Page 11 of Defending the Post (The Complexity of Love #3)

Chapter Six

Playing Defense

Erin

I sat across from my favorite person and only family member I’m on speaking terms with, Uncle Maalik. He invited me to Abbott Steakhouse, and I wasn’t passing the opportunity to sit with him. My eyes scanned the menu, and many of the items were appealing.

The steakhouse bustled with people in the middle of the day.

Two women passed by us, and one almost bumped into her friend staring at him.

I snickered, but he kept his focus on me.

My uncle was a handsome middle-aged man at 6’3” with dark chocolate skin.

I can’t believe my former aunt Chelsea cheated on him. They appeared happy together.

“Do you see anything you want? Or have any questions?” he asked.

I continued to view the menu although I had made up my mind. “I’m going to keep it simple and go for a salad,” I said.

My uncle flagged down a server, giving her our order. I sipped my water and smiled at the flower centerpiece nestled in the gold vase. Simple things often made me happy because they’re overlooked but missed when they're gone.

“How have things been?” he asked.

It’s been a two-week rollercoaster, but I couldn’t tell him without an explanation.

“Busy, but I love it.”

“Your father is worried about you,” he said, and the air left my body. I rested in my seat, determined to avoid this conversation.

“Uncle Maalik, I know Daddy is the Pastor. Let’s drop the subject.”

We glared at each other, and judging from his expressionless face, he also knew.

“You’re right. Let’s find something legal to discuss,” he said.

“Yes, it would be wise.”

The same woman from earlier passed our table again, and I snickered.

“You should ask her out,” I murmured, but he didn’t agree; instead, he changed the subject.

“Do you plan to stay in California after your job is over? I have several rooms and a condo nearby you could use,” he said.

The server interrupted my sentence by delivering our order. I stuffed a piece of a roll in my mouth before I addressed my uncle’s question.

“Yes, I could have a possible job at Drexel. I met Anissa Shaw-Jefferies, and she was interested in my experience and portfolio,” I said.

My uncle straightened in his seat, and a slow, reminiscing smile adorned his face.

“Care to let me in on your warm smile?” I asked.

It’s as if the name jump started his energy. He perked up with admiration dancing in his eyes.

“We dated before she married her current crazy-ass husband,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes in confusion at this statement. Mr. Jefferies appeared to be sane to me, but Marquise...that’s a different subject.

“You met him?” Uncle Maalik asked as he cut into his steak.

“Yes, he was nice to me.”

Jealousy washed over his face before he bit down on his food. This was new, witnessing this side of my uncle. Anissa wasn’t a lightweight in the beauty department, and her wallet outstretched the men in her field. As much as I loved my uncle, I couldn’t see them together.

“Why do you call him crazy?” I asked.

Uncle Maalik shook his head, giving a disapproving stare.

“Let’s just say I almost had to let the glove box down.”

I covered my mouth at his statement before a chuckle left my mouth. Whatever Mr. Jefferies did, had to be out of the ordinary to push my uncle’s gentle soul.

“Her sons didn’t make things easy. They took overprotective to the next level,” he said.

Marquise, I could see crashing out. Malcolm was too reserved and laid back but he could be pulling the wool over my eyes being soft spoken. The vibration of my pocket drew my attention to my phone.I gave a light cackle once I viewed the screen.

Marquise

I’m bored. Go home.

Me

How is that my problem exactly?

Marquise

Erinnnnnnn.

I flipped my phone over and cackled at his response.

Marquise was driving the wheels of this friendship.

Sometimes, I wondered if it had the correct label with his demands.

He expected me to be available to him and answer his ridiculous ass questions about women.

The period conversation went too far last night.

When my phone vibrated again, I giggled without viewing the screen.

“Someone special,” Uncle Maalik inquired with a smirk.

I went to answer his question but found the same middle-aged woman glaring in our direction from the bar.

“A friend who doesn’t know how to be a friend,” I said, as a smile extended across my face.

Uncle Maalik paused to examine me before he sat back in his seat.

“Explain,” he pushed with a light but stern tone.

I sighed as I noticed his protective nature. With my phone dancing across the table, it didn’t aid in the matter. I asked for grace with my hand before I texted Marquise back.

Marquise

Helloooo.

Marquise

You probably out with your sugar daddy.

I grinned at his comment because it amused me.

