#FREE READ Sunday! Crossroad…a Butterfly Memoir Mini- Chapter 4
Welcome back!
So, it seems Ebony is settling in at Zoo Atlanta and looking forward to learning more about the Panda Breeding Program. Her focus is on the animals, but someone has got his eye set on her. How will she handle it and the mixed feeling of uncertainty she’s having about what path she and Brian will be taking upon her return home? Only time will tell…
In the meantime, it’s time to catch up with Trevon….
*Just tuning in? Catch up by following these links to the previous chapters!*
Previous Chapters:
Chapter 4
Trevon
“Alex, throw the ball!”
I forced myself to groan instead of curse. The last thing I needed was for any of the parents of the kids I worked with to hear that Coach Campbell cursed them out during practice.
I gestured for the young man to come to the sideline.
“Alex,” I put a hand on his shoulder to get his full attention. “Teamwork is all about the team.”
“But coach─”
I put up a finger. “Listen,”
His mouth shut as he rolled his eyes.
“You can grandstand on your own time. We have plays to run through before the next game. This play needs you to pass the ball to Geoffrey─”
“Coach, Geoffrey dunno know how to─”
I clamped my teeth together and inhaled, praying for patience. “This isn’t the NBA, Alex. How is Geoffrey going to learn if you don’t show him? You’re the team’s leader…so lead.”
Alex hung his head and sighed. “Fine. I’ll pass da─”
I shot him a look.
He grimaced. “…the ball,” he finished.
“Better. You’ll learn proper English if it’s the last thing I do. Now, get back in there and show your team how it’s done!”
I shook my head as Alex rejoined the guys on the floor. He reminded me of myself at his age. Talented with big dreams and arrogant as hell.
Coaching youth basketball in my spare time was the closest I would ever get to the NBA. But, man, I’d been close. I’d gone to college on a basketball scholarship and had the eye of scouts during my career. That is until I got injured.
“Yo, Tre, what up?”
“Andre!” I acknowledged my friend as he walked towards the the bench. “We’ll be done in ten minutes.”
“No problem.” He set his gym bag down and joined me on the bleachers.
“Is your brother meeting us today?”
Andre pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I don’t know. He hit me up yesterday, saying he was having problems with his girl.”
I snorted. “Which one?”
Andre shook his head. “His main one. I keep telling him he needs to stop yanking that woman’s chain. She’s too good to be treated like that. Hard working, smart, sexy…that woman’s got a job with benefits, too.”
My attention went to the boys as they worked out the moves for the play. They were getting better. “Watch it, Andre. Sharice is a bit touchy about that wandering eye thing.”
He chuckled. “I know. Even though I tell her she’s sexy all the time.” A wry smile spread across his face.
“Still sexy while carrying your baby, huh?”
“Oh yeah.”
I shook my head. “I’m guessing this is because you weren’t with Kim when she had Ashanti.”
“Maybe. Mostly it’s because I’m in love with my wife. Besides being there every day, watching her tummy grow because of me…” He stopped talking. “What?”
My hand was on my face, rubbing my eyelids in an effort to destroy the unwanted image of his wife’s exposed and very pregnant belly. “TMI, man, TMI.”
Andre chuckled. “Whatever, man. Get married, start a family and you’ll understand.”
“Not about to happen. I’m in no rush to join that club.”
Andre shrugged. “Suit yourself, but believe me, that player action is going to get old one day. Mark my words.”
I pursed my lips. “Not for me.”
Andre’s phone chimbed an incoming text. He read, then replied. “Looks like it’s just you and me. Malik says he’s got to live up to his promise so he can get out of the dog house.”
I acknowledged Andre’s comment before blowing my whistle. “Run that play again. Good work Alex!” I clapped my hands. My attention went back to my friend. “Is Malik still engaged?”
“Yep, has been for over a year now.”
“Damn. If he’s into this woman, what’s the holdup?”
