Chapter 12
PENELOPE
"Baby, you've been sitting in the same spot for over an hour."
Startled, I jumped a little.
“Oh, uhm... You know this sports drink deal has me stressed." I had to come up with something quick. Zoo had been on me like a hawk for the past few weeks.
"Why? They’re offering you every dime you deserve."
"It's not about the money."
Possibly being pregnant had me thinking differently.
About a week ago, I had my period, but it was weird.
Weird like, it lasted all of one day, and it was light.
That was the first alarming thing. Then came this steady nausea that had been plaguing me the last couple of days.
Since then, my priorities had changed. I hadn't told Zoo yet, and neither had I taken a test. For the time being, I was going to wait. For what? I had no answer.
Endorsements meant more time away from home, more energy into something I wasn't fully vested in. I wanted to play basketball, finish school, and... enjoy my family. Zoo and I weren't engaged or anything, but in my mind, he was my last.
"Whatever you wanna do, you know I support. If you wanna walk away from the deal, do it. Contemplating it tells me you're not fully committed to wanting to proceed with it."
"Exactly. Shouldn't I jump on the opportunity? Most female athletes would kill for this chance."Zoo came and squatted in front of me. My hands cupped his cheeks and brought his lips to mine for a quick peck.
"Remember this: Just because it's a wonderful opportunity, doesn't mean it's wonderful for you. If you have ya reservations, then the best thing to do is speak up, before you end up in a deal you're not really feeling."
Smiling, I said, "My man is so intelligent. I love that about you."
He grinned. "I know. Why don’t you get dressed, so I can take you for some steak. I would cook but a nigga ready to eat like right now.”
He had me at steak. I jumped up and went into the closet to get dressed with him laughing behind me. Thirty minutes later, we were pulling into the parking lot. All was well until we stepped foot inside of the restaurant. The smell had me dizzy on my feet.
“You good, Baby?” Zoo had my hand in his and tugged me closer when I stumbled.
“Yeah,” I lied. “These shoes…” That’s all I could blame it on. I was in a pair of four-inch strappy sandals, so he didn’t question me any further.
As the hostess led us to a table, I struggled to settle the bubbling in my stomach. It didn’t help that I tasted straight oil in my mouth—the oil that’s left after ground beef. I damn near gagged.
We were seated and requested our drinks. Seconds later, the bile swirling in my throat threatened to surface.
“Uhm, Baby. I’m gonna run to the restroom.” I didn’t even give Zoo a chance to assist me out of my chair before I hauled ass toward the restroom. The first open stall was mine. I ran into it and emptied the contents of my stomach.
The fuck? Weak, I hung my head and palmed the stalls walls, trying to keep myself from falling on this nasty floor. Just glancing down at the toilet had me throwing up again. The porcelain was clean, but the fact that some other woman’s ass had been on it had me vomiting yet again.
Ugh! I’m never eating here again! This little restroom run ruined it for me, and this was my favorite steak joint.
Once I’d gathered myself, I flushed the toilet, came out of the stall, and mugged the woman standing at the sink staring at me through the mirror.
Hopefully, she didn’t recognize me. The last thing I needed was someone spreading shit about me to the newspapers.
I’d barely dodged the whole Zoo being shot incident, and I wasn’t trying to be in the news for anything else other than basketball.
Rummaging through my bag, I located a travel-size bottle of Listerine that I carried whenever I went out to eat. Swigging the whole bottle, I swished it until my whole mouth screamed for release.
“Are you okay?” the lady asked. I gave her a death stare that had her walking her creepy ass out of the restroom.
I cut the water on and splashed my face a few times, hoping it added some color back to my skin. It appeared as though I’d been drained of a few years in just an instant. Pulling myself together, I made peace with the woman looking back at me.
“Girl, just take the damn test. Zoo won’t be upset, you won’t be upset. Just get it over with. You don’t need another damn sign.”
Penelope London. Pregnant. My mind screamed.
Gripping a wad of paper towels, I left the restroom. Immediately, fire surge through me at the sight of some woman in Zoo’s face. He was smart enough not to be smiling at her or anything, but he should’ve told that bitch to scram the second she approached him.
How crazy do you sound? You don’t even know what they are talking about.
Fuck what they were talking about!
Zoo saw me coming and pointed my way. The woman glanced my way, briefly smiled, then hustled off as I approached. I started to follow her ass, but Zoo grabbed my hand and helped me back in my seat.
"Leave it to you to be over here flirting and I wasn't gone fifteen minutes."
