Stay in Your Lane | Lonzo Ball

Chapter 33

Lonzo

It was a coincidence that as I'm pulling up on Izzy, her lame ass ex is trying to put a move on her and be extra. I'm thankful I came when I did. Although I knew Izzy could handle her own, I wanted her to know that I had her back.

I can't lie. It got under my skin to see him kissing her cheek, even though I knew she didn't reciprocate any of it. The nigga saw me and was trying to get a reaction out of me. I'm better than that though. At the end of the day, Izzy was in my car riding off with me. That's something that nigga wish he could do.

"What did you say to him?" Izzy asked, reaching towards the control system to turn down my music.

"What do you mean?" I replied, unsure of what she was referring to, " I didn't say anything to him."

"He approached me on that I'm trying to get back with you bullshit, then brought you up and said you had disrespected him. What's he talking about?"

"Oh, he's talking about earlier," I chuckled, thinking back to how stupid he looked after I said what I said.

"Okay, what happened?"

"He approached me when I was at the gym. Basically telling me that he's the star at UCLA and that I won't take that or his girl from him. I was strongly advised to stay away from you or else."

"Or else what?"

"He'll have some people take care of me."

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes, "He's really tripping. Ain't nobody scared of Nate. He ain't gonna do shit."

"That's basically what I told him and I may have said something along the lines of it ain't my fault that you couldn't keep your girl. You pressed about a freshman which makes you a lame ass nigga and whatever. Then he was like 'do you know who you're talking to' and I said 'yeah, a bitch."

"Zo!" she gasped, "you said that?"

"Hell yeah. He wasn't bout to punk me and I ain't scared of him."

She smiled at me without saying anything.

"What?" I laughed, "What you looking like that for?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, "that was kinda cute I guess. You standing up to him then pulling up and shitting on him basically. You're slick a savage."

"I've been a savage. You just didn't know."

"Oh really? Well, where is your savage ass headed?"

"To spend the night with you. Gotta nurse you back to health, remember?" I winked.

Her response was that gorgeous smile of hers. I swear no matter how many times I saw it, it always had me feeling a way.

Damn Zo, you really diggin this girl forreal. Like more than any girl you've ever really kicked it with before.

Once we were back at her room, we watched the Lakers game while she ate her food. I snuck a couple bites before she was willing to share with me. It was slick kinda sexy when she fed it to me, but of course she was trying to play it off like it wasn't like that.

While she showered, I hit up my brothers Melo and Gelo on a three way call to see what they were up to. It was the first time they'd be playing without me since we started when we were kids. We always played together, even when Melo was little and played up with me and Gelo. It was different, but I liked watching them shine. The Ball Brothers were quickly catching fire and taking over the game of basketball. My brothers were continuing to have Chino Hills High School on the national radar.

"So what's up with Izzy? She still single right?" Melo asked, "I saw her fine ass post a pic on IG today."

"You still on that nigga?" Gelo asked, "obviously you don't be catching on to what be going on."

"What you mean? I put my bid in on that already. She's feelin' me. She liked like five of my pictures yesterday."

Gelo laughed,"Give it another month or so. She's gonna be Zo's girl. I'm callin it."

"Hell naw. That's me bro," Melo argued, "Zo, if that's true you gonna have to fall back man. I want her."

"Bro you're still in high school. Ain't there some girls at Chino you like?" I laughed.

"That ain't important. I'm trying to be a man and get me a woman."

Gelo and I both busted out in laughter. Where was Melo getting this shit from?

"You see how Zo didn't argue what I said. I'm telling you, he got his eye on Izzy," Gelo reiterated.

With Gelo being closer in age with me than Melo, I was able to have more mature conversations with him. Especially about girls. Just recently, we were talking about relationships and somehow I ended up telling him all about Izzy and how much I liked her. Although he and his girlfriend were cool with Daina, what we talked about stayed between us. If anyone knew how much I was feeling her, it was him, Mani and Jerrold.

"You know what, Kailiah had texted me about you today," Melo mentioned.

"About what?" I inquired about one Daina's close friends who was always hanging around.

"Something about wanting to know if you were kicking it with anyone."

Gelo interjected, "she doing that to fish for information for Daina. Brittany be slick trying to do the same thing. I just tell her I don't know bout what you being doing bro."