“The hell if I know. I try to stay out of his mess. He’s my brother and all, but that doesn’t mean I support his shit. It’s worse, though, because his woman is a friend of Sharice. Women talk, which means, whether I like it or not, I get dragged into the chaos of his relationship issues.”
“Ouch. Sucks to be you.”
“Tell me about it.”
“How the hell did Malik get mixed up with a family friend?”
“They met at our wedding. Long story short, she’s too close to the family to be getting screwed. If he doesn’t get his shit together soon, we’re all going to be pulled into this mess.”
I laughed and put my hands up. “Not me, I don’t even know who she is.”
“Well, be glad, because I don’t have an out. I’m a blood relative to the asshole.”
“Yep, really sucks to be you.” The alarm on my phone signaled the end of practice. I blew the whistle again and gestured for the guys to bring it in. “Alright, not bad. Good job working together as a team. You’re getting better and better every week. Everyone, work on those plays in your spare time. I expect you to be able to run it without an issue next week.” I clapped my hands and stood. “Go hydrate, hit the showers, and don’t drag this time. A lot of your mommas called me last week, complaining about you taking too long to get outside after practice.” Beside me, Andre snorted. I waited until the guys disappeared into the dressing room. “Hey, you laugh, but I’m serious. A lot of these women are single and looking for a male rolemodel. I’ve been invited over for dinner one too many times.”
Andre continued to laugh as he jogged across the gymnasium to retrieve a basketball, dribbled, then shot from where he stood at the half court line. All net.
“So, three games to twenty-one? Winner pays for drinks?”
“You’re on.” I pulled my whistle over my head and set it on my gym bag. Coaching time was over, now it was all about me.
I may not have been able to make it to the NBA, but that didn’t mean I had lost my skills.
An hour later we were on game three when Andre’s phone rang. “Time out, that’s Sharice.” He jogged over to where it sat.
I walked over to my bag and pulled out a towel, wiped the sweat off my face. “You have a special ringtone for her?” I chuckled. “Since when?”
“Since she’s gotten closer to her due date.” He snatched the phone up and answered. His eyes widened. “Are you sure?” His movements became frantic as he grabbed his water bottle and fumbled with the zipper of his gym bag before dropping the phone. “Shit! Baby, I’m sorry, I dropped my phone. Okay, how far apart are they?”
My brow went up as I watched my friend lose all sense of coordination.
“I’m on the way!” He disconnected and stared at me.
“Everything alright?”
“No…yes. I’m going to be a dad! Again! Sharice is going into labor. I’ve got to go!”
“Ah man, congratulations!” I patted Andre on the back and laughed at his expression. A mixture of excitement and worry was on his face.
Even though he had one child already, he was not there to witness the birth of his daughter. Back then, he’d been a kid, really, a senior in high school. The grandmother of his baby didn’t want him anywhere near the hospital. It pained him that he’d been unable to witness his daughter’s birth.
He swore to me that this time he would be there, one hundred percent.
“Be careful, Dre. Don’t get a speeding ticket or else you’re going to piss off Sharice.”
“By the time she goes into full blown labor she’s already going to be pissed off. Here,” he dug into his wallet, retrieved some bills, and shoved them into my hands, “I was losing anyway. Have a few rounds on me. I’ll call you later and let you know how she is.”
I laughed and shoved the money in my pocket. “I’ll be listening out for the phone. Good luck, man.”
Andre ran out of the gym, which left me alone with no plans.
Then again, now that I had a pocket of free cash, I might as well go get that drink.
I shot a few more hoops, then grabbed the remaining balls left over after practice from around the gym, and settled them back on the ball cart.
Home, hot shower, clean clothes, and quick shave, then hit a bar that was close to my condo. Midtown was a hot spot for art and bars. In fact, there was one I liked to frequent within walking distance from where I lived.
A few drinks would be a great way to unwind for the night. And if I was lucky, I wouldn’t spend the evening alone.
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Chapter 5, coming next Sunday!
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