Anchored To Love

by S. M. Stryker

  When we get to the restaurant, Charlie is looking around at all the merchandise. “It reminds me of a country bazaar, with all baskets full of old-fashioned candies and little knick-knacks, stuffed animals dishes, I could probably get lost there for a while.”

  “I think that’s the idea.” I chuckle.

  We are seated in a booth, where we look at the menu and talk. “What brought you to Tennessee?” she asks.

  “I just wanted to see the States before I needed to settle down. I’ve been actually traveling all over the States.”

  “Really? How long have you been traveling for?

  “About four years.”

  She looks at me with a shocked look on her face. “How? Are you picking up odd jobs? What about your family? Don’t you miss them? And what about college?”

  “I do pick up jobs. My parents haven’t cared about me for some time now, well ever. I missed them the first five times they left me with the nanny while they did their own thing. I have decided not to go to college. I know what I want to do and I am good at it.”

  “Really, what do you want to do?”

  “I write code for computers and phones.”

  “What is that?”

  “I write applications that can be used by other people.”

  “Wow, I wish I could figure out what I want to do that easily.”

  “If you don’t know what you want to do, then why are you here?”

  “I got a scholarship for softball. I just figured I would get some of my prerequisites out of the way.”

  At that moment, the server comes over to take our order. She orders the fried chicken and I get the rib eye steak.

  “So have you always played sports?”

  “Yes, but when I was a freshman in high school I was in an all-girl band, too”

  “Serious?”

  “Yeah, my best friend and I started it. We picked up a couple more girls, one that played the bass, and the other the guitar. We had a good following, we played some covers, but we wrote a lot too.”

  “What was the name of the band?”

  “Pink Vixens. You’ll have to Google it some time. They still have our songs on there and a couple of pictures from the newspapers.”

  “That’s so cool, did you play and instrument?”

  “Yeah.” She gets a big smile on her face.

  “Don’t tell me, you played the tambourine and the cow bell.” I chuckle.

  She reaches over and knocks me across the shoulder. She is laughing and she has a great laugh. “Well, now that you say that, yes, I did play the cowbell, along with all the drums.”

  “Shit! You were the drummer?”

  “Yes, and I loved it.”

  “So why did you stop?”

  “One of the girls we asked to join didn’t like the idea of me not devoting one hundred percent to the band. She got my friend to give me an ultimatum, the band, or my sports. I had to be realistic, I loved the band, but I couldn’t see us making it. I didn’t want to just play bars and bowling alleys the rest of my life. So I picked, and then the band broke up and never got going again.”

  “That’s really too bad. Do you talk to any of them anymore?”

  “Not really, maybe on Facebook once and a while.”

  “So, what do you think of Tennessee so far?”

  “It’s hot and beautiful. I love the magnolias.”

  “That’s what I thought too.”

  “So, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “So does the entire athlete population here party?”

  “From what I have seen … pretty much.”

  “Shit, what have I gotten myself into?”

  “Listen, it really isn’t that bad. The team is good.”

  “If they’re good after drinking, just think how much more superior they would be if they didn’t though. I’m all for having fun, but my livelihood relies on this team. I can’t afford to lose my scholarship because of players that are too selfish to think about the team.”

  “Then don’t hang out with them and you shouldn’t have to worry about it.”

  She looks at me and as if I gave her the answer to the million dollar question. She nods her head.

  We sit at the restaurant until they close, just talking and getting to know each other. You would have thought we knew each other all our lives. I take her back to the dorm, we say our goodnights, and I kiss her on the cheek—a first for me. I don’t do the ball and chain thing. Relationships are overrated, and it’s not as if I am going to hang out here for the next four of five years. That would be a big fat, hell no.

  Chapter Four

  Charlie

  I CLOSE MY DOOR, locking it, and then proceed to slide down the wall. Shit, what am I doing? The last thing I need is to get involved with a guy the first day here. What the hell, what am I thinking, he has bad boy written all over him. Even as a computer geek, he is flippin’ hot! He has to be at least six feet, so I can wear heels and not worry about being taller than him. With his blonde mop of hair, those chocolate eyes and, although I haven’t seen his body, I know he is ripped from running into him. Shit, he was solid. However, the last thing I need is a player. I can’t get preoccupied and lose my focus on someone who’s a fuck ’em and chuck ’em kind of guy. I just don’t think I can do the one-night stand or the fuck friend. That’s why I broke up with Jesse before I left. I wouldn’t expect him to sit around, and I didn’t want that kind of pressure either.

