“You’re in better condition than everybody on the team.” August huffs a wry laugh. “Including me. You could play till you’re forty if you want.”
“The operative word being want.”
“Why wouldn’t you want?”
“There’s a lot more to life than ball. You know that, August.”
“Yeah, for sure, but I was hoping you’d help me win a ring before you hang up the ol’ gym bag.”
I chuckle and settle against the truck beside him. “I don’t know about that. I’ve missed a lot with Simone. This life is hard on families.”
“Yeah. I have to be really intentional about being present when I’m home since I’m gone so much.” He shakes his head. “Man, we had a great summer. So much time with Iris and Sarai. Iris had a great pregnancy.”
“You ready to be a dad again?” I ask.
“I guess. I’ve had Sarai since she was so small, she barely remembers anything before Iris and I were married.” He laughs. “Why? You got pro tips?”
“Shiiiiiiit.” I shake my head and offer a wry chuckle of my own. “I’m the last one handing out advice on fatherhood. I’m not exactly Simone’s favorite person right now.”
“How’d things go over the summer?”
“Okay. We were in family counseling while I was there. She’s still really struggling with the divorce. She thought we might get back together.”
“You?” August asks, his eyes wide and his brows up. “And Bridget? Get back together? Why would she think that?”
“She’s a kid and wants her life back.” I suck my teeth, disgusted with my ex. “And this Baller Bae show premiering soon won’t help. I’ve got a bad feeling about it. You know Bridget had the nerve to show up at Lotus’s job? Poking around and trying to scare her off.”
“Scare Lotus off?” August asks, his tone incredulous. “She obviously doesn’t know her. Lo doesn’t scare easily. I certainly wouldn’t cross her. And Simone’s not a fan?”
“Nope. Not at all.” I shrug and open the door to toss my gym bag in the back seat. “But she’ll have to get over that because Lotus isn’t going anywhere.”
“So details begin to emerge,” August says with some satisfaction. “You really are into her.”
“Like you haven’t known that since the day I first saw her in that hospital room.”
“True.” August’s grin is wide and teas
ing. “Bruh, she walked in and you were shook.”
I smile despite the ache in my chest. Shook? Over Lotus?
I still am.
34
Lotus
“You can do it!”
My throat is raw, but I force the words out one more time, praying that something will end my cousin’s agony soon.
“I can’t,” Iris say, tears running from the corners of her eyes. “I can’t, Lo.”
“Yes, you can.” I mop the sweat from her brow and hand her a cup of ice chips. “You will.”
“I want August.”
“I know, honey.” I glace at the clock on the wall. “He’s on his way.”