To Love a Man (9 page)

“My mom said at two years old they got me a basketball hoop and ball. And I played with that thing all the time.”

She smiled thinking back to the small hoop she once bought for Zack. “So you were a ball player from the jump huh?”

“Yeah. So what about you?”

She took another swig of her drink. “What about me I don't even know how to play the game but I do love to watch it.”

“Well how can a woman from Fort Lauderdale love a team from Charleston?”

She sat silently for a moment “Well honestly I love the way you guys work together. It's all about the team with all of you guys.”

“That’s a great way of putting it.” He said impressed with her answer.

“Well you guys are a great team.” She said blushing.

“Thanks. So what is it that you do?” he asked.

“I work in customer service.”

He shook his head nodding. “I should have guessed because you are so good at using your words.”

“That could also be because I write.”

“You write? Really what?”

“I don't know poems and stories. Nothing major.”

He smiled, he really like learning new things about her. “That is major I couldn’t imagine sitting down and putting my feelings on paper.”

“Yeah well it comes easily for me I guess. Like the passion you have for playing ball is what gets you to work out and work hard my passion for writing is what makes me sit for hours and write.” She said comparing the two.

“Yeah I get that. It's my passion for the game that makes me want to keep working hard on myself.”

She was silent trying to contemplate saying what was on her mind. “Forgive me for saying this but you are doing a great job at working on yourself.” She felt herself blush a little more while she thought of his body.

“Why would I need to forgive you?” he said with a sly grin.

“I don't want to give you a big head I just want you to know that you are one sexy man. That’s not the only reason I watch you play but it's a bonus.”

He laughed not knowing what else to do. “Well thank you.”

“So what's your favorite color?” she asked as she began to eat again.

“Color?”

She swallowed hard then cleared her throat. “Yeah favorite color.”

“Blue.” He said confidently.

“Really I love blue too. Why do you love it?”

The question caught him off guard but the decided to go with the most obvious reason.

“Because I look so good in it, why do you like it?” he asked.

“Well I looked up to the sky one day and noticed how beautiful it was, I fell in love with the color. It's just something about it that puts me at peace.”

“Wow.” He said truly amazed at this woman. She smiled loving how they could just talk like they have known each other forever.

“So, what is your favorite number?”

“Nine.”

“Nine? Really?” she blurted before she could stop herself.

“Yeah what's yours?” he challenged.

“Eight and Seven.”

“That is funny.”

“Why?” she asked wanting to know why he was laughing at her.

“It reminds me of a joke.”

“Ok what is it?”

“Why was six afraid of seven?” she thought about it and then exhaled.

“I don’t know…why?”

“Because seven ate nine.”

He laughed and she laughed along with him, “that was horrible.”

“Hey I don’t suppose you have a better one?” he asked faking a hurt voice.

“Actually I don’t tell jokes I am no good at it but I can give a mean riddle.” She said with coolness.

“Well lay it one me.” Ramón sat back eager to hear a riddle from this remarkable woman.

“You’re driving a bus, at the first stop five people get on, at the second stop three get off six get on, at the third stop one gets off and five get on and at the fourth stop 6 get off and two get on. What color is the bus driver’s eyes?”

Ramón looked into the phone confused. He had no idea and he fancied himself as someone pretty good at riddles. “Wow I actually don’t know.”

“Well what color are your eyes?” she asked with a smile that he felt through the phone.

“Brown why?” he asked wondering where she was going with it.

“Well I did say that you were the bus driver.” Ramón broke out a wide grin and gave a little laugh.

“Ok that was good I will give you that.”

Someone knocked on Ramón’s door and he remembered he was in the office still.

“Desiree can you hold on for one minute please?”

“Sure I don't mind.”

Desiree stood up and walked to the kitchen placing her plate in the microwave as Ramón placed the phone down and opened the door. He looked down to Jamal the assistant to all the coaches.

“Aj wanted me to remind you the kids are having that bonfire thing this weekend that you promised and you guys need to go over the list and stuff.”

“Ok tell him I will be right there.” He said eager to return to the phone.

“Also he wanted to know if you could bring the list of parents with you because he needs to see which ones need a place to stay.”

“Ok got it.”

Ramón shut the door and went to the phone.

“Hello.”

Ramón laughed as he heard a full-mouthed Desiree say hello.

“Are you eating?”

Desiree swallowed taking a sip of gulp of her drink.

“Guilty, I was trying to be slick but hey you did call in the middle of my dinner I'm hungry.”

As the last word left her lips a burp followed and she could feel her face turn red.

“Oh my gosh I am so sorry about that…that must have been super loud in your ear.” She said embarrassed.

“Well hey in the words of a mean ugly ogre “it’s better out than in,” he said knowing if she laughed at his joke she was awesome. She laughed and Ramón couldn’t help but laugh with her. There was something about her that made him feel so different. That made him not want to end their conversation. “I see you like Shrek too.”

“It’s one of our favorite movies…we lo
ve that movie.”

He said wishing they could just stay on the phone talking for the rest of the night
.

“Well you go ahead and eat I have to go anyways we have this huge bonfire this weekend and I gotta get the stuff together for it.”

