The Baller: A Down and Dirty Football Novel(49)

She chuckled. “Sure did. Had my matching dangling football earrings on, too.”

“See that? I’m thinking I shouldn’t even give you the chance to win this ball, old man. You got football earrings?”

“Just throw the ball already, damn it.” Grouper dropped the mop and jogged toward the cones.

For half a second, I considered pitching the ball over his head so he’d miss, then I remembered he’d probably spent Sunday playing checkers with Marlene while he rooted for my obnoxious ass. So I lobbed the ball for an easy catch instead.

“I still got it.” He fist-pumped as he walked back.

“Yeah, you got it, all right. Hemorrhoids, arthritis . . . ”

“Don’t remind me. Got those, too. Your day will come. And I can’t wait to see that pretty-boy face get some good age spots on it.”

I chuckled. “Marlene in her room or the day room?”

“I think she’s in her suite. Pretty little granddaughter of hers is keeping her company again this morning. I’m not going to have to referee anything in there, am I?”

Between the win on Sunday that moved us into first place and spending Monday night inside of Delilah celebrating, I’d thought nothing could ruin my mood. Fuck if I hadn’t been wrong.

I contemplated turning around and leaving. But it was Tuesday, the day I’d been spending here for years. Years when she hadn’t even give a shit whether her grandmother was alive. I was done letting her interfere with my life anymore.

At least this time, I was prepared to see her. Or at least I thought I was.

Willow turned around when the door opened, and my heart stopped beating. I hated her so much.

I hated her.

So damn much.

Yet when my heart started beating again, I couldn’t stop it from racing.

“Hi.” She smiled hesitantly, and those big eyes looked up from under long lashes.

I hate you.

I also hated that she was still as beautiful as ever.

I lifted my chin in her direction as my only response and walked over to Marlene. “How’s my favorite lady today?” I kissed her on the forehead.

“Brody. You’re just in time. Get a pad and paper.”

I furrowed my brow.

“Wheel of Fortune is about to start,” Willow explained. “Remember how the three of us used to—”

I looked her right in those big eyes. “I know when her shows are on. And we’re not doing this.”

Her bright face faltered. It should have made me feel better, but instead it did the opposite.

“You don’t want to play?” Marlene asked.

“I’m going to sit this one out.” Marlene looked disappointed, but the moment Pat Sajak came on TV, her face lit back up. If only we all had something that made everything okay, even if only for a few minutes. I stole a fleeting glance at Willow. She used to be my Pat Sajak.

When the first puzzle came on TV, the two of them fell right back into a time warp. Back in the day, the three of us would sit on the long plastic-covered couch in Marlene’s living room. We’d write down our letter picks before the contestants called out theirs and keep track of how much we’d win if they guessed our letter. What Marlene didn’t know was that Willow and I had secretly played for sexual favors. Whoever earned the most at the end of the show got whatever they were in the mood for that night. Most nights I let Willow win, just so I could hear her tell me what she wanted me to do to her.

The visuals came flooding back.

Willow at sixteen, looking up at me as I hovered over her. Her lips swollen from hours of kissing.

I hate you.

Her sitting up, her hair a wild mess, as she pulled off a white T-shirt. No bra underneath. My thumb tugging on her bottom lip, which she sucked between her teeth nervously.

I hate you.

At the sound of my chair abruptly skidding across the tile floor, Willow jumped. “Bathroom” was all I offered.

Refusing to concede my time with Marlene out of principle, I stayed for a while more, quietly sitting and trying to avoid any real interaction with Willow. When it was time for lunch, I helped Marlene into her wheelchair and brought her down to the dining room.

“I have to get going. Practice this afternoon.”

“You two work too much.” Marlene’s usual lunch table was waiting for her. I made sure she was comfortable and said my goodbyes before heading back to her suite to grab my jacket.

I heard the door creak open, but I didn’t turn around as I slipped on my coat.

“I made cupcakes,” Willow said softly. “Red velvet with cream cheese frosting.”

I stared out the window. “Not hungry.”

She took two steps toward me and stopped. I could see her reflection in the window. “Do you want me to avoid certain days?”

“Do whatever you want. Makes no difference to me.”

She nodded. “I saw the game yesterday. You know, you still do the same little celebration in the end zone that you did in ninth grade on the field at Kennedy High School.”

I hated that she thought she knew so much about me.

I hated her.

She didn’t know anything about me anymore. I made sure she knew it before I walked out the door. “I celebrated inside my girlfriend that night, not in the end zone.”