by Jude Ouvrard
“It’s you, I think.” Her eyes glistened with happiness. “He told me about you, the first time he saw you and he was even happier the first time you guys talked.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “There’s something about you that has completely changed him. I'm sorry about yesterday – I didn't realize it was you.”
“No problem, we weren't official yesterday. We had our first date last night.”
“That's sweet. He’s a good man. I've known him almost all my life.”
“What do you know about his past?” I wondered if Danielle could reveal anything about why Calvin had suddenly grown sad this morning.
“He was America’s biggest hope in the football league and one of the highest paid too. Do some research, you'll find your answers. An interview he did last year, kind of revealed everything.”
“Who was it with?” I thought I might be able to look up an old copy of the newspaper, or magazine.
“Oprah.”
“Oprah? Oprah Winfrey? Holy shit, are you serious?”
Danielle nodded. “Yep, the Oprah Winfrey.”
That must be quite a past he had, I thought, because Oprah Winfrey doesn't just interview just anyone.
The rest of our shift ended up being quite fun. At noon, Calvin called asking what my plans were.
“I was going to pack a few things at my dorm. Then, I wanted to stop by Macy’s.” I had a gift to buy.
“Okay, I'll pick you up by two at your dorm.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
I loved walking in the snow and the sensation of the cold air against my cheeks. My heart was full. I hurried back to my place; I wanted enough time to do a bit of research.
There were only two other students on my floor when I got back to the dorm. It was way too quiet. I took a shower, straightened my hair, put on some make up and packed everything I wanted to take with me in my backpack. I had no idea what he had planned for tonight and tomorrow, so I packed a selection of clothes which should cover any occasion.
When I’d finished my preparations, I started up my laptop, but my hands grew moist and it seemed wrong. “Maybe I should just go ahead and ask him,” I said aloud to the walls. Rampant curiosity was probably my worst sin and it got the best of me. I opened Google, typed his name followed by ‘Oprah’. It linked me to the video, which I started watching. My fingers were trembling and I had a hard time concentrating on what was said. I was too nervous.
Oprah Winfrey was asking Calvin questions. “Growing up, you faced a terrible level of domestic violence.”
Calvin was leaning back in the chair opposite Oprah, his expression serious. “My father had a lot of issues; drug and alcohol addictions mostly. He hid it pretty well. He could face anyone and give them the impression he was the father of the year, but he had usually just finished giving me a beating.”
Oprah consulted the clipboard on her lap, and then looked up at Calvin. “What about your mother?”
Calvin smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes. “She was a great mom, but she was also a scared and broken woman. Her main goal was trying to make my life easier. She knew the hell we were in, but she couldn’t figure out a way to escape it.” Calvin clasped his hands together, and I could see how his knuckles whitened before he spoke again. “It almost cost Mom her life, but one day she put an end to the nightmare. That day, I had just returned from football practice when my father came home, drunk. He started beating her with a baseball bat because he reckoned his dinner was cold. I tried to stop him, but he threatened to kill me. He hit me with the baseball bat, with all of his strength and I woke up in the hospital.”
I skipped few seconds of the video not wanting to hear about such a brutal past. It hurt me.
“How did you survive these events?”
“Afterwards, I received a lot of help and support from psychiatrists and my football coach. I continued to play football all throughout my childhood and into adulthood. All my energy was concentrated on football. It saved me. It helped me forget the hell I’d endured. My teammates’ parents were proud of me and that counted for a lot. To me, anyway.”
I pressed pause, reduced to a sobbing mess. This was more than I had bargained for. My heart ached for Calvin. My only desire was to hold him, hug him and tell him how much he meant to me. I managed to get my emotions under control and pressed ‘play’ again.
“So what about your football career, now that you’ve sustained not only one but two serious injuries?” Oprah was asking.
Calvin grimaced, and shook his head. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll get back to playing the game. The ankle injury is bad, and the healing process is taking far more time than expected. It could be that I won’t ever play professional football again.”
A collective groan erupted throughout the audience and Oprah waited for them to settle before she asked her next question. “Do you have other plans for the future? Does Calvin Banks, the most eligible bachelor, have a girlfriend?”
Calvin grinned. “I don’t date at the moment. I can’t get involved in a serious relationship; it wouldn’t be fair to any woman while my own future is so up in the air. Concerning my plans, yeah, I have a few things happening. I opened a gym ten months ago, ‘Banks Gym & Fitness’, and I’m also working on a number of different projects. I have my sport agencies where we’re recruiting young athletes. I also have plans to open a whiskey bar. Plenty of things to keep myself busy and stay focused.”
Oprah sat up taller in her chair, and crossed her legs at the ankle. “I wish you good luck on your many projects, Calvin. You are a successful businessman and a great role model for kids to look up to.”
Calvin smiled warmly and waved to the applauding crowds.
I closed down the laptop, still sniffling over what I’d discovered. His past had made him the caring man he was now. We all keep secrets, but I never thought his would be something of such significance. I was so sorry for Calvin and his mother.
My emotions slowly stabilized and I redid my makeup, because I looked a mess with red-rimmed eyes and my mascara running everywhere.
