Chapter Eleven
“Tell me how I helped you?” Matthias asked as he lay next to Sylvia.
Over a week had passed since New Years. Although she was confused by his question, she didn’t want to turn to look at him. Something about his firm chest pressed lovingly against her back and the way his long leg wrapped around her legs felt too wonderful to risk shifting and losing the sensation. And then there were his hands. His long fingers that were stroking hers as their palms would touch for a second in a tangled embrace, then separate so he could softly touch the pads of his fingertips to hers.
Sylvia loved the feel of his calloused hands against her smooth palm. It reminded her that he did work. And hard. Sure he got the calluses from weightlifting and playing basketball, but that was his job and he was successful at it. As Matthias buried his face in her hair he whispered his question again and the warmth of his breath tickled her neck.
“How did I help you?”
“When?” Sylvia replied still unsure of what he meant.
“You said, I helped pull you out of your depression, how could I do that without ever even meeting you?”
“Well,” Sylvia said, still focused on the way Matthias was now stroking her side and sliding his hand underneath the T-shirt he had been wearing that somehow was now draped over her body. “There was something about the way you moved. I was so fixated on my own anger that I couldn’t let anyone close. I wouldn’t talk when they sent me to therapy and I would lock myself in my room wishing I’d lose the baby so I could move on with my life.”
Rage began building inside of her as she remembered the way she’d dream about lining all the kids up at school and shooting them one by one in the head just to make the comments stop. She had hated the talking behind her back. There had never been any sympathy or compassion. Even from the detectives working her case. They saw it as a dead end that was going to hurt their percentage. The boys at school would come up to her and think they could place their hands on her knees or stroke her cheek with the back of their hand. Asking her if she preferred giving head to straight sex because they didn’t want to have to work around her belly.
It took everything in her to hold in her pee when they’d touch her. Any touch brought her back to that humid room and the mattress that smelled of sweat, urine, and vomit. She’d stand in the hallway with her mouth closed, her eyes shut tight, and her body shaking in fear. It had become a running joke.
Shaking her head, Sylvia was brought back to reality where Matthias was holding her tight and touching her without her becoming overcome by fear.
“Then, you were highlighted and you were graceful. So many players go for the loud-I’m-gonna-break-the-backboard slams, but you were gentle, yet so strategic. I don’t know what it was, but the thought that someone like you existed in the world gave me hope.”
Sylvia rolled so she was flat on her back with Matthias looking down on her as he rested on his elbow. His finger stroked a loose strand of hair from her eyes as he leaned down and caressed her lips. Gentle, yet strategic.
“But what about when I married Sharee? Didn’t that kinda ruin me?”
“No, it’s not like I ever thought I had a real chance for…well…this with you. I just held out hope that if there was one of you I’d be able to find your doppelganger I guess.”
“You still looking for him? ‘Cuz I could get out of the way.”
“No, you’ll do I guess,” Sylvia teased. “For now.”
“You’re going back to school soon aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” Sylvia sighed and snuggled tighter. “And your season’s about to pick up again.”
Secretly Sylvia feared what they had built was going to end although she also thought if she brought it up Matthias would try to prove her wrong and keep the relationship going longer than either of them should. Much like Sharee, keeping the marriage together for years after it was “over”.
“Will you be mad at me for calling you late?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“West coast games, it’ll be almost two in the morning here before I could call you, but I don’t want to mess you up for early classes.”
“We’ll make it work if it’s supposed to.”
“You’re still not sure, are you?”
“Matthias…” Sylvia sighed then propped herself up. “What about when I go with the Royals for spring training? How’re you gonna feel about that?”
Matthias closed his eyes and pursed his lips. Sylvia tried not to over think his reaction. Then she could feel the nerves about all the more sophisticated women in his life coming back.
“I trust you, Silly, and as long as you can still make it to the All-Star game with me…I’m good.”
“Have they announced who’s going this year yet?”
“Please…Silly…don’t…you’re trying to get me going aren’t you.”
“Prove to me why you should go.” Sylvia cocked her eyebrow ready for her favorite Matthias game…kiss the spot on her body where he can make a shot…she loved when he ran the baseline… otherwise known as her thighs.
* * * *
“What is this?” Silly asked as she dropped her spoon in her bowl and grimaced.
It was mid-January and Matthias had three home games in a row this week. Luckily Silly only had morning classes on Tuesdays so they actually got to eat a meal together before eleven at night for a change.
“It’s Turner’s veggie soup. I love it.”
“He make it a lot for you?”
“Yes, why? You don’t like it? Try dunking the rolls in there.”
“It’s from a can.”
“No, it’s not. He makes a big pot of it so I have enough for a week.”
“It’s from multiple cans,” she repeated. “Probably cost him at most two bucks.”
“Are you sure?” Matthias looked down at his soup.
“This is easy enough for you to make it. I doubt it was even from concentrate. I can tell the difference between fresh, frozen and canned. And this,” Silly lifted a spoonful and let it plop back into her bowl. “Is canned. I don’t mind it, but Matthias you’re paying a man to cook fresh meals for you and here we are eating minestrone soup, from a can.”
