Venus Vs Mars

Chapter 21

Week seven was no doubt a revenge game for the Giants as they took on the Cowboys again, this time coming out victorious with a 20-27 win and a better game in general. Week eight resulting in a loss to the Saints with a score of 49-52.

"We need to be consistent and continue to finish." Odell said.

Odell's two short-range catches resulted in easy touched downs, his 3rd quarter catch resulted in a long 50-yard touchdown, but it wasn't enough. On paper they looked good, racking up multiple stats but on the field, they seemed to fall short.

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Odell's mother knocked at his hotel door, he smiled pulling her into a tight hug. "I bet you were happy to be home? Even though it's only for a short time." She asked smiling as she watched him pack up his things, after losing to the Saints, Odell found himself ending a week nine to a victory 32-18 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

"It was good to see everybody, good to get this win too." He said back folding a white t-shirt.

"How's your hand? She asked with a knowing look. "You didn't think I saw that, huh?" She said with a smile. Odell leaned against the table, chewing the inside of his cheek, knowing he was about to hear a speech. "You've got to control your emotions, ok? I will say I'm glad you didn't punch a player this time."

During the 2nd quarter, Manning threw up passes intended for Odell, only for it to result in the hands of Buccaneers defender Alterraun Verner turning it into an interception. Odell blamed himself for not being were he should have been, after him body-slamming Verner on the ground, his emotions got the best of him, FOX Sports cameras caught an extremely heated Odell on the sidelines throwing a tantrum and out of frustration he took his anger out on an innocent Gatorade cooler, punching it and busting his right middle knuckle on it.

"This!" She grabbed his hand and held it up. "Can't happen anymore. No more unnecessary roughness." She said smiling but with a serious undertone. She dropped his hand from her's. "And THAT! Is unnecessary roughness." She said pointing to his small injury. "Understand?" Odell shook his head yes, but remained quiet.

He looked down at the back of his hand and began picking at the scab that was already forming. "Stop picking at it." She said pushing his hands apart.

He and Heather both looked at his hotel door after two knocks came from the other side, Odell walked to the door and opened it.

"Leigh told me to come check on your hand." She said standing in the doorway Odell made a fist with his right hand showing her the damage, she grabbed it, looking it over then opening his hand.

"Flex it?" He opened his hand as wide as it could go, then balled it back into a fist, he repeated the same motion three times as Massy intently watched his hand. "Does it hurt?" She asked looking up at him with, he shook his head no. "On a scale of 1 to Drake, how bad does it hurt?" She asked with a very serious face, not breaking her focus on him. Odell frowned, being thrown off by her hurt rating scale he tried his hardest not to laugh, but it was no use.

"A 1." He said still laughing. Massy looked at him frowning, still very serious.

"Are you lying? If I tap your knuckle right now, it won't hurt?" Odell frowned but smiled at the same time as he continued to laugh. "You're laughing, but I'm being extremely serious right now, Ima slap the s**t outta your knuckle!"

Odell dropped his hand behind his back. "Don't slap it." He said still laughing.

Heather stood to the back of the room quietly watching her son and Massy play around, she smiled at her humor and her ability to get her son to laugh, most of the time he just looked at you with a side-eye and remained quiet.

"No more punching water coolers! Ima go tell Leigh and coach." Before Massy could leave Heather spoke up letting her presence be known.

"Hey Massy!" She said waving at her.

Massy's face lit up with excitement. "Hey, Miss. Norman, how are.... Oh sorry for cussing." Massy said hunching up her shoulders remembering her language.

"Oh stop it, you're fine." Heather motioned for Massy to come in, she pulled her into a tight hug rubbing her back. "How's everything with USA? Odell told me about the photos!"

Massy turned to Odell realizing he speaks to his mother about her. He stood looking down at his knuckle flexing it not paying them any attention.

"Oh yeah, I'm up there. No going back now!" She said sounding nervous.

"My daughter and niece are obsessed with you right now!" Heather said with a smile. Massy's eyes widened and she began to blush. "My niece, in her first year at LSU, she's also a forward, and she is just obsessed."

Massy smiled, her dimples sinking into her cheeks. "Really? I wanna meet her, come see her play. I have like two free weeks after training camp, I'd totally come down." Massy said not realizing she'd be around Odell's family, she was more so excited and thinking about meeting someone who saw her has the greatest.

"Oh gosh, she would have a fit." Heather said laughing.

Massy pulled her phone out handing it to Heather, Odell completely oblivious to what was going on, still looking down and focusing on his knuckle, he picked at the scab holding his hand inches away from his face, his eyebrows frowning as if he was mad. Almost going crosseyed he focused so hard at it. Both women exchanging numbers, they both looked up at him seeing that he was back to picking at it.

"STOP PICKING IT!" They both yelled simultaneously at him.

Odell looked up in surprise, he paused for a moment taking in the fact that both women just yelled at him, he slowly dropped his hand, slowly putting it behind his back, still frowning at them.