chapter thirty-seven

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It was a week later and Rashir, Mateo, and Nico were messing around during practice while they waited for Coach to get off a phone call. They didn't have a game this week, but Coach was still working them like they did.

"I'm tired bruh, can we go?" Nico whined.

"For real, we've been here since 12," Mateo cosigned. Rashir was too busy texting Lourdes, cheesing at his phone to realize they were having a conversation.

: Babyyy

Lo ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ’•: hm?

: You busy on friday?

Lo๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ’•: no sir

Lo๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ’•: why?

: I wanna take you out somewhere

Lo๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ’•: oooo where?

: I'm not telling you girl

: Just be ready by 7 Imma come scoop you

Lo๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ’•: okay ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

"Look at this nigga cheesing at his phone like a simp," Nico joked and Rashir put his phone down, realizing they were looking at him.

"Huh? You said sumn?"

Mateo and Nico collectively rolled their eyes, used to this. Ever since Rashir and Lourdes started dating, they caught him daydreaming multiple times throughout the day and whenever he was texting with a smile on his face, they knew he was talking to Lourdes.

"You so pussy whipped, and you ain't even getting no pussy," Mateo teased him and Rashir hit him on his arm.

"Shut up bruh," Rashir rolled his eyes at the two who were snickering. Thankfully, Coach came back to save him from their teasing.

"Alright y'all, I know everyone wants to go home so I only have one more announcement to make. I have to fly back home for a couple of days so there won't be practice until next Wednesdayโ€”" He was cut off by the collective cheers of the teamโ€”Nico being the loudest.

Rashir was relieved, he wouldn't have to wake up early on the weekend and he would have more time to spend with Lourdes.

He had quickly realized that being together in the Bahamas was very different than being together at home. With his practices, schoolwork, games combined with her schoolwork and work schedule, they didn't have much time to see each other. He had his first game since they had come back from vacation next Friday and she had promised she'd be in the crowd watching. He was pretty sure she had asked for that day off at the diner so he felt bad, but he couldn't help but also feel happy that she was coming.

Coach finished up his announcement by letting them know that he still expected them to work out and act as if they still had practice by eating healthy but Rashir and half of the team had tuned him out by then. Coach dismissed them and they all headed to the locker rooms, eager to change out of their clothes and get home. Rashir had taken his own car to campus instead of riding with Mateo and Nico like he usually did because he had to check in with one of his professors after practice and he didn't need them waiting on him.

He quickly changed into some sweats and dabbed them up, saying he'd see them at home later. He exited the gym and jogged to his anatomy class, pulling open the doors and entering the halls.

Rashir had wanted to become a physical therapist for as long as he could remember. When he was in the 7th grade, he dislocated his patella which is in his knee and he was forced to attend physical therapy for a couple of months. Rashir had expected to be stuck with some over-enthusiastic, annoying person who'd force him to do things that he didn't feel like doing, but he was surprised when a black man in his mid 20's came to the front of the building and called his name when it was time for his appointment.

Devonโ€”his physical therapist, quickly became the reason he enjoyed his visits every week and they bonded, making Rashir feel like his recovery flew by. From then on, he wanted to help people the way Devon helped him. Rashir knew how it felt to not be able to play the game you love because of an injury, so he knew he'd be able to relate and bond to his patients if he did become a PT.

Once he sorted everything he needed to sort out with his professor, he exited the room and made his way to his car, tired and looking forward to eating some of his leftovers from the other night.

Rashir knocked on the door of Lourdes's apartment, waiting for someone to answer it. It was Friday and he was picking her up for their date that he had thoroughly planned out. He remembered that a couple of months ago she mentioned that she wanted to try ice skating at the rink that popped up every winter in Downtown Silver Spring, but she'd always been too scared to go, so she never went. He already called to reserve them spaces for 7:30 and after that, they were going to one of her favorite restaurants which was Nando's. He'd asked her if she was free to spend the night at his house after and she'd agreed, so he was very excited since they hadn't spent the night together since the Bahamas.

Rashir was a little nervous about the entire night. He hoped that she would like the plans that he had made and he would feel bad if she spent the entire night being dragged around to do things she didn't want to do. His thoughts were interrupted when Lourdes opened her door, smiling when she saw him.

"Hi bubba,"

"Hi pretty girl," He smiled back, looking at her outfit. She was wearing a letterman jacket she'd stolen from him, a white top, and flared pants. Her face had minimal makeup on it and her body looked snatched. When she turned around to grab her bag he forced himself not to look downward and cleared his throat.

She yelled into the apartment that she'd be back in the morning and he heard Nala yell back an 'Okay'. She closed the door softly behind her and locked it, finally turning around to face him and reaching up to kiss him. She was getting better at remembering to give him kisses without him fussing at her. He reached for her bag that she was carrying, almost dropping it in shock when he realized how heavy it was.

