Playing For Keeps

15| Chapter 12-TAYO

My verdict after dating for almost a week's this: it's not that hard. Or serious as everyone claims. They've built it to be this amazing thing and full of holes that can end in heartbreak. But it's not that serious. After meeting on Wednesday, Lola and I just ignored each other.

Though, hockey has a lot to do with that. We have our game schedules and the first game is upon us, and with the scout coming to watch us, it's all hands on deck. I'm not the only one wanting to go pro, every guy has the dream.

Though compared to them, I don't have any backups.

Sure, I'm smart and if I want it desperately, I can apply myself. The problem is I don't want to. Finding some other interest would pull me away from hockey, make me lose focus.

I can't have that happen.

School's out after a very eventful first week and tomorrow's my first meeting with Lola's parents. At random times, she sends me information packets, mostly tailored to her mom and what to get her.

No flowers.

No chocolates.

And absolutely, no lateness.

In retrospect, her rules remind me of my mother but with every rule she had, there's nothing her mom would accept. At least, according to Lola.

''Mom! Where are you?'' I shut the door behind me, toeing off my sneakers and throwing my backpack on the floor. Sweet quiet, punctuated by my dog's growls before he settles back to sleep.

I open the fridge, finding a bunch of grapes that I popped into my mouth. A few are sour, but very filling.

''In the study,'' my mom shouts, her voice leading me out of the kitchen, past my Nana's room and entering the study she shares with my dad. She's in the nook, where the sunlight streams through the huge french windows, highlighting her strong cheekbones and hazel eyes.

She rises, closing her book before drawing me in for a hug. Her thin arms wrap around me, the bracelets clicking against one another before everything is drowned in her scent of lavender and our laundry soap.

This is the first time in weeks that she isn't crying, is reading and very happy to see me. I pause, letting myself be whisked into the embrace for a moment longer before pulling away and kissing her forehead.

Light wrinkles appear when her smile lift her cheeks before she drags me closer to the nook and pats the spot next to her. It is a tight fit, my mom is five feet four inches, and I'm more than six feet and packed with muscles from hockey.

But we make it work.

''I can see you're reading. What book is it this time?''

Her fingers lightly glide over the back of the hardback before she turns it over, showing me the title.

Fingers of Destiny by Olayinka Olayiwola.

The name's familiar, like I have heard it shouted a thousand times and then it hits me.

It's Gbolahan's father and Lola's step father. My mouth drops, the shock keeping me in place even as my mum furrows her brows and places her hand on my forehead.

''Are you alright, dear?''

I nod. My throat lacks moisture as my eyes narrow on the man's picture and his short tale about himself. Lola had told me her father was an author but I didn't think that he was that big or there was one of his works lying somewhere in my house.

''Tayo? Are you okay? Do we need to visit the doctor?'' her voice grows higher in pitch with each passing question but she doesn't stop looking over me.