“He did heat it up for me,” Matthias said meekly.
“Did you know?”
“No, but it’s not in a can now and you use cans in your food.”
“As a base and when I’m teaching you, yes. I can’t have you learn about soaking beans for chili right off the bat. I’m taking baby steps with you, but come on you know good food.”
“So what do you want me to do? Fire him?”
“That’s up to you,” Silly said with chagrin. “But you’re spending good money on a man who paid two dollars and spent five minutes cooking you lunch.”
“What about the rolls? Those took time,” he said proudly holding up a wheat roll.
“Brown and serve.”
“What’s brown and serve?”
“They come in a package, you put them on a baking sheet and cook for ten minutes. My bad, he spent five dollars and ten minutes cooking you lunch.”
Matthias wanted to defend Turner, but the more Silly was pointing out the angrier he got. What happened to Sharee vetting people? She probably was sleeping with Turner when they were married. Turner always came in with a smile and bag of groceries. Matthias never questioned. Worse he never thought to question.
“I’m not an idiot.”
“I know. But I have a feeling some people think you are.”
Matthias might as well of been punched in the gut. How could Silly say such a thing, to him of all people.
“You said at New Years it wasn’t my place to say things,” Silly said as she stroked his cheek. “Ignore me and eat your soup. It’s good on a cold day and does have nutritional value. Keep Turner on if you like him.”
“You won’t let me pay you to cook for me.”
“No, I won’t. Hopefully someday you’ll see why.” She got up and dumped the rest of the soup down the sink and turned on the garbage disposal. Placing the rinsed out bowl in the dishwasher, Silly went to the bedroom.
A text flashed on his phone. Hey baby, why you ignoring me? We need to get together soon.
Matthias deleted the message and went to the cabinet. Just like Silly said it was fully stocked with all of Matthias’ favorite soups. There was minestrone, beef stew, and clam chowder.
Another text arrived. Playing hard to get is just gonna make me punish you when we’re together again.
Again? They’d never been together. The past week she’d sent him no fewer than fifty texts.
He knew he had to stop this.
“It’s about time, Matty,” Pop star sensation Destiny Shaw purred on the other end of the phone.
“Who are you?”
“Oh, don’t play that game with me,” she giggled. “You know exactly who I am. Why are we not together yet? Seriously, we’re both the top in our field. Think of the names the tabloids could make up for us. Mattiny, Destias, it makes me cream just thinking about how we could be together. Your long legs, my long tongue…”
“Don’t call me again.”
“You called me Matty, there must have been a reason.”
This woman couldn’t get a clue and he didn’t know who gave her his private number. Right now he wasn’t sure who he could trust. His cook was a damn fraud, Silly was new and finding flaws like he was a damned infant, Langston took his orders from Sharee half the time, and Simone hadn’t proven shit. Worst of all, his damn body was beginning to betray him in ways that could cost him everything.
“I called to get you to stop.”
“You say that now. But come Grammy Sunday—”
“I’m busy.”
“Oh…don’t say that baby. You know we both understand and respect each other.”
“I’m sorry if I…Oh I didn’t know you were on the phone,” Silly said as she backed up into the living room.
“I have to go.”
“So soon,” Destiny continued to purr and Matthias cut the line.
* * * *
Sitting on the couch, Sylvia’s knee bounced as she tried to calm her nerves. She watched Matthias in the kitchen. She hadn’t meant to upset him, but the way people used him like a damn meal ticket was getting under her skin. Sadly she didn’t know if it was because he couldn’t see it or he didn’t care.
“There’s a lot of soup in my cabinets, you wanna show me how to cook it?”
“It’ll be a struggle, they are complicated.”
“Are they now?” He reached down and pulled her to her feet.
“I didn’t mean to—”
A kiss cut her off as he cradled her head in his hands. It wasn’t the same sensual kisses he’d been giving her, but it wasn’t cold either. It just was.
“You’re trying to protect me aren’t you?”
“Let’s just say some things tick me off more than others.”
“I’m firing Turner. I’ll tell Sharee it’s because you’ll be cooking for me.”
“Hmm…I don’t want any checks forwarded to me.”
“Are you sure? Because I can make it rain.”
“I think the car you gave me will cover my salary for the next three years,” she assured.
“I didn’t pay for that.”
“And that’s the only reason I accepted it.”
“You’re weird.”
“I’m sure I am. Now, how to cook soup?”
“I’ve got a better idea.”
“Do you?”
“I’m worried about tomorrow’s game, can we just chill out and crash on the couch…or bed?” he asked with a little twinkle in his eye.
“Crash?”
“What can I say…I’m pretty sure I’m at least three episodes behind.”
“You know you could not watch that for a year, come back and be able to pick right back up.”
“It’s a theory. But why, when I could hold you and watch it for hours.”
“All right ball player tell me why you’re scared of the Warriors, because I can’t see it.”
“Have you seen their new guard?”
