by Simply BWWM
“You wouldn’t have anything without me, Sasha!” Giselle screamed. Sasha was crying hard by this point and sat down on the couch. Giselle had stood up, but once she realized Sasha was crying hard as well, she ran over to her.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t be,” Sasha cried. “I’m barely anything with you.”
“Oh, Sasha, I’m sorry. That’s not true. You’re amazing,” Giselle cried, putting her arms around Sasha.
“No, you’re amazing, Giselle. What I said was awful. No one deserves to be talked to like that,” Sasha cried. They both had clearly had too much to drink and just needed to sleep off the night. They cried in each other’s arms for a solid ten minutes, telling each other how sorry they were through muffled weeps, getting each other’s tears all over them.
Sasha realized maybe they were more like sisters than she thought. She questioned her relationship with Giselle occasionally, wondering if it was too superficial. Still, Giselle was one of the closest friends Sasha had ever had. She did owe a lot to Giselle, and even if Ian did end up breaking Sasha’s heart, at least she had the chance to meet him in the first place. She was grateful for Giselle for that reason, at least.
The girls eventually made their way to their bedrooms before they had the chance to pass out, giving each other plenty of hugs along the way and reassuring each other how sorry they were. Sasha felt bad for how she had treated Giselle, but honestly, she was so drunk that there was a chance neither of them would really remember the fight when they woke in the morning. She wondered why everyone liked to fight so much but then thought that perhaps she was the problem. Why did she feel the need to fight so much?
Sasha looked at her phone and realized she’d missed a few calls and texts from her sister. Her stomach always dropped whenever she realized she had missed notifications from her sister. Tiana was the kind of person who would hold it personally against someone if they ignored her calls and texts for too long. Sasha knew this truth too well after accidentally blowing off Tiana one too many times.
“Grandma’s not doing well. Please text me back sis I hate when u ignore me,” Sasha read on her phone in a text from Tiana.
The last thing she wanted to deal with was her home life. Her love life was a mess, and she’d just had a terrible fight with one of her best friends. Thinking about her sick grandmother at home in pain and alone made her want to crawl into bed and never get out.
If her night had gone the way she’d planned, she’d be there at his apartment with him now, not making her eyes sticky from the combination of tears and mascara. She cried harder into her pillow, letting out every last bit of tears possible. She texted her sister back, letting her know that she would make it back to her grandmother as soon as possible.
Sasha was relieved to see that as she was texting her sister, Ian had texted her. She would give all the cash in her journal to be in his bed instead of hers alone. The sheets were cold, and she felt empty and alone. If Ian were there, he could hold her while she drifted off to sleep.
She needed to take her makeup off but all she really wanted to do was cry in bed. She already dreaded how puffy her eyes were going to be the next morning when she woke up.
He asked her if she wanted to go to an Indian’s game, and her immediate response was to say yes. She had to think about that for a minute, however. Did she really want to get mixed up in a relationship like Giselle? She could avoid responding to him, an option that would prevent her from heartbreak, with Ian at least. At the same time, she thought about her grandmother and how bad she wanted to get back to her.
Sasha started to regret the decisions she had made about her money earlier in the day. She was certainly happy she was able to spend some time shopping with Giselle, but the money she spent on the purse could have gotten her a bus ticket and cab ride back to her grandmother. There was no going back now, however, and heading out with Ian again was certainly an option that would make her money.
Money was her priority. If she turned Ian down, she wasn’t so sure she’d be able to get back into things very easily. Would she have to get a dreaded real job?
She was desperate for money. She had worked since she was in high school, always having very little free time to spend what small amount of money she managed to make. Though Sasha hoped to break out in the fashion industry and become like the many successful designers she admired, it was a risky business. Her location didn’t allow her the best opportunities—other than working retail.
Her mom had done the best she could when Sasha was growing up, but it wasn’t always easy. Sasha had been working retail since she was legally old enough to work. She did alterations for money too, occasionally, but that demand was low for young seamstresses.
She had done a few things in her past she wasn’t proud of to make money. For a while during college, she would buy thrift store clothes and sell them online, marking the price way up and marketing them as “vintage” pieces. People would pay $50.00 for a retro-styled shirt that she managed to buy for $5.00. It worked out for a while, but not all the pieces would sell, and she ended up losing money on some occasions.
She still had standards of what she was willing to do. As a teenager, she went to the mall with one of her friends. They were looking at bracelets at the jewelry counter, and when Sasha turned her back, her friend swiped the bracelet. She had only realized she stole it when they were walking out, and she tried to convince her to put it back. Her friend refused, and they walked out of the store, setting off the alarms. They were taken to the back and the security officer threatened to arrest them. However, in the end he decided to let them go since they were only thirteen at the time.
She never stole again. She realized that day that they might have gotten away with the theft in a different world, but was it worth it? The risk of getting arrested wasn’t worth it for her, so she knew from that day forward that working for her money was the only way to do it. Unfortunately, working long hours seemed so much worse than doing something wrong to make a few quick bucks. When she was in high school, she started selling marijuana from her locker. She was too scared to ever smoke it herself, but her older sister had grown a plant in their backyard without their mom knowing. She sold small baggies of bad weed and seriously overpriced it, but it helped make her money before she was old enough to have a real job.
