“Your brother and I didn’t share the same major. Drake did media studies and I did political science. The difference in our majors had no effect on our friendship. I think Drake and I would have been friends even if we hadn’t had football in common.”
Harmony adored how much Barrett loved her brother. It was one of the things she admired the most about him. He was loyal to Drake, and Drake hadn’t experienced much in the way of loyalty and friendship growing up. There were the guys in gangs who had claimed to be his friends, who wanted him—no, more like coaxed him—to be a part of what they considered their brotherhood. To someone like Drake, who had been displaced and had grown up fatherless, that kind of male leadership had appealed.
Mama had told him absolutely not and had told him she’d kick his ass. Fortunately, he’d had football to focus on, to keep him honest and straight. Along with Mama, who had been fierce with her love as well as her discipline.
Once out of high school and into college, he’d had football, his studies and loyal friends like Barrett to keep him focused.
She was grateful.
“He’s lucky to have someone like you in his life.”
“I don’t know. I’ve always felt like the lucky one.”
Harmony got an inkling right then of why Barrett was so hesitant to do anything with her. Barrett had to know how protective Drake was over the family, and especially her. Barrett was also protective of his friendship with Drake and wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize it. And she’d never want to do that, either.
But he was also going to have to understand she was her own woman, with a life separate from her brother’s.
It was going to be a dilemma.
“Harmony.”
She turned to see Lachelle walking toward her. She didn’t know how her friend did it with everything going on in her life, but she was gorgeous, with her long black hair in dreads and her painted red lips and her long legs encased in a sunny copper dress. She looked as bright and beautiful as she had back in college.
“Girl, it has been too long,” Harmony said.
Harmony embraced her friend in a tight hug.
“I know,” Lachelle said. “Totally my fault. Between Davis and the twins and work, I’m buried. I’m so sorry I had to cancel our girls night out a few weeks ago.”
“Don’t even worry about it. Next time we’ll do a playdate on a Saturday with you and the kids. I want to see them anyway.”
“Sounds like a plan. And then we’ll leave the kids with Davis and we’ll go have margaritas.”
Harmony grinned. “An even better plan.”
Lachelle turned to Barrett. “I’m sorry, Barrett. It was rude of me to ignore you.”
Barrett gave Lachelle a wide smile. “Not a problem. I know better than to get in the way of two friends getting reacquainted.”
“This much is true. Anyway, I’m so glad you came today. The kids are so excited to see you.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing them.”
“Then let’s get started. Why don’t you head to the gym, and I’ll gather up the kids.”
Harmony went with Barrett into the gym. Bleachers were set up and Barrett had a podium with a built-in microphone.
“Nervous?” she asked.
He let out a short laugh. “No. I’ve done this before. And I like kids. They’re always honest and will tell you exactly what’s on their minds.”
She turned to face him. “So you prefer someone being forthright. Telling you what they want. What they’re thinking.”
“Yeah. Makes it easier, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.”
She was about to tell him exactly what she wanted, but the doors opened and an influx of middle schoolers poured in.
Definitely not the right time. She stepped away so Barrett and Lachelle could take the podium.
Once all the kids had taken seats on the bleachers, Lachelle stepped up to the podium and the microphone.
“Good afternoon. As you know, we often have industry leaders and people who we feel can relate to what you’re all going through. Today, I’m so pleased to introduce Barrett Cassidy, a player with our own Tampa Bay Hawks.”
There was loud applause, and, Harmony noted, squeals from the girls.
She couldn’t blame them.
Barrett came out from behind the podium.
“I speak loud enough; I don’t think I’ll need the microphone.”
He got close to the kids and pulled out one of the metal chairs, sitting down in front of them.
“I’m not going to blow smoke up your asses and tell you all that I know what any of you have been through.”
Harmony looked over at Lachelle, who shrugged at Barrett’s use of profanity.