This Can't be Life Read Online Free PDF

got comfortable at our table. I was caught completely off guard because I’d never told her that I had a girlfriend.
    “What do you mean?” I almost stuttered, saved by the perky waitress who, after taking our order, practically skipped off. I stared at Simone for a while in silence, contemplating what I would tell her.
    “Deon, you’re cool with me and I hope I’m cool with you. So, let’s keep it real. I know you have a girl somewhere. I date, but I’m not seeing anyone seriously. But, you seem like the type that would be in a serious relationship,” she said, smiling and looking me directly in my eyes, her stare unwavering.
    “Well, she lives in Atlanta . We’ve been together since college.”
    “Is that where you’re from?”
    “Yeah, I grew up there and decided to stay when I was offered a scholarship.”
    “I would’ve never guessed that. You don’t have even a hint of an accent.”
    “Naw, my moms didn’t play that. We had to always speak what she called ‘proper’ English.”
    “Oh, okay. So, why doesn’t your girl live out here with you?”
    “Because she can’t handle all this…actually, she doesn’t want the type of life I live. Girls blatantly flirting with me in her face, all the attention that I get. It really takes a certain type of woman to be able to deal with a man in my situation and she can’t handle it. To be honest, I really don’t know what’s happening between us right now.” I hated talking about this because, no matter how tough I tried to be, this situation caused me pain.
    “A few months back, she came to see me. We were playing the Bobcats in North Carolina and when we got back to my hotel room, there was a girl lying on my bed, naked. I didn’t know who she was. Hell, I had never seen that girl before in my life. It tripped me out, but it really tripped her out.”
    “Okay…so, what happened?” Simone was entertained by the story.
    “She flipped out and ran out of the room, screaming and crying. She thought I knew the girl, which was stupid. Why would I do that, you know? If I was going to cheat, which is not even in me to do, I wouldn’t have even brought her back to the room. After about thirty minutes of searching for her, I found my girl walking the streets, crying hysterically. I had to file a police report for breaking and entering just so she would believe that I really didn’t know the chick. It was just way too much for me.”
    “Yeah, that sounds crazy. It would have pissed me off, too, but I wouldn’t have left. It would have definitely gotten settled right then and there. Was the girl arrested?”
    “Naw, I don’t know where she went. We gave the detective a description of her, but they never figured out who she was. Since then, things haven’t been the same between us.” I said, as the waitress sat our drinks on the table.
    “Okay, so the big question is, if you don’t cheat, why are you here with me? Why was I at your home last night? Don’t you think that’s something that you should’ve told me before now?” I could tell that she wasn’t mad, just asking a legitimate question.
    “I know it’s over. It’s over in my heart and that’s why I’ve moved on. I know she has, too. We just haven’t officially done it yet. We hardly talk to each other, maybe a few times a month, and that’s just, like, courtesy calls. She couldn’t support me the way I supported her, but it is what it is. I could’ve said that I don’t have a girlfriend and technically, I don’t, but I don’t lie. So, why don’t you have a boyfriend?” I was trying to change the subject as a look of shock came across Simone’s face. Byron Boyd, a wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers, walked up to our table.
    “Hey, what’s up, man?” I got up to shake his hand and give him a hug. We were good friends in college.
    “Chillin’, man. Just passing through. Season’s ‘bout to start, so I’ll be heading back to Diego in a couple of days,” he said,