“The twelve-year-old?”
“That they’re comparing to Jordan.”
“They compared you to Jordan,” Sylvia mocked. “Are you afraid of facing yourself?”
“Only the younger me.”
“I wouldn’t be,” Sylvia said as she pulled his hand up and played with his long fingers.
“Why not?”
“I’d know all my moves. Plus, it did take you a few years to handle the speed of an NBA game.”
“Don’t remind me,” he groaned. “How about I skip this game?”
“Rumors would abound and you’d spend the next five games trying not to say my name while explaining what you did instead of play.”
“What could we do?”
“Besides make soup?” Sylvia teased and turned in his arms so she could rest herself on his stomach.
“Obviously.”
“You could teach me how to play cards.”
“I’m not good at it.”
“How ‘bout you giving me a massage?”
“You’re better at those. You have magical fingers.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to fuck me to sleep.”
“I don’t…” Matthias sighed. “I probably couldn’t do that either.”
“Too bad, I guess you’ll just have to play basketball in front of millions of adoring fans and I’ll take care of myself.”
“Just let me hold you for a while.” The way Matthias said that as he cradled her body next to his had Sylvia worried. He seemed depressed. Was he really upset about his cook? She thought they had a good banter going back and forth.
Matthias passed out with his arms wrapped around Sylvia’s waist. Having flipped the channel to a cooking challenge Sylvia tried to quell the thought she’d upset him when his phone went off. Normally he woke immediately, but this time he just held her tighter.
Fearing he was missing an appointment Sylvia reached for the phone. A text message was scrawled on the middle of the screen.
Fight it all you want, you will be mine.
* * * *
“Sylvia Kinder,” a familiar voice made Sylvia turn around to see Patrick Martin.
She knew he’d taken over a restaurant—she just didn’t know it was in this casino—but she had to admit seeing a friendly face calmed her nerves. The past few days had been a whirlwind and she wanted to put her feet back on the ground, even if it was just for a minute.
“Patrick,” Sylvia replied and fell into his open arms.
The warmth of his embrace reminded her of the hours they had spent together and how he had helped her rediscover herself. The smell of cumin was still on his shirt, something that, no matter how much she washed his clothes, she couldn’t get out. Now it had become a sweet memory of a time when she felt…comfortable.
His sandy blond hair had grown out a few inches and she could see the curls that he usually shore. He must have learned that they were attractive for his rectangular face. Try as she might, Sylvia couldn’t help but wrap a finger around a lock of his hair and tuck it behind his ear.
Patrick’s left hand had a few fingers curled around a hanger with his white chef’s coat still covered in the clear plastic from the dry cleaner.
“I heard the All-Star game was in town,” Patrick said. “We haven’t seen any traffic from it yet. We should have offered a deal to the players. Oh well, live and learn.”
“Shaq had his comedy night and there were about twenty parties yesterday. I’m not sure you would have wanted to deal with all the promoters.”
“So, how’d your boyfriend do in the slam dunk contest?” he asked, and Sylvia blushed.
“He wasn’t in it this year. Just the game tonight.”
“That’s too bad, I know how you like that competition. You need to come see The House.”
“I don’t think I’ll have time to go very far outside the stadium.”
“No, The House is my restaurant.”
“Oh, got it. Sorry. We haven’t spent much time in the casino, but we did get room service this morning, was that from The House?”
“No, Kandas does breakfast food.”
“It was good either way.”
Sylvia started to feel uneasy. What if Langston saw her and said something to Matthias about her talking to another man? She looked around the lobby and to the elevators.
“Come by anyway, your whole crew. I’ll hold my table for you.”
“We won’t be done ‘til almost eleven.”
“This is Vegas, it’s either four-thirty or midnight, it’ll be fine.”
“We’re a pretty big group.”
“You? With a big group? Is it kids from class?”
“No,” Sylvia blushed again. “I thought you…”
It had been a few months and she had actually gotten used to people close to her knowing Matthias was her boyfriend.
“You know what, we’d love to come. I’ll hold back on the popcorn so I’ll save room.”
“Great, see you then,” Patrick said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. “And Sylvia, it was great seeing you.”
Sylvia’s nerves twisted her gut.
“I don’t want to know,” Langston growled as he clutched Sylvia’s upper arm and drug her to the limo outside.
“Let go, Langston.”
“He had practice today you selfish brat.”
“What are you talking about?”
“One day alone in Vegas and you’re already—”
“Getting us seated at the cook’s table at one of the best restaurants in Vegas.”
“Yeah, I bet.”
“Trust me, he wants one of the best NBA players there, he hasn’t had any players come in yet.”
“Bullshit. I saw the way you were looking at him. You think I don’t know—”
“Don’t know what? That I love Matthias so much no man is attractive to me anymore. That I’ve loved Matthias for over half my life? Or do you not know that I’d leave before I’d do anything to hurt him.”
“That looked really familiar for just meeting a chef.”
“We’re old friends. He’s the one who taught me how to cook.”
