Anthony & Ro’s exercising is his peace because Shayla ain’t it.
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There’s something about taking a walk in nature that brings out the real conversations. That’s what happened when I caught up with my old friend Roo. What started as a friendly competition on a hiking trail turned into one of the realest talks I’ve had in a long time.
“You cheated.” I said, trying to catch my breath.
“Nope.” Roo smirked, not even tired.
“Just go ahead and admit it. You know this trail. I’ve never been here.”
We laughed, but the energy quickly shifted. Roo has always had that way of throwing playful shade that cuts a little too deep.
“Y’all some sneaky people, boy.”
“Chumps.” she added with a grin.
Then she hit me with a sharp pivot.
“Anyway, what’s going on with this counseling? How’s counseling going with y’all?”
I sighed.
“Shayla asked if we could go to premarital counseling.”
“Wait—what? You trying to marry her too?” Roo raised an eyebrow.
“No. That’s the thing. I don’t even know why she asked. She said it’d help us get ahead of things, but I haven’t even thought about proposing.”
It didn’t take long for me to connect the dots. Amber—my ex—started counseling, and now Shayla wants the same. It’s like emotional chess, tit for tat.
Roo laughed but with that familiar, sharp sadness underneath.
“See, I never had this problem when it was me and you.”
She wasn’t wrong. Things were different back then. Complicated in their own way, but different.
“You’re never going to find anybody like me, Anthony.”
I tried to push back, but she wasn't done.
“I was loyal. I gave you everything I could to make you a better man. I was there for you, even when you were struggling financially. I’m not a gold digger. I’m not looking for handouts. I was just... supportive.”
She paused.
“And if you ever found someone like that again, you wouldn’t even know what to do with it.”
I couldn’t argue. She was right.
“You make valid points,” I admitted.
“I know,” she said, softly. “You got yourself in this situation, but I wouldn’t have done you like that.”
We both went quiet for a second, caught in memories and what-ifs.
“You ever wish you could just go back and fix things?” I asked.
Roo looked out over the trail.
“Maybe. I don’t usually live in the what-ifs, but… yeah.”
Then I said what we were both thinking.
“Remember Florida?”
She smiled.
“We had some good times. I’m not even gonna lie.”
“Yeah. We did.”
And even though the conversation got deep, Roo couldn’t resist a final jab.
“And don’t throw that money I gave you in my face. I made you a millionaire, too.”
I laughed. “Yeah, well, it’s almost like I gave it back without interest.”
She smirked. “Respect.”
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