Inextinguishable Love: Firefighter and Interracial Romance

by Kathleen Bunker

“I swear, I would sprain any one of their ankles just to have them on my table,” Emma said, biting her lip.

  “That’s sort of against what we do,” Daphne said, picking at her salad.

  She felt a pang of jealously that Emma got a good sports program, but to be fair Emma was in Daphne’s position last year. And the assignment only lasted one season so she would just have to suck it up.

  “Hey, is it true that Luke Baker is here?” asked Emma, stealing some of Daphne’s yogurt.

  “Am I the only one who doesn’t know who he is?” Daphne said.

  Emma’s eyes widened with shock or horror or perhaps a mixture of both.

  “Have you literally been living under a rock? My dad loves him. He’s going to the NFL for sure, probably first or second round draft pick. His record is ridiculous. He never gets sacked, like ever and his arm is crazy accurate.”

  Daphne thought for a moment. She still did not understand why Luke was here with the Badgers if he was such a high prospect for the pros. It just did not add up.

  “I heard he’s hot,” Emma said, scraping the bottom of the yogurt cup.

  “Hey, I was eating that,” Daphne said as she watched Emma finish up her yogurt.

  “You ate all of my grapes. I just checked our fridge. So we’re even. And you didn’t answer me. What’s he look like?”

  “Tall, blonde and muscular.”

  “Thank you for describing over half of the guys on the football team What does Luke look like up close, and leave nothing out?” Emma leaned forward and her blue eyes twinkled with curiosity.

  Daphne leaned back on the hard chair, picturing his face. He was cute, but the way he smirked at her just screamed arrogance. Most of the athletes she worked with were somewhat cocky. They had to be, to psych themselves up to play. Sports was just as much physical as mental. Something about Luke made her feel like he was hiding something, but as much as she hated to admit it, he was gorgeous.

  “He’s—nice to look at,” Daphne said, popping a cucumber slice in her mouth.

  “Ugh, weak. Is that all you have?” Emma asked, shoving Daphne playfully.

  Daphne shrugged, tucking her long, strawberry-blonde hair behind her ears.

  “Fine. He looks like, if it was biologically possible, Zac Efron and Ryan Phillippe had a baby.”

  Emma squealed loudly, drawing attention from students at neighboring lunch tables in the cafeteria.

  “Easy, Emma. People are staring,” Daphne teased.

  “I knew it. My sister has this theory that we are programmed to find people more attractive because they are actors on television or in the movies. I call bullshit on that because I can think of tons of actors who would never be in my spank bank.”

  “Jesus, your sister and her conspiracy theories get worse every day.”

  Emma laughed and nodded.

  “Wait, what’s a spank bank?” Daphne asked.

  Emma blanched and smacked her own forehead.

  “What?” Daphne asked.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Um, no?”

  “A spank bank is the mental catalogue you keep for lonely, rainy days.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  Emma shook her head and took a deep breath like she was preparing to explain something to a child.

  “Well, Daphne, a spank bank is filled with the people you think about when you need inspiration.”

  “Inspiration for what?”

  “Masturbating.”

  Daphne choked on a piece of fruit and coughed loudly. Emma laughed, patting Daphne on the back. More people were watching now and Daphne knew she was glowing scarlet right about now.

  “It’s okay, my dear. We’re adults. Lots of women masturbate. It’s not just the boys.”

  “I don’t!”

  “Well, you should. God, you’re so uptight. I hope Luke fucks you.”

  Daphne stared at Emma like she had three heads.

  “What? Don’t look at me like that. You and Dennis have been broken up for months now. God, who even holds on to their boyfriend from high school that long.”

  “I don’t want to talk about him,” Daphne said, crossing her arms.

  “I didn’t say you had to marry Luke or be his girlfriend. I’m just saying you need to move on. Dennis has. You should too. I mean, people change, and you guys were like four states apart. That would be hard on anyone.”