"I preciate that. I don't want no drama," I said, "Brittany had texted me about why I was on IG live with Izzy a little while ago."

"I done told her bout that shit bro. She need to stay out of you and Daina's shit. That's y'all relationship."

"Well there ain't one no more," I reminded him, "she ruined that."

"Yeah, she still be trying to act like my big sis but I don't really be feeling that shit no more," Melo said, "not when you do my bro wrong."

When I heard Izzy turning off the shower. I started to wrap up our conversation and told my bros I'd hit em up later. The last thing I wanted was for her to hear any of the stupid girl drama.

She walked in the room in a tank top and shorts while drying her hair with a towel. The scent of whatever it was she used to bathe with smelled amazing.

As she stood beside the tv, watching the game while continuing to dry her hair, I admired her figure. Fit and slim with the right curves in the right places. She embodied the description of a beautiful athletic woman.

It wasn't long after she finally sat down next to me that we got comfortable lounging on her bed. My head was in her lap while she played with my hair and continued to watch the game. It felt good and was making me drift in and out of sleep.

"Hey Zo?"

"Yeah?" I fully woke up at the sound of her voice.

She sighed as I looked up at her, "I'm sorry about Nate...him being such a dick to you is so uncalled for. I wish I could just punch him in the face sometimes."

"You don't have to apologize for a grown ass man, Izzy."

"I know," she shrugged, "I don't know, for some reason I feel like it's because of me. Because if he didn't think you were interested in me he wouldn't be acting that way. I just wish he'd get over it and leave me and you alone."

"Well," I sat up, "all I know is that he screwed up with you and he can only blame himself for that. It doesn't have anything to do with me. From what I understand, y'all were done before I even came to UCLA."

"Oh yeah. For sure. That's why I keep saying that he's just being jealous. After I broke up with him I never really kicked it with any guys like that, so he's never seen no other dude around me like that. I was focused on basketball. See, when we were together he was busy trying to sneak around with other girls now he claims he's all of a sudden changed. Yeah right. He wasn't pressing me this hard until you and I started hanging out."

I smiled, stroking my chin, "Well, he is right about one thing. I am...very interested and I'm not backing off."

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm," I nodded, licking my lips as I looked her up and down.

She pushed my shoulder and laughed, "Stop Zo. You're a mess."

"Nah, but it all seriousness I don't understand why he would do you the way he did. I mean, you're beautiful...fine as hell really."

"Zo-"

"And you're smart as fuck, athletic, ambitious, you love your family...God, not into drama or that messy shit...not on social media posing half naked for likes, got your own shit going for you, I mean basically...you're a good girl that a dude should be happy as hell to take home to his family."

She couldn't stop smiling. If I wasn't mistaken, she was blushing too.

"Thanks Zo. That's really sweet."

"Hey, I'm just being honest. Your vibe is contagious. I love being around you. I don't know what the hell his problem was."

"I would kiss you again, but I don't want you getting the wrong idea," she flashed a playful grin.

"And that idea is what?" I leaned in so that our faces were inches apart, "cause you already admitted to liking me."

"I do...but only just a little bit though," she giggled.

Looking down at her lips I couldn't resist the urge. Instead of waiting on her, I made the move.

It started off as a peck, but we both went back for more. Her hand found the back of my neck as I felt the caress of her soft lips. To my surprise, she tentatively let her tongue explore and I followed suite guiding her to sit in my lap without breaking our kiss.

A few seconds went by before she pulled away with a shy smile.

I ran my finger over my bottom lip, "Dang girl."

She slid off of my lap and sat with her legs crossed.

"Oops," she looked back up at me from glancing down, raising her brows.

"What?"

Before she could respond, I looked down and noticed that my hard on was showing through my gray sweat pants.

I adjusted myself to try and hide it.

She giggled, shaking her head, "didn't mean to get you worked up."

"So that's funny?"

She nodded, still maintaining that smile. I reached for her sides and tickled her until she fell back on her pillows.

Laying down beside her, I propped myself up on my elbow,"Don't make any plans when you get back from Washington."

"Why?"

"Because," I smiled, "I'm taking you out on a date."

"Don't I have to agree to that-"

"So you don't want to?"

