Four's Game (SEU, #1) [ SAMPLE + UNEDITED FULL VERSION]

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"But listen, I think this girl is different, fam. I know I talked a lot of shit about you and your situation but I may be easing up a little about it." Trey rambled, lifting the barbell, his arms firm and steady as he raised the weights on the opposite ends of the rod.

After attending my Monday morning lecture and grabbing lunch, I dragged myself to the field for football practice. I didn't mind practice, but the last place I wanted to be was around a bunch of my boys while I was low in spirit. I'd tried to fake it, appear as if things were as they always were, fine. However, deep down inside, my mind was racing and the events of last night hadn't made the start of my day any easier. Football helped. It always did, but I was still distant and distracted. I didn't like when I got like this. Being in a mood from what someone else had to say about me meant that I cared. I could eat my pride for a moment and fully admit that I did care. I did and it was me caring that intensified my frustration towards the situation.

During the drive to the hospital, I was anxious. The drive down to the south side wasn't my problem, it was who we were going to see that was. I didn't have a problem with Tosha's father, however it seemed he had one with me. It confused me in what the root of his issue with me was if the only encounter we'd had was when he pulled us over after the family dinner yet during the events of which that took place, his tone and demeanor came off as if he hated my mere existence. I decided to center his act of indecency due to her being his daughter and any man seeing their daughter with a man like myself would be a bit hostile as well. Yet his hostility seemed like hatred and was projected in a manner that I couldn't wrap my head around.

Hearing how he spoke of me and Tosha's dealing made things clear. He hasn't been upset seeing her with a man like myself due to her being his little girl. He had been upset seeing her with a man like myself because I was...white.

The slurs that rambled on from his mouth had struck me like a bullet and were embedded in my head like a song's lyrics that had been played on repeat.

I'd never been spoken to in that manner but hardly anyone I'd ever came into contact with so I wasn't sure how to react. The words left his mouth and they hit me hard but I'd been so bewildered by the manner in which he spoke that I froze. My body was tensed and my stomach churned from uneasiness.

"So check this out. A nigga was nervous at first. I'm a star quarterback and I'm used to ladies throwing themselves at me. But it was like she wasn't even checking for me," Trey said as he brought the bar down to his chest.

My natural reaction would be motivated by anger and my temper would get the best of me. Yet, I cannot honestly say that I was angry. I was mainly puzzled and lost. Of course, his words were sick and uncalled for, but watching his state in the hospital, roughing him up would potentially harm his health further and that wasn't something I wanted to do to Tosha's father. Especially with him being her only parent.