To Love a Man (2 page)

“We’re winning aren’t we?” Ramón stated in a know it all voice.

“Yeah we are. But not the way we should be.”

“Well enlighten me how should I be winning huh? In every game of these finals I have scored 17 points, 5 assist and 5 blocks or more.”

Aj placed his hands on Ramón’s shoulder. “Yeah and before you were pulling 25 a game at least. More than 10 assist and 10 blocks. You have had more triple doubles than all of your teammates this season combined. And now you settle for that? Do you think she would let you settle for that?”

Ramón rubbed his right-hand over his neatly cut tapered hair as he held the ball on his hip with his left-hand. “Look man I just…I just need to tell her I am sorry. I need to see her to feel her to hold her.”

“Well you can go find her after the game. Right now, I need you to stay focused. If we win this game we are back to back champs.”

Ramón gripped the ball then tossed it to his best friend.

“Don’t you mean when we win?” He said with a wide grin. Wining would be a great conversation starter when he went to see Desiree.

“Ok you
’re right when we win. I don't want you to lose your focus or get hurt ok. Game seven is big for us so let’s get it together.” Aj held his fist out so Ramón could bump it. Ramón bumped it and cleared his throat.

“I got this. Just give me a minute.” Ramón stated starting to feel anxious to get that game over with.

“Ok well that’s all you got games bout to start.”

Ramón walked off the court and looked up to the celling. He said a little prayer as he always did. And though his prayer was for everyone to remain safe out on the court, his heart yearned for him to pray for Desi. That she would forgive him and come back to him with open arms. He knew he was stupid and was willing to learn from his mistakes. All he wanted was second chance.

He recalled their first conversation. His heart did desire her and he had already prayed for her. So instead of praying for her he thanked the Lord for her forgiveness. He put his index finger and middle finger on his right hand together, kissed them, and then reached his right hand up to the sky. That was his way of paying respect to the Lord for always watching over him, and then he walked onto the court. He glanced up again at the empty seats and realized that it was going to be a long game.

Desiree and Nikki walked into the arena with 2 minutes left in the first quarter. As they walked to their seats, Desiree felt Goosebumps creep up her arms. She heard the crowd cheer louder. The Eagles were up by ten and in possession of the ball. She smiled as Ramón made a layup then ran back down the court. While they took their seats all Desiree could do was look at Ramón. Watch his body glisten under all the lights, see the determination on his face and glance up and down at his body arousing herself at the thought of being with him again. She felt herself jump out her seat as the clock rounded down and Ramón blocked a shot that was caught by Aj. They ran back down to their basket and even though Ramón missed the shot, seeing him just made everything feel right in her soul.

It wasn’t until Ramón looked up and caught a glimpse of her did she realized this was the man of her dreams and she needed him. As their eyes met, the heat moved through her like a volcano ready to erupt, she had to look away. She glanced at Nikki who was staring at her.

“Are you ok?” Nikki asked with concern in her eyes.

“I will let you know when the game is over.”

Ramón couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Desiree. She was so beautiful and arousing, just that glance at her made the heat rise from his belly like it was ready to explode. He didn’t know what she was doing there but he didn’t care. Just seeing her gave him hope feeling all through his body. The quarter ended and he looked up to her trying to get her attention again. Willing her eyes to meet with his. And when she did, he felt love course through him in a way he hadn’t since the day she walked out on him. AJ brought him back to reality but his mind didn’t wander to far from Desiree.

Desiree couldn’t control her emotions anymore. Seeing him in his element brought back all the reasons she fell in love with him in the first place. And all the reasons she left.

Chapter 1

Twenty-four months earlier

“Mom we are gonna be late!” Zack said walking out of the bathroom and walking back into his room.

Desiree grabbed the tickets off her dresser heaving a sigh.

“We are not we have two hours till we depart stay calm.”

“I just don’t wanna miss our flight. I still don’t see why I can’t travel alone. Kids my age do it all the time.” Zach pulled his duffle bag to the door on its wheels.

Desiree looked at him. “Zack how many times have we had this discussion? I know you’re eight and you think you’re old enough to do things on your own but can you humor me please?”

“Yes mom.” He said secretly rolling his eyes.

“Now you’re gonna be gone for three weeks do you have enough clothes? Underwear?”

“Mom!” Zack turned towards her embarrassed that she would even ask him that.

Desiree smiled and looked at him.

“What I say?”

“Mom you can’t just ask a man if he has enough underwear.”

Giving him an apologetic look she smiled. “What? Oh I'm sorry I had no idea you were a man at
Eight years old.” She placed her left hand over her heart. He stood in front of her.

“I am mom, I'm a man and I know how to pack.” He stood his ground and crossed his hands. She smiled.

“Well excuse me old man my bad.”

Desiree laughed as she pulled up her overnight bag. She walked to the front door of her small two-bedroom apartment and placed it on the floor. The phone began to ring and she pulled her cell from her pocket.

“Hi Nikki.” She sighed into the phone.

“How did you know it was me?” Nikki asked in surprise.

“Because Nikki, it’s always you.”

Nikki smiled through the phone. “True well I am just letting you know that I am on my way.”

“Take your time the man and I are not late.” Saying the words man made her feel sad inside. Her little boy was growing up.

“The man and you?” Nikki inquired in surprise.

“I will tell you later.”

“Ok.”

“See ya in a bit.”

She hung up as Zachary walked into the living room pulling his black wheeled suitcase. He placed it next to his duffle bag on the floor. Desiree gave him a look over to make sure he was completely ready. Even though he could dress and take care of himself it was an old habit she was still unable to break.