"The hell in here?" He chuckled.

"I need stuff if I'm spending the night," She shrugged, reaching for his hand and beginning to pull him towards the elevators, "Now tell me where we're going! Did I dress okay? You just told me to dress casual and I didn't know what that meant," She rambled on.

"Relax baby, you look goodโ€”very good actually," He licked his lips while looking her up and down once again.

"Stop," She blushed while hitting his chest. He tried to tell her every day how pretty was, but she still struggled to accept his compliments. He had made it his mission to make her more confident and it seemed like she was slowly getting there.

"I'm jus' saying girl, gimme another kiss," He leaned down and she gladly gave him another one.

The elevator reached the parking garage and they made their way to Rashir's car, hurriedly since it was cold. He opened the passenger side door for her and she thanked him, sliding in. Once she was safely inside, he jogged to the drivers' side and got in, placing her bag in the backseat and turning on the car. He had learned his lesson from the last time and immediately handed her the aux so she could play the music she wanted without any protests. He pulled out of the garage and merged onto the main road while a Giveon song he recognized played.

"Why can't you tell me where we're going again?" She whined.

"Why can't you be patient girl? We'll be there in a couple minutes, it ain't that far," He assured her. When he stopped at a red light, he turned to face her and found her already staring at him with something in her eyes that he couldn't distinguish.

"What?"

"Nothing," She replied quickly in a high-pitched tone, making him suspicious.

"Lo."

"It's nothing, you just look nice, that's all," She blushed again. He smirked at the fact that she was clearly still nervous around him, finding it cute. He leaned over and pecked her on the lips quickly before the light turned green, suddenly feeling the need to kiss her.

"How was yo' day?" He asked and she immediately huffed, making him laugh, "What happened? Whose ass I gotta beat?" He questioned.

"My manager's! She keeps playing with my money like it's funny!" She exclaimed.

"Whatchu mean? What she do?" He replied, confused.

"I told her, I can't work next Friday 'cause of your game right?" She paused and he nodded, letting her know he was still listening, "When I told her she was being all funny, acting like she couldn't get anyone else to cover my shift when I know for a fact that Hakeem said he was free! So then later when she posted the new schedule, I go and look at it and says I'm only scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday?! I was so mad bubba, cause it was obvious she only cut my hours because she was mad that I couldn't work on Friday," She finished her rant.

"Did you ask her 'bout it?" He asked and she nodded.

"When I did she told me it was 'cause Genesis asked for some of her shifts back when I know she didn't. She was just lying through her damn teeth," Lourdes sucked her own teeth, crossing her arms as she sat back in her seat.

"I'm sorry baby, you don't have to come to the game if it's fucking wit' yo' schedule that much," He assured her. He was starting to feel bad that she was going through this much trouble just to see him play.

"No! It's not your fault bubba, she's always been like this. I've been looking at other jobs anyways. I was lowkey thinking about applying to Hooters," She said, making him whip his head around at her with wide eyes and she burst out laughing.

"Stop playing Lo," He grumbled, "I'll be damned if you gotta go to work in that skimpy ass uniform,"

"Skimpy? Who even uses that word anymore grandpa," She teased.

"You only 1 year younger than me bruh, chill out,"

"Weren't you born in the '90s? You're basically on your deathbed,"

He straight-faced her while she laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

"I'm just kidding," She giggled, "My professor was telling me about a job opening for a teaching assistant at an elementary school not that far from me though. She told me to apply online and she'd put in a good word for me since she knows someone that works at the school," She explained. Rashir remembered her telling him that she wanted to be an elementary school teacher. She was majoring in elementary education and minoring in child development.

"You gon' be working with badass kids all day,"

"No I'm not! I'm gonna be working with adorable wittle kindergarteners all day,"

"Well that's good baby, you gon' quit at the diner then?" He asked and she nodded.

"Mhm, I'm been working there for years now and it's time for me to move on," She replied, "Enough about me, how was your day bubba?"

"It was boring as hell," He chuckled, "I went to practice and my Spanish class but that was it,"

"Are you excited for the game? Who are you guys playing again? I forgot already,"

"We playing LSU. They a good ass team, so I'm kinda nervous," He admitted, "But Coach working our asses off so I know we not gon' lose," He said confidently.

"What's LSU?" Lourdes asked with furrowed brows.

"Louisiana State," He laughed at her confusion, "All they sports teams are good as fuck, they almost played us in the championships last year but they lost a game against Villanova so they didn't," He explained and she nodded along like she knew what he was talking about. She was clueless when it came to anything basketball, but she was trying to learn more about it since she was officially a 'Basketball Girlfriend,'

"Oh okay," She replied, knowing she'd have to look up what 'Villanova' was later. They spend the rest of the car ride chatting about small things, and before they knew it, Rashir was pulling into the parking garage and paying for a parking ticket.

