“Why don’t we get cleaned up first? Can you hang?” asked Jackson.
“Yeah, great. Tell you what. I’ll buy you guys dinner, we can relax and do a laid back interview. Sound good?” I suggested.
“I’m starving and I can eat two meals at once on a bad day,” said Kyle. “You sure you want to feed three football players?”
“Sports Ring gives me a per diem,” I smiled. “It’s all good.”
“All right, then it’s a date,” said Jackson. “We’re gonna get cleaned up. Just hang out here and if Ringo comes back, we should be in shouting distance.”
“Is he that bad?” I asked.
“Not that we’ve seen,” assured Jackson. “He just acts very intimidating towards women sometimes.”
“I’ve seen guys like him before,” said Carey. “They’re all full of themselves, but insecure deep down. They gotta swing their, pardon me, dick around to impress everyone. But really, everyone’s just annoyed by them.”
“Yeah,” added Kyle.
As tense and as creepy as it was talking to Ringo, it was pleasant and relaxing talking to Jackson, Carey and Kyle. I was so caught up in the conversation, I almost followed them right into the shower. I quickly backed away before I embarrassed myself, although I caught a glimpse of Jackson’s magnificent ass as he threw aside his towel going into the shower. Professional athletes really just have the best bodies.
“You mind if I just look around out here?” I asked the guys.
“You can look, but don’t touch,” said Jackson. “My locker is the third down.”
I spotted Jackson’s cubby hole. It was neat, orderly and contained all equipment. Some of the guys had pictures of their wives and kids. Not Jackson— he had been divorced three years ago. His sweaty jersey was on the bench nearby. It was so close I got a wif of it. I knew it would seem weird to admit to anyone out loud— so I wouldn’t, but, it smelled amazing. God, it was addicting. Sweating. Manly. It filled my head and made me stagger a little.
“You okay?” asked Jackson from the shower.
I came to my senses while shaking my head. I was glad he couldn’t read my mind.
“Uh, yeah, sure,” I assured him, taking a step toward the shower.
It was at that moment I really pushed my luck. I look a quick peek into the shower. There was a privacy screen, so all I could see were soapy feet and hard bodies from the chest up. Still, it was a good view. For a second, I thought Carey made eye contact with me, but I looked away and pretended to be interested in another locker. No way he saw me.
“Look at me,” I said to myself quietly. “My first professional gig at Sports Ring and I’m acting like a high school girl in the boys’ locker room.”
Being around guys my own age was a welcome change. I had been taking care of my father for the last five years, basically since I got out of high school. I guess this was the down side of being a virgin at 23. All the wildness and horniness I would’ve gotten out of my system in high school and college was finally bubbling up.
But we were all adults. It was fine to be attracted to good looking men, right? I wasn’t doing anything wrong by thinking that, was I? And it wasn’t like anything was going to happen at dinner. We were just going out as a group.
Chapter 2
Carey
So I was in the shower after talking to this hot reporter from Sports Ring, right? As always, Ringo had to start some shit and Jackson had to calm him down. Kyle and I backed him up and, long story short, the hot reporter asked us all out to dinner. There was something about this girl. I had to get to know her and I was hoping she’d want to get to know me. Sure enough, early into the shower I caught her taking a peek at us!
“Yo, Jackson, Kyle,” I whispered. “I think Lexi’s sneakin’ a peek at this.”
“No one wants to see your dirty old junk, Carey,” joked Kyle.
“I don’t want her to get scared and think it’s an anaconda,” I joked back. “But seriously, did you catch the vibe between us? I’m thinking maybe you guys do me a solid and forget about dinner.”
“Hell to the no,” said Jackson determined. “The vibe you’re sensing is between me and Lexi. That much is clear.”
“Pfff, you’d better get those glasses checked, old man,” I said, half joking. “Did you see that hair flip? That hair flip was in my direction.”
“Uh, not at the angle I was standing,” insisted Jackson. “Besides, we just told her a story of how you were fighting over a girl with Ringo. She has to assume you’re still with her.”