As soon as she turned sixteen, Sasha started applying to every department store in her Cleveland suburb. She was eventually hired at the same store that had caught her stealing so many years ago. One of her coworkers explained that the only people that they caught stealing and never arrested were two thirteen-year-old girls. Sasha knew the coworker was talking about her. She had always worked for her money, but she certainly felt guilt every now and then over some of the things she had done in her past.
Could this be one of those times she was embarrassed about the way she was making money? It felt so wrong, but remembering how much cash she was able to hold in her hand made it all seem worth it. She knew her grandmother and sister wouldn’t approve, but it wasn’t their body… or their choice. Sasha knew that if Ian texted her again, she would certainly agree to go out on another date. Why not get paid? It’s not like he couldn’t afford it.
Chapter6
Sasha loved the sight of the stadium. The sun was hot that day and the air was moist. She could feel her hair getting frizzy, but it felt so good to be outside that she didn’t care much at all about the state of her hair. She was wearing high-waisted cutoff jeans and a black and white baseball tee. She didn’t have any of her own Indians merchandise as she wasn’t much of a sports fan at all. Still, she didn’t want to stick out too much in an “extra” outfit, so she figured a baseball tee was perfect for the occasion, especially since it was a neutral color.
She immediately spotted Ian standing in front of the stadium, even though there were swarms of people entering the stadium. He was much taller than most of the people around, so that was the first way to figure out where he was. After her eyes met th
e tall ones in the crowd, that red hair was an unignorable signal of his whereabouts. Sasha couldn’t help but let the thought of what their child might look like slip into her head. That was so far from what Sasha wanted, but the thought would often cross her mind with little control. She thought about it with many people; it was just an idea she always wondered about.
They looked so different. What did other people think of them? What did he see in her? She had to let those doubts slip out of her mind as she approached him. His back was turned, and he gazed up at the stadium. Sasha wondered how it was possible that such a large and powerful man like that could look so small compared to the massive structure.
“Surprise!” Sasha said as she jumped up behind Ian. He jumped a little, Sasha’s joke turning into a real scare. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to actually scare you”
“It’s okay! I was just admiring the stadium! How are you?” he asked, wrapping both of his arms around her. She loved his smell. She couldn’t get over how soft his own t-shirt was, a blue cotton short-sleeved top. He had on straight-legged jeans and nice sneakers, with a gray hoodie to top it off, though it was hot out. His look was clearly planned, and boy did he look good.
“You look super cute today,” he said.
“Thank you, as do you,” she replied, as he leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead. She suddenly realized it was a bit strange that their greeting was so casual this time. They were really acting like a regular couple, and Sasha liked it. She started to get a little worried. She remembered how good this beginning phase was with her last client. She was filled with bliss whenever she saw him, unable to control her smile. Just like her grin, her emotions spun out of control, and she wound up heartbroken.
Now wasn’t the time to think of that as they walked hand and hand into the stadium. They went off to a different entrance and Sasha quickly realized they wouldn’t be going in the same way as everyone else was. There was a lone security guard at a private door, and they were led right through, not having to show a ticket or anything.
There were a few other people in the back, which looked like a large white warehouse. There were plenty of employees, and Sasha quickly realized they were in a VIP area. She had only been to the stadium once before and certainly hadn’t entered through this area. It was nice to not have to walk in and get checked with the rest of the swarm, but part of her missed the bustle of the stadium. The smell of beer and pretzels still lingered in the empty-looking warehouse, so Sasha was getting her fill of nostalgia.
Still, she was ready to get back into the sun. It was starting to feel a bit post-apocalyptic back in the restricted area.
“A buddy of mine from Detroit flew in to watch the Tigers play today, so I just want to say hi to him really quick,” he said.
“No problem,” she replied, going along with whatever he needed to do. How close was this friend she was meeting? Was this a milestone that she would have to worry about? He led her down a hallway and to an elevator. He gave her a little peck on the cheek as they rode up several floors, and she remained quiet, a bit nervous about meeting one of his friends.
When the elevator opened, they walked down a carpeted hallway that reminded Sasha of a stuffy hotel. She realized they were in the area leading to the private viewing boxes overlooking the stadium. Sasha had never been to that part of the stadium before, but she wasn’t so sure that’s where she wanted to end up. She felt a little bit underdressed, seeing several men in suits throughout. They eventually entered a separate room filled with several men as tall as Ian. She recognized one as a reality television star from a show she couldn’t remember, and the others just looked like typical basketball players.
“Scott! My man! I’m so glad you stopped by!” Ian joked. His voice had a deeper tone that sounded more professional than when he was talking to Sasha. He walked over to the shortest of the tall men and gave him a hug.
“I had to see your team get destroyed, right?” Scott joked back. Sasha stood there uncomfortably for a moment as Scott walked toward her. “And who is this beauty?”
