Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I looked over my shoulder at Davina, whose eyes were wide and worried. Then I looked at Mama and my sisters, who were clearly on edge and waiting for my reaction with bated breath.
All of them had chosen to live, despite their murky pasts. They no longer let those circumstances weigh them down. Instead, they carried them with them and found the joy day by day.
It was my turn to choose the same thing. Joy.
I closed the gap between me and my dad and instead of punching him, I hugged him. This wasn’t a hug of reminiscing, forgiveness, or even sorrow. It was a hug to let him know that I loved him—that I’d always love him—but that I’d never see him as the same man who taught me all my firsts.
There may have been a lot more meaning to it, but the best way to sum it up is to call it closure. This chapter of my life, where I carried all that sadness, rage, and guilt, was coming to an end. It was time to turn the page and start a new one.
My dad froze a moment before hugging me back and holding on tight. I heard him wheeze a bit, like the hug had given him so much comfort it hurt. He and I were about the same height, so it was an even hug, our heads over each other’s shoulders.
When he sniffled, I pulled away. “Just promise to keep working on yourself,” I said.
He nodded, swiping the tears off his cheeks. “I will. I promise.”
I scanned him one last time, then went to the car to get inside it. When I was on the main road and driving away from Mama’s house, Davina reached over the middle console and took my hand in hers.
“I’m proud of you, Deke.”
I glanced at her and smiled a little.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m proud of me too.”
SIXTY-EIGHT
DAVINA
When March rolled around, I drove to Atlanta with Mama, Abe, and a swirl of excitement. We had our Atlanta Ravens gear on, all of us wearing number seventeen as we walked toward the stadium.
This was the third time we attended one of Deke’s home games, and it was one of the last games before playoffs. The temperature was perfectly warm, and the spring air caressed my skin.
As soon as we checked in and took our courtside seats, I was bursting with energy. There was just something about coming to a basketball stadium—inhaling the scent of buttery popcorn and greasy pizza, the lively chatter as everyone took their seats and sat with drinks, sipping and laughing. The sight of the fans who appeared, decked out in team colors, with colorful wigs and face paint.
It was glorious.
Octavia met us at the gates so we could all go in together. Abe sat between Mama and Octavia, while I sat next to Octavia, who had Aleesa on her lap. Aleesa was squirming, ready to get down and make a show cheering for her dad.
“She’s a handful, but an angel compared to Roger,” Octavia said, and I laughed, remembering the bratty three-year-old she last nannied.
Shortly after Javier let me into his house to talk to Deke (something I would be forever grateful for) he called Octavia back and asked if she could look after his daughter. I couldn’t say I was surprised. Even before she was officially hired, Deke insisted that Javier talked nonstop about whether or not to hire her. Deke and I knew what that meant: she was still on his mind, even months later.
According to Octavia, Javier was a pure grump who mostly ignored her when she was around. He did, however, enjoy her cooking, and she was positive that was her only saving grace.
I leaned forward as Aleesa looked up at me with round green eyes. “You ready to cheer for your daddy?” I asked.
“Yeah! Daddy!” she shrilled, and I gave her cheek a little squeeze.
As the stadium filled, I noticed some familiar faces and gasped when I realized it was Whitney and Camille making their way toward us. Whitney squealed, and I hopped up to hug her.
“Whitney! Hi!”
“Hey, Vina!” she sang over my shoulder. She stepped past me to hug Octavia and to introduce herself to Mama and Abe. I could tell Abe wanted to ignore her and sit still with his soundproof headphones and Ravens hoodie on, but Mama insisted he say something.
“Camille, as beautiful as always.” I gave her a big hug and then fist-bumped Eli, who was next to her.
“He bought tickets for everyone, huh?” I asked, sitting.
“He did! He even got Mama and her new boo seats in the box.” Whitney bumped my shoulder, and I laughed. I’d heard all about Mrs. Blake’s new boyfriend through Deke, who constantly griped about it but was willing to do anything to make her happy (like get them tickets for a date in box seats).