“Oh…so you mean…”
“That I don’t give hugs to strangers, yeah. I’m funny that way.”
“Silly…I know how Matthias feels about you, he loves you. When Sha…it would destroy him if he ever thought…On Monday you’re flying to Arizona for a month with a group of men…”
She tuned Langston out. If anybody should be insecure, it should be her. She never got a response when she told Matthias she loved him at New Years, and the thought of saying I love you one more time without a reply weighed heavily on her mind. Sure, Langston and Sharee had told her Matthias loved her, now if only Matthias would say it.
Turning her head, Sylvia watched as the lights of the Vegas strip passed by. The car could barely move past idling speed because the streets were packed. Sitting in silence with Langston caused the air to hang thick in the limo. She turned to him and put her foot down on one thing.
“You put your hand on me again and I’ll tell Matthias. You know how he feels about me. What do you think the outcome will be?”
* * * *
Destiny Shaw came out in the middle of the arena with fireworks and a full stage show. Facing Matthias on the West Bench she started to sing her latest number one hit Destined to be My Man.
Shifting nervously in his seat Matthias looked to Silly in the stands next to Langston. She didn’t know about the texts that Destiny had been sending him. He didn’t know how to block Destiny without causing a problem, and involving Simone hadn’t gone the way he expected. She advised if Destiny sang or played toward him he needed to play along.
She was a rising star and the All-Star game was more of a pageant than a ball game. It was time to showcase and show off. Hell, jump over the right car and you’ll have a deal in place by the end of the night.
“Oh yeah, baby, you know what I know, baby…that it will only take one night with me…”
The lyrics left much to be desired and Matthias turned trying to make it seem like she was singing to Conroy sitting next to him. Silly was watching the fireworks and by the time she turned back to him, thankfully Destiny had started to work the crowd more. Matthias didn’t know why Simone kept telling him he needed to wait until after the season was over to expose his relationship to the world. He wanted to be engaged by then.
Destiny was coming to her crescendo and was walking down the line of guys on the bench. They turned to her and she stroked their cheeks, but she ended up landing on Matthias as her song ended.
She straddled his waist.
“Oh yeah, baby you gonna be my man.”
Matthias smiled and placed his hand on her back. She leaned in and kissed his cheek causing the crowd to erupt in applause. All except Silly who looked like she’d been shot.
“You can get off now,” he whispered praying they’d turned off her mike.
“Matthias you haven’t answered my last three texts.”
“I’m busy.”
“So am I, but I’m sure we could find a way to connect. Where are you going tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I heard some restaurant, but it’s not confirmed.”
“Well I like to eat…maybe I’ll see you there.”
She stood up and did the double wave to the crowd, then left so the next act could come and sing the national anthem and get the game started. Matthias winked at Silly, happy she seemed to be unaffected by Destiny and her antics. Now for something he needed. A good game.
Langston was on a strict keep-Destiny-Shaw-the-fuck-away from the locker room and this feat ended up being harder than Matthias had expected. Silly was unguarded when Matthias walked out dressed in his latest suit.
“Come on, Silly Girl.” Matthias wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tight.
She didn’t protest in the least. It’d been three long days of women throwing everything from their phone numbers, to their room keys—even their underwear at him. Worst of all, many had simply thrown themselves at him.
Simone took on Langston’s duties. Her relationship with a few paparazzi gave them safe passage to the limo.
“Where are we going?”
“The House, it’s the restaurant in the casino. The chef’s table is ours.”
Arriving at the restaurant with its modern style and low lighting allowed Matthias and his entourage to slip through to the back table unnoticed. Sliding into the middle of the corner booth he was surprised when Sylvia stayed standing and waited for the chef to arrive.
Anger was his next emotion when she fell into the chef’s arms and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Still holding his hand she turned and introduced him to the table.
“And of course, Patrick, this is Matthias, who really is my boyfriend…although it’s not being publicized for obvious reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“You know. The press would have a field day with my past. He’s just protecting me.”
Patrick went from jovial host to giving Matthias a look of shame and disapproval. Fuck him. Why did Matthias need this guy’s approval anyway? Who the hell was he? Just the only man besides him that had made Silly know sex was a good thing.
When Silly slid in next to him he immediately wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her flush to his body.
“I want to go.”
“Why? Are you feeling okay?”
“I don’t want to eat your ex-boyfriend’s food.”
“I didn’t want to see you getting a lap dance from Destiny Shaw while she publicly pledged that you’d be her man.”
“Honey, nobody was forcing you to watch.” Destiny stood in front of them resting her hip against the edge of the booth. “Can you move? A real woman’s here and I’ll be taking him for the night.”
Matthias felt his heart in his throat as Silly tried to pull away from him.
“Langston!”
“Excuse me, you are not on the guest list.” Simone jumped up and blocked Destiny’s advances. “And I’m pretty sure that was made more than clear to you earlier tonight.”
Thank God for Simone, Matthias thought as Silly kept trying to pull away.
