by Starr, Jude
We cuddled, embracing the moment.
“Am I working tomorrow?” I asked. I hadn’t thought to find out before I left work this afternoon, what my actual hours would be.
“The gym is opened from 8am to noon tomorrow. I don’t think it’ll be busy; you can come in if you want, or you can stay here. I’ll have to stop by the gym in the morning and then go to the office until maybe one or two. Why?”
“Curious. I’d like to go. I’ll leave at noon and go to my room to pick up a few things.”
“Sounds like a good plan, Iris.”
We talked while he prepared a snack for us to eat in front of the fireplace, while we watched the lights twinkling on the Christmas tree.
I had dressed in one of his football t-shirts. I’d never asked him about his football career, but I thought he was too young to already be retired. “What happened with your football career?”
“Too much good luck initially, followed by a series of bad luck and injuries. I was the shining new quarterback, fresh out of University. I was offered a lot of money by many teams around the States, but I decided I wanted to stay in New York. I played for four years. The first three years were the best of my career. Everything was perfect. My stats kept me on top of the league. Our team won many games during those three seasons. Unfortunately, in the fourth year, I hurt my knee pretty badly during training. I had surgery on it, but it never came back to full use and to make matters worse, I got slammed by this monster, got a concussion, and a broken ankle. My ankle was a mangled mess, it’s held together with pins and screws. After that, no matter how much I tried getting back into the game, I couldn’t quite function the way I used to. So I gave up on that dream, and built a new one and I’m very pleased with it. Things are going great and I’m happy.”
“Football is terrifying, but I’m sorry you had to give up your dream,” I said quietly.
Calvin looked down at me, his eyes filled with interest. “What’s your dream?”
The question stumped me. I honestly had no idea. It took me a few seconds before I could formulate an answer. “Before I moved here, I thought I was going to get my degree, move back to be close to my parents and help them on the ranch. My sister was the one with the big dreams, but here I am, living the life in New York City. I miss my sister a lot, and I feel bad about the way I left the family home, but I had to do this for me. I want to get my degree, obviously, but then, I have no plans after that. I’m not sure if I’m going to stay here or move back home.” I knew that what I had just admitted to could jeopardise my fledgling relationship with Calvin.
“I want you to stay here. I’ll give you a job. I’ll make you happy.”
I smiled and the sudden depth of my emotions choked me. “We’ve only just met, Calvin. You still have time to change your mind.”
“No, Iris. What we have here, how we both feel when we’re together, it’s not insignificant. I know it’s early, but I’ve never felt like this with anyone, ever.”
Tears were running down my cheeks and I didn’t know why exactly. I really liked Calvin a lot and to hear him say he was opening his heart to me was amazing. “I feel it too,” I admitted.
Then, for the first time in a while, I thought about Zach. He had proposed that we get together for breakfast on Christmas Eve, but I knew he wouldn’t call and it made me sad. I had broken his heart and I still felt so terribly guilty over it. I determinedly pushed my thoughts about Zach aside. I had to concentrate on the good things I had now. Calvin. He truly made me feel happy and beautiful and I’d made my choice. I was going to make things work with Calvin. I felt great when I was around him, and he made me feel incredibly desired.
*o*o*
Rays of sunlight warmed up the living room and woke me up at around seven in the morning. We had fallen asleep, cuddled together on Calvin’s black leather couch. I stretched my legs in an attempt to wake my body up, but I hurt. My body wasn’t used to that kind of strenuous exercise. The memories of last night replayed through my mind. Everything had been so perfect. Calvin was my version of perfection. My heart fluttered and a smiled grew on my lips.
Calvin’s arms wrapped around me kept me from getting out of the couch. I watched him sleep for a few minutes, trying to imagine us twenty years from now. His squared jaw, his beautiful and sexy hair and the gorgeous color of his eye – I didn’t think I could ever get tired of watching him. I couldn’t wait for him to wake up so I could watch them again. I was dying to know more about him and develop our relationship into something solid and real.
“Good morning.” The sound of his raspy voice surprised me.
“Good morning, sexy,” I flushed.
“What time is it?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“A little after seven.” I yawned. “I have to go to my apartment before work unless you want me to wear the same dress I had on last night.”
“Not a good idea, Iris,” he warned. “Hold on, I got something for you.”
He got up, looking like a Greek god in his underwear and with his tousled hair. He returned with a duffle bag and handed it to me. “Welcome to Banks Gym and Fitness.” I looked inside and found a range of different tops and bottoms, emblazoned with the gym logos. “You’ve got tank tops, t-shirts, hoodies, yoga pants, and leggings. Everything you'll need.”
I grinned. “Smart man. So I'm all set for work.”
“You are,” he said, sounding proud of himself. “Come on, we need to shower.”
I hesitated when he offered me his hand. I didn’t know why, but the idea of showering with him made me uneasy.
Calvin saw my hesitation and smiled warmly. “Iris, I think I’ve seen pretty much every part of you. A shower is nothing to be worried about.”
He was right, but it still made me nervous. In a shower there were no sheets to hide under, nothing but our naked bodies. I took his hand and he pulled me hard enough for me to bounce up and against his chest. “Take that t-shirt off now, sweetness.”
