Preseason Love by Ahyiana Angel Read Free Book Online Page A

know that I really did want to be with you.
    11:11 AM SassyScottT: How many times have we been through this?
    11:11 AM SassyScottT: I’m gone now and you were never willing to give me what I wanted or needed so I moved on.
    11:12 AM IVANdaMan: But you had to move so far away?
    11:13 AM SassyScottT: Absolutely.
    There was a long pause in the conversation. My stomach was in knots and my silk blouse suddenly started clinging to my body in what felt like a restrictive hold. My temperature had risen and sweat beads were forming on my neck. I could only imagine that he was trying to decide what to say next. I repeated to myself overand over, whatever he has to say it does not really matter. My life was moving on and his problem was that he thought I would be around forever for him to string along, but I got smart and got out.
    11:20 AM IVANdaMan: Well, I guess there is nothing left for me to say.
    11:21 AM SassyScottT: Take care, Ivan.
    On the outside, I tried to act tough like I was happy not having Ivan in my life, but if I were to be honest, it hurt. Of course I thought about him. I remembered the fun times and I fantasized about what it would have been like if he had stepped up to be the man I wanted him to be. I probably wouldn’t have moved to New York. I was fully aware that in leaving Los Angeles, I was running from my past and trying to start over with a clean slate. Maybe I’d admit it to him one day, but for now I’d chat with Dev.
    I grabbed my cell and went to the lobby downstairs to call Dev’s office. She worked as a buyer in women’s apparel. It was the perfect job for her since she could out-shop Ivana Trump. I felt sorry for her husband-to-be.
    Dev was normally pretty accessible on instant messenger, but this warranted a phone call and I didn’t want my new coworkers all in my business. The phone only rang once. “Devin speaking.
    â€œGuess who just hit me up?”
    â€œWho, Scottie?” Dev quickly responded.
    â€œIvan,” I snapped.
    â€œWhat the heck did he want? What did he call to say?”
    â€œHe didn’t call. You know he could never bring himself to do that. He popped up on IM asking why I left and as usual, making it about him. I shut him down and quickly ended the conversation.”
    â€œWhat does he want from you at this point? Chick, you should have blocked his butt,” Dev said, with a devious laugh.
    â€œI thought the same thing, a moment too late, though.”
    â€œDon’t let it worry you. He is trying to stay relevant in your thoughts and in your heart, so don’t play into it. You did the right thing by not letting the conversation drag on.”
    â€œYeah, you’re right,” I responded.
    Dev was the listener in The Clique so when she spoke, I listened.
    The four friends and I that comprised The Clique had been hanging together since our college days rolling around the malls of Southern California luring in cuties. We fell into each other’s worlds in school and remained tight like sisters. Everyone played a role. Dev was the mellow, easygoing one and I was the sassy one. According to our friends, I always offered my unsolicited advice and opinion. I accepted that as essentially an accurate assessment, so I owned it.
    After Dev’s pep talk, I decided to reach out to Kari. Even though we had exchanged text messages a few hours earlier—and I potentially ran the risk of looking pressed—I wanted to hear his voice. I needed to see if a simple phone interaction with him could help push Ivan out of my mind.
    As the phone began to ring, my heart simultaneously started to pound. Is it too late to hang up? Shit, my number probably already popped up on the caller ID. Suck it up, girl.
    A strong baritone voice was music to my ears. “Hey, Scottie.”
    â€œHi, Kari. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
    â€œNo, no, not at all. It’s nice to hear your voice.”
    He invited the conversation so I