know what he did to her? I was stupid enough to tell him she was pregnant, thinking maybe he’d get off my back, feel sorry for me. Nope. He sent his bitch to take a bite outta my woman. Tried to make her have an abortion.”
“How can he make her do that?”
“He’s a straight-up bully. He had Madeline tell Naomi that her next stop was Tina’s house, to tell her about the affair. Then Madeline told her I’d be fined most of a year’s pay if the papers made a big deal out of this. Maybe kick me off the team. They got her set up with an appointment, even though she still hurtin’ from last night.” He clasped his head in his hands, turning in a slow circle. “I told Naomi to do it, it would solve everything, but you should have seen her face. I had to go and told her I wouldn’t be able to see her anymore, at least not until everything settled down, and the bitch threw a glass at my head.”
Derek just stood quietly, listening, trying to process the craziness.
“And that stupid reporter! She’s trying to find a story. First she’s sticking her nose in Naomi’s business, getting her all wound up—”
“That’s not exactly what happened.” Derek sat back down.
“—and then she went to Ma’s house! I was good to her, why she gotta play me? Little uppity thing, she don’t know who she messin’ with.”
Derek’s heart dropped. Hara wasn’t dicking around. “You gonna give her a beatdown before she finds out about your mom, is that it?”
“Me?! Hell no. O’Donnell is the one she’s gotta watch out for.” Charles slammed his bottle on the table, waved his hands around wildly. “Everything is shit.”
“It’s only going to get worse if you don’t take care of things. And the consequences are bigger than you. You know that, right?”
“What can I do about it? Turn Ma in? She still doesn’t get it. But only a few people know, and I’m just lookin’ at it like no harm, no foul, at this point. O’Donnell will chase the reporter off; he can’t afford to have her around.” He slumped. “Like I said, O’Donnell has turned everything to shit. He’s ruined my life. My woman. My game.”
“Bit of a stretch, eh, Chuck?” Derek was done listening. “First of all, just tell Naomi she can do what she wants to do, and that you’ll support her. They aren’t going to fire you. How many guys in the last five years had girlfriends get pregnant—ten? More? Second of all, if it does become some crazy big story, you can pay the fine. You can afford it.” Derek leaned back and put his hands behind his head, trying to project calmness. “I mean, the man can’t ruin your game. You’re lit. You’re always lit.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Charles gulped down the rest of his beer. “Naomi won’t talk to me. She gonna do what she wants. Fine. So there’s all that.” His eyes were swimming as he leaned forward. “I never ask you for no favors, man, not even when we was kids and you was gettin’ dropped off by your chauffeur and I was ridin’ the bus for an hour.” Without making eye contact, he opened another beer. “My life would be a lot easier if you could just do what O’Donnell asks. Dial it back a little.”
Derek tried to understand what he was hearing. “Dial back what—my game? Seriously? You did talk to him, then. Dude, I just don’t get it. I’m playin’ my balls off, but we are better together than apart.” Derek slammed his beer down on the table. “That’s how we’ve always been. You helped get me onto this team. You’re my friend. Why are you trying to get me kicked out now?”
“No, no, no. My brother, I don’t want to lose you. I just want you—need you—to calm down, stop going for the gold on your own.”
Derek was done with this shit. “You’re drunk. Go home.”
“Listen. This isn’t about you. O’Donnell needs to see I’m in charge on the floor. Otherwise … well, otherwise I’m in trouble.” He put up his hand to ward off Derek’s baffled response. “No offense, but that’s all I can tell you. I need you to trust me.”
“No offense, but how do I trust you? I did trust you, up until a few days ago. Then I find out you’re cheating on Tina and your mom took money and you didn’t do anything