TOMMIE (COMPLETED)

ONE

Tommie and Ace sat on the sofa watching the basketball highlights on ESPN from his game the night before. He watched himself float down the court and mesmerize his many adoring fans.

Ace was very animated, so every time he played, he put on a show. The fifty-two inch flat screen sat on the wall with the sound on mute.

Tommie sat on the opposite end of their ebony leather couch wearing one of Ace' old t-shirts, and her hair wrapped in a scarf.

Ace pulled her out of bed to watch the game with him, but he spent the entire time on the phone.

"I know, nigga. The shit was crazy. I was doing my thang though. A nigga is really tryna show out cause I gotta renegotiate my contract in a couple months."

Ace got up and continued his conversation in the kitchen. Tommie sat with her arms folded across her chest. She was beyond irritated.

Ace had been in town for only a few days, and this was the first night she had seen him. His team had a home game in Oakland, but he refused to let Tommie go. He always told her she was a distraction.

"Ace, are you serious, babe?" Tommie whined.

"Let me call you back, nigga," Ace said putting his phone down on the grey granite countertop.

"My bad, T. I'm just excited. This is my best season ever. People are really starting to pay attention to a nigga. Do you know what that could mean for me?"

Tommie got up and walked toward their bedroom. "Well, I'll leave you to yourself, Ace."

"Damn, T, okay. Let me change my clothes, and then we can watch those 'Bad Girl' bitches or something," he said grabbing Tommie and setting her down back on the couch, "I'll be right back. Then it's just me and you. Promise."

Tommie loved Ace. They had been together for seven years, and he was all she knew. She was there before all the money and the fame, but ever since Ace got drafted into the NBA by the Golden State Warriors two and a half years ago, their relationship changed. He provided greatly for her, but soon he replaced his time, love and affection with jewelry, clothes, and money. That wasn't enough for Tommie, but she decided to let her frustrations go for the moment and enjoy the night.

Tommie heard the shower turn on in the bedroom. She walked into the kitchen and opened the stainless-steel, double-door refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

Ace' phone started ringing on the counter, but Tommie didn't recognize the number. She and Ace got into it so many times about her going through his phone. He paid the bill, so he felt whatever was in it was his business.

Tommie  tried to restrain herself, but the voicemail icon taunted her.

Fuck that, she thought, if it's nothing then it's nothing.

Ace changed his password more than he changed his clothes it seemed, but somehow Tommie always figured it out.

"0-4-1-6," she said out loud.

"You have entered an incorrect password. Please, try again," said the automated voice.
Tommie laughed.

Every time Ace had to change his password, he would set it back to the default password until he thought of a new one.