by Liza Brown
I smiled, thinking about our mom trying to push her onto Elsu when they first met. “But mom thinks you’d make the better girlfriend.”
“She’s a pain in the ass, Mae. She won’t shut up about our ‘career’. Chris and I don’t have an acting career anymore. I’m content to just move on, but she’s still playing stage mom.”
I dropped my tissue-filled hands to my lap and stared at her. “How am I just now hearing this?” I asked.
“Because you never want to talk to me when I call. Or Christopher.”
“Yeah, because you two tried to steal my truck last week! No, wait! He DID steal my truck! If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have seen Bart to begin with!” I said as I remembered when Elsu’s uncle unknowingly called Bart to deliver some gas to me because my truck was empty from being driven the night before without permission by my younger brother.
“Yeah, that was kind of stinky.”
“Yeah,” I agreed as I watched the two teams exit the court. I held my phone in my hands hoping I’d hear the tone of an incoming text message.
I leaned forward and looked at Millard. “Will he check his phone when he goes back?” I asked.
“It’s hard to say, Miss Mae.” I smiled at him for remembering. “But it’s not likely.”
“Do you think he’s mad at me?” I asked.
He looked at me, a look of concern on his face. “He may be disappointed to find you talking to Jeremy and Bart, Miss Mae, but I don’t think you’ve done anything to cause any permanent damage.”
“But he was missing most of his shots,” I said as I pointed to the empty court.
Millard shrugged his shoulders. “Sometimes he does that. Don’t blame yourself or you’ll never get through the season.”
I sat back and watched as the pregame festivities began and the teams were announced. We stood for the national anthem and the game began. I looked at my phone before I slipped it into my purse and saw I didn’t have any replies. I sat back and watched the game, the feeling of dread that had been pressing down on my shoulders lifted quickly as Elsu made nearly all of his shots. In the second quarter he played the whole time and scored even better than the first. I noticed that every time he was near the photographers, he made a point to step out of bounds and nearly on Jeremy and Bart. He was discreet about it, but it made me giggle and I began to loosen up.
At halftime the Whoopster’s Owl was on the court and a spotlight was searching the stands for a sucker from the crowd to come down and embarrass themselves. I felt safe in the VIP section, surely they wouldn’t pick on one of us. I watched the big screen over head to see who the unlucky person was. I was astonished to see the light shine on Gina, my sister-in-law. I could tell she was shocked and I turned around in my seat to look at her in the stands. She waved her arms indicating they needed to find someone else. Her sister wasn’t sitting with her at the time so she couldn’t pawn the experience off on her.
Reluctantly, Gina got up and walked down the steps while the spotlight searched for a second contestant. Once to the gate that separated the stands from the VIP section and the floor, Gina was helped through the gate and she rushed to me. “You have to do it, I can’t!” she begged.
“I’m not going out there, I’ve already embarrassed myself enough today!”
“No, Mae you don’t understand! I literally can’t! I don’t know what they’re going to have me do out there and I can’t.” Her stressing of words and near-begging was going straight over my head.
“Gina, they’re not going to make you do anything too embarrassing. Just go have fun!” We heard cheering and we looked up to find a man probably in his early thirties being plucked out of the crowd.
“Mae, I can’t!” She lifted her sweatshirt to reveal a white undershirt and the telltale bump of a pregnant belly.
“What?” I screamed. I didn’t have a second to even comprehend what I had just seen when the owl appeared beside us, looked at Gina’s belly, and then grabbed my hand to drag me out onto the court.
I had just learned I was going to be an aunt again in front of everyone and now I had to play a stupid game in front of a crowd of 20,000 near-strangers. How does Gina get me into these things?
I heard my name being called from different points in the arena and I blushed. This was hell. In fact, when I died if I was so horrible I didn’t go to heaven, I’d be in the middle of a basketball court being stared at like a fish in an aquarium.
I was guided to the center of the court next to the other contestant and we shook hands. The damn owl was running around like a giant bird who’d just had a triple shot of espresso. Yesterday I thought he was a badass, today I wanted to find out what owl stew tasted like.
