Chapter 11
ZOO
Chicago was tough on the Pelicans. Pen and her team came back to Pensacola with a final game five looming over them. One thing I could say, Pen was playing her heart out. She didn’t see me in the stands, but I was there.
Flying in and out of Chicago without Sin and Brooklyn on my ass had been trying to say the least. Sin sent me about a hundred scriptures a day, telling me how I needed to forgive Pen and move on.
At least he was taking the high road. Brooklyn, on the other hand, was being big petty by sending me pictures of niggas who were “scoping out my woman”.
That was the caption he used for every text. Nigga was getting on my fucking nerves.
“Welcome to Lucas & Co— Oh, good morning, Mr. Smith!”
I waved at the brown-skinned sister, who I’d seen a few times before but could never remember her name without looking at her name tag.
“‘Sup, Cuchianna.”
Her nose slightly went up as she giggled. “You always pronounce my name wrong. It’s not Coochie-anna. It’s Cuh-shauna.”
“Oh, my fault. I was taught to sound it out, so it’s a lil’ confusing.”
She giggled again, then pointed to the back.
“Luc is waiting for you.”
“Thanks.” I headed to Luc’s office and didn’t even knock before I walked inside. He was sitting at his desk, smoking a cigar.
“Smith!” his loud ass boomed. No matter who it was in my family, he referred to us all as Smith.
I dapped him then sat opposite him.
He pulled out a box and whistled. “This piece had me shook. Whoever it’s for, she’s gonna be one happy lady.” I took the box and opened it, pleased with what I saw.
“Yeah, I fuck with this,” I confirmed. We dapped again, I paid him, then left.
Back at my office, I tucked the piece into one of my safes.
An hour later, I’d just completed a conference call when the front desk assistant walked into my office, placed a gift bag and card on my desk, then sailed out as quick as she came.
Eyeing the pink card, the handwriting on the envelope was unmistakable.
Quickly snatching it up, I ripped into the card.
Animal,
You said you’d carry my worries and fears. You said you’d never return them. This gift is my heart. Will you carry it? I don’t want it back.
Your very best friend,
Pen
I opened the box and had to laugh at what laid inside. A chain bearing Pen’s whole uglass name stared back at me. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t move me…a lot. The fact that it was my type of taste added to the sentimental piece.
“Yo’ ass better get back to lovin’ on that girl,” Brooklyn drawled from my doorway.
“I would cuss you the fuck out, but I’m on some humility type shit.”
He chuckled and came further into my office, whistling as he took the jewelry box from off my desk like I wasn’t about to take the chain out of the box.
“Damn!” he exclaimed. “Lil’ baby got some taste.”
Snatching the box back, I grilled him. “How ‘bout you mind ya business.”
“I try to, but I’m watchin’ my fam self-destruct over his woman. If it ain’t you lovin’ on her, it’s gon’ be another nigga.”
“Pen ain’t mine. I think I already told you that.”
“Aight,” he snorted. “I’ll make sure she sends you an invite to her future wedding.”
“Fuck outta here,” I grumbled.
“Nah, I’ma be the one to rub it in every time I get the chance. I’ma remind you how fuckin’ stupid you are every time I feel like it.”
“You call ya’self giving me advice?
“Good advice. A woman like PJ, who actually wants to put up with yo’ big head ass, shouldn’t be kicked to the side just because she hurt ya lil’ feelings. The fact that she hurt you says you really do care about her. So, what the fuck you gon’ do? ‘Cause I’m tired.”
Donning the chain, I smirked when it hung perfectly around my neck.
“You gotta love her ass,” Brooklyn commented. “‘Cause you can’t stand her name for shit.”
I busted out laughing. No, I couldn’t stand her name, but I loved the woman.
Her gift was a symbol of the pure heart she had.
A heart that I couldn’t bring myself to break and would never break if she gave me the chance to actually be mine.
I took this gift as her way of opening the door to more possibilities with us.
“Tomorrow night, she’ll be a champion. You’ve missed her last few games. Don’t miss her shit tomorrow, or I’m gon’ fuck you up.”
“One day you gon’ stop threatenin’ me, bruh.”
“One day you gon’ listen to me,” was Brooklyn’s parting words.
Snickering, I went back to admiring the chain and reread the card several times before I was satisfied enough to know it word for word.
I finished up work, retrieved the jewelry from the safe, then closed up for the evening.
