Ready to Pivot
I decided to take Mickey’s advice since we had some down time between the game against Charlotte and our next game and hopped on a flight to New York City. I told Coach Spo that I had a family emergency and promised to be back for practice on Friday. Being the two-time Finals MVP has its perks. I took the earliest flight that I could and found myself checking into a penthouse suite at the PUBLIC hotel at 10:30 that morning. I called last night and let them know that I’d be in before normal check-in times. It was the closest hotel to NYU. Once I took my bags upstairs, I called Nico.
“You made it?”
“Yeah, just got in. You sure she’s there?”
“Si, fratello.” Nico yawned.
“I have her location. I can’t tell you specifically where she is in the building, but she’s in that building. She should be coming out around noon. At least, that’s how her schedule has been looking these past couple days.”
“Are you asleep? Don’t you have class?”
“Nah, Professor cancelled. His wife was having surgery. So, I was planning to sleep in this morning, but this seemed to be more important.”
“I appreciate you, little brother. I don’t know why I didn’t ask you earlier.”
“I forgot about it. It’s not like I stalk her. I barely checked her location in Miami. It was mostly so she could keep track of me.”
“Is there some place close by that I could kind of hang out?”
“There’s a McDonald’s across the street, but I don’t think you’ll be able to just hang out there, especially during lunch. You will definitely be spotted, Mr. 61 Points.”
“I’ll figure something out. I need to take a shower. I’ll call you back.”
Before my shower, I ask the concierge to call a car service for me. It was November, but it wasn’t very cold in New York, so I opted for dark gray jeans, a Ralph Lauren hoodie, wool beanie and a pair of aviator sunglasses. We were parked in front of the NYU bookstore. It was only about 15 minutes before I saw her. She looked very different. Nico’s voice snapped me out of it.
“Do you see her? She should be out of the building by now.”
“Yeah. She’s, uh, she’s pregnant.”
“What?!?” He yelled into the phone.
When I realized she had turned the corner, I jumped out of the car and jogged across the street. I caught sight of her walking into a salad shop. There were only four people in the place. Once she stepped to the counter to place her order, I stepped up beside her.
“It’s on me.”
She looked like she had just seen a ghost. Her hand immediately went to her stomach. Almost as if she was trying to shield it from me.
“What are you doing here, Antonio?”
“Looking for some answers. I think I’m owed some all things considered. Are you done with class for today?”
“No, but I have a break.” She sighed realizing I wasn’t leaving.
After she got her order, we walked to the car and headed back to my hotel room.
#################
The car ride was quiet. Fortunately it wasn’t long. She didn’t say anything as we took the elevator upstairs. She took a seat on the couch and opened her salad. I think this was the slowest I’ve ever seen her eat. Once she was done, she finally spoke.
“How did you find me?”
“I don’t think you have the right to ask any questions right now.” I was surprised at how calm my voice was. Inside I was more than a little pissed.
“How did you find me, Antonio?”
“I didn’t. Nico did.” She frowned in confusion.
“Apparently, you guys are still sharing your locations or whatever.”
“I forgot all about that shit.”
She rolled her eyes, as she pulled out her phone.
“Don’t be mad at him. He forgot too. Otherwise I would have been here sooner. And given your condition, I think you should continue to share your location with him. And start sharing it with me.”
“My condition? I’m not an invalid. I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah, you are. What are you about 7 months?”
“31 weeks.”
“So, that’s my kid in there?”
“One would think so.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why didn’t you tell me when I saw you?”
“Because I thought it was a false alarm. The test was negative. I got my cycle the next month and I moved on. Figured it was just stress. But then I wasn’t feeling well, so I decided to go to the doctor and it turns out I was indeed pregnant, almost thirteen weeks."
“And you didn’t feel the need to call or send a text, carrier pigeon, smoke signal? Nothing?” It was getting harder to reign in my anger.
“You were heading to Tokyo. I didn’t want you to pull out of the Olympics. Besides, from the looks of things when I last saw you, you had moved on.”
“And what? You just assumed I would never find out?”
“It worked for these past six months, didn’t it?”
"Your folks know?"
She didn't answer.
“I can’t believe you, Eva! That’s my fucking kid in there.”
“This is my kid.”
“Don’t do that. You didn’t give me a chance.”
We sat in silence for a few minutes. I didn’t know to say. I was about to be a dad in like two months. Part of me was beyond excited. Over the damn moon, but I was still so mad with her for not saying anything. And that part of me was winning out.
“You need to come back home with me.”
“Whoa! Not happening. You will not come in here making all types of demands on me. I still have to finish school.”
I took a seat on the other end of the couch.
“Are you fucking serious? School? You have to finish school? How are you going to raise our kid while you’re in school? Stop being stubborn, Eva. Damn!”
“No one is being stubborn! And I’m not here alone.” She hesitated.
“Dante is in New Jersey.”
I felt like I had just been slapped.
“Dante! Fucking Dante! Do you hear yourself? So, you were trying to get your independence from me, but it’s okay for Dante to help. Is this even my baby? Or is it his fucking baby? I mean he got drafted in April, right? So, the dates would line up. Who else have you been fucking since you left Miami?”
Then I was literally slapped.
“Fuck you, Antonio.” She stood to leave. I grabbed her arm, but quickly let it go.
“Eva, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I just don’t know what to think right now. This is a lot to process. You’ve had six months, I’ve only had a few hours. Just come home please. I want to be a father to my kid. I can’t imagine you raising him by yourself or with anybody else. Especially not Dante. Please come home. You don’t have to live with me. I’ll get you both a place.”
She didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything. We both just sat on opposite sides of the room until she looked at her watch and said she needed to get to her next class. So, I said the only other thing I could say.
“I’ll demand a trade.”
Eva still holding that grudge??? 