To my surprise, I heard a knock on my door and when it opened, Calvin appeared in my very small room. He looked around, seemingly traumatized.
“You live here and you’re not crazy yet? It’s tiny.”
“It’s just a room, in a dorm.” I laughed.
“I lived in a fraternity house; it was a little bigger than this. Anyway, are you ready?”
“Always.” I put on my jacket and grabbed my heavy backpack and we left the room. I watched him walking before me and tears filled my eyes again. I had to admit to what I’d done.
“Calvin, stop.”
He did and turned around watching me quizzically.
“I saw the interview,” I admitted. “The one with Oprah. Danielle told me about it.”
His body tensed, and his smile disappeared.
“Calvin.” I said, holding out my arms. “Don’t ever be hesitant to talk to me about it, okay? You are the strongest man I’ve ever met, Calvin. I wish you would’ve told me when we were talking about your tattoos.”
“I didn’t want you to think about me like that. I’m not that broken kid anymore. I’m a man with scars and I’m okay. Being with you makes me forget everything that was once bad in my life. You give me hope for the future.”
“You mean so much to me, Calvin. In such a short time, too. From your little smile at the restaurant to the first time we talked, so many things have changed. It feels like a month, yet it has been only a couple of days.”
“You know I feel the same too.” He wrapped my fingers in his. “Come on, we’ve got a few things to do.”
We kissed before continuing to his car. I felt like my heart and soul were bared for him to see. This feeling of sincerity and lust had me completely stunned. His lips found mind, his hands holding me by the waist, everything felt real, like he had a direct connection to my soul. I couldn’t deny my attraction, my pure desire to be
with this man.
Chapter EIGHT
WHILE I RAN AROUND INSIDE Macy’s trying to find a present for Calvin, he was running some errands of his own. Shopping on Christmas Eve was obviously the worst idea ever.
My budget was also a problem. I didn’t even know how much I had available. Thankfully, I had my banking app on my phone to check what I had. Time was running out, so I had no time to walk to the bank, anyway. A quick check confirmed I didn’t have enough money to buy him something special, such as jewelry or perfume. Unfortunately, my budget only allowed for was the possibility of getting him clothing, or something like that.
I searched by myself without any luck, got desperate and asked a sales assistant for help and eventually, Calvin called to say he was searching for me. I made a swift decision on a gift and paid for his present. When I caught up with Calvin, he was studying the lingerie section, of course.
“Calvin, did you need anything?” I questioned.
“Oh, no, no. I’m all good. Just imagining a few scenarios. You know, little fantasies.”
He loved to make me blush and succeeded every single time. For the rest of the afternoon, wherever we were, we held hands. He refused to let go of me. I thought it was a sign that maybe he was feeling the same way about me that I did about him.
“Are you done here?” he finally asked.
“I am. Are you?”
“Yeah, all done. I actually want to go somewhere else with you, if you don’t mind.”
I shrugged, willing to do anything if it meant being with Calvin. “Sure.”
I had no idea where we were going, Calvin drove out of the area of the city and I felt like I was in another world.
He finally parked the Escalade in a parking lot, next to a large brick building. The banner over the door said ‘Women and Kids Shelter – A Place to Keep You Safe’. If I hadn’t known about his past from what I’d seen on the interview, it wouldn't have had the same meaning as it did now.
“I was going to tell you all about my past on our way here, but I think you know why we’re here now.”
I felt uncomfortable. “Danielle kind of suggested I watch the interview. It was wrong; I should have asked you directly.”
“Did she?” Calvin didn't look happy. After one or two deep breaths, he took hold of my hand. “It doesn't matter... Come on, we have a surprise for the kids.”
He got out of the car and opened the trunk. Inside, there must have been at least fifty wrapped Christmas presents.
“When did you do all of this?” I asked, looking at the filled truck in amazement.
“Today, yesterday – I had some other people to help me.”
“Mr. Banks?” A man holding a camera approached, surprising us both.
“What can I do for you?” Calvin asked pleasantly. He shook hands with the man.
“I’m a journalist and a photographer. Every year, you come here for the kids. I wanted to catch you, and get a couple of photos, if that’s okay.”
Calvin shrugged. “Sure. As long as the kids and their parents are okay with it. This is about them and giving them a Merry Christmas—not me.” He drew me to his side and the man took a couple of pictures of us with Calvin’s filled trunk.
“Thank you, Mr. Banks. What you do, it means a lot to these kids.” The man saluted Calvin and left, and Calvin started unpacking the car.
I watched the man walking away. “Who was that?”
“Paparazzi of some sort.” Calvin laughed. “Be prepared to see your face on a couple of websites and magazines tomorrow morning. We got caught when we left Macy’s, too.”
I blanched, my heart skipping a beat. “I'll be the flavor of the month; I suppose – your new toy.” The thought didn’t thrill me.
“They know me better than that. You'll be ‘The girl who stole Calvin's heart’ or ‘Who's the girl Calvin can't keep his eyes off?’” He chuckled again, while I started freaking out.
“My sister's going to flip and she'll show the photos to my parents.”
Calvin stopped stacking gifts and turned to look at me. “Are you ashamed to be with me?” The concern in his eyes confirmed I needed to explain myself – and fast.
