this could be us

The day was already off to a rough start.

Lavar was upset because there was a small dispute between him his son.

Lately, there had been talk about the brand starting back up again and Zo didn't necessarily want to be apart of it.

I knew that for a fact.

Whenever he would come over, he would complain to Kyle and I about how his dad wouldn't shut up about the Big Baller Brand. He was sick of it.

Lonzo personally thought that the brand should just stay down, thinking it was best for him and his family.

Lavar obviously had other ideas.

So here we are, awkwardly eating breakfast.

It was a gloomy Thursday morning and we had two more full days in paradise, although it didn't feel like paradise right now.

"You gone eat that?" Melo breaks the silence pointing to me plate.

We've gotten closer over this trip it was obvious to see. Melo was such a character and I couldn't get enough of him. Everyone saw it, our chemistry but it was something we had to find out on our own.

I never would've thought that I would be calling LaMelo Ball my best friend but here I am.

"Oh, no. I'm not that hungry." I slide my plate closer to his so he could retrieve my two waffles.

"Speak if you got something on yo mind, son." Lavar spits from across the table. The tension was thick between Zo and Lavar. It wasn't the best for them and they needed to work things out.

I knew Lavar had love for his son but he also had love for his brand and no one and I mean no one could tell him anything bad about the Big Baller Brand.

"I ain't finna deal with this bullshit." Lonzo abruptly leaves the table and walks outside.

The worried look on my face caused Melo to rub circles on my left thigh.

"See the boy ain't thinking right, why try to fight me on something that's right?" Lavar lets out a long sigh.

"Calm down, honey." Tina slowly rubs Lavar's hand.

"Come on baby, we going on a helicopter ride I need to get the hell out of this place."

Tina dusts off her hands and gets up from the table.

Oh so they had it like that.

"Wait so yaw just gone leave the rest of us here while yaw go on a damn helicopter?" Melo asks, baffled.

"Boy shut yo ass up. Your mom and I need some alone time." And just like that, Lavar was grinning ear to ear like nothing happened.

"Oh stop it." Tina slaps Lavar's shoulder.

They got their things together and they were out the door.

Denise had left the table to feed Zoey a little bit ago.

Kyle had got a face time call and had been in room ever since.

Dmo had to leave early to work out some things with the NBA and such.

"So do you guys wanna do anything?" I looked over to Jaden and Gelo they were the last two left.

"Hell no. Not with y'all little kids, I'm trynna spend time with my girl." Gelo declines the offer, pulling Jaden out of her chair and into their room.

"Sorry, Maya." Jaden looks sympathetic. The door slams shut.

"You're so mean, Gelo." I whisper to myself in devastation.

"Guess it's you and me, shawty." I groan.

"Not you!" I pretend to complain.

He just laughs in response.

"What are we gonna do?" I ask. I was bored but I also didn't want to go outside it was set to rain in a little bit. I hope Tina and Lavar would be able to ride the plain before the storm started to roll in.

"I have a few ideas." He replies suggestively.

"Like play Madden?"

____

"Mm no stop Melo." I groan.

"Oh yeah you like that? How you feel."

"No!" I throw the controller at him.

I had just lost the game by two points.

"You doofus! How'd you win you got hacks nigga." I accuse him.

"I don't. I'm just that good." He does a little dance.

He can't dance.

Melo's bedroom door busts open.

Zo comes in carrying Zoey and her diaper bag.

"I need you guys to babysit Zoey. I'm going to get drinks with Kyle."

"Wait why we gotta babysit the kid? Where her momma at?" Melo wasn't having it.

"I don't give a damn where she at. Come on man, I need this." I felt bad for Zo. He had a lot on his plate. There had been rumors that he was going to get traded and I know that would keep him up at night. Not to mention Denise and her ass was trying to fight for full custody over Zoey.

I don't even understand why they invited Denise on this trip she honestly wasn't helping Lonzo relax if anything she was making him stress out more.

"It's okay, Zo. We'll babysit her. It isn't a problem." I gave him a reassuring smile.

He let out a sigh and gave me hug.

"Thank you Maya, this means a lot. You're good for him." He whispered the last part.

I just nodded my head and grabbed baby Zoey out of his hands.

Zo was out.

"Hi baby." I coo. She gurgles and gives me a big smile.

"Aww." I sat back down next to Melo and he paused the game.

"Wassup kid." He takes a look at baby Zoey.

I look at Melo, admiring his niece.

"See this could be us but you playin, shawty"

"Whatever Melo." I roll my eyes.

The next few hours went by smoothly. Zoey was quiet and calm and so was Melo. We ended up chilling on the living couch watching Mickey Mouse Club House.

Melo had me in his arms and I had baby Zoey in mine. What a nice way to end the day. It couldn't get any better.

Denise submerged from her room. I forgot she was still here she had disappeared a while ago. Some mother she is.

People love to portray themselves as the perfect person online. They want to make sure they post all the good things that go on in their lives, not the depression, downfalls, or arguments.

"Oh my god. Give me my child!

"Shut the hell up, you gone wake the kid up." Melo shushed Denise holding me tighter.

She ignored him. I don't know what was going on through her her head but she seemed as if she was going mad.

"Calm down Denise, Zo asked us to babysit Zoey. She's doing just fine." I wasn't going to get mad when I had this child in my hands. Obviously Denise had something wrong with her, mentally.

"I don't give a damn about what Zo says. That's my child!"

I heard the door rattle.

"Give her to me!"

Denise strides her way over to Melo and I.

Just as I was halfway finished transferring Zoey to Denise's hands, Denise let's go.

It all happened in slow motion.

"No!" I yell.

Zoey was so close to the hard wood floor

Until I caught her by her shirt and she breaks into a fit of cries.

"Shh it's alright baby, I got you." I start to rock her. Melo quickly got up behind me, checking to see if baby Zoey was alright.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Denise?" Melo spits.

The door finally opens and there was Zo and Kyle.

Denise runs to Zo and hugs him.

"Lonzo! She dropped our child."

All eyes were on me.