“No one’s gonna make that assumption,” I insisted. “That’s stupid. That’s a stupid assumption.”
“C’mon, the implication is clear. If you were fighting over a girl?”
“But that was Ringo.”
“She don’t know Ringo like we do.”
“You’re trippin’ Jackson,” I insisted. “What makes you think she’s into you?”
“First off, I’m the quarterback. That’s like being the lead singer of the band.”
“I’m the star halfback. That’s like being the lead guitarist!”
“Yeah, but that’s not the order,” assured Jackson. “It’s lead singer first, then guitarist.”
“What am I?” asked Kyle.
“You’re like a… drummer,” said Jackson.
I had to laugh at that. Jackson could be funny when he wanted to be.
“A drummer? Are you shittin’ me?” said Kyle, sounding a little outraged.
“What? Drummers get pussy all the time,” assured Jackson.
“No, way,” said Kyle.
“All right, you’re gonna stand there and tell me that the drummer for Metallica doesn’t get chicks?” asked Jackson.
“Not over the singer and the guitarist!” said Kyle. “I’m like the last guy left in the band!”
“No,” I pointed out. “That’s the bassist. No one gives a shit about the bassist. Except Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
“I’d rather be Flea,” said Kyle.
“Fine,” said Jackson. “You’re Flea. Happy?”
“Yeah,” said Kyle. “That’s why Lexi Aaron is going to go home with me.”
“What?” I said. “Now you’re both trippin’!”
“I am Flea,” reminded Kyle, a little hurt. “Besides, did you see the way she looked at me?”
“She was looking at me,” corrected Jackson.
“At me!” I insisted.
“Whoa-whoa-whoa, slow down,” said Jackson, trying to analyze the situation. “Has this already become a Tina situation?”
“It’s not a Tina situation,” I insisted. “Don’t call something a Tina situation when it’s not a Tina situation.”
“Well Ringo was involved!” snapped Jackson.
“But Tina wasn’t!” I pointed out.
“Why do you think a prim and proper, girl-next-door type is going to be into you?” asked Jackson.
“She ain’t prim and proper,” I assured him. “That chick is wild underneath. I can see it in her eyes. You remember that girl in Houston?”
“That CEO we met in the skybox?” remembered Jackson. “You got with her?”
“Yes! And that girl was a freak,” I told them. “On the outside, she was reserved and all business. Behind closed door, oh my Lawwwwd!”
“How wild?” pressed Jackson.
“First off, there wasn’t nothing this chick wouldn’t put up her pussy,” I explained. “I mean, half the shit in my hotel room she tried, just to do it. Then she went into the hotel bar and tried to pick up another girl to have sex with both of us.”
“Did she do it?” asked Kyle.
“Naw, the other women turned her down. Then one threw a drink in her face and that was it for the night. I was relieved. I think she had problems,” I said.
“You got Lexi all wrong,” said Jackson. “She not wild. She’s a sweet girl. The moment I walked into that room, I could see that. Ringo leering over her. She needed someone to save her, man.”
<
br /> “Whoa, listen to you. Do you believe this shit?” I said to Kyle.
Kyle just kind of laughed and rinsed his head off.
“It’s true,” insisted Jackson. “Women like that have a romantic notion of being swept off their feet by a white knight.”
“White knight?”
“You know what I mean,” said Jackson, not getting derailed. “She needs a strong man to pick her up and take her away from all the bad shit in her life. I’ve seen it before.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. That was some corny-ass shit.
“What?” said Jackson, incredulous.
“Jackson, that shit says way more about you than her,” I laughed. “You’re the one living your life in a fairy tale, not her. Back me up here, Kyle!”
Kyle nodded and smiled. Jackson looked a little annoyed.
“I’m not saying I want that; I’m just saying that’s what she wants,” explained Jackson.
“Save me, Jackson! Save me,” I joked.
Jackson sprayed me with some Axe body spray. He knew I hated that shit.
“Aw, God dammit! Now I gotta soap this shit offa me.”
As I started to rewash, Jackson couldn’t let it go.