  I’m brought back to the here and now when my phone rings. I pull my phone out and look at the screen. A smile breaks across my face as I read Zain’s name. “Hello?”

  “Thank you for this evening, Charlie. I had a good time.”

  “How …?”

  “When you went to the bathroom I took the liberty of letting our phones talk to each other. It was the least I could do. Since we were getting to know each other, I felt they should too.”

  I’m laughing at this point. You would think from the way he was talking that our phones just had sex. “Thank you, Zain, I had a real nice time too.”

  “Good, so tomorrow after your meeting, we can get together and do something.”

  “I can’t promise you anything until I know what will happen in practice.”

  “I understand that, so call me when your meeting is over. I’ll swing by and pick you up.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow. Bye, Zain.”

  “Bye, beautiful.”

  My heart just about beats out of my chest when he calls me beautiful. I’ve never had a guy make me feel the way that Zain made me feel in just one night. I shake my head, as if to get him out of my mind, but that’s not happening. I pull myself off the floor and get myself ready for bed. I crawl into bed and dream of shaggy blonde hair and melted chocolate.

  Chapter Five

  Charlie

  I WAKE to the sun beating down on me. I’m hot and sweaty as I glance at my alarm clock: eight fifty-four a.m. I sit up in a panic. Is my clock set for PST or EST? Shit! My softball meeting is at noon. I can’t think, I don’t remember setting my clock. Did Zain set it for me? Shit! Shit! Shit! I grab my cell phone and look at it. The clock is set for PST. I run into the bathroom grab my toothbrush, splash water on my face, and sit on the toilet to pee as I brush my teeth. I finish, wash my hands, spit, and throw a T-shirt over my sports bra, and grab a pair of shorts, pulling them up as I slide into my flip-flops and sprint to the athletic room.

  I walk into the room filled with my teammates as Coach Johnson is talking. “Glad you could join us, Modell.”

  “Sorry Coach, it won’t happen again.”

  “Good, because you will find that for every minute you are late you will have extra workouts to do.”

  “Yes, Coach.” What a hard ass. All the girls are looking at me. Shit. We are all handed schedules with workout times and what our fall ball season will look like. She also has our fundraisers listed. We are doing a fundraiser at Bristol Motor Speedway three weekends
from today. I haven’t ever been into NASCAR, but I guess there is no better time like the present to get into it.

  I’m walking out of the building when Ericka and Brandy make it to the meeting. I wonder what kind of preferential treatment they will receive. I smile at them as I walk through the door. I need to get something to eat. We start practicing at two. I need to be hydrated too. It’s going to be hot. I get to my room and there’s a bouquet of flowers at my door. I pick them up and unlock my room, setting them on the vanity in the bathroom. I take the card from the bouquet and read it.

  “Every time you look at these flowers, know that I am thinking of you. I hope you have a good day. Thank you again for last night. Please say yes to another night with me. ‘Z’“

  I love the flowers; they are sunflowers with purple statice. I pull out a juice pitcher, fill it with water, and set the flowers inside.

  I pull my phone out and send Zain a text.

  Thank you for the flowers, they are lovely. Sunflowers are my favorite. I needed something to brighten up my day after my meeting, I was late. Not a good impression for the coach.

  I pull out a bottle of water and a little carton of powder that has electrolytes and minerals, pouring it into the bottle. I set it aside as I pull out some peanut butter, honey, and bread. I quickly make a sandwich and change into some practice gear. I think I am going to be eating a lot of peanut butter while I am here. I eat my sandwich and put my socks on as I toss my sweats and a sweatshirt into a duffel with my cleats and tennis shoes. I slip my flip-flops back on, grab my water and bag, and head back to the gym.

  I’m one of the first players back at the gym. I put my shoes on, start to stretch and warm up.

  Practice is non-eventful. I keep to myself during practice, just a little small talk with some of the other players, more introducing myself to them. I meet my roommate, Brittney. She seems nice, but you never know until you live with them for a while. She played last year so I think she wants me to bow down to her, and that is something I won’t do. I will respect her when she shows me that I have a reason to.

