Chapter 29: Antonio
Since making the appointment, Destiny's been in touch with Dr. Matthews. Her advice is to take it easy and not do anything stupid.
After Destiny misses another practice, she gets a text from Coach Beasley stating he's been informed about her pregnancy and sworn to secrecy.
"Take care and don't worry. The team will step it up in your absence. Best of health."
"Thanks, Coach for supporting me. By the way, can I train my lower half while I'm pregnant?"
"No problem."
* * *
Destiny meets Nikki at the women's locker room.
"What's up with you, sis?" Nikki turns and whispers, "You've picked the wrong day to work out, boo. Ya man's here with his family."
"What—my man? Where you get that from?"
"It ain't like I don't know y'all fucked around, girl. You can see it written all over your faces the way you look at each other. What the hell's really going on is my only question?"
"Nothing, girl."
Destiny's face sags. What the fuck is Antonio thinking bringing Kelly up here days after I told him I was pregnant?
Nikki already knew what happened because the day after Destiny and Antonio fucked, she pulled Destiny to the side after practice and told her she was walking like she got dicked and to straighten up. They knew each other from their days on junior varsity.
"So—" Nikki says.
"Ok, I'll leave."
Nikki gives her a hug and leaves. Destiny then waits around, pondering Nikki's warning. She then grabs her things and just as she's leaving, Antonio was walking down the hall, holding his baby while laughing with Kelly.
Damn! Kelly doesn't look like she just had a baby. She looks like Vanessa Williams.
Kelly's looking fly and it makes Destiny feel like a sunflower next to a rose. She glances away, wondering what Antonio ever saw in her in the first place.
Antonio is looking sharper than ever; his face is glowing, his eyebrows are waxed, and the baby in his arms makes him look like a good father. On top of it all, he can't take his eyes off Kelly, watching her every movement. Destiny is so distracted that she didn't see Nikki walk up on her. She pulls Destiny's arm. "Let's go. Watching them ain't going to make you feel better."
But Antonio looks back and sees Destiny, squinting to make sure. Destiny sticks out her tongue and Antonio's enchanted.
"Honey?" Kelly says, grabbing his arm. "Are you okay?"
He's not paying attention to Kelly as she squeezes his hand.
"Babe, what is it?"
The baby starts fussing and it gets Antonio to come back to reality.
"Nothing—nothing. Just thinking about something back at the hotel."
Kelly takes the baby.
"Are you sure or you got your eyes on somebody else?"
"Nah, I thought I left something on the stove. What about Natalie? Will she be okay watching Junior?"
"The girl's done it plenty of times. She knows how to handle him. Give Junior that Nintendo Switch and he's good."
"I know right."
"Look, baby! You've upset Brittny."
"I'm sorry. I was in the zone there for a minute there, wasn't I?"
"Yes, you were. I thought you saw a ghost. But for real, you have to be gentle with the baby, honey. They pick up on our emotions."
"I know, I'm sorry sweetheart."
Destiny feels a bit sorry for Antonio as she listens in on their conversation while Nikki keeps trying to pull her away. "Wait, girl," Destiny says, hiding with Nikki behind a pillar.
"You good, baby? I got to watch these little hoes around you," Kelly says, holding the baby and leaning in to kiss Antonio and he almost flinches.
Destiny finally realizes that she's been staring too long. She was caught up just as much as Antonio.
"I'm good, sweetheart," he says kissing her back.
* * *
"Hey, Tone and Kelly," Destiny says, walking with Nikki who was trying to pull her back as they pass by. "Congratulations on the baby, girl! You look good."
"Thanks, Des! It's good seeing you again."
"You, too."
Antonio's eyes meet Destiny's. "Hey!" He said as she walks by.
"Girl, you crazy!" Nikki says.
"I know, boo."