Play For Keeps - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

A week later
Ezra sucked in a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he bent forward slightly, hands gripping his knees.
The Texas sun was relentless, burning down on the field, mixing with the sting of exhaustion that settled deep into his muscles.
Conditioning days were brutal.
Three days until game time, and every drill felt twice as sharp, twice as demanding.
Trey jogged over, sweat glistening on his arms as he slowed to a stop beside Ezra, Malik, and three other teammates.
"Oh yeah- ya girl got a game tonight," he said casually, tossing a towel over his shoulder. "You trynna slide with us?"
Ezra frowned, standing up straight as he grabbed a water bottle from the cooler. "She not my girl."
Malik chuckled. "But you knew exact who he was talking about though."
That sent the group into a round of laughter, Trey shaking his head.
"It's bout time you got over what happened last week. She fried yo shit, who cares?" One of the other teammates commented and everyone agreed.
"She been haunting his fyp for days now. That's what he get for talkin shit." Another said, causing everyone to laugh again except for Ezra.
Ezra rolled his eyes but it was true. Ever since that day at the facility, Imani's presence had taken over his social media feeds.
Clips of her games. Interviews. Play breakdowns. Fan edits on TikTok, like she was some kind of celebrity.
It was actually crazy how much she was on his screen now. And what made it worse- he had never searched for her. Not once.
But she kept showing up anyway.
After conditioning, the guys headed toward the parking lot when Malik called out.
"Aye, game starts at 6! Meet at my place at 5:30!"
Ezra didn't respond. Just slid into the driver's seat and checked his notifications before calling his dad.
The call rang twice before his pops picked up, "Ain't heard from you in a minute, foo."
Ezra smirked. "Been busy. I just came from practice."
They talked briefly— about how things were going, when his parents were coming to see him play, and when he planned on coming home.
Then, his dad asked the inevitable.
"You locked in for this next game?"
Ezra paused, just for a second. Small, barely noticeable, but it was there.
The hesitation wasn't about his ability, his preparation, or whether or not he was ready physically.
It was about expectation. His dad had drilled it into him early, from the first time he picked up a baseball.
Sports weren't about fun. They weren't about enjoying the game, about simply playing. They were about winning. About proving yourself. About earning the right to be called the best.
"Yeah."
His father hummed in response.
They talked until he arrived home and got into the shower to wash off the day. His body was tired but he glanced at the clock and saw that it was 4:45. He stared at it for a while before sighing and getting dressed.
He might as well go.
Ezra stepped into the house, immediately met with a round of grinning faces.
He frowned in confusion. "What?"
"He actually pulled up. Run me my money." Trey said loudly with a laugh.
Malik shook his head with a smile, handing Trey a twenty dollar bill. "Damn, I can't believe I lost."
Ezra rolled his eyes, laughing despite them continuing to tease him. "Y'all some assholes."
They climbed onto a party bus Malik rented and headed toward the stadium, talking about who they thought would win tonight and their own game coming up.
After 20 minutes, the party bus pulled up to the stadium, packed with rowdy energy. Of course they did go straight to their seats when they got in. They took a few pictures with those who recognized them and they got food from the concession before they settled into their prime seats.
Ezra leaned back, scanning the field as players jogged out from the dugout. Texas was first one defense and his eyes found third base.
Imani stood with an easy stance, weight shifted slightly to one hip, her glove resting against her thigh.
The Texas uniform- crisp white, burnt orange piping, perfectly fitted- made her presence impossible to ignore.
The jersey curved along her frame, molding to her like it was made for her specifically, the bold number 7 printed across her back standing out against the turf.
She wasn't tense, wasn't locked in the way he would be before a play.
She was talking to the opposing coach, laughing lightly at something he said, completely at ease despite the intensity of the game.
He never understood that about her. How she could be so deep in competition but act like it was just a game. Like it wasn't war. Like she wasn't supposed to be locked in every second, calculating every move.
Texas switched to batting, Imani on the side watching the opposing team warm up.
Trey called out to her. "Aye, Mani!!"
She searched for the voice, scanning the stands- then found Trey.
Her expression lit up, the same easy smile she always had, and she waved.
Ezra waited for her eyes to move- for them to flicker his way next, for some kind of acknowledgment.
It didn't come.
She looked away, already refocused on her teammates, chatting, adjusting her grip on the bat. Ezra's jaw tensed slightly. It wasn't that deep- not really- but something about it sat uncomfortably in his chest anyways.
