Stay in Your Lane | Lonzo Ball

Chapter 12

 Lonzo

Izzy and I hung out with Bryce and Gerrold for another hour or so before heading back to campus. I remained undefeated in 2K and even had Izzy slick cheering for me while did my thing. Having her around created this positive, comfortable, natural vibe that could easily make me forget about all that was negative.

As we both listened to her playlist as she drove, I replayed our conversation. Her insight on energy was something that intrigued my mind. Maybe it was that she was older? But it's not like she's thirty or something. Twenty-two. They way she spoke and her thought process was extremely mature. She could be fun and silly at the same time though. I loved that dynamic. It was something that I wasn't used to but found more attractive that her looks which are stunning in itself.

She was on to something. The vibe between Daina and I had been changing for a minute. Every time we talked or were around each other she found something to argue about. I don't know what's gotten into her. The popularity I was continuing to gain was nothing new. It all started in high school. I still made her my top priority with basketball and still do to this. I love that girl, but lately it's been feeling like love wasn't enough for her.

She pulled up to my building to drop me off, but I insisted on having her drive around to her building so that I could walk her up to her room. The two residential suites weren't far from each other at all. I could handle a quick five minute walk.

I noticed a couple of people hanging out by their cars when we pulled up. It was only 11:30, so that was a pretty common sight on a college campus.

I offered to carry a gym bag, Izzy retrieved from the backseat. She smiled at the gesture, locked her doors and tossed her UCLA Adidas backpack over her shoulder.

"Harper #4," I read the embroidered name and number on the bag underneath the school logo as she walked in front of me, "God bless you and your mamma girl, sheesh."

She looked back at me and laughed, "Shut up, you are so annoying."

As we continued to walk, I noticed someone walking toward our direction. It seemed like as we got closer their pace sped up. It was then that I noticed it was Nate, Izzy's ex. She was too busy looking down at her phone to notice.

"Izzy," he called her name to grasp her attention.

She looked up and immediately rolled her eyes. He stopped directly in front of her, blocking her path. She stopped, shifted all of her weight to one leg and folded her arms across her chest.

"Move," she said in a dry tone.

His eyes immediately went over to me, giving a death stare.

He looked back at Izzy, "I came by to see you and you out hanging out with this nigga. Really Iz?"

She chuckled and shook her head, "bye Nate."

He stuck his hand out, grabbing her arm when she tried to walk around him. My body tensed up and I felt my hands ball up into fists.

"Why you with this nigga? Why he going with you to your room?" he spoke through his teeth.

At this point he had pulled Izzy closer and up towards him. This is my second time seeing him grab up on her like that, making me believe that it was a common practice of his.

"Nate, move," she jerked away from him, "go the fuck away, seriously."

He went to reach for her again, but I stepped in front on Izzy to his surprise.

"The lady said get out of her way. She's not taking to kindly to you grabbing up on her and neither am I," I said.

"Get the fuck out my face before I whoop your ass bro," he laughed, "rich boy. I told you to stay away from her."

"Come on, Zo. I'm tired," Izzy called for me as she walked ahead.

She reached her hand back for me, which I could tell irritated his soul when I grabbed it then locked arms with her like we had done before.

"Really Izzy? So you choosing this fuck boy over me? That's what you do?" he called out as we continued to walk.

"Just ignore him. He's so pathetic," she shook her head.

"He's obsessed with you," I laughed, "you got that nigga looking crazy."

She shrugged, "he is crazy. One of many reasons that I don't deal with him anymore. Controlling plus being delusional and obsessive equals crazy."

"Elaborate?" I asked once we walked up the steps to her floor.

She sighed, unlocking the door, "long story. You don't have time."

"I do. I actually wanted to hang for awhile. Not only because I've been enjoying our conversations tonight but I don't want homebody giving you any problems once he sees me leave."

"Yeah, I kinda wanted you to hang back too because he probably has every intention on hanging out there to start shit when you leave. I don't trust him to be too mature. It's asking for too much."

"That's cool."