The MC came out to center court with us, a microphone in hand and asked us to each introduce ourselves. “I’m Brad…I’m Mae.”
“Welcome to the shoot off! When I say go, you’re going to run to the rack of balls located at either free throw line. You have two minutes to get as many balls through the hoop as you can. You’re playing for your half of the arena. If you win, everyone sitting on your side gets a prize and you get an even bigger prize! Are you two ready?” Really? I had a choice? And now half the flippin’ place was depending on me to get them a free sticker or some other lame prize they didn’t know they wanted until it was dangling in front of their faces. I looked at Gina who was now sitting in my seat smiling. I wanted to smack that adorable smile off her face. Ok, I couldn’t do that even if she weren’t pregnant. She was too good of a person but damn her for being pregnant!
“On your marks, get set, GO!” I ran to my rack where a helper stood ready to hand me balls. A second was preparing to collect them as they fell. I grabbed the first one and shot and missed. Ugh! The crowd behind the hoop was cheering, I made the mistake of looking down and seeing Jeremy scowling at me. I heard cheers that didn’t match my behavior and knew Brad must have made his first shot.
From the deepest part of my being rose up something I’d forgotten I had in me. A competitive spirit. I wanted to win. I had to win. I didn’t know why, but I wouldn’t be content unless I did. I continued to throw the balls, making some, missing others, but in my mind I was making more than not. The cheering crowd got louder and louder but I couldn’t tell which side they were cheering for. The noise surrounded me and the claustrophobic in me was scratching to make herself known. She was trying to remind me that she was in there, but the competitive spirit was standing on her shoulders throwing basketballs like a mad woman. I had to admit, she was making me proud.
I heard the blare of an air horn signaling us to stop. I turned to face the MC who motioned Brad and me to the center of the court. “And now for the winner!” A slip of paper was handed over and he unfolded it. “Brad, you made six shots in two minutes. Mae, you made wow. Really? Who took score?” Two men raised their hands, each holding a pushbutton counter. The one from my side walked to the MC and showed him his. “Ok then, Mae, you made twenty-four shots!”
“What?” I screamed. “That thing must be broken!”
“Nope, not broke. Surprised it’s not smoking, though!” Everyone cheered and my half of the crowd was rewarded with a free Whoopster’s pennant. That was a better prize than I had expected. “And, here is your prize, Mae.” He was passed a basketball and a piece of paper. “A ball signed by the players and a $100 gift card to the team shop!” The crowd cheered and I took my prizes. Not too shabby for two minutes’ time.
I went back to my seat to cheers and put my prizes under my chair and in my purse. I quickly grabbed Gina and nearly dragged her toward the VIP lounge hallway. “So when were you planning to tell me?” Even winning didn’t keep me from being a bit pissed at her and my brother.
“Soon! It will be six months next weekend. That’s when. You know how we had problems with the other two, I just wanted to be sure. You know?”
I remembered the near misses with both of her other two pregnancies. She had a right to not tell people right away. “But you
told me right out of the gate with the other two. I was happy to be there to support you. I’m the aunt. That’s my job.”
“That’s what I said, but Max thought we should wait. He’s had it in his head that you were you know…jealous. He didn’t want to rub salt in the wound.”
Ouch. Had I come across as the jealous, childless old crone? “I wouldn’t have been jealous. I’ve never been jealous. I’m happy for you both.”
“But you don’t want children.”
I froze. I’d spent my life telling myself, and others, that I didn’t need to dirty the genepool with my offspring. Actually, my mom was the one who had told me I didn’t need to muddy the waters. No one wanted to see a bunch of homely little Mae’s running around. Plus, after I recovered from the abuse from Bart, I never planned on dating again. I would have had to get myself a sperm donor and be a single mom. Maybe that was until now.
I stared at Gina, not knowing what to say. “Maybe ideas change. But know that no matter what, I am always here for you two.” I rubbed her belly. “I can’t believe it! I get to be an aunt again! I am so happy for you!”
