Lance
It wasfunny how quickly the narrative changed once we won two games in a row.
After starting the regular season with back-to-back losses against New Orleans and Seattle, the media couldn’t wait to talk shit about how the Skyhawks front office had spent way too much money on me and Hunter’s contracts, how our coaches needed to be concerned about their jobs, and how our current starting quarterback didn’t have the ability to lead us to any sort of postseason playwhich… I actually didn’t completely disagree with them on that since he still hadn’t been playing the way we needed him to. But now that we’d gotten the job done twice at home, we were being talked about as a serious contender who’d just been dealt a tough road schedule, the pivot amusing the hell out of me since it wasn’t like they’d cared to even mention that part before.
The business was the business though. And after years of playing professionally, I understood that “hot takes” would forever be a part of it, making it my responsibility to block out all the noise, both good and bad. It was also my responsibility as a veteran on the team to encourage the young guys to do the same which was exactly why I walked into the players’ lounge and changed the channel from the sports debate show a group of them were huddled around the television watching to something more neutral.
While a few groaned in confusion, one of the rookies took the role as spokesman when he said, “Aye, man! I was watchin’ that!”
“Well you need to be watching the film from last game,” I responded. “Your missed block in the third quarter could’ve cost our QB his season if he hadn’t gotten down fast enough.”
As the person who made a living delivering those kinds of hits, I knew just how close QB1 had come to getting his shit rocked thanks to the rookie not doing his job. And considering all it took was a play like that going wrong to change the energy of the entire game -and furthermore, the entire season- his ass should’ve been thanking God instead of chuckling as he muttered,“Shit, the way he’s been playin’, it wouldn’t have been the worst thing…”
“Yo, is this shit a game to you?” I asked, scowling as I got in his face to remind him, “We’re talkin’ about another man’s livelihood. How he feeds his fuckin’ family, bro. As his teammate,his brother, that ain’t somethin’ you should ever joke about.”
Sure, I might’ve had my feelings about who should be starting at quarterback. But wishing injury on somebody,even jokingly, was never cool under any circumstances. And that shit was especially terrible coming from one of the mothafuckas the QB was supposed to be able to trust to protect him, that thought only making me madder as ol’ boy nervously rattled, “I was just… Imean…”
“Nah, I ain’t tryna hear it, man,” I interrupted. “Be grateful they didn’t cut your ass for that shit, and do what you need to do to make sure it never happens again, aight?”
“Yeah, yeah. I hear you, boss,” he answered with a nod before extending his hand to dap me up. And after he pulled me in for a shoulder hug, we all headed to the locker room to get ready for our last real practice of the week that was thankfully a short one since I had a few things I needed to do before we traveled to Jacksonville for Sunday’s game.
First, there were the tables full of team merch that I had to sign for the organization. Then, there was my weekly massage with the therapist who was actually a friend of my moms and had been with me since my rookie season. After that, I had an appointment with my barber who came through the crib to get me right for game day. And finally, I had to swing by the community center to pick up my lil’ homie, Ahmad, so that we could head to Just Kickin’ It for the mini-shopping spree Yani had suggested a while back, that trip serving as a two-for-one since not only would I be able to hook my guy up with some fresh kicks, but I’d also be able to see Yani’s fine ass.
It was honestly wild how quickly we’d gone from not speaking to each other at all to damn near being in a relationship, Yani’s request for us to take our time the only thing keeping me from taking it all the way there. But really, all the fundamental pieces were already in place, making me more comfortable with the pace we were going at since it didn’t feel like I was missing anything.
I mean, we were spending time together like a couple, fucking like a couple, staying in constant communication like couples did. And most importantly, we were catching up on lost time and really getting to know the current versions of each other, grown woman Yani something like my favorite since she was basically the same girl I remembered times a thousand.
Competitive as hell.
Stayed with a fresh pair of kicks on her feet.
Never really afraid to speak her mind, and generally lived somewhere between silly and sarcastic...
Of course, there was some new shit too like her effortless sex appeal and the shit she did on the dick that drove a nigga crazy. But those two things only added to who she’d always been to me before we fell out, the thought making me realize we’d yet to really have a conversation about that.
Did we still need to though?
I mean, we were in a much better place now even without doing so, so I honestly wasn’t sure if it was worth it to bring it up. Then again, considering the way it had kept us apart for so long, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to just leave my questions unanswered forever, the pros and cons weighing on me as I finally pulled up to the community center to grab Ahmad.
Since I’d only been in contact with his mother about my plans, the whole thing was still a surprise to the lanky teenager who saw my Lamborghini parked out front and immediately brought his fist to his mouth in excitement, his reaction to the suicide doors making me laugh as we both hopped in. And once I took off towards Just Kickin’ It, he couldn’t wait to get the whole thing on his Snapchat, only further amusing me since I was confident I would’ve been on the same shit at his age.
Honestly, his reaction to just being able to ride in my car only had me more excited for the actual surprise by the time we made it to the store’s parking lot, Ahmad already scoping the area as I asked, “You know what we doin’ here?”
“Lemme guess. You need my expert advice on what shoes you should cop next, right?”
“Maybe,” I answered with a nod as I dug into my pocket for the envelope with his name on it. Then I handed it his way while telling him, “But I also want you to get a lil’ somethin’ for yourself. On me.”
Confusedly, he accepted the envelope and then peeked inside to discover one thousand dollars in cash, his eyes going wide as he looked back up at me to ask, “Yo, you serious?”
“Yeah, man,” I answered with a smile. “Spend every dollar. Or don’t. It’s up to you.”
Like he couldn’t believe it was real, he pulled the money out for a closer look, his examination making me chuckle until he looked my way with the most concerned expression and asked, “Man, it ain’t no camera crew waiting on us in here, is it?”
“Nah, bro,” I responded, lowkey hating that that was even a question as I explained, “I just really admire your respect for the culture and wanted to do somethin’ nice for you. You know, give you somethin’ of your own to flex about on Snap.”
Smirking, his eyes went back down to the cash that he fanned out, giving it a little shake before he told me, “I’ll pay you back when I get the money, I promise.”
“I don’t need your money, Ahmad,” I assured him. “All I need is for you to continue being the bright, responsible, charismatic kid that you are, aight?”