ARMAND
“This has been an interesting season for you, Armand, and now the Cyclones are out of the playoffs. Detroit is a favorite to win the conference championship. Do you feel the trade ruined your chances at a ring?” this nerdy looking dude asked. I wasn’t even sure what network or website he was from. Honestly, I was out of practice when it came to this stuff. I couldn’t even remember how many times I got in trouble with teams for refusing to do press. It really was a miracle I was still in the league.
Hands on my hips and sweat pasting my jersey to my back, I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good with the trade. The Cyclones is a solid team full of some of the best players in the league. This just wasn’t our year.”
Dude looked shocked as fuck, so I smiled and added, “We did our best, all of us, and next season, we’ll do even better.”
“Uh…thanks, Armand.”
With a smile on my face, I nodded. “No problem, man.”
I was in the locker room, the results of a tough game settling into my joints and muscles as I pulled my jersey over my head, trying to decide if I was going to shower here or at home. Ella was in Greece, so I didn’t see the point in doing it here. I missed her, and she’d only been gone a couple days.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, trying to summon the energy to even stand up. I’d planned to skip the cryo room, but I was rethinking that decision.
“Damn, what happened to your back, Daniels?” I opened my eyes and turned to see Drayveon Walker grinning at me as he added, “You been tearing that thang up, huh? Back all red and shit.”
Other teammates joined in, including McClain, which felt awkward, but dude was funny. I could admit that.
“Damn, what she do to you? It don’t look like regular fingernails. You messing around with a werewolf?” Leland quipped. These niggas were literally gathered around me staring at my back. It was candle wax, but I wasn’t about to tell them that. Ella had dropped that shit all over my back, sucked my dick until I was delirious, and rode me to nirvana the night before she left for Greece.
Damn, I really, really missed her.
Grinning, I said, “Man, fuck y’all,” as I stood and headed to the cryo room with these dudes still roasting me as I left.
ELLA
Me: What are you doing?
Him: Not shit, sir. Missing you. Be glad when you come home.
I smiled.
Me: You at my place or yours?
Him: Mine, sir.
Me: Why? You have a key to mine. You can use it. You forgot the gate and alarm codes?
Him: No. just wouldn’t feel right to be there without you, sir.
Me: Sorry you guys lost but I’m proud of how you handled that interview. Super proud.
Him: Thanks. You saw that?
Him: I mean, you saw that, sir?
I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
Me: I did. I watched it online. Hey, I miss you, too.
Him: You do, sir?
Me: Yes. Very much.
I waited a few seconds before adding: So the season is over for you now?
Him: Yes, sir. I’m kinda glad about it. I’m tired as shit, sir.
Me: I know you are. Have you ever been to the Maldives?
Him: Huh? Nah, I can’t even spell that shit.
Now, I was laughing.
Me: You just read it in my text!
Him: Oh right.
Me: Meet me in the Maldives, Armand.
Him: When, sir?