"Damn...not even a head nod?" He thought to himself but eventually shrugged it off.
Texas had secured the win, the energy still electric even as the crowd started filtering out.
Instead of heading straight to their cars, the guys waited near the stadium entrance, lingering in conversation, scrolling through their phones, still riding the post- game buzz.
Ezra really wasn't really focused on the chatter around him. His face was in his phone.
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That was until Imani walked out, laughing with Rye, Lovie, and Talia, their conversation effortless, their energy still vibrant from the game.
Trey instantly lit up, throwing his arms wide.
"Big Money and Baby Rye!!"
Rye instantly frowned, crossing her arms. "Trey, What I told you about calling me Baby Rye?"
Trey just grinned, unbothered, pulling both her and Imani into a hug.
Imani chuckled, shaking her head. "He know what he be doing."
Rye sighed dramatically before introducing everyone, gesturing toward her friends. "Hey, I'm Rye- this is Lovie, Talia, and of course, Imani aka Money."
The guys nodded in greeting, exchanging easy smiles, Malik stepped up first.
"Malik."
Trey gestured next. "Y'all already know me."
"SaKori or Kori."
"Jalen."
"Pablo."
And then everyone's eyes went to Ezra who nodded slightly.
"Ezra."
And immediately everyone slid into easy conversation- well everyone except Ezra. He just watched. Watched as Imani grinned at something Malik said, laughing easily, comfortable, completely in her element.
And, once again- not paying him any mind.
Malik leaned against a car, stretching slightly before smiling. "We hitting up a party tonight. You guys should come."
The energy shifted slightly.
Imani hesitated- just barely. Ezra caught it. It wasn't obvious or dramatic. Just a flicker of indecision, like she wasn't sure for a fraction of a second before nodding.
"Okay, we'll slide through."
The group agreed collectively, the decision locked in, Malik clapping his hands together.
"Sounds like a plan."
Imani waved, easy, casual, throwing a final smile toward the group before turning to leave with her friends.
Ezra watched her go, watched the way her smile lingered, watched how once again- she didn't acknowledge him.
Malik shrugged Ezra lightly, smirking. "Relax."
Ezra frowned slightly. "What?"
Trey chuckled, shaking his head. "Mani is cool people. You'd know that if weren't such a dickhead."
Ezra pushed him lightly and Trey laughed.
"All Cali niggas act like him?" Sakori asked.
Jalen immediately scrunched up his face, shaking his head. "Hell nah, just his ass."
Ezra flipped them off. "Fuck all y'all."
The house was alive, humming with music that pulsed through the walls, bass vibrating underfoot.
Laughter spilled from the kitchen, voices overlapping as people moved fluidly through the space- cups in hand, conversations bouncing from one group to the next.
Ezra sat near the back, leaned into the arm of a plush sectional, his hand swirling around the drink in his palm.
Trey was locked in across the room, talking to some girl, his grin easy, his body language loose. Malik was in the thick of it, laughing loud at something Sakori and Pablo were saying.
Ezra, meanwhile, had been talking to someone too- a girl sitting beside him, dark curls spilling over her shoulder, a pretty smile, a playful face. But he wasn't paying attention. Because right as she spoke- Imani walked in.
And damn.
She wasn't dressed up too much, wasn't forcing the attention she was about to get.
Just fitted a denim pants set, silver hoops catching the glow of the party lights, hair sleek but casually styled, like she didn't need to do too much.
He licked his lips absently, not even realizing that he did it as he watched how instantly she received attention.
A few people called her name, her girls hyping her up as they stepped inside. She laughed, guiding effortlessly through the room, hugging Trey, giving Malik a playful shove, throwing hellos toward people she didn't even know.
Ezra just watched.
Watched the way she fit into every space without hesitation, the way her presence shifted the rhythm of the room, the way she still hadn't acknowledged him. Not that it mattered or cared. Except- for some reason, it felt intentional.
In the kitchen, the girls fixed themselves a drink, easy laughter flowing between them.
Talia took a sip before glancing back at Ezra, smirking. "Ya man can't keep his eyes off you, honey. You should go speak."
Imani frowned, genuinely confused. "Who?"
Rye scoffed. "Mani, shes talking about Ezra cocky ass."
The entire group gasped dramatically.
Talia grinned. "My Lord, Mr. Eezy done pissed you smooth off. You never cuss."
Lovie leaned against the counter. "I can't lie, I'm still not over the bullshit he spewed from his mouth at the facility. He lost cool points with me...I was actually a fan too."
