Love On The Court

𝕋𝕖𝕟

📆: April 12th, 2022
📍: Fine And Fashion Inc, Tribeca Manhattan, NY

Toni nods at the pedestrian that walks by as the two buff men walk on each side of her. The brunette is on the way to Cheryl's job since the redhead agreed to have lunch with her. With her mother's permission this time, Toni was able to leave the house after another four whole days. With the cost of her sneaking out, her mother hired bodyguards who are trained in medical care just in case she applies too much pressure to her ankle. It sucks for Toni, of course, the athlete is so used to being able to walk around by herself, despite her fame.

She knows that her mother means well, but sometimes she feels like she has no say in her life when it comes down to it. She understands that she is her mother's only relative around at the moment, but she needs her mother to find a man or something, or like put all of her time and energy into teaching those 5 years olds.

"Do you guys, like, speak?" she turns to ask them while they stop at the street light.

"Yes, ms. Topaz, we do." bodyguard A speaks up while bodyguard B only nods. "We were ordered by your mother not to say a word to you."

"Figured." the athlete chuckles dryly. "She expects me to have you guys around until my ankle is healed but doesn't want you to speak to me? Got it." she rolls her tongue in her mouth while shaking her head. The two men remain silent.

Rolling her eyes, Toni crosses the street once the signal says so, crutching her way over to the other side. They finally reach Cheryl's workplace and Toni smiles softly when bodyguard B opens the door for her.

Toni's hazel eyes scan the interior of the building as she and the bodyguards walk up to the front desk. "Good afternoon, how can I help you?" the guy behind the desk grins at her. Too wide for this boring afternoon.

"I'm here to meet Cheryl Blossom." the brunette divulges.

"One moment," he mumbles while picking up his phone. Toni peels the skin of her lips with her teeth as she averts her gaze elsewhere.

"Hi, yes, there's someone down here for Cheryl." he eyes Toni before looking at his computer screen. "Great, I will send her right up."

"Okay." Toni turns to look at him at the sound of the phone being hung up. "You can go on up. She's on floor 15."

"Great, thanks." the athlete smiles then crutches away. The sound of the bottom of her crutches clinking against the shiny quartz ground echoes through the lobby as she makes her way toward the elevator.

"Do you need help, ms. Topaz?" bodyguard A inquires.

"No, thanks. I got it," she mumbles, removing her crutch from under her armpit to press the button for the elevator. "See." she turns to smile at them. "I don't know why my momma doesn't think I'm capable of taking care of myself. I'm 23 years old, not 10." she breathes out.

The elevator dings and Toni excitedly steps inside, the two men following suit. The ride up is awkward as they stand in silence. Toni hums to the elevator music, trying to put an ease to the awkwardness.

When the door opens again, Toni is met with the smell of makeup. They step out of the elevator and the athlete scans the room for Cheryl only to be met with hands covering her eyes. "Guess who." a familiar voice jeers.

"Uh, Veronica?" Toni jokes. "No silly! It's Lucy." the woman removes her hands and Toni turns to her with a frown. "Ugh, it's you."

"Wow, so much for greetings." the blue-eyed brunette giggles sarcastically. "What are you doing here, bozo?" she picks the lint off of Toni's jacket scornfully.