“Sasha”, she said, reaching out a hand. He shook it and walked back over to Ian.
“Well, I can’t stay long. We have seats outside and don’t want to miss the first throw,” Ian said as quickly as possible.
“You fool, sitting out there in the sun! Why not sit back and enjoy some brews with the boys?” Scott said.
“No, no, I prefer it out there. How does that sound, Sasha?” Ian asked, a wave of relief going over Sasha. The last thing she wanted was to spend time in the glass box with the tall men.
“No, that sounds good to me,” she told him honestly, relieved that she wouldn’t have to mingle with wealthy people throughout the game. He led her out of the glass box and back to the elevator. She was so happy, realizing that they were going to sit in the lower stadium seating with the other fans and not just sit in the wealthy section all night.
Once the elevator doors closed, Ian let out a huge sigh. “I’m so sorry about that. I really can’t stand that guy. I just wanted to get that over with, so we could have a good time. He’s a friend of my dad’s and totally would have been mad if he found out I was here and I didn’t stop by and say something. You know what I mean?”
“I completely understand, don’t worry. I’m glad we won’t be up there,” she told him, not lying a bit.
“Okay, are you sure? Because we can stay in the air-conditioned box if you can’t handle the summer heat,” he told her.
“Are you joking? You’re the one who’s not going to be able to handle it in that Gucci hoodie,” she said, not afraid to call him out.
“You noticed huh?” He asked.
“What do you think? I told you I studied fashion,” she said with an attitude.
“That’s right, that’s right,” he said as the elevator doors opened to the main floor of the stadium. “Should we get a drink?” he asked.
“You don’t even have to ask,” she responded, excited to start drinking. They approached one of the beer bars, and Sasha’s heart skipped seeing the prices. The cheapest beer was still twice as much as a normal six-pack. She realized that as a kid she hadn’t thought of the prices of beer at the stadium then realized she didn’t really have to worry now either, as Ian pulled out his credit card. She ordered a Bumble Berry, Ian a Guinness. He ended up getting them both the largest size as well, and Sasha was shocked that they cost more than one of her average utility bills.
“Our seats are this way,” he told her, leading her toward home plate. They went down a few stairs, and Ian led them to their seats, Sasha quickly realizing they were right behind home plate. She had never been that close before at any baseball game.
“We’re totally going to be on TV, aren’t we?” She asked. Luckily, she had brought sunglasses and a hat. She wasn’t sure what it would look like if the two of them were seen together. Obviously, he was cute, but she didn’t want any rumors to start about her being a call girl or gold digger. Was it still a rumor if it was partially true?
“Possibly. Try not to think about it,” he told her with a huge grin.
The game started, and Sasha was amazed. She watched sports on television every once in a while, but it was always so different when she got to see the real thing close up. She normally didn’t care who won either way, but since they were at the Indians’ home game, she was rooting for her city’s team and so was Ian. They were clapping, yelling, and shouting every time something happened they didn’t totally agree with. They did the wave, ordered peanuts, and almost managed to catch an extremely high-flying foul ball. It would have gone down in history if it actually made it to their seat, but the nets were set up to stop that.
“This is so amazing, thank you so much!” she shouted while the teams switched for the final inning. The Indians were down by one and their best batter was up first. Sasha didn’t have anything at stake, but she had been so into the game that she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed if the Indians lost afte
r all that.
“It’s not looking good,” Ian said, a little bummed out.
“We got this… they got this. Good luck kiss?” she asked, leaning in for a smooch before the first pitch was thrown.
Right away the ball was hit, only to be caught, and the Indians started out their final inning with an out. The second guy went up to bat, someone known for hitting home runs. He swung once, a strike. He swung again, hitting a foul ball. He didn’t swing on the third pitch, a foul. Finally, on the fourth pitch, he managed to hit one out past the left outfielder. It was only a double, but it still helped push the Indians toward a win.
The third batter was up, a newer player that didn’t have much of a reputation either way. Ian fed all of this information to Sasha, as she realized more and more he was into the Indians.
She didn’t know that much about his personal life or what he was interested in, so it was certainly intriguing for her to see this side of him. He clapped as the third batter stood still during a second ball, things looking up for the Indians. Sasha loved the end of baseball games. It could really go either way in a matter of seconds. On the third pitch of the third batter, that was it. He hit a home run, sending the guy on second base home, just like him. The Indians had managed to win a close game, and Sasha realized she hadn’t been excited about a team winning a game like that in her entire life.
Sasha and Ian both stood up, laughing and clapping. Fireworks started going off just as the sun was setting, a perfect end to a perfect day.
“Let’s get out of here quick now to beat the crowd!” Ian said, tugging Sasha’s hand toward the exit. She took one last look around the stadium, seeing red and blue everywhere as fans clapped and cheered. It was always good to make it to a winning game in the summer. She was feeling buzzed from her large drink and cheerful from laughing and flirting with Ian all day. She loved seeing fireworks as well, something she hadn’t seen yet since moving to Cleveland. Nothing made her feel more at home than seeing the winning team take home a victory on her first game in over a decade.
