Page 28 of Flip the Field
I nodded. “You’re not?”
“Not really,” She shrugged. “My mom loved holidays. Or that’s what I was told. I don’t remember much.”
I tossed my pizza slice back in the box. Amerie’s mom had died when she was young. “Baby, I’m sorry,” I pulled her to me. “It must suck sometimes during holidays.”
“It doesn’t for you?”
“Not really,” I shrugged“My family was never big on them, but my friend, Tarrick, his family went all out. Hanging out with them, I never felt like I was missing out.” Just thinking of his mother’s stuffing made my mouth water.
“Tarrick?”
“He’s my guy from home.” I rubbed the back of my neck and took out my phone. I flipped through the photos until I found the one with him and me before the incident. “He’s in Atlanta now. About to graduate from Morehouse.”
I handed it to Amerie.
“Oh, my God,” She zoomed in on the photo. “You look so young.” She looked up. “And more hair. Can I?” She made the swiping motion with her finger.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
The next photo was of me and my six teammates from high school. We had been inseparable since sixth grade.
“Who are they?” She showed me the photo.
“My teammates in high school.”
She flipped through more photos. “Where’s the ex-girlfriends?”
I grabbed the phone and shut it off. “No ex-girlfriend photos. I only keep stuff I care about.”
“You keeping me?”
“As long as you’ll have me.”
We stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. The weight of our words hung in the air. We were both aware we’d said a lot, but I was too scared to admit it. I was falling for this girl. She had layers, and I wanted to make it my personal mission to peel back her walls until she gave me all of her.
While I had showed her glimpses of myself, more than I’d shared with anyone in a long time, I still held back. I feared once she found out about my past, those walls would slam shut for good and I’d lose her.
Women like Amerie didn’t fall for guys like me. I had nothing to lose, but she would never risk it all. Being with me would make her have to choose, and I wouldn’t do that to her. I loved her too much.
But I wasn’t ready to let her go. Not yet.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I caressed her cheek.
“Me neither.” She nodded and leaned in and kissed me.
