Stay in Your Lane | Lonzo Ball

Chapter 30

  Lonzo

After leaving the training room, I drove back to my room so that I could pack myself an overnight bag. Izzy, choosing to walk up with me and not sit in my truck, waited in the living room.

She had been quiet since we left the gym. I didn't know whether to attest that to her having those bumps and bruises or that awkwardness still buzzing between us.

I knew it probably caught her off guard that I offered , but the trainer recommended someone stay with her and I was standing right there. Why not me? I hope she sees it as a sweet gesture, but to be honest I wasn't sure how this was going to work given what had transpired last night.

"Alright, I'm ready," I walked out of my room carrying a backpack and duffle bag.

"It's only for one night, Zo. Not a week," she eyed my luggage as I closed the door behind me.

"Two nights actually, according to John. 24-48 hours," I corrected her with a smile.

"Oh, right," she stood up, "well let's go. I'm hungry and tired."

"Same, what do you wanna eat? I'm kinda hungry too."

Shrugging, she replied, "I don't know. Anything sounds good right about now."

"You feel like going to go get something or getting it delivered," I led the way out.

"Delivered sounds good. I just wanna lay on my bed."

By the time we made it back to the parking lot of her building, we agreed on pizza. Once upstairs, I followed her into her bedroom and neatly placed my stuff on the floor.

She dropped her things in a corner, grabbed clothes from her drawers and let me know that she was going to take a shower.

While she did her thing, I went ahead and ordered food from a local pizzeria. I then found her remote and switched on the tv to Sportscenter, where the Lakers were playing Oklahoma City. It was a few minutes after that when I found myself checking out the the pictures she had on the wall and framed on her dressers and nightstand.

It was a mix of family photos and silly pictures with her teammates. The ones of her with Grace, her little sister, made me smile. There was one with Izzy holding her on what appeared to be the day Grace was born while flashing her sweet, joyous smile. Then another of them eating cotton candy at a fair, and posing after Grace's ballet recital.

In separate photo by her bed was a picture of her, Grace and her parents which looked fairly recent.

She's family oriented, something I've known for a minute. That's a plus. She also understands the bond of siblings; moreover being an older sibling. The more I'm around this girl, the more I find that we have in common.

Elephants also added to her decor. On the wall. Little trinkets on her nightstand and an themed blanket. I spotted my gift to her sitting among her pillows and smiled.

"Find something interesting?"

I turned around as she walked through the door, now dressed in a pair of Nike running shorts and an oversized Bruins t-shirt.

"Oh, nah I was just admiring your pictures and how you decorate," I said as she dried her now curly hair with a towel, "so what's the story behind the elephants?"

"Story?"

"You like them a lot from what I can see."

She continued scrunching her curls with the towel, "it's been my favorite animal since I was a little girl. For some reason, mom said that's the one animal I loved to see at the zoo when she would take me. As I got older, I did a lot more research with it and what it symbolizes. Strength, honor, stability and longevity. All things that I desire to have in this life. Now, if you get into the religious aspect of it the Hindu way of though is that the elephant is the god of fortune, protection and blessing upon all new things. Sorry for that history lesson, I'm just really into that stuff."

"That's what's up. I think it's cool that it's deeper than it just being your favorite animal," I said, "I love animals, but haven't given it that much thought. I'm pretty sure there's one spiritual symbolism I could relate to."

"Hmm, let me think about it. There's one for everyone," she said, laying the towel over her desk chair and finger-combed through her hair.

Knock, knock, knock

I headed towards the door, "That's probably the pizza. I'll get it."

"Oh, wait. Here," she reached into her bag and pulled out a twenty dollar bill, "take this."

"I already took care of it and the tip."

Before she could respond, I walked out of the room and opened the front door. The guy happened to be a UCLA fan and recognized me. He didn't ask for an autograph or photo, but instead complimented my game play so far and expressed his excitement for our game versus in state rival Cal on Thursday.

"Zo, you didn't have to do that. I'll pay you back. Take this cash," she offered the bill to me as I walked back in her room.

"It's cool, Izzy. No big deal," I assured her, "you got some napkins or paper plates."

"Yeah, in the kitchen. I'll grab-"

"I got it. You just relax, okay? Cool."

"I bumped my head and got some stitches. I'm not handicapped, you know," she folded her arms across her chest.

"It's okay to just say thank you, Izzy. Sheesh," I said, jokingly, "let me be great."

That got a couple giggles out of her. I went and grabbed what we needed. Both of us didn't hesitate to fill our empty stomachs. She ate one half and I ate the other. I didn't know Izzy could put away that much food given her size and how perfectly in shape her body was. I guess people say the same about my skinny ass. From the looks of it, all of what she ate went to those curves.