As they went back and forth, Rye's gaze flickered toward Ezra, watching for just a second- then back to Imani.
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"No comments, Mani?"
Imani shrugged, looking up from her phone. "I really didn't come to talk about Ezra."
The girls smirked at each other before looking away. They knew her statement was partially true but they'd talk about it later.
Ezra sat alone now, cup in one hand, his phone in the other.
Imani sat next to him, the seat sinking beneath her weight.
"You still beefing with me or what?"
Ezra exhaled a soft laugh, shaking his head. "I'm not beefing wit you."
Imani scoffed. "I can't tell." She took a slow sip of her drink, eyeing him slightly. "Why you just sitting here while everyone else is having fun? You bored?"
Ezra shook his head. "We got practice tomorrow. I ain't trynna be sluggish."
She hummed softly. "Mm. Fair." Silence stretched for a few beats, comfortable but charged. Then she glanced at him, faintly smiling. "You clean up nice."
Ezra looked down at his fir before looking at her. She was biting her lip lightly, her smile just soft enough to make him shift slightly.
His voice came just a little quieter than before. "You look good too."
Imani nodded. "Thanks."
Then she noticed it. The shift in his posture, the way his fingers tightened around the cup lightly, and the way he cleared his throat before glancing away. She laughed lightly, it wasn't teasing or smug, just amused. She made him a little nervous.
That was cute.
Ezra sat back lightly, sipping his drink as he looked around. Anywhere but at Imani. Imani tilted her glass, watching the liquid swirl before glancing at him.
"So how old are you, Mr. Softball ain't real baseball?"
Ezra smirked faintly. "23."
Imani hummed. "Mm. Thought you were older."
Ezra raised a brow. "Why?"
She shrugged, eyes amused. "You just so serious. You act like everything is life or death. Like you gotta win every interaction, every conversation."
Ezra smirked. "That supposed to be a dig?"
Imani grinned. "Just an observation."
Ezra tilted his head at her. "What about you?"
He blinked. "Damn. You young."
Imani scoffed, swatting his arm. "Relax, Unc."
Ezra chuckled, taking another sip of his drink. "You from here?"
Imani nodded. "Born and raised. Houston."
Ezra hummed, eyes flickering slightly as he took in her easy confidence. "Figures."
She raised a brow. "And what does that mean?"
Ezra smiled. "You got Texas written all over you."
Imani scoffed, mocked offense in her expression. "Explain."
Ezra shrugged. "You talk to everybody. Like you stroll through life speaking to strangers like it's nothin."
Imani laughed, shaking her head. "That's called being friendly, Cali boy."
"Exactly. Friendly as fuck actually."
Imani rolled her eyes, finishing her drink before nodding towards him.
"So, Cali, what part?"
"Bay Area."
Imani hummed, like she was filing the information away. "So you left the sunshine for Texas humidity?"
Ezra laughed softly. "Seems that way."
Imani watched him for a second, like she was figuring him out. "You miss home?"
"Yeah."
That was the first real answer he'd given her. Imani noticed. But before she could sit in that realization too long- Ezra licked his lips absently, shifting slightly in his seat.
Imani barely blinked, but the movement caught her slightly off guard- because damn.
It was the kind of unconscious action that didn't need attention to be attractive- it just was.
Imani masked her reaction perfectly, shifting like the moment didn't happen as she checked her phone for any notifications. Like she didn't notice, but she did. And it was annoyingly attractive.
The buzz of the party swelled around them, laughter spilling from different corners, music thumping through the walls. The friend groups had made their way over to see what the two were talking about easy conversation filled between them.
Well...that was until things had shifted.
The moment had started as easy conversation, a smooth back and forth between Ezra and Imani about their teams, their seasons.
And then- she laughed at him.
Not in mockery. Just light amused, effortless.
Ezra raised a brow. "What?"
Imani shook her head slightly, sipping a bottle of water he had given her a few minutes ago. "You take this so seriously. Like- why do you treats sports like war?"
Ezra exhaled sharply. "Cause it is. Winning matters."
Imani's lips curved in that slow, knowing way- like she had already figured him out before he even finished talking. "Winning is cool. But it's not the whole point."
Ezra huffed a laugh. "Whats the whole point then?"
Imani shrugged. "The game itself. The moments between the wins and losses. You ever actually just...enjoy it?"
Ezra blinked. "You don't play to win?"
"Of course I play to win. But I play because I love it first."
