Page 76 of Call Me Mrs. Taylor

Broke what?

I’m smiling because I already know, but I wait anyway, eager to see it in her words

My pussy

I laugh at that.

I’ll make it up to you.

How?

Next time, I’ma eat it from the back

…

Maybe

I wasn’t asking

She leaves me on read, with her petty ass.

I smirk and lock my phone, pushing her out of my mind for the moment. I have a lot to do if I’m gonna make it out of here on time.

The court smells like sweat, hot pavement, and rubber.

Sweat drips into my eyes as I watch Jovan dribble lazy circles around Bron, talking shit the entire time.

I made sure I was the first one here. These niggas weren’t about to clown me again.

Titus sits on the sidelines chugging Gatorade. “Yall a bunch of bitches!” he yells out.

I bounce on my feet, feeling loose. Feeling focused. The rhythm of the game, the sun’s rays stinging my skin, the sound of our shoes squeaking against the asphalt—it clears my mind completely.

No work. No family. Not even Raya.

Just this.

Jovan pulls up for three.Swish.

Titus hollers, standing up and swinging his towel over his head like a helicopter. “Yall not seein’ us!” he yells.

Dayton groans, his hands resting on his knees. “I’m tired, boss. It’s too fuckin’ hot.”

I elbow him in the back. “Then sit your ass down. Make room for a real shooter.”

More shit talking. More sweat. More buckets.

After my weekend with Raya, I got energy to burn.

We run three more games before finally calling it. Sweat drips down my back, my shirt sticking to my skin as I bend over, hands on my knees, catching my breath. The sun is staring to dip, but the heat is just as oppressive now as it was when we started.

Titus drapes an arm across my shoulders as we walk off the court. “Damn, boy. You was locked in today. What’s good?”

I nod, shaking him off as I reach for the water bottle in my gym bag. The plastic crinkles under my grip as I take a deep pull. “I guess I missed y’all niggas.”

Jovan jogs up beside us, rubbing sweat off his forehead with his shirt. “I hate to compliment you, but you was cookin’ today.”

“Yeah, I know.” I squeeze the bottle, sending a quick splash over the back of my neck to cool off.

---