me & tomfoolery

Same Coin pt. 5 | Devin Booker Short Story

One Month Later

"You making your appearance at All-Star weekend?" Damion asked while loading his car with his workout bags. They were taking home their practice gear and personals so that the arena could have a deep cleaning during the break.

"Yeah, I'll be there and then I'll come meet up with y'all."

Damion offered the invite for Devin to attend their Suns & Co couples weekend in Cancun since most of them weren't involved in the All-Star activities. Devin would be scheduled for a panel discussion and planned to attend the celebrity game but he was on injury so playing in the game was out of the question for him.

Things happen, that's how it went sometimes.

The last thirty days had been interesting for him to say the least. He spent the first fifteen getting a handle on what was happening with him and Laila and the other fifteen were her helping him around the house like an in home nurse.

Between the two they both noticed a shift and wouldn't speak about it. They talked less but still spent the same amount of time around one another. Everything was action, reaction, action again.

"So..." Damion started, "You and Laila...?"

Other teammates noticed her presence too and they all looked at one another when Booker and Williams had their small moments. Some even thought her father noticed but, when he was at work, he actually worked.

"We're actually friends like you said."

"That's your intention?" Damion wanted to clarify what was actually happening. It was a solid five months of them being in one another's lives. It was time to ask.

Devin honestly didn't know his intentions. They were hazy. He genuinely liked Laila as a person and that's why it was conflicting to carry out his initial plans. Him and Monty were still in a place. Some days better than others but it still panged Devin that his coach tried him like that. He wanted to humble the man and that would be his downfall.

He didn't make time for flings anymore and especially while on injury, he wanted to focus on being cleared to play after the break was over. Only women he spent time with? His mother and Laila.

"Honestly, she's a good friend. I ain't really trying to fuck that up."

Damion could commend his honesty but that didn't answer the pressing question. "But do you like her? I get not wanting to ruin a friendship but, be honest with yourself."

••••

"I can't wait to be outside!" Jenne cheers as she snatched off her heels. The girls were at Laila's home to catch up before their trip and endless activities. They knew they wouldn't have time with almost everyone being in couples and just a few singles attending.

"Me either." Laila sighed. She was exhausted. This last month was nonstop moment. The spas were busy, her mother was recovering and dealing with Devin's injury was a lot. Some days were fine when his knee wasn't inflamed, other days he couldn't walk on his own.

"Heard you've been playing nurse bae to Booker." Jenne started. "Yeah, l wonder who you heard that from." Laila cut eyes at Sydel and Kira.

"Wasn't me!" Sydel raised her hands in defense. "But you have been playing that role well."

Laila didn't mind helping Devin, but it definitely was wearing her down. This vacation would be great for her and she could let loose, reboot and when she came home, her mind would be clear.

"Just doing what I can. Don't make a big fuss."
"Lala, what's so hard about admitting you like him?"

Everything was hard about that. She was not supposed to know him the way she did, let alone like him. Her actions screamed that Laila developed a liking to the man and that was a terrible thing. Her father wouldn't approve and at the moment she needed the reassurance from him. She wasn't going to get that fucking around with Devin Booker. She still didn't trust him, that was her biggest concern and her intuition was always right. There was something bound to happen and she waited for the other shoe to drop from the sky, hitting her in the head.