“What about your boxers?” I retorted, biting my lip when he gave me that look.
“Even better, I’ll take both off,” Calvin announced. He pulled the t-shirt over my head, pushed down his boxers and kicked them over to the other side of the couch and a second later, I was swept onto his shoulder. I screamed, he laughed. I spanked his ass and he laughed even louder. I could barely breathe with all the screaming and laughing.
He had the water running in no time, but he kept me on his shoulder. “Put me down, Calvin, please,” I begged.
“The water is not quite ready yet.” He laughed and I could tell he was looking at us in the mirror. What a sight! And then, of course, he spanked me, loudly but still playfully. It stung. Finally, he let my body slide down his chest until we were on the same eye level. “Don’t be shy around me, Iris. I mean it when I say you are beautiful. Everything about you is worth being seen and I can’t get enough of you.”
We both stepped under the warm water. We kissed a lot, and did a lot of touching and petting, but we stayed in control. Calvin insisted on washing every part of my body and I returned the favor. I saw the scars on his ankle and knee and I got a better look at all the ink on his body.
“One day, you’re going to have to tell me all about them.”
“One day…” he said, with sadness in his eyes.
I had no idea what to say or do when I saw his reaction, but I knew that there was something he hadn’t told me yet. Out of respect, I didn’t push him for more details. When he was ready, he would let me know the story. For now, it didn’t matter to me, I just wanted to be with him.
I rinsed my hair and stepped out of the shower. Calvin stayed under the water for a little longer and eventually got out. He kissed my neck and told me he was going to get dressed. I watched him leave the bathroom still wondering about his reaction to the tattoos.
*o*o*
The gym was quiet. Apparently, not many new Yorkers felt the need to train on Christmas Eve. Danielle and I talked about anything and everything
to fill in the time. At first, there was some awkwardness between us, but after half an hour we got over it and chatted happily.
“What are you doing for the holidays?” Danielle asked.
“I was going to spend them alone at the residence, but Calvin invited me over to spend Christmas with him.
“Excuse me? He asked you to spend the holidays with him?” Danielle asked in disbelief. I nodded and she grinned. “That’s a first. You’ve scored.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Calvin hasn't spent the holidays with anyone for years. It’s not a good time of the year for him.”
“Well, something must've changed, because he’s got a tree and everything.”
“It’s you, I think.” Her eyes glistened with happiness. “He told me about you, the first time he saw you and he was even happier the first time you guys talked.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “There’s something about you that has completely changed him. I'm sorry about yesterday – I didn't realize it was you.”
“No problem, we weren't really official yesterday. We had our first date last night.”
“That's really sweet. He’s a good man. I've known him almost all my life.”
“What do you know about his past?” I wondered if Danielle could reveal anything about why Calvin had suddenly grown sad this morning.
“He was America’s biggest hope in the football league and one of the highest paid too. Do some research, you'll find your answers. He did an interview last year, it kind of revealed everything.”
“Who was it with? The interviewer?” I thought I might be able to look up an old copy of the newspaper, or magazine.
“Oprah.”
“Holy crap, Oprah? Oprah Winfrey? Really?”
Danielle nodded. “Yep, Oprah Winfrey.”
“Okay, I will.” That must be quite a past he had, I thought, because Oprah Winfrey doesn't just interview anyone.
The rest of our shift ended up being fun. Danielle showed me some exercises and we had a good time. At noon, Calvin called me asking what my plans were.
“I’m going to pack a few things at the residence. Afterwards, I want to stop by Macie's.” I had a gift to buy.
“Okay, I'll pick you up by two at the latest.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
I loved walking in the snow, I loved the sensation of the cold air against my cheeks and I adored how happy and full my heart was. I hurried to the residence; I wanted enough time to do some research.
There were only two other residents in the building when I got home. It really was quiet. I took a shower, straightened my hair, put on some make up and packed everything I wanted to take with me in my backpack. I had no idea what the plans were for tonight and tomorrow so I picked a selection of clothes which should cover any occasion.
When I’d finished my preparations, I started up my laptop, but my hands grew moist and it seemed wrong. “Maybe I should just ask him for the answers,” I said aloud. Rampant curiosity was probably my worst sin. I opened Google and typed his name followed by ‘Oprah’. It linked me to the video, which I started watching. My fingers were trembling and I had a hard time concentrating on what was said.
Oprah Winfrey was asking Calvin questions. “Growing up, you faced a terrible level of domestic violence.”
Calvin was leaning back in the chair opposite Oprah, his expression serious. “My father had a lot of issues; addictions mostly.” He hid his activities pretty well. He could face anyone and give them the impression he was the father of the year, but he had usually just finished giving me a beating.”
Oprah consulted the clipboard on her lap, and then looked up at eyed Calvin. “What about your mother?”
