Love On The Court

𝔼𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟

📆: May 19th, 2022
📍: Spring Studios, Manhattan, New York

Toni clutches the bouquet of pink dahlias in her hands as she, Penelope, Elaine, Nohea, Bryce, Mikayla, and Dylan enter the studio.

They're met with a crowd of people all of which are here to attend the fashion show.

"Is dad coming?" she hears Dylan whisper to his mother.

"Yes. He said he'll be here." Penelope replies. Toni only sighs deeply. Clifford won't be making it, she knows it. Dylan even knows it.

"You okay?" Mikayla asks, nudging her gently. Toni looks up from the flowers and nods. "Yeah, yeah, Cheryl's father...he's just been very inconsistent with showing up to her shows," she explains.

"Oh." her older sister frowns. "So he never shows up?"

"Not recently, no. A little before we started talking, I came to one of her shows and he wasn't in attendance. He and Penelope split a few years ago so he has a new family, one he prioritizes more than Dylan and Cheryl." the brunette discloses.

"Oh, man." Mikayla's frown deepens. "That's sorta upsetting."

"I know." her little sister sighs. They hear a squeal and look up to see Nohea and Byrce looking over some of the fashion exhibits. "I forgot how much she loves fashion." Toni smiles.

"Since when?" Mikayla questions.  She's only been back for four days now and she's catching up with everything. Nohea hasn't told her much about herself as much as she'd like her to. The teen went for coffee with her the other day and all she did was speak about school and her friends. She and Byrce have a closer bond, which is understandable. She just wants to have a better connection with her baby girl.

Before Toni can reply, her phone chimes loudly and she quickly goes into her jeans' pocket to retrieve it.

My pretty girl🥰
Please meet me back stage. I really need you.
Please hurry.

Toni's eyebrows furrow at the message. She frowns deeply as she texts back.

Okay, baby. I'm on my way.
Will they let me in?

My pretty girl 🥰
I will tell them that I'm waiting on you.

Okay, beautiful. Hang tight, I'm coming.

"Uh, I'll be right back. Let them know I'll meet them at our seats." the athlete tells her sister. Mikayla only nods. She watches her sister walk off before her eyes settle on her husband and daughter.

"Whatcha guys looking at?" she asks softly. Nohea's eyes light up at the sight of her mother. "It's the most expensive dress to ever be modeled in fashion history," she answers.

"I never knew you loved fashion, honey." the woman wraps her arm around the teen's shoulder.

"There's lots of stuff you don't know about me, mom," she says. "I've grown."

"I can tell, my love." Mikayla chuckles. "You've grown into a beautiful young lady. And I want to hear about your favorite things." her mother caresses her hair.

The security guard lets Toni through backstage. She directs the brunette toward Cheryl's dressing room before going back to her post.

Toni knocks on the, unsurprisingly, red door. "Come in." a somber voice replies. The MVP basketball star frowns at the tone of her girl's voice as she opens the door.