Before calling it a night, I checked on Sin.
He was going through the usual with Naomi, which had me laughing.
Regardless of how frustrated he sounded, my fam was in love with his woman and worshiped the ground she walked on.
All his frustrations would vanish the moment he held his baby.
That night, I fell asleep dreaming about my own family, something I’d never done. I dreamed about the family I could have with Pen. Damn, I was so deep, I didn’t want to be free of her.
The next evening, I prepared for the game, careful to wear what I knew Pen liked right down to the cologne.
Of course, I’d already planned to be there tonight, courtside.
Brooklyn didn’t have to threaten me to be show up.
I arrived at the arena alone and quickly found my courtside seat.
Brooklyn took one look at me and shook his big-ass head.
Next to him, both Pen’s parents and Bri’s parents sat. I hugged the ladies and dapped the men.
We endured pregame antics and a solo before the players came onto the court.
Pen looked sexy as fuck like she always did.
I thought I’d never find a woman in a jersey fine as fuck.
Pen was that and more. She had her hair piled into a top knot, showing off all her beautiful skin and silky neck.
Her lips were plump and juicy like she’d applied balm on them before coming out.
When her eyes locked with mine, I knew this moment was necessary.
I wouldn’t have missed this night for anything.
She eased my way while going towards the players’ bench, questions dancing in her eyes.
“Show me what you got!” I said to her. The smile she gave me made my night worth it.
Win, lose, or draw, I was going to stick by Pen’s side.
PENELOPE
“Let’s go!” Fallen shouted, wrapping me in a hug that lifted me off my feet.
We weren’t cool to begin with, but having fought out the season with her, we were cool now.
The shot clock was at zero, the score settled.
We won! Me and my girls did it, capping off a crazy-ass season.
One that was historical for Coach, who stood off, embraced by her parents and sister.
We fought hard, each of us dogging it out to the end. Chicago gave us a run for our money, but we were determined to bring this win home for Naomi and Coach.
Back on my feet, I was enveloped by my parents.
“We’re so proud of you!” Daddy exclaimed.
Mama was crying happy tears. “You did that, Baby Girl!” She beamed.
All the happiness and excitement I felt for winning a ring was eclipsed by the man standing courtside, clapping for me.
I loved that Zoo didn’t force himself into my success.
He stood by, allowing me to bask in my accomplishments without trying to gain the spotlight for himself.
At the same time, he supported me and didn’t try to stifle me in any way.
If I needed him, he was in place, being whatever help he could.
He’d done all that without so much as kissing me.
He caught me staring and bit into his lip as if he knew I was thinking about them. Whatever happened tonight, I wanted to taste his lips before it was all said and done.
I went through the postgame ceremony and interviews with my heart in my throat.
The best part of my night came when I was crowned Finals MVP.
Everything felt surreal. I teared up several times but kept my composure, for the most part.
The one time I did really cry was when Naomi was mentioned.
My baby was still going to get her ring.
As much as she loved basketball, Mimi was in love with becoming a mother.
The locker room was a mad house. Champagne bottles were popped, tears were shared, and raucous screaming carried on for what felt like forever. Although I didn’t really want to, I agreed to meet the team at a pre-planned afterparty.
I walked out of the locker room, expecting to see Zoo, but he wasn’t there, nor was he waiting in the tunnel. A part of me almost worried until I saw Brooklyn walking my way.
“He’ll be at Boss,” he said, referencing the club the team was going to.
My relief was palpable.
Security led me to my car. Once inside, I dialed Mimi. She’d been waiting on my call as she answered on the first ring.
“Bittcchhh!” she shrieked.
“Aye, calm down,” Sin uttered from the background. “You scared the fuck outta me.”
I busted out laughing and screamed with her.
“Congratulations! I’m so proud of you! I’m getting ready now, so Sin and I can meet you at the club.”
Excited that Mimi was getting out, I grinned. “See you soon!”
It was late, nearing ten by the time I made it home, showered, changed, and pulled into club Boss.
I was escorted into the building, with clubgoers clapping for me.
I thanked them and kept my focus on the one person I was there to see.
Otherwise, I wasn’t staying long. I saw a few of my teammates in the center of the dancefloor, already lit, and acting a complete fool.
Zoo. He stood out in the crowd, wearing designer everything and looking like someone I needed to let curl my toes. He sauntered towards me, eyeing me up and down, causing my body to tingle in delight.