Calvin smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes. “She was a great mom, but she was also a scared and broken wife. With me, her main goal was trying to make my life easier. She knew the hell we were in, but she couldn’t figure out a way to escape.” Calvin clasped his hands together, and I could see how his knuckles whitened before he spoke again. “It almost cost Mom her life, but one day she put an end to the nightmare. That day, I had just returned from a football practice when my father came home, drunk. He started beating her with a baseball bat because he reckoned his dinner was cold. I tried to stop him, but he threatened to kill me. He hit me with the baseball bat, with all of his strength. I woke up in the hospital.”
I skipped few seconds of the video not wanting to hear about such a brutal past. It hurt me.
“How did you survive these events?”
“Afterwards, I received a lot of help and support from psychiatrists and my football coach. I continued to play football all through my childhood and into adulthood. All my energy was concentrated on football. It saved me. It helped me forget the hell I’d endured. My team mates’ parents were proud of me and that counted for a lot. For me, anyway.”
I pressed pause, reduced to a sobbing mess. This was more than I had bargained for. My heart ached for Calvin. My only desire was to hold him, hug him and tell him how much he meant to me. I managed to get my emotions under control and pressed ‘play’ again.
“So what about your football career, now that you’ve sustained not just one but two serious injuries?” Oprah was asking.
Calvin grimaced, and shook his head. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll get back to playing the game. The ankle injury is bad, and the healing process is taking far more time than expected. It could be that I won’t ever play professional football again.”
A collective groan erupted throughout the audience and Oprah waited for them to settle before she asked her next question. “Do you have other plans for the future? Does Calvin Banks, the very eligible bachelor, have a girlfriend?”
Calvin grinned. “I don’t date at the moment. I can’t get involved in a serious relationship; it wouldn’t be fair to any woman while my own future is so up in the air. Concerning my plans, yeah, I have a few things happening. I opened a gym ten months ago, ‘Banks Gym & Fitness’, and I’m also working on a number of different projects. I have my sport agencies where we’re recruiting young athletes. I also have plans to open a whiskey bar. Plenty of things to keep myself busy and stay focused.”
Oprah Winfrey sat up taller in her chair, and crossed her legs at the ankle. “I wish you good luck on your many projects, Calvin. You are a successful businessman and a great role model for kids to look up to.”
Calvin smiled warmly and waved to the applauding crowds.
I closed down the laptop, still sniffling over what I’d discovered. His past had made him the caring man he was now. I knew there was something he’d been keeping secret, but I never thought it would be something of such significance. I was so sorry for Calvin and his mother.
My emotions slowly stabilized and I redid my makeup, because I looked a mess with red rimmed eyes and my mascara running everywhere.
To my surprise, I heard a knock on my door and when it opened, Calvin appeared in my very small room. He looked around, seemingly traumatized.
“You actually live here and you’re not crazy yet? It’s tiny.”
“It’s a room, in a residence. It’s not a penthouse,” I laughed.
“I lived in a fraternity house; it was a little bigger than this. Anyway, are you ready?”
“Always.” I put on my jacket and grabbed my heavy backpack and we left the room. I watched him walking before me and tears filled my eyes again. I had to admit to what I’d done.
“Calvin, stop.”
He did and turned around watching me quizzically.
“I saw the interview,” I admitted. “The one with Oprah Winfrey. Danielle told me about it.”
His body tensed, and his smile disappeared.
“Come here.” I said, holding out my arms. “Don’t ever be hesitant to talk to me about it, okay? You are the strongest man I’ve ever met, Calvin. I just wish you would’ve told me when we were talking about your tattoos.”
“I didn’t want you to think about me like that. I’m not that broken kid anymore. I’m a man with scars, but I’m okay. You make me forget everything that was once bad in my life. You give me hope for the future.”
“You mean so much to me, Calvin. In such a short time, you’ve gotten under my skin. From your little smile at the restaurant to the first time we talked, so many things have changed. It feels like a month, yet it has been only a couple of days. I care about you a lot.”
“You know I do too.” He wrapped my fingers in his. “Come on now, we’ve got a few things to do.”
We kissed before continuing to his car. I felt like my heart and soul were bared for him to see. This feeling of sincerity and love had me completely stunned. His lips, his hands holding me by the waist, everything felt real, like he had a direct connection to my soul. I couldn’t deny my attraction, my pure desire to be with this man. The word ‘love’ kept popping into my mind every time my thoughts analyzed ‘us’ and I decided to keep that word to myself. For now, anyway.
Chapter 8
While I ran around inside Macy’s trying to find a present for Calvin, he was running some errands of his own. Shopping on the 24th was obviously the worst idea ever, but I couldn’t have planned this in advance since everything had happened so recently.
My budget was also a problem. I didn’t even know how much I had available. Thankfully, I had a banking application on my phone to figure out what I had. Time was running out, so I had no time to walk to the bank, anyway. A quick check confirmed I didn’t have enough money to buy him something special, such as jewelry or perfume. All my budget allowed for was the possibility of getting him clothing, or something like that.
I searched by myself without any luck, got desperate and asked a sales assistant for help and eventually, Calvin called to say he was searching for me. I made a swift decision on a gift and paid for my article. When I caught up with Calvin, he was studying the lingerie, of course.
“Calvin, did you need anything?” I questioned.
