Love On The Court

𝕋𝕨𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕪-𝔽𝕀𝕧𝕖

📆: September 3rd, 2022
📍: Mikayla's New York apartment, Brooklyn

"She wants me to come with her for an interview tomorrow. I swear she's so cute when she's clingy." Toni helps her mother set their food bags on the counter of her older sister's kitchen. Nohea and Mikayla follow in after them and the teen goes straight to the fridge.

"You have Cheryl so in love." Mikayla chuckles and then scolds her daughter for going into the fridge without washing her hands.

"Speaking of Cheryl, you never told me how your trip went, dear," Elaine speaks up.

"It was amazing. Except for the part when I got a sunburn. But Cheryl took care of me, she's good at calming me down."

"Hmm, I bet she is." Mikayla wiggles her eyebrows.

Nohea looks lost for a moment for making a sour face. "Oh! Ew! Mom, whyyyy!?" the teen groans and leaves the kitchen faster than any of them can reply.

"Ah, to be a teenager again." their mother shakes her head. "Anyways, I'm glad you had fun, Toni. Cheryl seems to be bringing out your happy side."

"Mom, I've always been happy." the athlete chuckles and leans against the wooden counter. "Cheryl being here just makes it show more, I guess."

"Well, either way, happiness looks good on you, little sis." Mikayla pats her back as she passes by to go into the living room. Elaine nods along with her eldest daughter's comment.

"Thanks, ladies." the youngest out of the two grins. Her phone rings and she reaches into her pocket to retrieve it. "Oh, I have to take this. I'll be back," she tells her mother before rushing off towards the bathroom.

"Hey, Coach."

"Took you days to answer."

"Sorry, I was talking with my mother and sister. What's up?" she checks her hair in the mirror before turning her back to it.

"Cheryl is being so secretive about the trip and you know I'm very nosey."

Toni belts a laugh at that, holding her stomach as it becomes too much. "You sure are, coach B."

"So can you tell me? Anything? I just need to know if she had fun. Toni, my little girl better have had fun."

"Yes, Pen, we had a lot of fun. She was smiling the whole week. Even slept like a baby every night. She had fun, we had fun."

"I'm just making sure, you know? The stuff with her father, work, and all these upcoming projects, I just want her to be okay."

"And so do I. I really love your daughter, Pen. She makes me the happiest person on earth, no doubt."

"Well...that's relieving to hear. Cheryl said the same thing about you but hearing you conform that you feel the same way makes me feel better. You better not break my daughter's heart, Toni. Or I will make you run 30 laps."

Toni chuckles softly and nods, despiting the other woman not being able to see the gesture. "I wouldn't dream of it, coach."

"Good. Now, I have to go, Dylan is having this fair thingy at his college and parents need to be in attendance."

"Do I even have to ask if Clifford will be there?"

"No, he won't. Nothing new to me. My kids are grown now, they don't need him and they never did in the first place. We'll talk later, T. Stay safe."

"Same for you." the athlete says before the line goes dead. Toni pulls the phone from her ear with a small smile. "Cheryl Blossom, what are you doing to me?" she sighs as she reaches for the doorknob.