by Xyla Turner
When they were finished eating, Shane stood and asked no one in particular, “What’s on your agenda for the day?”
“Relaxing on the beach,” Bridget answered.
“Nice,” Shane responded, then turned his gaze to Diamond and asked, “Would you all like to have lunch with me or am I cramping y’all style.”
“Well, since you said it. If a man is hanging around us, especially one that looks like you, other men might not approach us,” Trudy offered. “However, Bridge and I will go get our own men, so you and Diamond can do what you sport’s people do.”
“Sports?” Shane asked.
“Well, yeah. Diamond used to run track and played basketball in college,” Bridget chimed in.
“Oh, really.” His head turned to Diamond. “Is that so?”
“No, no. It was only division two,” Diamond refuted.
“D2 is tough,” Shane corrected. “Wow.”
Diamond shook her head and said, “That was a long time ago, so…”
“Want to play a game of basketball?” Shane asked her.
“No, not really. It’s hot and I don’t have the appropriate clothes.”
“I can fix that.” His smiled turned devious.
He turned around and proposed to the two women, “So, how about today you guys do the beach and tomorrow we all go parasailing?”
“Parasailing?” Trudy exclaimed.
“Yes, it will be fun.” Shane explained.
“I’m in.” Bridget jumped in.
“Uh, I’ve never been,” Diamond explained. “But it sounds like fun.”
“Okay, great. Trudy, you’ll love it.” Shane smiled. “So, tomorrow we can eat breakfast here again. I’ll have the hotel come and bring you ladies at the same time as today. Then we’ll head over to the pier. Wear shorts and t-shirts, because the harness can cut into your legs and arms.”
“Yup,” Bridget quickly responded. “Alright Trudy, let’s go.”
Diamond started to follow, but Shane grabbed her by the elbow, halting her progress. They kept going and waved bye with knowing smiles planted on both of their faces. Diamond, caught completely off guard by his physical touch, turned and her eyes connected with his hand on her body. He noticed this and let go, but said, “You’re with me.”
“Shane, listen. I know you must have a ton of things to do and plenty of people to hang out with.” Diamond tried to use Trudy’s logic. “So you don’t have to hang out with me. I’m here with my cousins, so I’m sure you can find someone to keep you entertained. You are Shane Sinclair, the last time I checked.”
“But I don’t want to hang out with anyone else. Just you. Will you join me? I’d like to show you something, then we can grab lunch.” He took a step closer, invading her personal space.
“You’re used to getting your way, I see.” One side of her mouth curved up. “Fine, just today. You just can’t let Trudy loose on the streets of Myrtle.”
Shane erupted in laughter at her comment. “The streets of Myrtle,” he repeated, while chuckling.
This was the first time Diamond had seen him laugh. She thought the sound was intoxicating and longed for him to do it again. When he calmed down, he said, “That was funny. Come on, this is going to be fun.”
Shane grabbed Diamond’s hand this time and pulled her along going towards the back entrance. They passed more statues, pictures of various beaches and founders of this elite establishment, until he brought her in the back to a small garden. The place was so beautiful, it almost looked out of place connected with the luxurious hotel.
“This garden was started by the founders of the hotel. It was speculated that one of the wives started the idea, which is probably true.” Shane was still holding her hand. “I’ve come here almost every day after breakfast or lunch, because there is a serenity about being in the midst of tradition, growth and a legacy. My father used to garden.” He briefly looked away from her and the garden. “I used to help him pick the string beans, carrots, collard greens, lettuce and squash. One day I accidentally planted a peach tree and he didn’t know until ten years later. We grew up in South East DC, one of the worst neighborhoods in the district, yet he had organic, homegrown fruits and vegetables in his backyard, unbeknownst to anyone besides the neighbors.”
Suddenly, he blinked and looked back at Diamond, who was staring at him in shock. He almost looked embarrassed by his moment, until she said, “Wow, that’s an awesome story. No wonder you like coming here. This place is beautiful.”
Shane smiled at her, then he pulled her over to the bench in the middle of the garden. There were smaller animal statues including a few gargoyles, turtles and pigeons. The heads of cabbage surrounded a small water fountain, contrasting the tinted light purple waters with the dark purple leaves of the vegetable. The carrots were in a section that offsets a light orange half globe that emerged from the wall. The brick pavers led to each section for the vegetables, creating a web of paths, that all led to the bench they were sitting on. She still had her smaller hand encased in his, but it was resting on his leg.
“Tell me about yourself Diamond.” He was staring off, but talking to her only. “Full disclosure, after all of the hoopla with the last press conference, my lawyer ran a background on you, but I only read the preliminary. Age, birthplace and all that. What else would it tell me and what else should I know?”
Diamond was a little shocked by his transparency, although it made sense because it was important to know who he was linked to, even if it was a lie. The other part of her hoped he had not picked up on her failure. That was not something she wanted anyone to know.