“Well, you might have to change your method of aunting, Mae. It’s a girl.”
I grabbed her shoulders and gave her a love squeeze. “Oh my gosh! Ribbons and bows and frills and pinks and purples! But I’m teaching her how to change her oil!”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” said Gina as she gave me a hug. “I need to get back to my sister. But we’ll have lunch soon, ok?”
“Wouldn’t miss it!” She returned the way she came and I felt my cheeks relax from the perma-smile that had plastered itself across my face.
Since I was so close, I went to the VIP lounge for a beer and was disappointed when Jason, the guard who had been on duty the night before wasn’t there. A different guard stood in his place and I smiled at him. He was tall and rather frightening. “Hello,” I said, trying to gauge his character.
“Ma’am.” He was stern and unmoving.
“Where is Jason?” I asked.
“He’s been given another assignment.”
“Is he in trouble?” I asked nervously.
“Not to my knowledge, ma’am. They assign us to different posts so we don’t become lax in our job.”
“Ok,” I looked at him again. He was wearing dark glasses like Jason had, a black leather jacket and black pants. “Would you like anything?”
“No ma’am, it’s against the rules for us to accept gifts from guests.” I could see he took his job a little more seriously than Jason did.
“I’m sorry,” I nodded out of his line of vision and went into the bar. A few small groups of people remained at the end of halftime.
The bartender recognized me immediately and poured me a beer. I went to pay and he refused. “I’m not Owner-level VIP today,” I said pointing out the lack of badge around my neck. The owner seats had come with free food and drink the night before.
“You’re the free throw queen. Plus your purchases are charged to Elsu. Per his request.”
“Ugh!” I said as I sat down and accepted the now-free beer. “What if I want to pay?”
“Then I guess I get a tip.” he said as he served someone further down the bar.
“He drives me nuts with the money thing. I have my own and am completely capable of spending it,” I said as I took a deep swig of the beer.
“I wish I could do that for my girlfriend,” said the bartender who I finally noticed by his nametag must be Jerry.
“Why? Doesn’t she like to be independent?”
“It has nothing to do with independence, Mae. I love her to death. I work two jobs and I can’t give her everything I feel she deserves. If I had the means to shower her with gifts and make sure she wanted for nothing I would do it in a heartbeat. If she denied me that ability, I think it would tear at my heart.”
I sat back and let his words soak in. Elsu was a kind man. Anyone could see that. Was I hurting him by denying him his desire to provide for me? This was such a new concept. Bart never paid for anything and more times than not I paid for the both of us if we went out. Excuses of no money, and the need to pay bills I never saw proof of were common.
I didn’t want anyone to call me a money grubber. But if I kept my use of Elsu’s money to that which was offered and not which I requested that wouldn’t make me one. Right? I’d have to work harder to convince myself, but knowing how much he desired to care for me, I decided it was a sacrifice I could make. I was forcing myself to let go of some of my independence in order to please him. I wanted to please him. I wanted to be the source of his happiness and not worry if what I was doing would ever cause him any kind of pain or doubt. Above all else, I wanted to be happy with him. A tingle in my gut told me that beyond being happy with him, I wanted to be made happy by him. I yearned to be wanted by him. His hands and mouth were all I knew but they had become an all-encompassing presence in my thoughts before, during, and after sleep. I needed to talk to him and discuss his rumored purity. Could two virgins make a good partnering? Shouldn’t knowledge of sexual desires and the way to release them be known by at least one partner? Would he want someone who knew so little? Would he be willing to give himself to me? How did my mind’s inner conversation go from money to sex so quickly? Of course, because I had it bad for Mr. Benjamin.
I was snapped out of my daydreaming by a scuffle in the corner of the room. Two celebrities I recognized were about to fight. Their ‘dukes’ were up and they bounced around each other like I’d seen on TV. I grabbed my beer and left before it started. I looked at the guard who was still standing at near-attention just outside the door. “There’s a fight breaking out in there,” I warned him.
He quickly stepped into the lounge and I returned to my seat.