I rolled my eyes. “No, of course not, but my family doesn’t know about us, yet. They'll think you’re the reason I'm not going home for Christmas.”
“Hey.” He cupped my face between his cold hands. “We're going to go and visit with the kids, and then we'll figure this out later, okay?” He tried to sound reassuring, but I was still nervous.
I nodded. “Okay.” Calvin didn’t seem worried about my small issue. “How long before the pictures hit the internet do you think?”
He smiled apologetically. “Probably already there. Look, I really don’t want you to worry about it at the moment. We’ll fix this, but right now, we’ve got about twenty kids waiting for us to arrive.”
We continued unpacking the car. Calvin had bought gifts not only for the kids, but also the mothers. His generosity was astounding, he truly had a heart of gold. Calvin had offered me a job, provided me with plenty of uniforms, and arranged to have a huge Christmas tree put up. All the little things he did made me realize what an incredible man he is.
“I’m in awe of you, Calvin. Seriously, your generosity knows no limit.”
“Kids are allowed to be happy and I know it’s not easy for their mothers. It’s Christmas for them too and I can afford it. I do it because I love seeing the excitement in their eyes.”
We walked inside and a tall woman waited for us. She had short brown hair and beautiful brown almond shaped eyes. Her smiled reached her eyes when she saw us with all the presents. “Calvin, thank you for coming.
“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Lindell. I’ll be forever thankful for everything you did, for me and my mom.”
“I’m sure your mother would be very proud of the man you’ve become.”
“Thank you.” Mrs. Lindell hugged Calvin, before she left us to gather everyone in the community room to receive Calvin’s gifts.
“What happened to your mother?” While I’d seen the part of the interview when Calvin spoke about the night his father beat him with the baseball bat, I hadn’t seen the part showing the repercussions.
“She died of internal injuries, after she killed my father with a gun he had hidden away in their bedroom. They were both killed that night.”
My heart broke for him all over again. . All the emotions that had overwhelmed me during the interview came flooding back.
Calvin saw the tears welling in my eyes and tried to reassure me. “Iris, it’s okay. I don’t want you to be sad about my past. I was unconscious when it happened, I have no memories of that night and my life is a lot better without my father. I’m certain my mom is a lot better off, wherever she is.” He sighed. “I’m okay with my past, and I definitely don’t want you to be sad over it, okay?” He drew me into his strong arms and held me close. “I want to see your beautiful smile now.”
I smiled against his chest. “Kiss me,” I requested softly.
He complied with my request with a gentle smile. When he released my lips, he winked at me. “Tonight, you and me.” He didn’t have to elaborate, I knew exactly what he meant and I couldn’t wait.
Mrs. Lindell returned to tell us the kids were ready. Calvin had piled the gifts onto a cart and together we walked to the community room. Kids of all different ages ran towards Calvin. Obviously, they knew him well. The women stayed distant, and seemed apprehensive. Some seemed to be in better shape than other. I noticed one lady with a horrendous black eye. What these women had gone through wounded me, I felt so sorry for them. I wanted to see a smile on their faces.
Once each of the kids had received a gift, Calvin went to visit with each woman personally. Some of them cried, some of them smiled, but one thing was certain, he seemed to give them all hope. The women’s gifts consisted of perfume, cosmetics, and body products – all things designed to make them feel better about themselves.
He ret
urned to me for a brief moment after handing out the gifts, but it wasn’t long before the kids were claiming him to throw a spongy football. He played with them, tickled them, and hugged them. They laughed and seemed happy for that short period of time. Some of the kids seemed to prefer to keep their distance, and Calvin respected that. Those kids, he took time to sit with them apart from the crowd and to talk with them. They smiled shyly and listened carefully to what Calvin was telling them and in every case; they seemed to be happier after they’d spoken with him.
I watched him all evening and I admired him. He made me proud. I couldn’t deny the feelings building inside of me anymore. In my mind, I imagined plenty of scenarios where I ran to him to speak those three magical words or where I screamed it out loud for everyone to hear, but this evening wasn’t about me or him, it was all about these kids and their mothers. Besides, it was too soon to think about love yet. But I knew what I felt was something special and it made me happy and that was all that mattered right now.
On our way back to his place, we held hands and kissed at each and every red light. Every time, the kissing grew a little more intense. I watched him drive, watched the way his tongue moistened his lips and it only added more sex appeal. He had a bad boy personality, wrapped up in a classy package.
“Your lips are my drug, I can't stop watching them and wanting more,” I admitted.
“Only my lips?” He questioned with a wink.
“No, not only your lips. Every other part of you, but right now, they are the only thing I can reach.”
“I can fix that problem for you, sweetness.”
I knew exactly what he was alluding to and I wanted him to go ahead with his plan. Abruptly, he turned into a school parking lot and the next thing I knew, I was up in his arms and he had taken my place on the passenger seat. Thankfully, I was flexible enough.
“I've been thinking about this since we took our shower together this morning. I've got to have you – now.” Our lips connected, and the passion between us roared into life. The words ‘I love you’ stayed in the back of my mind, waiting to be said, screamed or moaned.