOPE
Every few seconds, my eyes danced between my daddy and Zoo.
They were in deep conversation across the room, and like a kid, I tried to ear hustle, but they were talking too damn low.
The room wasn’t even that big, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying for shit.
Where I should’ve been concerned, Zoo didn’t seem the least bit uptight or bothered, so for now I just sat there and observed them.
Any time Zoo’s smile emerged, I found myself even more intrigued by their conversation.
My daddy was the no-nonsense businessman, who graduated top in his class and still wore a preppy-ass Polo shirt everywhere.
I wouldn’t call my daddy stuck up, but he did have his preferences on what he thought was “best” for me and Naomi when it came to men.
One look at Zoo and any father would be hesitant.
Zoo screamed hood nigga, and at no time did he ever hide it.
Honestly, his swagger and attitude turned me on when no man who I’d met made me feel that way about him. Zoo was just…different. He didn’t give a fuck how anyone felt about him, he was going to be exactly who he was.
I’d leaned on him throughout the night, doing exactly what he’d told me to do.
Somehow, I was in his arms for no other reason other than to feel his tatted limbs around me.
He’d hold me and let me sleep since we hadn’t left the hospital yet.
The hospital was so backed up that Naomi was still in the emergency room, waiting to be sent to a private room.
None of us were leaving until that happened.
So, while I’d been off taking a restroom break, Zoo and my father gravitated to one another and hadn’t broken apart since. That was an hour ago.
“You look concerned.” Mimi chuckled.
“Very,” Bri added.
My sister wanted to sleep so badly; I could see it in her eyes. However, she was happy to have our parents there and didn’t want to close her eyes until they went to get their own rest. Coming off the trip from down South, they were exhausted, yet they refused to leave their daughter’s side.
Finding out Mimi was pregnant brought me, Bri, and my mama to tears.
I knew my sister though, and it was something behind her familiar orbs that nagged at me.
If she was reflecting on her time with Vick, then I already knew what she was thinking about.
I hate that this moment wasn’t much of a joyous one for her because of all that she’d gone through previously.
All I could do was pray that things got better for her.
“I’m cool,” I lied.
My mother chuckled then. “He’s handsome.”
With a mug, my eyes snapped her way. “For the record, Mama, he’s not my man.”
“He should be,” she shot back.
“Exactly,” Bri instigated.
“Huh? Excuse me?” Pointedly, I looked at Brooklyn, who sat next to Sin. The two of them were sitting next to my daddy in their own conversation.
“Mama, I’m the only one with sense in this situation,” Mimi offered. “The two of them are stuck on stupid.”
Bri and I both rolled our eyes.
“Like you willingly submitted to Sin. It took us talking some sense into you, so that there could be a you and Sin.”
Mimi grumbled under her breath, but Bri had her there.
“Are they related? They favor one another.”
“Cousins,” Bri, Mimi, and I said in unison.
“Aww,” Mama swooned. “Wouldn’t that be something if the three of you end up in the same family? I mean, considering you girls are inseparable, it would make sense that your men are just as inseparable.”
Neither of us said anything as we glanced between each other. My mama was talking too much.
“PJ has a better chance than I do. I know little to nothing about Brooklyn, and he’s not even tryin’ to come at me how Sin and Zoo did Naomi and PJ.
So, no Ma, I won’t be in their little trio of love,” Bri told us.
Although the way she glanced back at Brooklyn, and the wink he shot back at her, said otherwise.
“Not yet, but he will.” My mom swore she was a matchmaker and this time, she might’ve been on to something. I thought Bri and Brooklyn looked great together, and my friend needed a man who ain’t finna play ‘bout her. Brooklyn was that.
However, when I locked eyes with Zoo, my heart seemed to race. He excused himself from my dad then made his way towards me.
Leaning down, he kissed my forehead. “You hungry yet?”
I forgot I hadn’t eaten since being here. My stomach hadn’t settled until now.
“I am, but I can wait.”
“No, you can’t. I haven’t seen you eat anything since before the game.”
I just blinked at him because why was he clocking what went into my stomach?
“So, what you want me to grab?” He checked his diamond-studded watch then said, “It’s a few places open ‘round here. Just tell me what you got a taste for.”
“Uhm… Whosever closest,” I answered.
“Aight,” he replied. “Can I get y’all anything?” he directed to the other women.
A round of ‘yes’ sounded off. My mom and Bri requested coffee, while Mimi called herself trying to request a burger and fries. Sin shot that down.
