Page 111 of Only for Me

“You know she doesn’t care. All she wants is your attention.”

“Just like her mother.” I winked and lowered to get my sit ups in. Avi crawled right to me so I lifted her and made her a part of my set, extending her in the air when I lowered and bringing her down for kisses when I sat up.

“I don’t want your attention; you want mine.” She cut her eyes my way right before her phone vibrated with a call. I chuckled and focused on counting my reps, half listening to her call.

“Makari Phoenix. Um, yes.” Her eyes darted to me. “No, that will probably work. I have to look at my schedule. No, I don’t mind.”

She frowned, watching me, and her eyes traveled down my chest then further south before they darted back up to my face.

“Would it be okay if I called you back later today? Okay, perfect. Thank you.”

“Your mommy is thirst trapping, pretty girl.” Avi giggled when I brought her to me and kissed her tummy while Makari grilled the hell out of me then shot me a bird.

“Sorry, yeah, I’m here. I can let you know in a few. I’m in the gym right now. Yes, I will. Thank you.”

She ended the call and narrowed her eyes on me. “Are you trying to make me look bad?”

I laughed, focusing on Avi as I finished out the last of my rep. “How am I trying to make you look bad?”

“By distracting me while one of the wives was inviting me to a brunch thing.”

“How you gonna put that on me when I’m in here minding my business and you’re in here thirst trapping?”

“The trap shouldn’t be so thirsty then.” She shrugged and smiled.

“Which one?”

“Zina Williams.”

“Oh aight, Mo is cool.”

“Mo?” She frowned.

“Moses. That’s her dude but I don’t think they’re married. When?”

“Um, next Saturday. You’ll be at training and I’ll have Avi so…”

“You know you’re going to have to deal with them at some point. That comes with this.”

“I already know Shiya and she’s enough. I don’t necessarily have to be in that crowd. I can just come to the games without all that. I’m not a wife…”

“You’re with me though and you’re my daughter’s mother.” I sat up and put Avi down. She crawled right to Makari and climbed into her lap and up her chest. “The Sharks are a family. They take that seriously, so that means they’ll expect you to be a part of that.”

“They don’t really fuck with me like that. I’ve seen some of them on the posts about us making statements. They already have their opinions about me, and not that I care one way or another, but I’m not about to kiss anybody’s ass to be a part of a fake ass clique.”

I nodded. “I’m not asking you to. I expect you to always be you, and if anything, they’re gonna be kissing your ass. Those that matter will be down with you, those that don’t fuck ’em.”

“You’ll be on the field, you don’t have to deal with it and I’m just the woman that trapped you with a baby.”

“Bruh, don’t start with that shit. I’m deadass. Fuck their opinions, but I can damn sure make you a wife if that will make you feel better.”

I said that shit so smoothly and unbothered that I almost fucking laughed at how much I meant it.

“I don’t want a ring because you think I need it to survive those childish ass women.”

“Good because if I make you my wife, it damn sure won’t be to appease any of them. Everything we do is about us, Kari. How I feel, what I want, what you need, so relax all that. The option is there.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She grinned and looked me over. When I stood, letting her eyes linger, I did a dick adjustment.