“Seriously, that chick— That woman— There’s something about her, man,” said Jackson. “I could really fall for a girl like that. Like if I had to picture a woman I wanted, Lexi would look like that woman. Is that weird?”
“Nah, man. That ain’t weird,” said Kyle. “But I don’t think she’s like what you said. All helpless and needing a man and shit.”
“What’s your take on her, big man?” asked Jackson.
“Women like Lexi got a quiet power about them,” explained Kyle. “An inner strength that’s nurturing and loyal. She’s the kind of woman you have kids with and lots of them. Like nine kids.”
“Nine kids?” said Jackson, astonished.
“Holy shit,” I laughed. “You’re doing some advanced fantasizing now, Kyle!”
“But that’s just an example. I can see it in Lexi. Nine kids? No problem? You hurt yourself? She takes care of you. Whatever the problem is, Lexi can overcome it. That’s what I see. I mean, she appreciate our help with Ringo, but if we weren’t there, she would’ve dealt with that her own way,” explained Kyle.
“You saw all that?” said Jackson, mildly impressed.
“Yeah, man,” said Kyle. “You can see that in her eyes. Windows to the soul.”
Kyle didn’t talk all that much, but when he did, sometimes he’d get deep.
“All right, before this turns into a Tina situation,” I began.
“You said it wasn’t a Tina situation!” snapped Jackson.
“I said before it turns into one,” I corrected. “We should decide who gets Lexi. Let’s all state our reasons. I should be the one to date Lexi because I’m the best looking.”
“That’s totally subjective!” dismissed Jackson. “You can’t state that as a fact.”
“Well, I didn’t want to say, but we could do a dick measuring contest and you know what the facts are in that,” I pointed out.
Jackson and Kyle backed off that last point. I did have an enormous dick.
“Fine, we’ll give you that one,” Jackson relented. “I should be the one to date Lexi because this is probably my last season.”
“What?! You’re serious?” I said.
This was news to me.
“Yeah, don’t say anything,” admitted Jackson. “Look, man, I’m 31. My body can’t take this punishment anymore. I’ve had a great season, but it’s been a lucky season. You know it. We all know it. That pass at Giants stadium, that run I had in Pittsburgh. This is my last one. I want to go out on top. I need somebody, ya know?”
“All right, that was a good pitch, I got to admit,” I said. “Kyle?”
“I’m the youngest,” said Kyle simply.
“What?” I said.
“That’s it?” said Jackson. “That’s your pitch?”
“Yeah,” explained Kyle. “I think Lexi and I are both the same age. You guys are older and probably don’t like the same music or TV shows.”
“I’m only three years older than you!” I pointed out.
“Exactly,” said Kyle. “If we were in high school, you’d be a senior and we’d be freshmen! You don’t date freshmen when you’re a senior.”
“What about me?” asked Jackson.
“You’re like one of the teachers, man,” laughed Kyle. “That’s a big no-no!”
“All right, all right,” said Jackson. “Alternative pitch. We all put our best foot forward at this dinner and let Lexi decide which one of us she wants to date. Fair?”
We agreed.
“And no Tina situation,” reminded Jackson.
“I told you it’s not a Tina situation. Stop saying it!”
Chapter 3
Jackson
After the shower, Carey, Kyle and I got dressed. I wasn’t even competition to these two rookies, but they forgot about my secret weapon: the shirt. This shirt I was wearing had a pattern of ocean blue waves that brought out my blue eyes. No matter where I was; a club, a studio, on the street, a taxi cab— somehow, I always looked good in this shirt.
I was worried what would happen if I lost it or it tore. I often wished I could find another one online somewhere.
“Aw, hell no,” said Carey, upon seeing the shirt. “You pull out your big guns already? Big mistake. I look good in all shirts, bro!”
“The shirt wouldn’t work for you,” I assured him. “I’m sure there’s a shirt out there that would, but not this one. This is only for me.”
Just then, I felt Kyle’s presence in the room. Carey started laughing. I turned around and there he was: stuffed into the same shirt.
“What the hell, Kyle?!” I snapped.
