“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 en
ough 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.”
Chapter Twelve
The arena quieted and Matthias could feel the tension between his shoulder blades. A knot had formed right on his spine. Silly was back in her normal spot having been home for almost a month. Kent kept his distance and Max gave her a glowing review at the end of her internship.
Her hands were wringing and her light red lips pulled in tight. He’d always been a clutch player, but not on the foul line.
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