He was turning into a handsome young man. Desiree knew she was being bias but she would tell anyone who would listen he had the cutest smile. It warmed her heart every time she saw him smile and those dimples would appear. His golden brown eyes matched his golden brown skin and even started showing some more mannish features. Her sweet and soft baby boy was growing so fast he already matched her 5’5 height. It was only a matter of time before he towered over her like his father did.

When she looked over his clothes it dawned on her he was turning into a teen at
eight. No longer wearing the animal printed shirts with matching shorts, now he wore a pair of black blue jean shorts and a white and black echo red shirt. He wore his all black Nikes and white socks. He wouldn’t even let her pick out his clothes unless they had his stamp of approval.

Zack liked to keep his hair short and neat which he usually kept hidden under one of his fitted caps. That she sighed started when he was four. She hadn’t taken him to the barber shop in a while due to her heavy work load and when she finally did, he looked into the mirror and stated “I finally look like my old self again.” she couldn’t help but laugh at him. Her little boy was no longer a little boy. And while she didn’t know when her little boy started changing into a young man she knew one thing…she didn’t like it at all.

“Are you sure you have everything?” She asked feeling the sadness grow inside her.

“Yes mom and whatever I don't have I will have dad get me.” At the sound of Zack calling her ex-husband dad she flinched. She tried to shake it off.

“I know you say that now but I don't want you calling me talking about you forgot your favorite shirt. Again.”

“I made sure I packed it this time.”

“What about your hats?”

      
He touched the one on his head. “I am gonna wear this one on the plane and I packed two more.”

“Ok well Aunt Nikki will be here in a little while.”

Desiree sat on her tan recliner. She tried not to let her emotions get the best of her but as smart as Zack was he saw right through her fake smile.

“Mom are you ok?” she could see the concern in his eye.

“Baby come here.”

She pulled him towards her.

“I am just gonna miss you that’s all.”

“I am gonna miss you too mom.”

He saw the tears forming in her eyes.

“I don't have to go if you don't want me too. I can stay here with you.”

Desiree waved off the tears. “No go ahead and have some fun with your dad. You deserve to see what his surprise is.”

“Are you gonna be ok here by yourself? You have never been alone this long.” He looked at her with searching eyes wanting validation that he was doing the right thing.

“Of course I am. I have work and your aunt Nikki of course I am gonna be ok.”

She couldn’t help but pull her son into another hug. She was perfectly content with the way things were. It was her and Zack until a year ago when her ex-husband Charles decided it was time for him to start being a dad to his son. Great for Zack but bad for her because she knew it was a matter of time before he walked back out his life and she was left to pick up the pieces. She was brought out of her thoughts when someone knocked on the door. She let go of Zack and opened it to her best friend Nikki. Nikki smiled and walked into the house.

Desiree smiled at her best friend. She and Nikki had been friends since she was eleven and Nikki was twelve. As close as they were in friends they couldn’t be more different.  Nikki stood at 5’8 with a trim slim figure. She was a perfect size two and loved every ounce of it, while Desiree measured at 5’5 and in the words of her last date she was “curvy chubby in a good way”. Whereas Nikki was Hispanic with long brownish red hair, ears pierced twice with a big diamond stud followed by a gold hoop on each ear and a dimple on both cheeks.

Desiree was African American and took every advantage of her city’s beauty stores. She wasn’t ashamed to admit her hair wasn’t naturally long. With a mole beside her left ear she was more modest in her choice of ear wear. If and when she did wear earrings they were all small studs and not real. Nikki was a little lighter than Desiree’s golden tan complexion. Nikki’s blue eyes twinkled as she smiled and Desiree’s greyish brown eyes tried to mask her sadness by smiling. Many hearts were broken when Nikki married her short-term boyfriend Bryant. Nikki held out her hand.

“Your limo has arrived.”

Desiree snorted.

“Yeah if you call a 2005 Escalade a limo.”

Nikki held her hand to her chest and frowned looking hurt. “Such disrespect! You’re the one didn’t want to drive to the airport.”

Desiree rolled her eyes smiling. “I know and we are ready.”

Nikki stared at Desiree and laughed.

“Bestest can I ask a question?”

“Sure?” Desiree said picking up her purse and looking for her keys.

“What’s with the Band-Aid?” Nikki pointed at her glasses and grinned while Desiree took them off her face.

“What my glasses broke and I ordered a new pair but I can’t afford to get them until I get paid.”

“So you tape it together using toy story Band-Aids?”

“It’s all I have.”

“That’s just sad. I told you that you should use contacts.”

Desiree glanced at her glasses before she placed them back over her eyes. “You know I have a fear of touching my eyes.”

“I wear them.”

“I know that is why your eyes change colors every three days.”

“Come on with your complexion you can get like hazel or green eyes.”

“I will think about it.” She placed her keys in her purse as Nikki walked to the door.

“Look we still got time let's go to Wal-Mart.”

“Nikki I told you when I get paid I will get them.”

“I am your best friend and I am obligated to stop you from flying anywhere looking like that. You can pay me back when you get paid.”

“I love you Nikki.” Desiree pulled her into a hug.

“Look at me why wouldn’t you love me?”

“Now can we get ready to go?”

“Yeah sure.”

Desiree grabbed her overnight bag and Zack’s duffle bag as he pulled his suitcase to the car. After they secured the bags, Desiree got into the front seat. Zack put his headphones on and took advantage of the TV in Nikki’s driver’s headrest. Nikki glanced back at him then looked to Desiree.