Lexi walked into the room. She had just made reservations.
“You guys like sushi? There’s a good Japanese place, but we’ve got to hurry,” she explained.
“Out in a minute,” I said. “Kyle has to change his shirt.”
“I can’t change it,” said Kyle, slightly smiling. “It’s the only shirt I brought.”
“Why did you buy that shirt?!” I demanded.
“You told me how great the shirt was for you,” explained Kyle. “I just wanted a little of that magic. The only one they had in stock was a size too small, but that’s how much I wanted this damn shirt.”
“You’re taking that shirt off, Kyle. I got a spare.”
Carey continued to laugh. He was in a ball on the floor laughing so hard, he was about to piss himself.
“I’m not changing this shirt. Besides, your shirt won’t fit me.”
“That shirt doesn’t fit you!”
“Yeah, but it’s lucky, like you said.”
“For me! It’s lucky for me!”
“Oh, my God. Oh, Lawd,” laughed Carey out of breath. “This is the greatest day of my life.”
“If you have an extra shirt, you change it,” suggested Kyle.
“No way! Where’d you even get that?!”
“I’ll tell you, but only if you let me wear it.”
“You guys almost ready?” called Lexi. “The Uber’s here.”
There was no way I was facing her in anything other than my best shirt and since I couldn’t get Kyle to change, I just had to accept fucking fate. We went as twinsies. Carey laughed under his breath for several minutes after that.
“What’s so funny?” asked Lexi in the car.
“Oh, I’m just remembering that old movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. Did you see that?” joked Carey.
“Shut up,” I muttered under my breath. Luckily, he listened. Lexi looked confused, but I wasn’t about to tell her how the movie “Twins” applied to this situation.
We arrived at the restaurant. It was a high end Japanese place owned by the Iron Chef. Most of the tables were very open so everyone could see everything, including the Iron Chef cooking away. Fortunately, I s
kipped in ahead to put us in a private room. It would be more intimate even if I did have to share Lexi’s meal with these two knuckleheads. I wasn’t much on sushi, but Carey was. He decided to show off.
“How is the uni today? Fresh?” Carey asked the waiter.
“Oh, I love uni,” added Lexi, a little bit excited.
“How about you, Jackson?” asked Carey, knowing I had no idea what uni was. “You want some uni?”
I pulled out my trump card.
“Is it vegetarian?” I asked the waiter.
“No, I’m afraid not, sir. Would you like me to ask the chef to prepare you a vegetarian sushi platter?”
“That would be great, thanks,” I said humbly.
“Oh, you’re a vegetarian,” said Lexi, mildly impressed.
“Well, I love all animals. Even uni.”
“That’s awesome,” she responded. “How nice of you.”
“It’s sea urchin,” said Carey, a little annoyed he had been shown up.
“Sir?” the waiter asked Kyle.
“Just bring me a little of everything. Vegetarian, uni, whatever.”
“How about the chef’s special?”
“That sounds cool,” said Kyle, rolling with it. “Bring me that.”
“Oo, that’s right. Can’t go wrong with that,” said Lexi. “Bring me that too.”
Well, in this first round trying to win over Lexi, I think it was a tie. Maybe in the end, Kyle had the edge, only because Carey and I were annoyed. Lexi got out her notebook and camera and promptly dropped them on the floor. She seemed a little nervous.
“Whoops,” she said. “Sorry-sorry. One sec.”
While she bent down, Carey managed to look down her shirt and mouth the word, “Damn!” I gave him a gentle punch. That was kind of rude. Then I started thinking, “What the hell am I doing? Let him be rude.” It was so weird being in competition for this woman with my two best friends.
Lexi got her camera and notepad situated and almost immediately, she became this other person. Confident, thoughtful, knowledgeable. I had her wrong. She didn’t need saving, but she wasn’t going to just swoon for Carey or marry Kyle to pump out kids. Admittedly, Kyle was the closest to peg her. He was right. She was strong.
“So Jackson,” she said, turning to me. “You’ve had quite an amazing year. Is this going to be your last?”
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