We walked inside. It smelled great. Her place had the same layout as mine. She shared all but her bathroom and single room with her one roommate. Way more tidy and decorative than mine and Mani's. She invited me into her room. I sat down on towards the end of the bed. She had this whole bohemian thing going with her comforter, various pillows, curtains, rug and decor of cool looking elephants hanging up on her wall. Very colorful, warm and stylish. I liked it.

She kicked off her shoes, grabbed some clothes from her dresser and left out to go to the bathroom before returning in basketball shorts and a t-shirt.

"You want anything? Water, snacks?" she offered, "the fridge is-"

The sound of her phone erupting in chimes cut her off. She picked it up and started scrolling and shaking her head before handing it to me. The name atop the text thread was made me laugh.

Do Not Answer 🙄: I'm beating his ass when he comes back out. Who tf does he think he is?

Do Not Answer🙄: I run shit around here. He better learn his place.

Do Not Answer 🙄: are you fucking him? Tell me the truth.

Do Not Answer 🙄: I want you back, Izzy. I love you.

"You have dude fucked up," I said, handing it back to her, "he's spent."

"I shouldn't have unblocked his number. Ain't nobody paying any mind to him. I'll never go back to him."

"May I ask why?"

She sighed and sat down criss-crossed at the top of her bed, "he just didn't treat me like I was supposed to be treated. Everything started off great, like it typically does, then about a nine months into it he became controlling and aggressive. He never liked me being around any other guys. Gerrold was a major problem for him even though that was like my best friend. He didn't like me being with Chat too much either. It's like he wanted me all to himself all the time."

"Sounds like he has some insecurity issues too," I added.

She nodded, "yeah. I believe that. I don't know why I put up with his shit, but the last straw was when he got too aggressive with me."

"He hit you?"

She nodded, "smacked me right across my face clear as day."

"Damn Izzy. I'm sorry about that."

"No need. I left his ass and never looked back. I couldn't allow myself to stick around and put up with no shit like that," she said, "then of course he kept trying to work his way back in. I went for it for a little while but I couldn't allow myself to get back with him. The hitting and the cheating was too much for me to sweep under the rug."

"Well good for you, Iz. You deserved better than that."

She nodded, "that's why I'm so protective of my energy and said what I said to you tonight. That's a big deal. I had too many positive things going on in my life to allow that to steal my joy and happiness."

I cracked a smile at her, "you're awesome, girl."

She shrugged, "I try. Now look, I personally don't want you going back out there tonight cause Nate is nuts...so...you can crash here if you want."

"I'll take the couch. I don't think you're ready to have all of this in your bed yet."

"Boy please," she laughed, "you'd never get in my bed anyway if it was the last bed on Earth."

We stayed up until almost one in the morning just talking. Basketball, life, relationships, music, the future. You name it. I can't remember the last time I did this. It was a form of mental and intellectual stimulation from a woman that had been lacking in my life.

Once I noticed her eyes getting heavy, I left her to get some rest retrieving a pillow from her bed and blanket from her closet like she directed me to.

Their couch was actually comfy. As soon as I laid down and found a comfy position, I was knocked out.
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"Zo?!"

I heard my name called as soon as I entered my home located on the outskirts of Los Angeles. That voice brought an automatic smile to my face and sounded like music to my ears.

"Hey, I'm home!" I called out.

I sat my bags down on the floor and let the door close behind me, anxious to see the woman I was currently sharing my world with.

The sound of footsteps grew closer. Izzy rounded the corner in an over sized Lakers t-shirt and LA Sparks shorts that were a little more fitted. Once she saw me, she ran into my arms and jumped up, wrapping her legs around my waist.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too," I smiled at her reaction as I held her up. She kissed my cheeks then my lips, "It smells good in here. What you got going on?"

She let herself down and walked to the kitchen. I followed behind her, smacking her butt a few times along the way.

"Chicken parm, garlic bread and salad," she said, "it'll be ready by the time you shower and change clothes. How was your flight?"

"It was straight. I slept most of the time. It was long as hell though. I'm just happy to be back in my own bed for a little while."

"Well, good thing you guys won or it would've made it that much worse," she smiled and stood up on her tiptoes for another kiss, "go ahead. I'll set the table and have your plate ready."

I took her hand and kissed the back of it, my attention being drawn to the massive diamond ring that decorated her finger.