“I don’t know who you think you are—”
“Obviously, because I know your persona is pure bullshit. You attended prep school in Connecticut, nowhere near your claim of Queens. You didn’t join one of the hardest gangs in the area and you didn’t run one of the deadliest drug rings. At best you blew a banger at sometime. I on the other hand,” Simone growled. “Beat the shit out of phony ass bitches like you on the regular…ya hear me. Now I’m gonna talk all ignorant and shit ‘cause you pretend that’s all you really understand. Cotillion bitches get ‘dealt with where I’m from.”
“You callin’ me ignorant,” Destiny snarled as her head bobbed and weaved. “What, you fuckin’ him? If so I’ll back off, but if your pussy was good enough to keep him, it’d be good enough to have him shout it from the rooftops. And he has yet to tell me to step himself.”
“Get your ratchet ass away before the funk spoils the food.”
“I know you didn’t just call me a ratchet.”
“Oh, I did, or do you not know what that is? Did your mommy and daddy in the ‘burbs not use that kind of language with you? You’ve been told to step…I suggest you do.”
“Matthias never told me to, um, step.”
“His silence did.”
* * * *
Surprise, Arizona wasn’t too bad of a drive from Phoenix. The plane ride was fine and Sylvia spent most of it looking out the window wishing she was back in KC. At least Matthias had a game against the Suns in a week so they won’t have to be apart that long.
Still the separation seemed somehow harder than when Matthias would be gone for a week. Maybe this was how he felt when he’d fly away from her. Then again he was never gone longer than ten days. She’d be gone for three weeks and even though they technically had the weekend off, she’d been advised leaving would be taken negatively.
Her cell phone had been going off since they stepped off the plane. Texting galore since she didn’t want the people on the bus to hear her conversation. Only a few people knew she was Matthias’ new girl. Simone had handled hiding her like she was the plague as well as squashing any rumors that would surface about Simone and Matthias with her patented giggle of Oh, no I simply work for Matthias.
It didn’t matter that the world didn’t know about them because Sylvia walked taller and held her head up knowing he cared for her and was behind her style. Almost three months together and he still couldn’t walk past her without at least squeezing her ass.
Simone had taken up residence in a lower condo, paid for of course by Matthias. Strangely Sylvia thought she’d miss those breakfasts with Langston, Simone, and Matthias as they’d all joke about this and that before everyone scattered to the wind. Somehow they’d created a little family that Matthias and she were happy parents of.
“Well hello, Sexy,” Kent Burk turned on his million dollar smile as he approached Sylvia. “I heard you’re one of my trainers. I’ll let you know right now I’m going to need quite a bit of rubbing down every day.”
Kent was the star rookie who she’d been told was the next great pitcher in the league. Already a great—a.k.a spoiled—young promising star, he was someone she was expected to kowtow to. Sylvia was unimpressed by the barely eighteen-year-old that she’d heard only graduated because his hometown wanted to make sure he could play in the league. He was barely literate from what she’d seen in the few days prior to the flight, and was always making passes at anything with two legs, a hole, and boobs. In KC he’d had the requisite girls waiting just at the edge of the parking lot for him. But now with a minimum of eight hours a day with only her and a few water girls to keep him busy, Sylvia had landed on his radar.
“Well, Kent, then you need to talk to Bob over there because he’s our massage therapist. I’m mostly a tape ‘em up kinda girl.”
Kent looked across the lobby of the hotel at Bob who was already sweating profusely. Bob was about fifty and had worked for the Royals for the past twenty some years. Balding and carrying at least forty extra pounds, mostly in his stomach, he probably didn’t have the tits Kent was hoping for. Sylvia did have to give it to Bob though, he had strong hands that could loosen any muscle.
“Sylvia, that is your name right?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a long three weeks and I’m sure we’re both bound to get lonely.”
“I have a boyfriend.”
“Is he here to handle your needs?”
“Kent, there will be girls lining up for your autograph and more after every practice. I’m here for a grade. Personally, I’m not really a baseball fan.”
“Are you one of those girls that thinks it’s just about hitting a ball with a big ole bat?”
“I know there’s skill involved, I just need a faster paced sport to interest me.”
“I can go fast.”
Kent leaned into Sylvia’s personal space and for the first time in months, her claustrophobia kicked into high gear. The therapists all said she should trust this instinct and when the little hairs on the back of her neck stood up it signified more than just some crazy flashback.
“My pitches have been clocked at over a hundred-miles-per-hour and even broke a hand or two in the weaker catchers. But you’re not weak, are you Sylvia?”
Sylvia saw the head trainer, Max, watching her as he handed out room assignments. She’d already caught him complaining about having a woman at training camp, not that she hadn’t already come up against this in other spots. They’d had a female trainer a few years ago whose goal was to be engaged by the end of training camp. She kept the men off their game and finally had to be sent home. That wasn’t Sylvia. She’d never gone into athletic training for a chance to meet a player and be some damn Cinderella story. Sure she’d fallen into one, but it wasn’t her goal.