“Soup, Baby,” he said instead. “Otherwise, you’re gon’ be in here uncomfortable once you fall asleep.”
Sighing, Mimi said, “You’re right, Bae.”
My mama’s head slowly tilted back as she peered at her daughter. She’d never seen Mimi concede so easily. Clearing her throat, my mama then batted her lashes at Mimi.
I was distracted by Zoo’s fingers gliding across my chin, causing me to shiver. “I’ll be back,” he said.
“I’ma ride with you,” Brooklyn stated, standing.
Watching Zoo’s departing back, I gnawed at my bottom lip. He was doing something to my insides, and I didn’t know whether to love it or not.
Mimi wasn’t moved to a room until an hour later. We stayed with her as long as we could until the staff forced us to leave. Sin stayed, of course, not wanting to be away from his woman. I was so happy for the two of them that I smiled on the ride to my house.
“Glad to see that on ya face,” Zoo stated.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I replied, “I’m glad my sister’s okay. That was the worst night of my life.”
“Hopefully, I made it a lil’ easier to bear.”
Smiling, I said, “You absolutely did, and I appreciate you.”
Zoo grinned and reached over to tweak my chin. “Any time you need me, I’ma be there.”
He pulled into my driveway with me feeling a little lonely. Since Naomi had been with Sin, she was rarely home. Now that she was pregnant with Sin’s child, I was sure Sin would want her with him permanently. That left me in this house all by myself.
“Why don’t you stay, Zoo? It’ll be daylight soon anyway. I have an extra bedroom,” I added just in case.
He cut the engine without hesitation. “Mind if I shower, first?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Of course not. Please make yourself at home.”
“Aight,” he responded before sliding out of the truck. I waited for him to come open my door, then got out. He grabbed my things from the back seat along with a duffle bag that belonged to him.
When we stepped foot inside my house, it almost felt like Zoo and I were coming home together. The feeling caught me off guard, causing me to nervously point him in the direction of the bathroom. He put my things on the couch and shouldered his bag.
“The room is right next door.”
“Cool,” he said. “Get some rest.”
“I will.” I chuckled.
As I passed him to go towards the hallway, he brought me close to him. He stared into my eyes, and said, “Get some rest.”
Laughing, I said, “I heard you the first time.”
“Yeah, but I need you to listen and do it,” he fired back.
Nodding, I agreed, “Sure, Zoo. Good night.”
“Night, Baby.”
It wasn’t an hour later, before taps came at my opened bedroom door.
I wasn’t asleep anyway. I had been laying there trying to force myself to get that sleep Zoo told me to get.
Nothing I did worked. I counted basketballs being shot into the goal.
I even counted the blinds as the sun rising shown through them but I was still up looking crazy.
“Come in.”
I sat up in bed and immediately had to adjust my thoughts as Zoo entered in nothing but basketball shorts.
“My bad, I forgot my shirt.”
Damn, did he notice me staring at him?
“It’s fine. Is something wrong?”
“Yes and no. See, I have this little teddy bear that my mama gave me when I was a kid. I sleep with it, nightly, and I ain’t shame to say that shit either. It’s not with me, so sleep ain’t finna find me until I get home.”
Surprisingly, I didn’t laugh. I thought it was cute.
“You can lay with me. I tried to sleep but couldn’t. My sister was still on my mind heavy.”
Pulling back the covers, I scooted over to allow Zoo to settle in. As if this area was designed for me, my head rested on his chest with his arm keeping me there. It felt... right. Thoughts of how this would feel daily, consumed my mind. Zoo clearing his throat pulled me back to reality.
“Tell me something, Pen.”
Looking up at him, I asked, “Tell you what?”
“Has playing ball always been something you wanted to do?”
“Not at all. I thought I would be a lawyer and so did my parents. Arguing and winning was my thing. I was perfect for it. Plus, I used to hate sweating, so nah, playing basketball was never on my to-do list. It just kind of happened and became something I loved doing. It helped that my sister loved it as well. We have always been a force on the court. Which is why I don’t know how I’m going to do the rest of these games without her. ”
“You’ll do it for her. You go out there and you play for her and don’t let no one get into your head. You got this. Bri will be right there pushing and coaching you. Naomi, will be cheering from the sidelines. Even though she won’t physically be on the court, her presence will be in the arena.”
The smile that stretched across my face had to be as wide as the Mississippi River. The tingling butterfly feeling, had me inhaling his scent as I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. It’s my job.” His job?
“Why is that?” I questioned.