I could tell she was tired and ready to relax for the rest of the night. We watched the remainder of the Laker game then caught San Andreas playing on FX and watch it in its entirety.

Every now and then I'd ask how she was feel. Her answer was always "fine". She was an athlete and everyone knows athletes don't like to tell you how much they're really hurting. I'm guilty of it too. So, despite her response there was a good chance that she was lying to me.

Izzy

Lonzo continued to alternate between watching tv and playing on his phone as we both lounged on my bed. I was doing the same thing along with texting Chat, making the mistake in telling her that Lonzo was here for the night to look after me.

Chat⚾️#☝🏾💙🙃: giiiiirl he's sleeping with you? Sharing the same bed?!

Izzy: no I'm gonna tell him to take the couch. You thought.

Chat⚾️#☝🏾💙🙃: don't be a bitch. You know that couch is uncomfortable AF

Izzy: not being a bitch. He ain't bout to be all laid up with me.

Chat⚾️#☝🏾💙🙃: like you don't want him to be 🙄

Chat⚾️#☝🏾💙🙃: get you some 🍆 he likes you so that won't be a problem.

Izzy: you're such a bad influence. I'm bout to go to bed. Zo is going to the couch.

Chat⚾️#☝🏾💙🙃: 🙄🙄🙄 goodnight I thought cracking your head today would knock some sense into you.

Izzy: lol night boo! Love you 😙😙😙

Chat⚾️#☝🏾💙🙃: 😚

Sighing followed with a smile as I internally laughed at our conversation, I locked my phone and looked back at Zo who was sitting up on his phone.

"Zo, I think I'm about to call it a night."

"Okay, I guess I'll um...take the couch?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

He kept his phone in his hand as he stood up. I handed him a pillow from my bed then instructed him to look in my closet for an extra blanket. Reaching in his bag, he picked out his toothbrush and toothpaste.

"I'm gonna brush my teeth and just go lay it down out there. I'm gonna set my alarm for every three hours to come wake you up, so don't punch me or anything when I come in during the middle of the night."

I laughed and smiled at him. Once again, he was looking extremely handsome. It's still a mystery as to how this is just now grasping my attention. His eyes were everything. I loved playing in his hair and his lips...just looking at them reminded me of how amazing they felt last night.

"Izzy, you alright?"

The waving of his hands in front of my face brought me back.

"Yeah, my bad. I was just thinking. Anyway, thank you for hanging out here tonight. I really appreciate it. See you in three hours I guess."

He nodded and showed off his perfect smirking smile before showing himself out.

Although I could still feel the irritating, itchy and mildly painful feeling of my stitches and my nose, I was gone as soon as the lights were out and I was underneath the covers.

Three hours went by quickly. Lonzo came in around midnight to wake me up. He squatted down so that we were face to face. He analyzed me for a minute, looking for those signs of concussion. I let him know that I was fine and left back out. That's when I notice he was shirtless.

Izzy, chill out and take your ass back to bed.

I had felt like I was just getting into that good sleep when I was woken by the sound of my door opening. Three hours sure went by quick when you're sleeping good.

"It's been three hours already?" I mumbled and groaned.

"Yeah, sorry," he squatted down in front of me for the second time tonight, "I hate to keep waking you up like this, "how are you feeling? Head hurting? Feeling nauseous? Dizzy? Anything off?"

"No, thank God. This is just sore," I circled the t-zone of my face.

"Yeah, that's where you bumped yourself real good," he nodded with a smile, "okay cool. I'll be back."

My eyes got caught up in looking at his, which kept him from standing up.

He chuckled lightly, "What?"

He's so cute. The fact that he's really taking 'taking care of me' serious was even more adorable.

"Izzy?"

His voice now low, with a smooth baritone.

"Yeah?"

We both leaned in toward each other at the same time. Our lips met. Instead of a simple peck , Zo massed his lips against mine.

Here I was getting that feeling from last night all over again. Butterflies. Breath being drawn out of me.

All from a kiss.

We pulled apart. Simply staring at each other.

"So...I'll um...check on you in another few hours," he stood up, "yep, I will."

He headed towards the door, obviously nervous and anxious about what transpired. I was feeling the same, but was easily able to hide that underneath my comforter.

"Zo," I called out in hopes of ceasing any further movement.

He turned around, "what's up?"

I quietly took a deep breath, thinking of what I was thinking to say would be the right thing to do.

Screw it. It's how I feel.

"Will you stay in here with me?"

Though dark in the room, I could see his facial expression change to one of surprise.

"Um, yeah. You sure?"

I nodded, "Yeah, it'll just be easier for you to wake me up and I know the couch is uncomfortable and-"

"And you simply just want me too," he grinned, "just say it."

"Shut up," I picked up a pillow and threw it at him, "before I change my mind."