Either way she had to right this with Max, because she knew she couldn’t put Kent in his place. Damn golden boys. She’d just spend the next three weeks as far away from Kent as possible.
“I have to go get my room assignment from Max.”
Sylvia scuttled away from Kent as fast as she could without dropping into an all-out sprint.
“What room am I in?”
“Anxious?”
“My boyfriend’s back in KC. I’d like to video chat with him before the briefing tonight.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Yes, I have a boyfriend.”
“What’s his name?”
“Why do you need his name?”
“Because you seemed too quick with your response and I didn’t know you were involved.”
“I didn’t see dating status on the application I filled out, but then again that was last fall and I wasn’t involved at the time.”
“Give me a name, Sylvia, or I’ll send you packing.”
“Under what premise?”
“The premise that you need to be forth coming.”
“Matthias Jessup,” Sylvia snapped. “Ever heard of him?”
Max looked her up and down.
“Ask Zack, Matthias has picked me up from class a few times. We don’t publicize the relationship because he doesn’t want me swamped.”
“When did you intern with the Emperors?”
“Never.”
“How’d you meet him?”
“I was at work and he came to an exhibit.”
“Why does he hide you again?”
“I’m not hidden, I’m just not alerting the media when we go out like most stars do.”
“Then why is he considered one of the top bachelors?”
“Can I have my room assignment?”
“What was Kent talking to you about?”
“He just asked about Bob, I think he has some hamstring tenderness.”
“Shit. We haven’t even started and he’s already pulled something,” Max grumbled then passed Sylvia a credit card sized envelope with room 265 written on the outside.
Safe in her room, Sylvia tried to decide how to proceed. Kent surely would back off and maybe she’d just misread his intentions. She didn’t misread her skived out feeling when he came toward her. Instead of dwelling on the negative she powered up her laptop and called Matthias.
It had been a week of Kent accidently brushing past her, leering at her, and even going as far as threatening her internship by reporting her to Max, which he later laughed off as a joke. Sylvia’s nerves were rattled by the time Langston showed up to escort her to the game back in Phoenix. It was Zack’s night to be on call and Sylvia was glad for it. The last three nights Kent had paged her for one thing or another, all of which she handled from the doorway. So far it had only been things like packs of ice, ibuprofen, and one night, a band-aide.
Kent’s roommate was a third year player who had a wife and kid that he spent his evenings with so no one witnessed Kent’s advances. Instead Sylvia feared that Max would come down on her at any minute with a plane ticket and a thanks for the free labor.
“You okay, Silly?” Langston asked as they drove the twenty or so miles back into town.
“Fine, it’s just camp is intense. How’s Matthias been? We haven’t been able to talk except for a few minutes here and there.”
“He’s good. Simone’s got him on some press tours, hitting all the big shows since you’re not around distracting him. He has some photo shoots for a new shoe or drinks coming up.”
“Why? He needs to be focused on basketball. They’re two games back in the conference and he has to go against the Spurs next week.”
Keeping Matthias’ life balanced was fine, but he could do the photo ops off season. Then again she wasn’t a PR rep so what did she know about keeping his image clean. All she knew was how to ice him properly when the games were over. Matthias gave her a few winks during the game and when he walked out of the locker room after the game with Simone by his side he rushed Sylvia into his arms.
The hungered kiss settled the frays brought on by a week of babying a prima donna. With her arms wrapped around his neck, Matthias was set to carry her to the car when Simone stepped up and tapped his shoulder.
“The press.”
“Right, the press. Gotta protect my girl.”
Sylvia felt a little disenchanted when he placed her back on the floor, then abandoned her to attend the mandatory press conference.
“You know he’s just been dying without you. It’s all I can do to keep him from giving everything up.”
“I doubt it’s that bad.”
“He’s a little co-dependent on you, Sylvia. I’m not sure how healthy that is.”
“No, he’s not.”
“Sylvia, you’re like a drug to him. You’ve seen those commercials where the guy pours coffee on himself because he doesn’t have a cigarette.”
“Simone, please.”
“He’s used to having a woman take care of him. If you’re not willing to do it full time you should consider letting him go.”
“What?”
“You want what’s best for him don’t you? At the photo shoot for Slam Juice, he was lost.”
Maybe she was right, Sylvia thought. She wanted to be his woman, but she also wanted to ensure his image was never tarnished.
* * * *
The press conference was the last thing Matthias wanted to participate in. Hell, the game was just a means to an end. They won the game, what more can he say then the standard—The…insert team name here…put up a strong defensive presence, we were just able to hit more shots than their offense. The…insert team name again…are a tough team, I’m just happy to get a win…at home or on the road. Thank you and good night.
He’d played the PR game so many times he could do it in his sleep. If you win, praise the losers for their efforts. If you lose, say you fell short in a couple of key areas. It’s not rocket science.
Tonight he didn’t even have the stiffness he usually had at the end of the game. His adrenaline was pumping not from the competition, but from the knowledge that he’d see his Silly Girl today. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Silly talking to Simone. They were smiling and nodding, but he could see Silly wanted to leave as much as he did.