“Well, thanks for telling me. I’m not special, grew up in Oakland with my mom, who is a sports fanatic. We used to sit and commentate the games all the time. I started playing basketball in eighth grade and I ran track in high school. A few schools saw me play, they liked me so they inquired about me playing in college. At the time, I liked the sport enough, so I went and played on a partial scholarship. I took up communications in college and concentrated on the sports media industry in graduate school. Landed my first reporting job, was there for a year and then I moved to DC a few months ago. That’s it. Nothing major.”
“Any siblings?”
“Nope, just me.”
“Where’s your dad?”
“Not sure, somewhere out of the country.”
“Ahh, you don’t keep in touch with him?”
“It’s more the other way around. He remarried after my mom and wanted to start completely over forgetting that he had a child, so he moved as far away as possible. He sends a Christmas card once a year.”
“I see.” Shane squeezed her hand. “So, no men in despair about the fact that you left California?”
“Nope, not a one,” Diamond said a little too quickly.
“Hmm, I see,” Shane mused. “So, do you like your job?”
“Yeah, I love being a sports reporter. First on the scene, get to see everything in action, a chance to hear from the players and coaches directly. It’s almost like being in the game,” she said with enthusiasm.
“I never quite looked at it like that.” Shane finally turned to look at her. “I don’t like reporters. At all.”
“I’ve gathered as much. Which is another reason I’m wondering why you insist on having breakfast and lunch with me? I am still a reporter.”
“I know, believe me. I know.”
Diamond chuckled.
“Well,” she attempted to get her hand back, but he held on tighter. “Shane, what are you doing?”
“Relax Diamond. I don’t bite. Where are you trying to go anyway? Trudy and Bridget are on the prowl.”
“I don’t need them to enjoy myself.”
“And you can’t do that with me?” He feigned being hurt.
“Shane, I don’t really know you like that and uh, while this has been nice,” her hand swept around the garden, “I’d like to go now. By myself and be alone.”
“You don’t strike me
as the loner or introvert. You’re a reporter. Is it that you just don’t want to be with me? Have I done something or outworn my welcome?”
Diamond was not sure how to answer this since she did not want to hurt his feelings, if he had any. Yet, he did not care much about hers when he was accusing her of wanting something from him.
“So, back to my question. For a guy that doesn’t like reporters, you sure are doing an awful lot to be around this one.”
“You just had to remind me.” The side of his mouth slightly turned up. “Being around you brings about a certain peace. Okay. Nothing else. It’s just good to be around someone that is not asking or expecting something from me. Even if that is emotional support or strength.”
Shane got up as if to leave, then he turned around and said, “You don’t have to go tomorrow if you don’t want, but I’ll still go with your cousins if they want. Okay?”
8
It’s Nothing
Diamond stood up. “Look, I’m sorry. This is just throwing me for a loop. You’re on vacation by yourself. You’re inviting my cousins and me out, helping me with my work and regarding the very profession you detest, you have invited yourself to be in the midst of one for three days now. It’s just weird. You would think it’s weird too. I don’t mind and you haven’t worn out your welcome. Okay? I just didn’t know why. Now that you’ve said that. I’m down. Where are we going now?”
Shane smiled at her and said, “Okay. I wanted to check out the aquarium over on Celebrity Circle.”
“Me too. Let’s go.” Diamond headed towards the door with a smiling Shane in tow.
The two of them spent the morning looking at the animals, taking pictures and having people take pictures of them. There were several people that wanted his autograph and some that did not dare approach, just snapped a shot from far away. Shane did not shy away from the camera and she often volunteered to take the picture of him and his fans. A couple of times, the fan did not want to be in the picture just wanted to take one of him. However, both times, he grabbed Diamond around the waist to be in the picture. The move was intimate, but Diamond put it in the back of her mind. After all, he had just said that she has a calming way. Nothing else. When they finished going exploring the aquarium, Shane’s stomach moaned. Diamond laughed and asked, “Hungry, sailor?”
He went to grab her, but she ducked and ran a few steps ahead.
“What?” she continued to laugh louder. “When your stomach starts talking to me, I think you’d better listen.”
He took off after her, but she faked right and went left, taking him completely off guard. He was shocked and laughed out loud.
“That’s right, track and basketball.” He nodded his head as she rounded a car, still evading him.
“You better believe it.” She started to jog as he acted like he was coming one way, but made a spin move and almost had her.
Shane stopped at the head of the car and said, “Okay, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”
Diamond lifted her right hand in the air, flicked her wrist and waving him along. “Lead the way, Mr. Sinclair.”
“I know you can’t be scared of me. I already told you I don’t bite.”
“I’m not scared of you, I’m scared of your stomach. Growling like that.”
His smiled widened, displaying all of his teeth. Diamond could not help but replicate his response and did not see that he had crouched down a bit. A child dropped their ice-cream on the ground and she briefly turned because the kid started to cry. In that brief second, he had taken two strides and slid across the trunk of someone’s black late model Sedan. Diamond screamed as he landed right next to her, but had her around the waist, so her back was to his chest. Then he turned her around so he was pressed closer to her while she was pinned to the car. Both of her hands were on his expansive chest as she tried to move him away.
