me & tomfoolery

Face Off, Finale | Jalen Hurts Short Story

"Damn Neve." Jalen gritted as she threw all she had back into him. Refusing to tap out, she allowed him to put her in any position he desired.

The sweat in the arch of her back had been covered by his thumb tracing her spine. It was not in Jalen's original plan to give his former best friend back shots in a hotel room, but the act itself was better than the alternatives.

The dangerous thing was, because this wasn't apart of the plan, he lacked the gold foil that should have been stationed in his wallet. It didn't stop him from filling her, not once but twice.

The next morning Jalen woke up to an empty bed. It wasn't his bed and that let him know what happened last wasn't a dream. Looking around the room, he could see that Neve was long gone.

"I'm gonna whoop her ass" he chuckled to himself. His phone had endless messages that needed to be tended to. In a week he would be in Arizona, and the week after would be the moment to change his life forever.

Neve would be in New York this week and then in Arizona the next. She knew that running off wasn't the best response but, she was not prepared to talk to Jalen at all.

Huggy 💚
Your scary ass can complete your mobile check out now.

She wanted to scream as she read the text message again. She hated how confrontational he could be with her, truly matching her firecracker energy.

I needed to catch a flight. But thank you for letting me know.

Jalen threw his phone across the couch as he read over her text message. He didn't have time to entertain Neve's bullshit now, but as he gotten closer to seeing her again. He would let her have it.

Phoenix, Arizona

Neve was not prepared for the change in weather in comparison to the New York cold front she was subjected to the week before. Gianna on her fourth phone call of the morning, was tired. Neve's new upbeat attitude surprised her though. Throughout the last week, the feeling of being nervous had left her friend's body and nothing but excellent work produced.

"You sure you're feeling okay? Did you do yoga without me? You haven't been the same since Philly." Gianna never got the chance to ask what might've happened when Neve left that lounge, they didn't have time to speak on anything other than work.

"I didn't do yoga without you. I would never Gi." The women shared a laugh before getting out of their town car. "I promise you, I'm getting a hike in before I leave here."

"I'll go with you."

Gianna's phone went off first, "Oh your interview with Jalen just went up."

Neve opened her phone to see her interview as the first thing showcased on her timeline.

Flashback

"What would you say is the most important thing to you in order?" Neve asked.

"God, family, football. Like Lance Sullivan in the best man said." Jalen chuckles at his own joke, "I think what's really important is, discovering what works best for your mental to bring you peace and harmony, and lastly joy."

"Are you experiencing joy right now?"

Jalen nodded and smiled, "Sitting in this moment, I am. Thankful for this interview honestly. I'm grateful for what it's brought me, and what it means."

Gianna quickly reposted the video, looking forward to the upcoming clips to be released. Neve opened the archived folder in her drive to review the clips from the entire interview. A phone call interrupted her search.