“Is that it?” he asked as he stood up.
“What about the rumors about you and your PR rep?”
“I let my PR rep handle all rumors so I guess you’d have to ask her.”
“She’s been seen leaving your building early in the morning.”
“Well, if you check the mailboxes you’ll see she has an apartment on a lower level. Anything else.”
“So you’re not seeing anyone?”
Matthias looked at Silly then to Simone who gave him the don’t do it stare so he again
returned to the standard.
“Thanks guys, I’ll see you next time and hopefully we’ll keep it on sports, because I’m sure that’s all anyone cares about.”
Matthias left and made sure not to touch Silly’s hand until they were in the limo.
“Drop Simone off at the hotel and then I’m going to go to Surprise with Silly.”
“Sounds like a plan, Matthias. Hope you two have a good night.”
“I can’t keep ducking their questions.”
“It’s March, just a few more months. I’ve got some covers I’m working on and Iron Guard Clothier wants to talk about a line of compression shirts and shorts.”
“I still don’t understand…”
“How about in July, after the finals, I’ll call my connections at Person and In the Know magazines, and we’ll sell the rights to an exclusive about you and Silly.”
“What if I don’t make it to the finals?”
“Then it wouldn’t matter at all because those deals would be null and void.”
“You have deals based on my performance?”
“Not entirely. Jet wants you either way because of that rec center you funded in your
hometown.”
“I’ll never understand PR.”
“You’re on an upswing, especially with the twenty to thirty year old women. I have a cologne, watch, and even a sunglasses line wanting in on the Matthias market. You being single has all the girls wanting your wares.”
“What about the little kid that wants to grow up and be a ball player?”
“Their mommies buy the jerseys, not them.”
Simone got out of the limo and Matthias was happy to finally be alone with his girl. Raising the partition with the driver, Matthias cupped Sylvia’s head in his hands.
“I missed my Silly Girl.”
“I missed you too,” she cooed as he let his lips taste the soft flesh along her neck. Nibbling and biting his way up to her earlobe, Matthias’ hands explored her curves, finding the secret nooks that had become his go to fantasies since she’d been gone.
Silly’s legs wrapped around his waist allowing him to rub his hardness against her as he felt her want was as great as his. Not releasing her caress she moaned into his mouth as he thrust upward and felt the wetness through both layers of clothing. She hadn’t been this wet in a while and he was so happy to be away from his room with the team. Tonight he didn’t want to push through the blurs. He wanted the sparkling blue eyes of his woman.
Clinging to each other as if their sides were adhered together they scurried through the lobby to the elevators and tumbled down the hallway to her room. Both of them fumbled the card key, but soon they burst through the door and landed comfortably on the bed.
“Either that ride was longer than I thought, or someone missed me.” Silly beamed as she straddled his waist.
“You have no idea, Silly. Ugh, what I want to do to you,” Matthias growled as his hands cupped her breasts then took in every inch of her torso until he reached the bottom of her shirt.
Pulling it over her head he leapt at the chance to savor the sweet taste of her dark pink nipples. Brushing aside her bra strap he surrounded the sensitive flesh and suckled her as she ran her nails down the back of his head.
Her phone buzzed and she jumped causing him to pinch her nipple between his teeth.
“Sorry, sorry I have to get this.” Silly rubbed her breast with a grimace on her face as she answered her phone. “This is Sylvia…Zack’s on tonight, call him…I don’t…His number had to of been sent to you… Tonight is my night off… Yes, I do… You wouldn’t… How bad?”
Matthias looked up from Silly’s belly where he’d been licking circles as he worked his way down to her pants he’d unbuttoned.
“I’ll be right there, but I swear if this is another…fine.”
“Be where? You’re supposed to be here with me.”
“I know, give me ten minutes. I’ll call Zack to meet me at Kent’s room and he’ll take over. I’ve been on the last few nights and Kent…” Silly ran her fingers through her hair then looked at Matthias as if she’d been run over. “Promise me you won’t do anything. I just need to tell someone.”
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s this rookie that I’m not allowed to say anything to. He’s the next big thing and one minute he’s propositioning me and the next he’s threatening he’ll tell Max I was coming on to him if I dare to tell on him. Max just wants to get rid of me because he thinks all women want is to land a star.”
Matthias pulled Silly into his arms and cradled her as she cried. Having Sharee in his life kept him on the straight and narrow, but he knew the type.
“Why didn’t you tell him about me?”
“I said I had a boyfriend and I told Max about you, but he didn’t believe me. Plus, I know why we’ve kept me a secret.”
“You’re more important to me than a magazine cover, Silly. What does this guy want tonight?”
“He said he fell in the shower and is afraid he really injured himself.”
Matthias felt heat searing through his body. No motherfucker called his woman to get their naked ass out of a shower. It was on now.
“I’ll go with you. And call what’s his name?”
“Zack, he’s the other intern. We take turns being on call.”
“Who’s Max?”
“The supervisor.”
“Call him too.”