Me

Sugar daddy? Grow up. We get money online nowadays.

The three bubbles came and left a few times as I flipped the phone over. My uncle’s face had stiffened, and in his arched brow, I saw my father.

“Uncle Maalik, he is a guy, but he’s never had a woman as a friend. I’m clear with my boundaries in this friendship,” I said.

His mouth tightened as if he tasted something sour, he didn’t want to release.

“Men and women being friends is nearly impossible. One person always gets emotionally attached, or he is pretending to be a friend with ulterior motives,” he said.

I sat back in my seat, dissecting my uncle’s words. Marquise was too blunt, too open and honest with me to have an ulterior motive. He did say we wanted me, but I dismissed it. My phone vibrated repeatedly, but I didn’t move to respond.

“How do I know the difference?” I asked.

“I think we know he isn’t trying to be your friend. But for argument’s sake, when a man changes on his own accord and resists boundaries, it’s a clear indicator. Ask yourself, would he blow up anyone else’s phone the way he’s doing yours?”

Uneasiness settled within me as I reflected on our short two-week friendship. Marquise was mean and demanding when we met. Judging from the baseline, I couldn’t tell if any change had occurred. To keep myself safe, I needed to reinforce my boundaries.

“Probably not, but in all fairness, he was difficult when we met. I already put him in his place,” I said.

Uncle Maalik leaned forward with a tight brow. “What do you mean—you have to tell him off?”

I rolled my eyes at his overreaction.

“Things were a little rocky, because he didn’t know how to express himself. He was not disrespectful, but we needed to identify that I am a friend and ally. I repeat, he was not disrespectful. He is a good person and friend,” I said.

Uncle Maalik sat back in his seat and sucked his teeth. When my phone vibrated again, I chuckled before I powered it off.

“Don’t run off telling your brother anything. By the way, he has a new number,” I said.

“Eldridge loves you, Erin. You are the only thing keeping him from falling completely into the dark. After your mother left, I agree he grew a little darker. Consider talking to him again,” he said.

I sipped my water as I weighed his words. Did I miss my daddy? Yes. But he scared me to death with his gun. I couldn’t believe he had a street name with bodies attached.

“I don’t know what to think,” I said.

We finished our lunch with laughter, and as I waited for my uncle, I approached the bar.

“He is a sports attorney, and he loves seafood,” I said to the woman and passed her Uncle Maalik’s number.

Marquise

“Oh shit!” Malcolm said between hard laughter.

Watching him lean over the bed holding his stomach added to my anger. Mid-conversation, Erin completely stopped texting me. I practically had to pull the information out of her about meeting her uncle. She wouldn’t budge on the name because I would’ve hit Ivey for the info.

“Bro, calm your hothead ass down. She is with her uncle. It’s rude to talk and eat,” he said.

I sucked my teeth and continued to text Erin. As my best friend, she should answer the phone when I text and call. During my treatment, we usually text each other but I didn’t bother when the time was up. Three hours for lunch was excessive, even for Erin’s unique eating ass.

Me

ERIN.

Me

What kind of friendship is this?

“Dude, relax. Your girlfriend gon’ call you back,” he said.

I scoffed at him calling Erin my girlfriend. The thought crossed my mind a few times until it came out during our conversation. Sexually, I wasn’t attracted to anyone else. She was the woman I wanted and apparently my dick was short-circuiting on anyone but Erin.

“You better stop playing before somebody snatches her up. Mom is tired of you slinging dick all over the county,” he said.

I ignored Malcolm, kicking his leg on the way out the door.

“Get your head in the game, Marquise. What the fuck?” Malcolm said, tapping my chest.

It was the second quarter, and I had three fouls and a tech. The only thing I wanted to bounce was Erin’s phone against this hardwood floor. Before the game, she couldn’t find her fucking phone.

“Alright,” I said as halftime neared.

Standing on the side of the foul line, I watched Donovan make his two shots. He’d been playing dirty the entire game because he knew I was in foul trouble.

We piled into the locker room to refuel and get ready for the second half. I found my seat next to Malcolm and searched for my phone.

Weirdo

You’re playing like shit. Hey, I bet on you.

Weirdo

Trust me, you don’t want me to pay up.

Weirdo

So, you gon’ let Donovan push you around.

Weirdo

Give Chauncy my number because he is playing better.

