Free Doin' Me by Wanda B. Campbell

Now he was losing to Kevin in their weekly game of racquetball.
    He paced the length of the court, wiping his forehead with a towel.
    â€œWell?” Kevin said and sat on the floor and adjusted his prosthesis.
    Tyson ceased pacing and leaned against the wall near his friend. “I hate to think how you’d whip me if you had two full legs.” Kevin’s right leg had been severed below the knee in a car accident when he was a teenager.
    â€œMy remarkable athletic skills are the least of your problems,” Kevin smirked. “My prowess on the court can’t touch the whipping Reyna has put on you. And just think, she doesn’t even know it.”
    Tyson’s denial came out as incomprehensible grunting.
    Kevin stood upright and asked, “Have you reconciled your feelings for her yet?”
    Tyson threw his hands down. “Man, I know I’m in love with her.” The admission left a bitter taste in his mouth. He frowned at Kevin’s laughter. “It’s not funny.” He threw the towel at his friend.
    â€œYou’re right. It’s not funny.” Kevin bent over, holding his stomach. “This is downright hilarious. The stoic anal retentive attorney Tyson Stokes has fallen in love with Reyna Mills. What are the odds of that? You guys are like oil and water.”
    â€œWhatever, man.” Tyson picked up his racket and started for the exit.
    Kevin caught him by the shoulder. “Hold up, man. Just having some fun at your expense.” Tyson stopped walking. “I’m just saying, for someone who detests drama, you’ve selected a drama queen.”
    Tyson slumped back against the wall. “Trust me, it wasn’t on purpose. Man, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” He slid down the wall and rested on the floor with his knees bent, his head in his hands.
    Kevin quickly sobered and sat next to him. “Man, this is really tearing you up. I’ve never seen you look so defeated and confused.” Kevin broke the silence that followed. “Do you plan on telling her?”
    Tyson raised his head and forced out the remaining air from his lungs. “I did.” Kevin’s incredulous facial expression pushed him to explain further. “Okay, maybe not directly, but I told her I cared about her.” He paused. “Oh yeah, and I kissed her.”
    Kevin’s whistle echoed through the court. “How did she respond?”
    â€œShe said I was a great kisser, and then renewed her ridiculous quest to fix me up with Paige.”
    Kevin’s face twisted. “Paige? Why Paige?” Kevin paused. “Reyna doesn’t know about you guys?”
    Tyson shook his head from side to side.
    â€œAre you going to tell her?”
    Tyson thought the idea absurd. “Heck, no! I’m not telling that woman that if Paige and I weren’t such self-centered and selfish adults back in the day, we’d be the parents of a twelve-year-old kid. You know Reyna will use that as an excuse for her crazy behavior. I can hear her now. ‘You had the chance to sow your oats. Why can’t I?’” His head shook, almost involuntarily. “No way, man. She’s already accused me of judging her. Besides, that’s not something I’m proud of.”
    Tyson wasn’t proud. In fact, the decision he made almost thirteen years ago was his biggest life regret. When he met Paige in college, they were the perfect match. Both were driven by ambition, and neither wanted the emotional attachment that came with relationships. Their exclusive “friends with benefits” arrangement worked for a year, until a night of drinking led to an unplanned pregnancy. Neither wanted or needed a baby. Both admitted that although they shared their bodies, their hearts were far apart, and they mutually agreed to an abortion. Tyson paid for the procedure and supported Paige through the process. They had remained friends over the years, but