7. Brittish Abernathy
All throughout AJ’s practice, if my eyes weren’t on him, they were on Nyle. I tried my hardest to ignore chatter about him. The other moms were absolutely swooning over him, and they had every right to, especially today.
His arms were on full display in the fitted, dry fit tank he wore, showing off how muscular and tattooed they were.
While they talked about how good he looked, I had the pleasure of knowing what those arms felt like wrapped around me.
Whenever they were, I felt calm and safe, something no man had made me feel in a long time.
Sweat glistened on Nyle’s body. His hair wasn’t in its usual bun.
It hung in a low, braided ponytail, one I assumed his sister had done for him.
The thought of it being any other woman sent a surge a jealousy through me.
I’d had the pleasure of running my hands through it.
His reaction was the reason I didn’t want any other woman to experience it outside of his sister.
Girl, get it together. You’re the one who said to only be friends.
The more I talked to Nyle, the more he changed my mind.
I was beginning to love his random video calls.
He’d do it at least once throughout the day, and I looked forward to it since the first time he’d done so.
We texted often, but we hadn’t seen one another since he popped up on me at my job three days ago.
I could tell the situation with his mother still bothered him, but he wasn’t showing it with the boys.
Practice ended, and I saw Asher pull up. He had an appointment during AJ’s practice, so I was surprised to see him come back when I agreed to take him home with me. With my arm around AJ’s shoulder, we walked over to Asher’s car.
“Hey, Asher. I didn’t think you’d be here,” I expressed just as AJ started poking me everywhere.
I slapped his hand and did the same to him.
It amazed me how big my baby was. At eleven, AJ was only two inches shorter than me at five feet two.
He loved reminding me that he’d be taller than me within a year, and I told him it was easy to be taller than me.
“I didn’t think I’d make it back on time, but the doctor was quick today. I had to get some bloodwork.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. You know Zaina stays on me about going to my yearly checkups. I’ve been going faithfully for the last three years.”
I snickered. “My girl doesn’t play with you.”
“At all, but it’s needed.” Asher opened his door and got out to help AJ put his stuff in the trunk. After AJ gave me love and promised to call me later, Asher stayed put in front of me.
“What’s on your mind, Asher?”
He nodded toward Nyle. “What’s up with you and Coach?”
“We’re friends. That’s all.”
“Zaina told me you left with him on her birthday night.”
“Oh, I’m going to get her. Not y’all pillow talking about me.” I found it amusing, but I knew it was all out of love. There was no animosity between any of us.
Asher chuckled and ran his hand over his smooth face. “You know how we do. He seems like a good man, for real. I love how he is with the boys. Just be careful.”
That was Asher’s way of telling me he still cared about me, and I respected that because the feeling was mutual. We both understood our life choices could affect AJ, and we simply wanted what was best for him.
“Oh, trust me. I am, which is why we’re only friends.”
“So, what y’all do when you left with him?”
I waved Asher off and started walking away. “Bye, Asher.”
“Just wait until I tell Zaina about this!”
His words hit my back as I headed back toward the field.
Usually, I would go straight to my car, but since I hadn’t seen Nyle in person in a few days, I wanted to check in with him.
Imagine my surprise when I found him leaned against the dugout, talking to one of the moms, Chyna, who had shown up to practice in what I assumed was the tightest clothing she had.
I mean, for it to be a kids’ practice, she left little to the imagination.
As quickly as I rounded the corner, I was faster turning on my heels. Nyle hadn’t seen me since his back was turned to me, but Chyna did.
“Hey, Britt! Did you need to talk to Coach?” she called out before I could even take my first step.
Nyle turned around and flashed me a smile as he walked away from her and stood in front of me with his hands in his pockets. “Hey, Pretty Lady. I was going to call you once I left.”
“Seems like you were occupied.”
He held his hand up and asked, “Can I?” I nodded, and he held my chin between his fingers. “I was simply doing what coaches do. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Nyle.”
“It seems that way.” He squeezed my chin and released me. “What are you about to get into?”
“Well, I was coming to check on you and see if you wanted to come over for dinner.”
“I’d love nothing more. Send me the time and address, and I’ll be there.”
“I will.”
“Do you need me to bring anything?”
I hunched my shoulders. “Just yourself. I can handle everything else.”