A smile inched its way onto my face.

“I know yo ass better play better. You heard from Erin, let’s go,” Malcolm said, as he stood over my shoulder reading my messages.

Peering up at him, I snorted at his comment. My game being off had nothing to do with Erin. I’m having an off game. Occasionally, it happens.

Me

Be ready to explain your absence tonight.

I powered my phone down to get myself in a better mood. This was the last game of our five-game road trip, and I’m homesick. I couldn’t care less about this game and wanted it to be over.

In the fourth quarter, I found my jump shot. Donovan couldn’t guard it, earning himself two fouls in the third and one this quarter. We both were playing with borrowed time being in foul trouble. With me having the hot hand, Coach called a play for me.

Our point guard dribbled the ball down the court as we moved into our positions. Rashad set a screen for me to get open, but Donovan broke through. With the shot clock winding down, I drove the ball up the middle, and he slapped my hand trying to defend it.

The ball went in as I hit the ground, and the whistle came behind it.

“Foul on number seven,” the referee said, and I smiled.

We had the lead, and their number one defender fouled out.

“Where were you?” I demanded an answer as I stretched across the bed.

“Marquise, stop playing with me. Especially after the way you played tonight. I had to curse you out to wake you up,” she said.

I dismissed her sentence because she hadn’t answered my question, and I asked twice. Instead of responding, I remained quiet, flipping through the channels and landing on USPN.

“Hellooo, earth to Marquise,” she said.

The only words I was interested in were answers to my question. We sat on the phone for an additional ten minutes, breathing before she hung up. I removed the phone from my ear to see my screensaver.

Weirdo

Do you want to grow up now?

I could’ve broken my phone by how hard I squeezed it.

Me

I asked you a question.

Weirdo

And I don’t have to answer to you, Marquise. We are friends.

Instead of texting back, I called, but she sent me to voicemail. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I counted to ten twice before I dialed again.

Weirdo

Stop calling me.

Me

Answer the phone.

Ignoring her incoming text, I called her again, and she didn’t hesitate to send me to voicemail. The rejection slapped me in the face with her refusal to comply. I shook my head a few times, accepting her answer. She didn’t want to talk, and I wasn’t going to force her to.

Erin wanted this cat and mouse situation, and I wasn’t going to play along.

I toggled over to my messages and responded to Claudia’s fine ass.

She was a pageant model, beautiful with her flawless brown skin and fat ass.

Claudia had an innocent face, but she was a certified freak.

She wanted me in every hole in her body.

I wanted to text Claudia, but I went back to Erin’s thread.

Me

Erin

My heart raced as delivered appeared on the screen but no three dots.

Me

Why did you ignore me?

Me

Erin

Me

Erin

The three dots came and left at least four times before a message came through.

Weirdo

You don’t get to be disrespectful to me.

Me

Answer the phone.

Weirdo

Try it again. I respect you, and you will respect me.

I stood on my feet and walked onto the balcony to calm myself down. My emotions were everywhere, including aroused, mad, and panicked. I rolled my shoulders back and texted her again.

Me

Erin baby, I’m sorry. Can you please answer the phone for me?

Weirdo

Baby? Don’t sweet-talk me, Marquise.

Me

Erin, can I please call you?

She made me wait five minutes before she attempted to answer me back. The more I stared at the phone, I asked myself if I was really begging a woman to talk to me.

Weirdo

Yes, you can call.

My thirsty ass hit the call button, and she answered.

“Are you done being a diva?” she asked, as I stepped back inside my room. Placing my hand behind my head, I rested on the pillow.

“All you had to do was answer my question,” I said.

“I will hang this phone up and block you, Marquise. We are friends. I don’t have to tell you anything,” she said.

“Erin, I’ll reserve my answer for when I see you tomorrow,” I said.

“And you will get the same response, Marquise,” she bit back, and my heart raced.

I re-adjusted myself in the hard ass hotel bed. If the Basketball League would allow it, I would hop on Mom’s jet and go home tonight.

“Are we gaming?” she asked again.

My body was tired from the game, but I wanted her attention.

“No, I would prefer we talked,” I said.

“Until you fall asleep on me,” she said, and I cackled.

One time, I slipped up and dozed off, and she won’t allow me to live it down. The softness of her voice practically rocked me to sleep. Erin cackling on the other end reintroduced my smile.