His face balled up. "I wasn't flirtin’ with no-damn-body."
"Okay"—I shrugged—"if a nigga was smiling in my face—”
"Don't put that shit in my head," he interrupted.
"Like I was saying," I overtalked him, "you would be ready to shoot the building up."
"I would shoot the building up," he clarified. "Make no mistake about it, I don’t play like that.” His ass shot me a lopsided smile.
"This shit isn’t gonna work,” I mumbled, irritated.
"What won't work?" Zoo's voice escalated, drawing attention.
"Us," I answered. Tears formed for no reason at all.
"Shawty"—he chuckled—"I wasn't even doing shit. That bitch was asking about this chain, the chain wit’ yo fuckin name on it," he explained. ‘Oh, that’s so sweet, you’re wearing a chain with your girl’s name on it.’" He made his voice high pitched.
I hid a smile ‘cause I wasn't about to laugh at his ass.
"Stop calling people bitches, Zoo."
"Now you’re defending her ass after you just accused me of flirtin’ with her?"
"No," I said, "but I'm not about to be around here looking stupid. If it's anything in you that wants to put your dick in another woman, spare me." I was on one, feeling the old Penelope resurface.
In an instant, Zoo was out of his chair and kneeling on the side of my chair. His hands enveloped my face, bringing me to look at him.
"I only wanna put my dick in you."
I smacked my teeth and tried to turn my head away from his lips, but he held fast.
"I wasn't flirting. I'm not that nigga. You're the first woman I ever even considered flirting with, and I'd still do that shit again. You got me outchea wearin’ yo’ uglass name around my neck.
If that doesn't tell you I'm ten toes down for you, then what is it gon' take?
You want me to cry? ‘Cause I'll cry." This nigga started sniffling. By now, too many eyes were on us.
"Zoo"—I sighed—"get yo’ ass off these people’s floor."
"Not until you tell me you trust me and believe in me."
"Zeus.”
"Not until you say it.”
"Okay, damn! I trust you, okay?"
"And believe in me," he coached.
"And believe in you."
He beamed with joy.
"Now get yo’ ass off these people's floor. I swear you have no home training. And you wonder why you got that damn appointment card."
He kissed the sarcasm right off my lips, then grilled me in reference to the psych appointment.
“Oh, see now I take my fuckin’ kiss back.” He maneuvered from the floor and back into his chair.
I would’ve laughed, but my stomach started rolling again. Thinking I had to make another run to the restroom, I scooted my chair back.
“What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re about to pass out.” Zoo was at my side again.
“The food smells are making me a little sick,” I confessed.
His eyebrows snatched together. “Food smells are makin’ you sick?”
“Yes,” I moaned, feeling light-headed. “Baby, can we just go home? I think I just need to get some water and lay down.”
He asked no questions as he quickly helped me to my feet. When we passed the waitress, he informed her that we were leaving.
In the car, Zoo massaged my neck as he drove home. Him being so quiet and attentive removed another layer of the man I loved more and more each day.
“I think I’m pregnant,” I uttered.
ZOO
Stunned, I slammed on breaks in the middle of traffic. Cars sped past, laying on their horns.
"What?" I practically shouted, causing Pen to jump. "And yo' ass was out there playin' ball all rough the other day?"
"I wasn't, Zoo. At the time, I didn't feel like this."
“But you suspected, though?”
Reluctantly, I nodded. “Baby, but I would never do anything to hurt our child if I am pregnant. Women workout and enjoy sports while pregnant all the time. Don’t act like you think I’d harm a growing baby.”
Immediately, I calmed down, feeling like an asshole.
Easing off the break, I flowed with traffic as Pen's confession sent my heart racing.I’d waited for this day since having her, and now it was here.
"We're goin' to the doctor."
PJ didn't protest as I merged through lanes to get to an exit. The nearest urgent care was three minutes up the road. I swung into the parking lot, found a space, and parked. In minutes, I had Pen out of the car and carried her inside.
"Can we help you, Sir?" a dude sitting at the check-in desk asked.
"My girl needs to see a doctor. We think she's pregnant."
"Okay, I'll need her license and insurance card."
I went to the sparsely packed small lobby and deposited Pen in one of the chairs. Kissing her forehead, I said, "I'll be right back."
Pen's information was in her purse, which I had to go get out of the car. Once back inside, I gave the dude what he needed then went back to my lady. I scooped her up, sat down, and held her to my chest. Her colorless skin had me concerned like hell.