  Daphne took a deep breath, feeling that familiar lump in her throat. She knew it was over before Dennis even called her. They were barely talking with their busy school schedules, and they had not even had sex in six months. And that was even after he visited three months ago. The spark had just gone out, and neither of them had to courage to say anything in the four years they were together, until this summer.

  “Don’t make that face, Daphne.”

  “What face?”

  “The I’m-going-to-die-alone face.”

  “I just miss having someone to talk to.”

  “You have me!” Emma said, giving Daphne a goofy grin.

  “Yea, well I can’t make out with you,” Daphne jokingly said.

  “Well, you could, but I don’t think you would be into it.”

  Daphne rolled her eyes, laughing at Emma.

  “I say we create a spank bank for you. Nothing crazy just a couple of faces to get you going. I vote Luke. Your voice is getting all needy when you talk about him.”

  “It does not! And, no thanks, I don’t need a masturbation coach.”

  “Um, yes you do. You didn’t know what a spank bank was, and you’re weirded out by the thought of masturbating. You should do it. It helps you when you’re having sex with a real person. You need to know where your good spots are—”

  “Ew. Enough. I got it. I know what I like. I’m good,” Daphne responded.

  “Missionary with Dennis the accounting major at NYU is not okay. You need to be creative. Think of how big and muscular Luke is. Imagine all of the things a man that athletic can do to your body. Flipping you over, up against a wall. Oh, he is probably really good at eating the kitty cat. I can just look at a guy and tell. I’m getting horny just thinking about it.”

  “God, someone will hear you,” Daphne said, attempting to hush Emma.

  “So? I don’t care. People need to stop being weird about fucking. It’s fun, and if you are safe and consenting and doing it right, it is great. You need it, trust me.”

  Daphne pursed her lips. She did not think about sex that often. The only man she had ever been with was Dennis and he was always to the point. Sex, to Daphne, was not that big of a deal, but the way Emma had described it was like it was the greatest physical feeling on earth. Daphne shook her head, dismissing the thought. She did not want Luke in her head, even if it was just in her spank bank.

  *****

  Daphne stood at the edge of the field, tightening her raincoat. It was pouring rain and Coach Daniels took today to take his job too seriously. It was already an hour of drills with the largest men Daphne had ever seen in her life slamming into sleds. Daphne did not know why they called them sleds. They were more giant cushions wrapped around massive metal frames. The grass was being uprooted as man after man tried to push it further down the field. They were fighting exhaustion, rain, and physics, and Daphne had to admit she was impressed. Even through the deluge, she could spot Luke. He had looked in her direction several times, but she was trying to ignore him.

  For the second hour, Luke was throwing the ball down field to the receivers. His arm was phenomenal. Even the worst receivers were getting the ball under his expert direction. When Luke had the ball during the practice play, he seemed completely in sync with the offensive line. The defense could not get a hold of him either. Even though it was obvious that Luke was getting tired, he had not been sacked once. The other players seemed to already respect him.

  Daphne half-expected him to be cocky and screaming at the obviously inexperienced offensive line, but he was level-headed and even compassio
nate. Coach Daniels barely had to make a sound or blow his whistle through the plays. Just in the same way Daphne had her job memorized, Luke had all of the plays memorized.

  When the defense was unable to get a hold of him, he was actually giving them tips on the best ways to manage a tackle and avoid a penalty. He actually knew not only how to play offense, but also defense. Daphne was starting to see what all of the hype was about.

  “Alright, boys! Bring it in,” Coach Daniels yelled, blowing his whistle.

  The players seemed to collapse where they stood. Daphne smirked and shook her head. They were clearly not used to real practices. As they piled over to the benches, she started handing out the water bottles rapid fire. She was used to moving quickly and with a lot of players even the rain did not throw off her rhythm. Luke was the last one to walk over to her. She felt a lump in her throat. They had been avoiding each other for several practices. He pulled off his helmet and Daphne ducked her head down to hand him the bottle. He grabbed it but when she looked up he was standing there still looking at her.