“So, you’ll be able to handle me when I get there?”
Leave it to Nyle to say something sexual. I rolled my eyes as I attempted to hide my smile and wagged my finger at him. “No. I didn’t say all that, Nyle. I meant food wise. I can handle that.”
“Mmm. I hear you. Just let me know if you change your mind, and I do need to bring something other than myself. I don’t mind at all.”
“I will. See you later.”
Briefly, I glanced over at Chyna whose expression had turned sour.
She glared at me, and when I waved at her, she smacked her lips.
If Nyle were my man, I would’ve tongued him down in front of her.
I almost did just to spite her, but I wasn’t even on that type of time.
All I was worried about was making sure Nyle was good.
At seven on the dot, Nyle arrived at my house.
Anxiously, I’d been watching the cameras for his arrival while I cooked.
In an attempt to calm my nerves, I texted Pilar and let her know what was going on.
That was a mistake because she started insinuating things she had no business speaking on.
I had to stop texting her back and work on regulating my nerves again.
Before I went to open the door for Nyle, I went to my bathroom to look myself over.
I’d showered and changed from earlier. My goal was to be comfortable but look cute, so I wore a matching set that was all black.
The shorts clung to my thighs, but they were long enough to not look inappropriate.
I paired it with my favorite fuzzy slippers and a matching silver earrings and necklace set that AJ had gotten me for Mother’s Day.
After I gave my golden curls a good fluff, I applied a thin layer of lip gloss just as the doorbell rang.
I left out the bathroom and went to let Nyle in.
When I opened the door, his scent wafted in, and I discreetly took a deep breath.
A man who smelled just as good as he looked was alright with me. Nyle fit that description perfectly.
“Hey, Pretty Lady. Thanks for having me.”
Pretty Lady.
The nickname was cute and old school, showing off the hidden old soul I believed Nyle was. With him being raised by his grandmother, it didn’t surprise me.
“Hey, Nyle. Come in. Dinner is almost done.”
I stepped to the side and allowed him entrance into my home. When I shut the door and turned around, he stood only inches from me. Goosebumps prickled my skin as he closed the distance between us.
With his lips extremely close to mine, he asked, “May I?”
My tongue parting his lips was my response, and it was right then I knew it was impossible for me to only be friends with him.
Anytime Nyle asked to touch or kiss me, the only response I gave was ‘yes.’ I craved that man’s touch like crazy, but I had been lying to myself about it.
In my mind, I tried to make it seem as if he didn’t drive me wild, but my heart and body said otherwise.
Our lips departed, and I missed his already. I held my hand out, and Nyle allowed me to lead him to my kitchen, where I poured each of us a glass of wine while I finished cooking.
As I took the cornbread out the oven, I questioned, “How are you?”
“I’m good, especially since I’m with you. Your house is nice as hell.”
“Thank you. I was extremely picky when it came to what I wanted, and my realtor did me justice finding almost everything.”
I set the cornbread on the stove to cool, grabbed my wineglass, and stood in front of Nyle.
Never breaking eye contact, we clinked glasses and sipped from them.
There was a question resting on the tip of my tongue that I was a little shy to ask, only because I had an inkling on where his manners stemmed from.
The last thing I wanted to do was trigger him, so I swallowed it with my wine and decided to visit it later.
“What’s on your mind, Brittish? I can tell from the way you’re looking at me that you have something you want to say.”
Well, damn. Why did he read me like that?
“It’s more like something I want to ask,” I admitted, tilting my head to the side.
Nyle leaned back in his chair and wet his lips. “I’m listening.”
“Why do you ask for permission to touch me?”
Silence lingered between us, and I immediately regretted asking that question. Nyle polished off the remainder of his wine before asking for more. I poured him a hefty glass before doing the same for myself.
I knew better than to ask. I mentally chastised myself as I watched Nyle. Behind his eyes, I could tell he was processing my words.
Guilt ate at me worse than termites to wood, so I took a gulp of my wine and apologized. “I’m sorry for asking, Nyle. You don’t have to explain. It’s just something I’ve been curious about. I think it’s extremely respectful of you to do so, so there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Don’t apologize, Brittish.” Nyle took another gulp of his wine and clicked his tongue. “Can I explain while we eat? I’m starving, and you have it smelling good up in here, but not as good as you.”