"I didn't say th-"

"Exactly. So it's settled. Monday night it is."


Izzy

Zo and I ended up falling asleep by midnight. I had been a little nervous about how we were gonna keep our space in bed given the recent events: us admitting to liking each other, kissing and him basically asking me out on a date.

For some reason, I enjoyed having him near me and wanted to feel his touch. He eventually draped an arm over me and pulled me close so that my back was to his chest. Sometime throughout the night when I felt the need to change my positioning, he guided my head on his chest. We stayed that way until the next morning.

I looked up to see him still knocked out. So cute. Once he felt me moving around, he wrapped his other arm around me and pulled me closer into him, planting a kiss on my forehead while his eyes remained closed.

I could feel that my smile was huge. My stomach had gotten this little anxious feeling. I had to be up soon, but it feels like nothing is competing with being wrapped up in his arms right now.

That thought lasted until I heard the sound of keys and the front door opening and closing.

"Izzy! Wake up! Your bestie is back biotch!"

Chasity. Back from the winter holiday. She had told me that she would be back by the weekend, so this is definitely a surprise. It made sense being that classes picked back up next week.

She would totally be extra if she knew Zo was in my bed right now. I had been keeping her up to date about what had been going on between us. I think it would be an understatement to say that she's a fan of the idea of her best friend and Lonzo Ball being an item.

I thought keeping quiet would make her forget waking me up, but no. A few minutes later there she was banging on my door. Before I could get up to answer her, she let herself in.

"Izzy, wake your ass up girl I'm-oh shoot."

Her eyes widened at the sight of Zo sleeping in my bed. That surprised look quickly turned into a grin as I rolled out of bed and walked over to her.

"Girl, is that who I think it is in yo bed?!"

"Can you not be so loud," I whispered as I nudged her side.

"Oh my bad, y'all must have had a long night? Hmmm?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her out of my room with me into the hallway.

"So, I'm assuming that a lot more happened after the New Year's kiss than I thought," she said after I closed the door.

"Not like that, Chat. Geez, you know I'm not that type of girl."

"I know...I just thought that maybe you skipped a few steps given how hot he is."

I shook my head at my best friend and continued, "We've gotten a little closer. Not that close though."

"So is this spending the night thing gonna become a daily thing or what? Because it looks like Zo is on the path of becoming bae."

"He's been staying over to look after me since I got banged up. I'm not looking that far into it but-"

"But?"

"He asked me out on a date," I smiled and quietly clasped my hands together.

"What? When? Where is he taking you? Praise God for y'all finally taking more than baby steps."

We were both caught off guard by the door opening. Zo, scratching his head, appeared in the T-shirt and boxers he had fallen asleep in.

"Good morning," he smiled at both of us.

"Morning, sorry for waking you up," I said to him, sneaking a glare to Chat.

"Nah, y'all good. My alarm went off. What's up Chat?"

"Wassup Zo. Nice to see you," Chat said, "I hear you're taking my girl here out on a date. She hasn't been on one in looooong long loooong time. So make it special."

She wasted no time.

"Chat really-"

"I'll be sure to do that," he nodded with a small laugh.

He returned her smile and excused himself to the bathroom. Chat and I continued to talk, heading towards her room while he did his morning rituals. 

After the bathroom freed up, I went in to brush my teeth and wash my face.When I walked back into my room, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind. 

I let out a soft giggle as Zo pressed his lips against my temple.

"I wanna stay, but I gotta go to practice," he said, gently twirling me around to face him, "what do you have planned for today?"

"Practice and probably getting some shots up and a workout in later on. You're more than welcome to join if you like."

"Yeah, I've been waiting to take your ass to school again," he smirked, grabbing his duffle bag and backpack.

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes, "last time I checked I won our last game of one on one."

"You're right and that'll be the last time you beat me, so enjoy it."

We continued taking little jabs at each other as I walked with him up to the front door.

"I'll text you, okay? Have a good day, don't go too hard in practice. Ease your way back into it," he said.

"I'll do my best."

"Eh, I know you. You're gonna go hard anyway," he shrugged, "whatever happens Dr. Zo will make sure you aight."

He leaned down, planting a kiss on my cheek and popped me on the hip with his hand.

"Bye Zo."

"Bye."