"Why are we here? What are we doing? Can you tell me now?" She begged.

"Relax, we gon' be there in a second," He told her as they got out of the car. When she climbed out of her seat, he jogged to her side of the car and waited for her to get out, holding his hand out and she happily grabbed it. He locked the car and they walked hand in hand to the elevator. When they got to the main level, they exited the parking garage and when Rashir pulled her in the direction of the skating rink, she audibly gasped and squealed.

"We're going ice skating?!" She hit his arm and he nodded, smiling at how excited she looked. "Wait," Her expression changed to a worried one and he became concerned, "What if I fall?"

"You not gon' fall baby, if you do I'ma catch you," He assured her as they got into the line to wait for their skates. The line moved pretty quickly and they were up next within a couple of minutes. Rashir told the lady that he had called ahead of time and she gave them their skates, also asking if they wanted a skating aid. Lourdes opened her mouth to say yes but Rashir quickly cut her off, letting the lady know that they didn't.

"Why'd you do that! That skating penguin thing will be helpful," She whined.

"Girl that shit is meant for 4 year olds. Look," He pointed at a child, using the skating penguin to help skate while trying not to fall. She rolled her eyes, huffing as they made their way to the area where they could put on their skates. They both sat down and put their skates on, putting their shoes in the locker he rented along with the rest of their things. Lourdes struggled to tie hers up and looked at Rashir, giving him a pouty face with puppy dog eyes, and he sighed, getting on his knees to help her. When they both got their skates on, Rashir let Lourdes grab onto him while they walked towards the rink. He stepped onto the ice, steadying himself immediately, and looked back at Lourdes who nervously looked around behind the entrance.

"Baby come on, you not gon' fall, I promise," He waved her over and she hesitantly stepped onto the ice, wobbling a bit before she reached out and clung to him. "See, I told you, it's easy," He guided her forward while she still looked nervous. They went around the rink once, and the second time Lourdes chose to let go of him and hold onto the railing instead. Rashir was skating a foot away from her, just in case she fell.

"Why are you moving away from the railing..." She pointed out, giving him a suspicious look.

"Cause you clinging to that shit like a damn child," He fussed, "Come here," He beckoned her over and she pouted. "Lo come on, it's only a couple feet," He insisted and she groaned, letting go of the railing and inching toward him slowly. When she made it to him, he grabbed her hand and made sure she was steady before slowly pushing off on his feet and directing her to do the same. Once she got the hang of skating by herself, they skated around the rink until they both became cold and exited the rink to change into their shoes.

"See? Didn't you have fun?" He asked.

"Mhm, thank you for bringing me," She reached up to kiss him with a happy smile on her face.

After they changed their shoes and gathered the rest of their things, Rashir pulled her into the direction of Nando's, which was only a 5-minute walk away from the skating rink. When she looked up and noticed where they were, she became visibly excited since it was her favorite restaurant. She was obsessed with the garlic bread and their lemonade. Every single time she ate at Nando's, she ordered the same thing which was a chicken caesar wrap, garlic bread, and the pineapple lemonade.

Rashir had made them a reservation at 8:15, but they still had to wait in a pretty long line before they made it to the hostess. The line was going out of the door behind them which made sense since it was a Friday night. Rashir was standing with his arm wrapped around Lourdes and his hand rested on her waist, while she leaned into him since she was cold. She was on her phone while they waited, but he was simply staring ahead. She tapped his chest to get his attention and he looked down, confused.

Their height difference was pretty big, she was 5'4 and he was 6'3, so he was basically a foot taller than him. Whenever she wore heels the difference was smaller, but he liked to tease her about how small she was all the time.

She held her phone up so he could see what she was talking about, and he squinted at the screen, trying to see what she was showing him. It was 2 pictures of someone's nails side by side.

"Which ones should I get? I'm getting my nails done on Sunday and I can't choose," She asked him and he grabbed her phone from him so he could see better. The first one was a simple set with long, white, coffin-shaped acrylics and there were diamonds on the middle nail. The second set was shorter and baby pink, coffin nails that he didn't like as much as the first one she had shown him.

"Get the white ones, I like when yo' nails long," He advised while handing her back her phone. She nodded and went back to looking down on her phone while the line barely moved an inch. A couple more minutes passed and they moved closer to the host stand, which Rashir was happy about because he was starving. He'd barely eaten anything the entire day besides some snacks after practice and he was looking forward to grubbing.

He looked around the restaurant, surveying it when his eyes stopped at a guy that was staring at Lourdesโ€”hard. The kid couldn't have been older than 17, but he was practically burning a hole

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