“No. Matthias I’ve fought these guys before, I can do it again.”
Matthias stopped to strategize. “But I can go with you to this guy’s room?”
“Oh hell yes.”
Silly grabbed a second card key that was attached to a bigger set of regular keys. In the elevator he could see Silly’s anger emerging.
“This is so embarrassing. I thought I could handle him.”
“Why are you apologizing?” Matthias asked as the bell dinged and they exited the elevator. “He’s the one in the wrong.”
“Zack’s on his way,” Silly said as she opened the room. “Kent? Kent?”
“In here, sweetness.”
Entering the steamed bathroom Matthias laughed at the dumb ass sprawled out in the tub with his flaccid penis flopped on his leg.
“Whoa Sylvia, is that who I think it is?”
“You mean my boyfriend. Yes. And he’s really pissed that my one night off is now being spent in your bathroom. So did you really hurt yourself?”
“I did. I swear this time. I’m afraid to move it hurts so bad. You can’t tell Max, if you do before you know it, I’ll be shipped down to the minors.”
“So I’d no longer have to deal with you? What’s the down side?”
“I don’t have anything if I can’t play ball.”
Sylvia growled as she crossed her arms.
“My back really hurts.”
“Upper, middle, or bottom.”
“Bottom.”
Matthias glared at the rookie.
“I swear I’m not trying anything. Although, if I were, you I’d wonder why she never told me she had a boyfriend.”
“Sylvia leave.” Matthias hadn’t called her Sylvia in so long it felt as if he was speaking a foreign language.
“Matthias…I…”
“Did you tell him you had a boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“Leave. I’ve seen enough back injuries to assess this for you.”
With Silly out of the room Matthias turned to the novice and decided to give him a little lesson. Tossing a washcloth over his genitals Matthias took a seat on the edge of the tub.
“Sylvia’s been telling me about everything you’ve done. Since the first day here she called crying to me.”
“Look bro—”
“I’m so not your bro.”
“Look, I don’t know what that lying bitch’s been sayin’ but you know how it is. Remember when you were a rookie and everyone was after your fat contract.”
Matthias slipped his hand under the hip of the rookie who howled a little too much in pain when he touched right by the crack of his ass.
“Matthias…” Silly called from the other room. “No permanent damage please.”
“You put Langston back together didn’t you?”
“I guess.”
“Langston, who’s Langston? She sleepin’ with him too?”
“He’s my body guard. You know the one that can take down almost any threat. It’s what we stars get to avoid getting hurt. Funny thing was as I was kicking his ass, my girl in there only worried about me getting hurt because I kept punching him in the face. Now, I assume that the only reason she’s worried about you is because you’re some big star that’s been told you can do whatever you want, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he sneered and Matthias pressed on the tender flesh to make him yelp like a puppy whose tail had gotten stepped on.
“My girl’s worked really damn hard and is really good at what she does. Now you and I are in similar positions where people will bend over backward to get us anything we want. Sylvia is the one you should be bending over for. Right now I have enough documentation and innuendo to let Sylvia launch a full-fledged sexual harassment suit against you and the whole Royals franchise.”
“No you don’t. She ain’t that dumb.”
“She’s not the one who called the wrong trainer to come see herself naked.”
“I’m injured. I should be calling the trainers. My body is worth a lot of money.”
“So’s a hooker with a talented mouth. Only difference is a hooker’s better at faking than you are.”
“I’m not faking.” He grunted in pain again.
I’ve seen enough back injuries by real men and real players. And you’re missing a few injuries if you really fell in the shower.”
A man entered that Matthias assumed was Zack. He had a tight haircut and was wearing a polo and khaki’s. Looking very Abercrombish these days if Matthias did say so himself.
“Hey Matthias, good to see you again. What happened, Kent?”
“Kent, I’ve been around long enough to know, you might want to take a Mulligan on this
one. I’m telling you, if you keep this shit up, you won’t last long no matter what your batting average is.”
Kent pushed himself up without even wincing and reached for a towel to wrap around his waist.
“I’m sure the girls you raped in high school would be happy to know you’ve grown up a little.”
“I didn’t rape any of them. They wanted me. Everyone wants me.”
“They want a souvenir and once that shines off you, they won’t even remember your name.”
“You don’t know—”
“I don’t know what? I’ve been playing this game for years son, and you won’t last long if you keep up this shit. America wants the boy next door, not the creepy guy that watches the girls from his van. You’re about one stop away from that.”
“Bullshit. Look at all the players—”
“Who had to spend years and millions to come back into favor and they’ll always have a stain on their rep. You have a choice to make, but I’m going to lay this one out for you right now. Keep touching and talking to women as if they owe you something and you’ll pay.”
Matthias stood up and placed a hand on Zack’s shoulder.
“Good to see you again. Hey, did you bring any ice with you?”
“Yeah, I got a bag.”
“Good.” Matthias sent Kent into the wall with a swift slug to the jaw. “When a woman says she has a boyfriend, back off. This gets out I’ll bury you.”