  “Yes?” Daphne said.

  “Just wanted to see if you would look,” Luke said, squirting the Gatorade in his mouth.

  Daphne’s brain felt scattered. She hated this feeling. Even the rain running down his biceps was making her feel like her brain cells were dying. She shook her head and walked away. He called behind her, but she was ignoring him. She just needed to focus on her job. She picked up the empty water bottles under the benches but when she looked up, he was standing across from her, putting a hoodie on.

  “Yes? Can I help you?” Daphne asked, shoving water bottles under her arm.

  She needed to hurry so that she could help wrap the players in ice and check them for injuries. She did not have time for Luke following her.

  “What’s your problem?” he asked, picking up some empty bottles.

  Daphne looked behind her and the players were disappearing into the locker rooms. Coach Daniels started walking after the players, but he looked back and was watching Daphne speculatively.

  “Coach is waiting on you,” Daphne said, avoiding eye contact with Luke.

  “I can see him. For real, man. What’s your deal? Did I say something to piss you off or what?” Luke asked, shrugging his shoulders, “Look, you’re not even looking at me.”

  Daphne stood up straight, looked up, took a breath and looked at him. She was trying so hard not to stare at his biceps. He really was a big guy. Dennis, her ex, was tall, but he was skinny. Daphne had just the right amount of muscle and curves and always felt like Dennis was too small for her. Her mind wondered if Luke was big everywhere…

  “Okay, I’m looking at you. So what?” Daphne asked, pursing her lips at him.

  “Never mind, man. I just want us to be cool. Sorry for bothering you. Can I help you bring this shit in?”

  Daphne looked around at all of the equipment and before she could answer, thunder crashed loudly overhead. She jumped.

  “I’ll just help. Jesus, you’ll drown out here,” Luke said, gathering the water bottles.

  Daphne wanted to protest, but the weather was pretty bad today. Normally a school would have more than one athletic trainer on a team as large as football, but the athletic training program was new. That and no one took the football team seriously.

  After they gathered everything, Daphne grabbed one cart and Luke gathered the other and they wheeled them into the hallway of the athletic department offices.

  “Thank you,” Daphne said, pulling her coat hood back.

  She was out of breath and was drenched in sweat and rain.

  “What was that?” Luke asked, smirking down at her.

  Daphne knew he was messing with her. She clearly said “thank you” loud enough for him to hear her. He was wearing a cheeky, crooked smile that made her smile too.

  “I said—thank you. Now, get in there so Coach can follow up with you. Plus, you need to shower. I’ll be in soon,” Daphne said, pulling off her rain coat.

  “You’ll be in the shower? Hmm, I usually like to shower alone, but if you’re offering—”

  Daphne shoved him playfully. He winked at her and walked backwards to the showers. She distinctly saw him look her up and down. Daphne’s cheeks felt hot, but she looked away and rolled her carts away so the bottles could be washed down by the cleaning staff. She caught her reflection in the glass of an office and she hated how needy she looked.

  “Get it together, girl,” Daphne said to herself under her breath.

  In the trainer’s medic room, the players who had already showered were lying on the tables wincing. It would take Daphne an hour to tape up all of them.

  “Looks like we may need to get you an assistant,” Coach Daniels said, walking up behind Daphne.

  “Tell me about it,” Daphne said, walking over to the ice machine at the end of the abandoned hallway and packing plastic bags.

  “So, I saw you talking to our new stud,” Coach Daniels said, helping her pack bags.

  Daphne froze and looked up at him. He was eyeing her with a downturned stare like he was accusing her of something.

  “We were just talking,” Daphne said, returning to the bags.

  “I see. Might I ask what about?”

  “Um, it was nothing. He just wanted to know if I needed help. He helped me bring the gear in. No big deal.”

  “I see,” Coach Daniels said.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Daphne asked.

  “Nope,” he replied.

  “Then why do I feel like I’m in trouble.”

