Page 7 of Anything Goes

“Neither do I. So, can we at least agree to be friends while we’re out here on this field? If you want to hate me when you get home that’s fine.”

“I don’t hate you, Law. I just—”

“No need to explain. I already know.”

His hand rested on my cheek, and my eyes slowly closed. I couldn’t deny the pleasure I received from his touch. So many emotions. So many memories. Memories that I pretended to forget whenever he was around. But I would never forget. The strength that rested behind his touch was massive and it covered my heart. He was more than just a sexual partner. He was a lover…a protector. So many nights, we sat up talking about our past hurts, our hopes, our dreams.

They were conversations that shouldn’t have been happening. But they were…and it was so effortless.

“You know I still care about you, right?” I whispered.

“I do, which makes this even harder to accept…but I don’t have a choice.”

“Law—”

“On the field, it’s Coach Montgomery,” he snapped, stepping away from me.

I jerked my head back, thrown off by his correction. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

I watched as he strolled away, turned on by his attempt to put me in my place. Just as I was about to go after him, my cell went off.

The second the ringtone settled in my mind, I felt my entire body tense up.

What the hell does he want?

For a moment, I just stood in place staring at my phone. I didn’t have time for the bullshit. But if I didn’t answer, he would only keep calling.

Sucking my teeth, I answered the phone. “How the hell can I help you, Latrell?”

“For starters, you can stop answering the phone like that.”

“I’m grown. I can answer however I want to,” I said. “Now, why are you on my phone? We have nothing to talk about.”

“You’re still mad at me, I see.”

“You’re damn right I am. Did you think that I wouldn’t be?”

“Look, I don't know what Draya told you, but we aren't together. We're just cool.”

Stepping further away from the field, I spoke through clenched teeth. “I don’t give a fuck about what the two of you are. The trick shouldn’t be messaging me on social media. How did she even know how to find me?”

“I talk about you all of the time. You’re my daughter’s mother.”

“Mmhmm, well, the two of you must be mighty close if you’re sitting around telling her that much about me.”

“It’s not like that. You know I’m still in love with you, Alauni.”

“Yeah, and I wish you would stop saying that. I already told you that I was done. We haven’t been together for a long time. There’s a reason for that. I’m not changing my mind. Especially not now. Did you know that this hoe felt the need to tell me that she was pregnant?”

“Come on now,” he groaned. “You know damn well that’s a lie.”

“No, I don’t know shit. I don’t even know you.”

“Don’t say that, Alauni. You do know me. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

Laughing hysterically, I said, “No, fool, I knew a nigga that looked like you. You, my friend, are a bitch ass duplicate. Good day.” Rolling my eyes, I quickly ended the call. It was just like Latrell to try to play me like I was an idiot. But I was far from it. No matter what he tried to tell me, I knew he was full of shit. It was in his pathetic ass DNA.