#1 In the Company of a Stranger (A fanfic-complete)

Toxic

The day of the NFC championship game against the Falcons, we watched with a house full of Odell's people.  I invited Nylah, who showed up in an old Rashad Jennings #23 Giants jersey. Her favorite jersey which she had owned for years and wore whenever she showed up to root for the home team.

"Umm. You couldn't afford a Beckham Jersey? Had to pick up a raggedy 25 dollar retired jersey?" Odell joked. Nylah cut her eyes at him and stuck out her tongue. "Nah I'm repping my hubby just like Cas. That 6'1 glass of muscular milk chocolate is gona be all mine one day. So shut up."

"Uh... You know big bruh Rashad's gonna be here tonight." Odell volunteered, smirking at Nylah's jersey.  Her eyes got real big real quick.  "What?? Really???"

"Nah. Just kidding." Odell chuckled as Nylah swat at him and he dodged.

"Why would you get my hopes up like that?" Nylah whined.  Then she paused.  "But you know him so you could introduce a sista though right? I mean you are in the business of hook ups... By the way how's it going with you and Mike Holston, Cas?"

Nylah bat her eyes at Odell innocently as he cut his eyes at her.  "Smart ass. And I really was about to give Rashad the good word... but oh well now."

"I'm just playing Odell."

"Nope too late."

"Really??"

"Yep."

I laughed getting up from my place next to Odell on the couch as the doorbell rang again.  As soon as I opened the door, I knew the night had just taken a turn for the worst.

My mom was standing on the doorstep with a bowl of potato salad and a pan of her famous macaroni and cheese.  Tyler was by her side dressed appropriately in his favorite Odell Beckham Giants Jersey. "Hey Sissy!"

But Leslie was dressed in a Julio Jones #11 Falcons jersey. "Really mom?? You have to go home and change."

Leslie huffed and pushed past me following Tyler through the door. "Why? This is a football party.  I'm wearing a football jersey."

"For the other team!!" I yelled exasperated as I followed her into the house.

"Watch your tone Cassandra." My mother scolded causing me to pin my lips.  Then she looked down at her jersey innocently.  "I'm from Atlanta.  Why wouldn't I root for them?"

"In Odell's house?" I shook my head as I continued to follow my mother inside through the foyer to the den and kitchen at the back of the house.  Heather saw my mom's chosen attire first and her face said it all.  However they both gritted their teeth and greeted each other graciously before Heather took the pan and the bowl from my mother into the kitchen.

Nylah eyed my mother's jersey next before hugging her hello.  "Ms. Leslie, you look... nice."

"Thank you dear." She kissed Nylah on the cheek.  Nylah leaned over to me and whispered, "apparently Ms Leslie didn't get the memo that Odell plays for the Giants. I mean Julio Jones' fine ass IS hubby number 2 but really?"

Leslie walked in to say hello to Sr and the rest of Odell's family.  None of them seemed to know what to make of her. Last she begrudgingly said hello to Odell.  He got up off the couch, limped over, and hugged her, completely ignoring what she was wearing.  "Ma in law."

"Odell." Leslie replied curtly, rolling her eyes at his chosen title for her.

I sat down next to him again when he returned to the couch.  "Sorry for that."

"Sorry about what?" He was staring at the screen, back into the game.

"My mom's jersey."

"Whatever.  I got mad respect for Jones.  Talented receiver.   Good humble guy.  Got a signed one myself." Odell smirked at me and then turned back to the television.