Chapter 1 — Antonio
"Hey, Des," Antonio says as he collects the basketballs. Destiny's stomach hurts and she doesn't feel like talking.
"Hey!"
"What's up with you?"
"Nothing."
Antonio looks like he's thinking about his wife Kelly too much, and Destiny tries to downplay her jealousy. Just weeks ago, she lost her virginity to the leading scorer.
"Ok, so Kelly's really on this I'm-too-fat stuff."
Destiny knows Kelly from their days in high school but the girl was known as the school's basketball squad hoe. Yet, Antonio knocked her up, and now they're on baby number two.
Antonio pulls out his wallet. "She's eight and a half months. I don't think she gained any weight."
"Oh, I wouldn't know." Destiny looks, wondering how the hell she can get out of this conversation. All she can think about is that fateful night after practice a few weeks ago. She fucked Kelly's man and that's that.
Antonio puts his wallet down and changes subjects, "Hey, Des, you look kinda beat. Are you sleeping enough?"
"I am and thanks for asking." Destiny has bags under her eyes.
"Coach must be pushing my baby too hard these days?" Antonio touches her forehead. "Are you?" Antonio clears his throat. "I mean you didn't look like this—" He stops before blurting, this bad before I left to go to Miami, which is what Destiny knows he's trying to say.
"No, I just been having crazy nightmares lately." She moves his hand already knowing Antonio's touch is too stimulating. It's been like that for a while, and while Destiny doesn't mind, it doesn't help her either. She daydreams as Antonio keeps trying to find out what's up with her.
How can he be so much of a playa? It's like it meant nothing to him cheating on his baby mama that night.
That morning Destiny had a hangover and kept replaying what she could remember of it. Antonio had fucked her so hard that she counted cumming over ten times. It reminded her of a triathlon and they stopped only when they heard a rooster cock-a-doodle-do.
And this is the most amount of attention Destiny's gotten from Antonio in the last few weeks. He sees her all the time because the men practice on the same court as the women on the same days. He's cool with everybody, especially Destiny's teammates. Maybe Antonio's fucking all of us? The thought has crossed Destiny's mind a few times, but she knows most of her teammates have boyfriends. Only Destiny and her friend Nikki are man-less.
"Tell me about your nightmares. Maybe I can help. Kelly likes it when I…" Antonio lets the sentence dangle, probably concluding too late that Destiny has heard enough.
"I'll deal with them. You're busy with Kelly and hers."
"Hmm…Nah, it's not like that."
"I heard you. Anyway, the playoffs are the only thing on my mind."
"The playoffs are still weeks away. Let's go to practice. We could—"
"Nah-I'm good."
"Go out to dinner."
"Nope, I'm not getting in trouble with you. I did that once and I'm not making that mistake again. I'm good." Destiny walks off to stack up the basketballs and then went with a teammate.
"Okay, then." Antonio walks away shaking his head.
* * *
A week later, Antonio's wife, Kelly, starts having contractions and everybody hears about it. Then right before the first round of the men's' playoffs, he begs coach to go to Miami to be with his wife. Coach grants him permission and the morning Antonio flies back to Atlanta to rejoin the team; he misses Kelly deliver the baby. She sends him pictures and Antonio calls everyone to meet up at the gym to see his baby boy before the game. Destiny doesn't show up and Nikki texts her to ask why.
"What's up girl? You didn't come to practice."
"I'm feeling kinda sick. I missed my period for the first time. Shit is outta whack, you know?"
"I feel you."
"Probably cos I'm stressed out over the playoffs, that's all."
"Girl, you gotta take it easy. We're going to win tomorrow."
"I hope so."
"Let me hit you back. I'm about to get in the shower."
"Okay."