“A bonfire? Really?”

“I know this is supposed to be a basketball camp but I promised these kids if they worked hard and pulled their weight the first two weeks at the end we could do something you would do at a normal camp. They voted and I guess making S’mores and being around a bonfire is what they felt would make them happy.”

She grinned sighing. “You are such a great guy.”

“How you figure?” he asked fishing for a compliment.

“Taking time out your schedule to host a camp for kids that is pretty amazing.”

His started to gather the things on his desk together. “Well to be honest it's sponsored by the Eagles but run by people who really do know what they are doing. Once or twice a week we show up and run drills with the kids talk to them, and get to know them but that’s about all we can do. We have off-season training and then there is the traveling and shows I get to do. It’s hard but I make it a point to get back here every week.”

“That still makes you an amazing man. You don't have to do that you could give your money and not your time.” She said admiring him.

“But what fun would that be? I am and always will be all about my fans.”

“Well you have certainly made Zack’s year! Maybe even longer, I know he is enjoying himself. I just wish I could see him you know?” he could hear the sadness develop in her voice.

“Why can’t you no one will stop you from coming up here.” He said hoping she would take him up on the offer.

“Well I do miss Zack but I'm not sure if I can make it.”

“Oh? Can I ask why?”

She sighed heavily. “Honestly I don't have the money.”

“That’s all that’s stopping you?” he asked confused at her admission.

“Yes that’s all.” She felt herself getting annoyed. “I don't have the money to just hop a flight you know. Not all of us can be worth a million dollars.”

“Millions.” He said joking.

“What?” he could hear in her voice that she did not get that he was kidding.

“Nothing just wanted to lighten the mood.”

“Ha ha ha funny.” He could hear the sarcasm in her voice.

“Well what if I sponsored you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what if I bought your ticket?”

She felt anger rise in her stomach. Did he really think she was one of those girls who couldn’t do for herself? “And why would you do that? Does it look like I need some help? Like I can’t make it without Ramón Norris coming to the rescue?”

Ramón started to laugh really loudly. “Ohmigosh you have a really smart mouth!”

He laughed harder but upon hearing her sigh loudly. He stopped and calm himself down.

“Look truth is Zack is an amazing player but I know he misses you and I know if my daughter missed me and I couldn’t get there then I would love to have someone send me to her.”

“I don't need a guilt trip right now.” She shook her head beginning to feel like a bad mother.

“I'm not trying to give you one. I just want you to know that you will have a plane ticket waiting for you tomorrow.” He said sincere.

“And do you do this for all of your player’s parents?” she questioned.

“If they needed help.”

Desiree sighed.

“I can pay half of the cost.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you sure?” she asked still in awe that this man would help her like this.

“I am extremely sure. So what do you say?” he held his breath as she thought it over. Twenty seconds went by but Ramón could have sworn it was longer.

“I say as long as you allow me to do something then yes.”

His face broke out in a wide grin and he began looking online for flights for her. “That is great so I am looking now. I am going to be honest I cannot wait to see you again.”

“Why not?”

“Truth?”

The question puzzled her for a second. “Please.”

“I have never been able to talk to anyone like I have talked to you and I hope you feel the same.”

She smiled. “I do.”

“Ok then. I hate to go but duty calls. It was a pleasure talking to you and I will see you tomorrow. Just go to the front desk give them your name and the password will be Eagle789.”

“Thank you again.” she grabbed a piece of paper and wrote the password down.

“No problem just come.” He said dreading hanging up the phone.

“Ok.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

They both stayed on the line a second longer before sighing and hanging up. Desiree looked at her phone and shook with pleasure as she dialed Nikki.

“Desiree I am in the middle of dinner this better be good.” Desiree loved how no matter when she called Nikki always had something smart to say.

“Guess who I just got done talking too?”

“Who?” she asked annoyed.

“Ramón. He is flying me out to see Zack tomorrow.”

“What? Why?”

Desiree could hear the concern in her voice and immediately frowned.

“Well aren’t you a buzz kill?”

Nikki shook her head.

“All I asked was why?”

“Well because he is a nice guy that’s why.” Desiree didn’t mean to sound annoyed but she if she did it went over Nikki’s head.

“Are you sure?” she asked wanting her best friend to be absolutely sure of what she was doing.

“Of course I am sure. This is a nice gesture and I think I am gonna take him up on it.”

“How long did you guys talk before he just asked you to come there?” she questioned.

“We were on the phone for a while and then I told him how much I missed Zack and he wan ted to do something nice for me so that is what he felt the need to buy me the ticket and I really miss Zack so I am gonna take him up on his offer.”

“Desiree you know I love you right but.”

“But what?” Desiree heard it in Nikki’s voice she didn’t want her to go.

“I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

Desiree stood and walked into the kitchen and began rinsing her plate off.

“What do you mean get my hopes
up?”

“I mean he may not be looking at you the way you are looking at him.’

“What are you talking about Nikki? We enjoy talking to each other we are going to see each other tomorrow and whatever happened happens.” When Nikki heaved a sigh Desiree turned off the water.