The game had restarted after halftime and my brother, Christopher replaced Candice. He gave me a half smile when I sat down. This should be an interesting half.
“Who knew you could shoot a basket, sis?”
“Uhh, thanks.” I wasn’t sure if that was sarcasm or if he was honestly impressed. I assumed the first since he’d never been impressed by anything I’d done in my entire life.
“Am I allowed to go to the lounge?” he asked. Apparently he was already bored.
“I guess so. It’s right down that hallway. Pay for your own stuff,” I ordered as he stood up. I wasn’t letting Elsu foot his bill.
I finally got comfortable and started to watch the game. Millard leaned over to me. “Please tell me this brother will not be a reoccurring thing,” he moaned.
I burst into a fit of laughter. “I’ve only been gone ten minutes, it can’t be that bad.”
“He hasn’t stopped talking since he sat down. Your sister at least kept to you. Maybe he’ll turn his questions your way now that you’re back.”
I just shrugged my shoulders. His guess was as good as mine when it came to what Christopher would do.
“By the way, Miss Mae, your phone has been buzzing a lot from your purse,” he pointed to my bag.
YOU ARE SUCH AN OVERREACTING WOMAN, AREN’T YOU? I BELIEVE YOU MISUNDERSTOOD MY COMMENT. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU LATER. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU SPEAKING WITH THE TWO ASSHOLES. I WILL SAY I WASN’T HAPPY, BUT YOU’RE A BIG GIRL AND I TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT. PLUS MILLARD IS THERE.
I smiled broadly. The world was bigger, the lights were brighter, my guy wasn’t mad at me. The next message had me laughing.
SO, WHEN CAN WE SIGN YOU TO THE TEAM? WHAT THE HELL, MAE? 24 FT’S IN 2 MINUTES? THAT’S DAMN IMPRESSIVE! I HAVEN’T SEEN THE VIDEO BUT THE WORD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE IN HERE. GOTTA GO, THE COACH IS SAYING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. XOXO–ELSU
I laughed. I was as shocked as he was. Throwing the free throws had put me in a near trance-like state. I loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat.
CHAPTER 4
The Whoopsters won their second game and the crowd was going crazy. Elsu was crowned game MVP again. He deserved it, he was a powerhouse. A very tall, very se
xy powerhouse. Christopher was quiet for most of the game. I wondered why he would talk so openly to Millard but not to me. I really didn’t mind, I was able to concentrate on my own personal reason for being there.
I went with Millard to the locker room hallway and waited outside the perimeter of the gathered crowd for the team to finish getting dressed and doing their post-game interviews. I got a few high fives from the players congratulating me on my shooting skills. The night was looking up.
Jeremy and Bart exited the locker room and stopped to look at me. Millard stepped closer and they both scattered. I had to laugh, they were like timid little field mice scampering away from the mean old Tom cat.
Elsu finally exited the crowd, his phone in hand as he was concentrating on something he was watching. “Really, Mae? 24 shots?”
“That’s what they said. I wasn’t counting, I was ‘in the zone.’” I giggled. That was definitely a phrase I’d never thought I’d say.
“Yeah you were! Sexy as hell doing it, too.” He said as he finally put the phone in his pocket and wrapped his arms around me. Heaven.
“Well there’s something I never thought I’d hear, but I’ll take it coming from you,” I said as I gave him a squeeze.
“What, sexy?” He pushed me away and his golden-brown eyes locked on mine. “Stop the self-doubt, Mae. I’m not the only one who thinks you’re hot. But hopefully I’m the only one you’re trying to impress, and damn am I ever!” He kissed me passionately, pressing his still-warm-from-sweating body against mine. I wanted the world to disappear, but all I heard was a cleared throat and knew Millard wanted us to leave.
“Elsu! We’re going out for a drink, you coming?” I heard cheers coming from his teammates behind him.
Elsu looked at them, and then at me. I had already determined that I wouldn’t be one of ‘those girlfriends’ who kept her man from his friends, even though I really wanted him all to myself.