Ezra scoffed, shaking his head. "That's coo and all but love don't get you rings."
Imani sat up slightly, challenging him now. "If you don't enjoy the game, whats the point of playing?"
Malik whistled low. "Damn. She got a point."
Talia grinned, nudging Rye. "Oh this is getting good."
Ezra frowned. "If you not trynna be the best, they why even try?"
Imani scoffed. "Why is being the best the only thing that matters to you?"
Ezra blinked. Because that was just...how it was.
You played to win. Period.
Seeing Imani so unbothered, so removed from the cutthroat mindset irriated him more than it should have. She was a competitor, an elite athlete. How could she be so relaxed about this?
"You really telling me you don't play to dominate?" he asked, voice sharper now.
Imani exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. "No, I play to play. And win if it happens."
Ezra shook his head. "Nah, see- that's the difference between us."
"Oh, I BEEN knew there was a difference between us."
Trey leaned in, grinning hard. "Nah, this tension kinda crazy right now."
Ezra narrowed his eyes. "You ever played baseball before?"
Imani smirked. "Nah, but I ain't scared of it."
Ezra's gaze flickered slightly- just enough that she caught it. And she knew exactly where this was going.
"Prove it." He said.
Imani grinned. "Bet."
The group arrived at the field still buzzing from the party energy, but now- it was fully charged with competition.
Imani stepped onto the turf, rolling her shoulders as she glanced at Ezra. She took her shoes off, tossing them to the side, then pulled Trey's extra shirt over her top.
Ezra watched without meaning to, eyes flickering over the way she moved- completely relaxed, completely confident. She wasn't acting like this was a battle. But Ezra was.
First- the batting contest.
Ezra stepped up first, stance tight, grip firm, eyes locked in.
His first swing sent the ball deep- clean, sharp, powerful. The group whooped in approval, Malik nodding. "Alright, alright, clean hit."
Ezra took more swings- all solid, all deep, proving his power.
Then- it was Imani's turn.
She stepped up, adjusting her grip, eyes sharp but effortless. The first pitch came in- and she sent it flying.
Malik shouted. "Damn!"
Lovie gasped. "Wait- she might actually win this."
Another pitch. Another hit- perfect technique, effortless power. By the end of her round, the clear winner was obvious.
Trey laughed, shaking his head. "Eezy, she smoked you, bro."
Ezra exhaled hard, rolling his shoulders. "Ight. Next Round."
Next- it was base running.
They lined up, tension thick in the air.
Malik clapped his hands. "Alright- first to home, cleanest time wins."
Ezra took off first- long strides, full speed, pure athleticism. He crossed home in record time, barely breathing hard.
Then- it was Imani's turn.
She took off, smaller strides but quick, precise. She reached home two seconds later.
Ezra smirked slightly. "Got you there."
Imani shrugged. "Barely."
The group clowned both of them, laughing, hyping them up, but the energy between them wasn't fully light anymore. Something was lingering, still unsettled.
Ezra stepped closer, tilting his head. "You mad?"
Imani scoffed. "Mad for what?"
Ezra smirked. "Cause I just proved why baseball players-"
"Ezra, shut the hell up."
The group reacted instantly- everyone getting quiet with their eyes slightly wide.
Ezra blinked. "What?"
Imani shook her head, exhaling hard. "You just always gotta prove something, huh?"
Ezra threw his head back lightly. "What's wrong wit that?"
Imani scoffed. "It's exhausting. You don't play to enjoy it, you play to prove something about yourself."
Ezra clenched his jaw. "Because that's what competition is."
Imani shook her head. "No, that's what you made it."
Ezra exhaled sharply. "So you saying being the best don't matter?"
Imani rolled her eyes. "I'm saying you tie too much of your worth to whether or not you win."
Ezra froze- just barely. Because that hit deeper than he expected. Imani knew it too.
She turned, walking toward her girls, already done with the conversation. But Ezra- for the first time- felt the need to say something before she left.
"Imani, wait-"
She didn't.
He caught up before he even thought about why, exhaling hard. "Look, I-"
"Goodnight." She replied, flipping him off as she continued to walk away.
Ezra stood there, watching Imani disappear toward her girls, her posture a little stuff but not much. He exhaled hard, running a hand down his face.
It wasn't even about the game anymore, wasn't about the challenge.
It was about her.
And the fact that- somehow, without even trying- she always got the last word.
For the first time, he felt like he lost something bigger than just a challenge.