Wicked Love 3 (Kyle Kuzma)

50

Thursday, March 10th, 2022

Kyle 🏀

I'm sitting in the hotel lounge with Bron. It's just the two of us sitting here, scrolling through our phones. Then he locks his and starts talking.

"What's up with you Kuz?" He asked.

I lock my phone and sigh. "Haven't heard from Ari in a week."

He furrows his eyebrows. "What?"

"Exactly what I said." I exclaim.

"She can't be that mad." He said.

"She can. Trust me when I say she can." My eyes widen for emphasis.

"Have you tried calling?"

I shake my head.

"So what makes you think she's gonna call first?" He asked.

I shrug. "She'll call if something is wrong."

"Right. But if you don't make an effort, she's not gonna make an effort." He said.

"Childish shit." I rub my forehead.

He sighs. "Call her man."

"I can't."

"That's your wife Kyle." He said. "It don't matter who's mad at who, fix that shit before it gets worse."

I exhale.

"The longest Vannah and I went without talking to each other was 2 days; if even that." He said, holding up two fingers. "But Ari went an entire week without talking to you. Something is definitely wrong and you need to figure it out."

"She doesn't talk to me though." I mumble.

"Just be that listening ear for her. You know what I'm saying?" I nod. "Just hear her out. Analyze. Find a solution. Simple communication."

I nod again. "You right."

"I know I'm right, shit." He said, sitting back in his seat. "Ain't no way I'm gone let my wife stay mad at me."

I chuckle at that. Savannah has that look on her face that screams 'I don't tolerate no shit'. Her face speaks volumes. Ari's does too, but she's a lot more vocal.

*****

I watch the FaceTime ring for a third time before it's picked up...and I'm staring at the ceiling.

"Hello?"

Ooh, she sounds like shit.

"What's up with you?"
"Nothing."
"Why do you sound like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like...that."

She coughs and I know she's sick. I kinda hate myself for letting it go on this long.

"Does that answer your question?"
"Sure does."

I listen to her sniffle and I cringe. She sounds so bad.

"What do you want?"
"I wanted to check on you. See how you're doing."
"Not too great."
"I can see that."

I can't see her face, but I know she probably rolled her eyes.

"I'm tired of looking at the ceiling. Can I see your face please?"
"I look like shit."
"You sound like it too. Fix the camera."

I listen to her grumble, before the camera is positioned so I can see her. Her entire body is in the camera, not just her face. I take in her appearance and she really looks like she's going through it. Hair in a messy ponytail, in a tie-dye hoodie, with sweats on. Her nose is a slight tint of red, and her cheeks to match. Her eyes looked a little puffy as well.

Oh man.

"What?"
"What?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm analyzing."
"Well stop. It's creepy."
"So admiring my wife is creepy?"
"Don't kiss ass. You know you're on my shit list."
"For how much longer?"

She sniffles and I frown.

"How did this happen?"
"The sickness?"

I nod.

"Well, Mother Nature stopped by and said 'you shall bear witness to the scheme of the spring'. Then poof, I'm sick."
"Spring starts next month though."
"Not when you have seasonal allergies."
"So it's allergies?"
"Get off my phone."
"I've never seen you go through this."
"The one time I stop medication is for the purpose of making sure my kids are safe. Other than that, you weren't really with me when I was going through them."
"We'd been together for a year...before everything happened. There's no way I couldn't have noticed."
"Mmm."

Silence ensues and it kills me. Just because she has a cold doesn't mean she has to be cold. But leave it to Ariana to exhaust the shit out of the situation.

"I take it you haven't been taking the medication."
"How did you know?"

I roll my eyes at her sarcasm.

"I love you, but I will have no problem beating ya ass."
"Let's see how long that lasts."

I sigh, rubbing my forehead. Then I run my hand down my face.

"Do you need anything?"
"Sanity."
"Medicine wise Ari."
"No."
"Do you have tea?"
"Yes."
"How's that working for you?"
"I still sound like this right?"

I narrow my eyes at her and she shrugs.

Just the same old Ari.

*****

"So how did it go?" Bron asked.

"She's sick." I respond, locking my phone after texting Ari. "Woke up with a raging headache yesterday. Turned into a full blown cold this morning."

"Oh no."

I sigh, sitting down on the couch. "Yeah."

"What are you gonna do?" He asked.

"What can I do? She won't let me do anything." I exclaim.

"Just be there for her." He said. "She's gonna push you away, that's what women do, but you have to keep doing your part."

I sigh, sitting back against the seat. "I'm sorry Bron, I ain't mean to bring you into my nonsense."

He waves me off. "I'm all for helping my people out. I don't like to see anyone in the dog house."

I chuckle and dap him up. "Thanks bro."

"No problem."

I really appreciate Bron's help. He has been married for a minute, so he understands what I'm going through right now. Ari's not my baby mama anymore, nor is she my girlfriend, she's my wife. Someone who holds my heart in her hand as I do hers.

"When she hung up the phone, did she say she loved you?" He asked.

I nod. "She mumbled it at first, but I had her repeat herself because she knows I don't like when I can't hear her."

He chuckles at that. "Vannah would do the same thing."

I roll my eyes. "That shit gets me mad."

He laughs. I just shake my head because there's no way that I should be unable to hear her. She makes herself loud and clear during a disagreement, but wants to mumble as soon as I approach her about the situation.

I still love her though, and I just hate to see her so upset.