  “Look, we, and I mean the school, has a lot riding on Luke’s performance this season. It’s the only year he’s eligible to play college football. Don’t spread it around, but we are attempting to get division one status in the next two years. A good football program can do that.”

  “That’s good news, but what does that have to do with me?”

  Coach Daniels took a deep breath, dropped the ice bags in a cooler and turned to face Daphne.

  “Daphne, you’re a good student, a good worker. Everyone in the athletic department thinks so. It’s why I requested you. I knew we would need someone focused with us bringing such a high profile athlete on the team.”

  “Thank you, but again, it still sounds like I’m in trouble,” Daphne said.

  “I guess I didn’t count on you being a—distraction.”

  “What?”

  “I mean this with all due respect, but you are an attractive girl, Daphne. The other players notice it, and it looks like Luke does too.”

  Daphne was fuming. Her looks had nothing to do with her job. She had every mind to run to the director of the athletic department, but she wanted to hear what else Coach Daniels had to say.

  “Hear me out, Daphne. I’m not hitting on you for Christ’s sakes. That’s not what my point is,” he said.

  “Then what the hell is your point, Coach?”

  “I’m asking you, please, one professional to another to just let Luke play. In fact, I might be doing you a favor.”

  “A favor? What does that even mean?”

  “It means he likes women. Like a lot. Most men his age with his level of skill do. I’m just saying you have a bright future here, but so does he. I will gladly give a well-written letter to any professional team whenever it’s time for you to graduate. I have a lot of contacts in pro sports. I understand you like lacrosse?”

  Daphne’s face softened and her ears perked up.

  “You know people in lacrosse?” she asked.

  Coach nodded and a smile broke on his face. Daphne knew that Coach knew he had her. Still, the idea of someone bribing her not to talk to a guy did not set well with her.

  “My cousin coaches for the Atlanta Blaze. I would gladly put in a good word with anyone in major league lacrosse for you. It’s very rare for undergraduate college students to get a job in their field, especially in pro sports. I will scratch your back—if you scratch mine. Deal?”

  Daphne looked
down at the freckled hand outstretched in front of her. She let out a sigh and took his hand in hers, shaking it stiffly.

  “Deal, Coach.”

  *****

  When Daphne got back to her dorm room she was exhausted. Her and Emma’s room was on the top floor and her legs and arms were aching. Emma had talked her into a room on the third floor so that they could get the vaulted ceilings but Northeast State College was a historic school, over one hundred years old. There were no elevators in the campus buildings over one hundred years ago. After the second flight, Daphne could have easily fallen asleep in the stairwell. When she did finally get to the dorm room, Daphne could hear rock music blasting from the outside. Emma was home.

  Daphne keyed in, hoping Emma was not in a talking mood. She had just made a deal with the coach that felt akin to a deal with the devil. It felt like a compromise that was wrong no matter how she spun it. Her parents did not support her, so she needed an edge. They often told her there was no way she could get a job in her field. Her parents also weren’t together anymore and disagreed on everything—everything except that Daphne would be a failure in the athletic training field.

  “Hey!” Emma said, yelling over the music.

  Daphne covered her ears and Emma jumped up and turned the music down.

  “Sorry, better?” Emma said, closing her laptop.

  Daphne breathed a sigh of relief as the music disappeared from her hearing.

  “Rough day?” Emma asked, plopping on her bed.

  Daphne dropped her backpack on the floor, chewing on her bottom lip. She was not sure what she should tell Emma.

  “Oh, wait! Before you say anything. I bought you something,” Emma said, riffling through her oversized purse.

  “What is it? It’s not my birthday,” Daphne said, sitting on the edge of Emma’s bed.

  “Here,” Emma said, handing Daphne a plastic bag with a drug store emblem printed on the front.

  Daphne narrowed her eyes at the bag. A box was in it. Daphne half-wondered if it was a box of tampons.

  “Oh my God!” Daphne said, dropping the bag.

  Emma fell backward, laughing loudly.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Daphne asked, picking the bag up off the vinyl floor.