“Oh my God, Shane. You scared the living …” she exhaled. “You are fast.”
“That’s what I get paid for.”
“Yeah, I’ll say. You move like Sonic the Hedgehog.”
“What do you know about Sonic?”
“Please, I used to crush the neighborhood boys in that game. I killed Robotnik, before they even knew he existed.”
“You were that good?” he asked, looking impressed.
“Yup. Ask Trudy and Bridget.”
“Hmm,” he mumbled. “Alright, let’s go eat, before I turn into the Incredible Hulk from lack of hunger.”
Neither of them realized that the entire conversation took place with his body pinning her against the car. Diamond nodded and slowly took notice of their postures, but Shane simply leaned back, grabbed her hand and led the way to an Italian Restaurant on South Kings Highway. After they talked, ate and laughed continuously, they were waiting on the bill when Shane asked why she moved to D.C.
Diamond hesitated to answer, but eventually said, “I just needed a change.”
Since she wasn’t on the defensive, she asked, “Why are you vacationing alone?”
Shane picked up the change in subject and said, “I’m not alone now.”
“You know what I mean.”
This time, Shane shut down and signaled for the check again.
“So, tell me about the high school summer league you started.” He looked at her, noting the change in the subject yet again.
“Nothing much to tell. These kids are from the same kind of conditions that I grew up in, it’s free and it’s on a recommendation basis that includes an application and essay.”
“You read them all?” Diamond asked, even though she already knew the answer based on the tone in his voice.
“Yes, I do.”
The waiter came with the check and Diamond did not insult him by pulling out her wallet. Her mother always told her, there's independence and then there is stupidity. It's insulting to a real man for a woman to pull out her wallet especially when he asked her out. He paid and they left.
“Are you tired yet?” he asked.
“No, I can hang,” she answered.
“Good, want to go see Ripley’s Believe it or Not? I was there yesterday and it was amazing, but you should see it too!”
Diamond's upper lip tipped up when she asked, “Will there be gross things that will give me nightmares?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. Just weird stuff. You'll see. Come on.” He held out his hand for her and pulled her along.
Reluctantly she followed and was blown away at all the things that were unbelievable. She thought some of it was fake, but Shane assured her that if it was here, it had been checked and double checked for accuracy and authenticity. Before she realized it, the sun was about to set. They had spent the entire day together.
Shane turned to her and said, “Let's have dinner on the beach.”
At this point, there was no real reason to say no. So, she could write in her journal she’d spent the day with Shane Sinclair, the famous football player. The very one that did not like reporters. She wanted to tease him about that, but thought better of it, since his last reaction. She knew it wasn't just because a reporter so heinously revealed his father’s death to the world. He stopped liking reporter’s way before then. He was a media sensation with some of the pranks he pulled on them.
Shane and Diamond ate from takeout boxes they received from his hotel. Both of them were lying on the sand, shoes off as they gazed at the sunset and later as a half of moon reflected on the sea. Diamond thought it was priceless to capture such a scene.
They were off in a private area near the Bel Pointe, so they were alone. Food had been gone over an hour ago, but they sat there talking about nothing. Then Diamond asked him a random question.
“Do you still love the game of football like you first did? When you made the team in high school and played until you couldn't play anymore?”
Shane looked at her and even though she couldn't see him clearly in the evening, she knew his eyes were probably wide with curiosity at the randomness of the question.
He continued to stare at her and she back at him, until he answered.
“It's not the same,” he sighed. “My dad won't be there in the stands. Cheering me on. It's just not the same.”
Shane said nothing else and she knew he wouldn't have. This topic was closed and she understood why. Diamond nodded her head and mumbled, “Yeah.”
After another hour of silence, the temperature dropping and the tide getting closer, Shane said. “Alright reporter, let's go.”
She laughed and he walked her to the hotel and rode up with her on the elevator. He claimed he wanted to make sure she made it back safely, as it was close to midnight.
“Thanks for a full day. I enjoyed myself.” She nodded at him and pulled her keycard from her small bag draped diagonally across her front.
“Me too,” he confirmed. “Same time tomorrow?”
“Well, can breakfast be a little later? I want to go running and I’d rather do that, shower and then go to breakfast.”
“You run?” he asked.
“Yeah, I try to every other day or so.” She did not know whether to be offended or not by the question.
“Okay, let's run together tomorrow morning, let's say five-thirty?” Shane asked.
“Uh, it's midnight now. There's no way I'm getting up at the crack of dawn to run. I'll do it at six-thirty and eat at eight? How about that?”
“That works, lazy.”
Diamond hit him on the arm and they both laughed.
“Okay, Mr. Sinclair,” Diamond yawned. “Have a good evening.”
He brought his hand to his head and saluted her as he backed up towards the elevator. “I already did. See you tomorrow.”
She saluted him back and let herself in the door. She still couldn't wrap her mind around the logic of everything, but decided, moving to DC was the craziest thing she had done in a long time. Having a pro NFL player want to hang out with you cannot be the worst of things to happen.