  As I walk back to my room, my phone rings; it’s Zain.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  My heart skips a beat at his introduction, as I remember the feeling of his hard body against mine when I ran into him. “Hi, Zain.”

  “Can I see you tonight?”

  “I’m pretty tired, Zain. I just got out of practice and I’m still not used to the time change and weather. I don’t know that it’s a good idea.”

  “Well, what are you doing right now?”

  “I’m walking back to my room to take a shower.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in thirty minutes then.”

  “Zain … Zain? Hello?” He hung up on me.

  As I walk to my room, I realize I haven’t had the chance to truly look at the campus. It’s really quite lovely. There are all types of flowers and shrubs that look similar to what I have seen in my mother’s garden, but they are different. The fragrances from all of them waft in the air; it’s a completely new smell I’m not used to. Almost like the lemon trees I smelled in California.

  I get back to my room, grab my yoga pants and a tank, and step into the bathroom for a shower. The dorm rooms aren’t big, but I have to say that it’s nice that I only have to share the bathroom with three other girls. It’s like a Jack and Jill, two dorms split the one bath. It works, well, at least for now.

  The shower feels great; it’s nice not running out of hot water. I know my muscles are going to be sore. I stretch my muscles out as the hot water cascades down my body. I dry off and throw my hair into a messy bun, not drying it, apply some moisturizer on my face, and get dressed. I feel rejuvenated.

  I’ve just stepped into my room when there is a knock on the door. I open the door and there’s Zain with a picnic basket in his hands. “I thought we could have a picnic. The campus is so nice we could find a place anywhere you would like.”

  “That’s very nice of you, Zain, I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea? You’re not batting for the other team, are you? After all, that is what they say about a lot of the softball players.”

  “No!” I say, laughing at his insinuation.

  “I just figured that would be the only reason you wouldn’t go out with me.”

  “It’s just, I came here to focus on school and softball, and I left my boyfriend at home.”

  “Oh, so you have a boyfriend then?”

  “Well, technically no. I broke up with him before I left. I knew a long-distance relationship just wouldn’t work and I didn’t want to worry about cheating on him if I met someone.” Shit, I just left myself wide open for that.

  “Well see there, you have met someone and you don’t have to worry about cheating. It’s just a picnic, it’s not like I’m going to ask you to marry me.” He looks at me through his long dark lashes and puts his best panty-dropping smile on his face. Shit, how am I supposed to say no to that?

  “Fine, but don’t get used to it. I have to keep my grades up to keep my scholarship.”

  “School hasn’t even started yet. You still have a month. By then we should already be engaged.”

  He smiles at me as I push him through the door.

  We find a shady spot next to a big magnolia tree. Zain sets the basket down, pulls out a blanket, and spreads it out on the ground. He pulls containers out of the basket and opens the lids. Then he hands me a plate and a bottle of ice-cold water.

  “Zain this looks wonderful. Did you pick it up at a deli?” I’m looking around at all the food. Fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, watermelon, and corn on the cob—my mouth is watering.

  “Of course not, I made it. What did you think I did, stopped down the road at the local KFC?” He starts to laugh.

  “Did you really bring containers from home so I wouldn’t see that you stopped at KFC?”

  “No, really, I made or at least started most of it last night when I got home.”

  I look up at him, my head tilted to the side, as I try to read if he’s telling me the truth or not. “Serious, you made all of this?”

  “All kidding aside, yes, I did make this for you. I thought you would like a home-cooked meal.”

  “Oh my gosh, Zain, I can’t believe you went to that much trouble.”

  “It wasn’t any trouble; I was going to fix it anyway. I just decided I wanted to eat with you instead of eating by myself.”

  I look at the chicken and only see legs and thighs. I pick up a thigh and set it on my plate.

  “I hope you like dark meat …”

  My eyes flash to his. “Well, I would like to tell you I’ve tried dark meat, but I haven’t.” I giggle, and he actually blushes.

  “I know I walked right into that. What I meant to say was I hope you like legs and thighs, I’m not much of a breast … Shit!”

  I start to laugh again. “I love thighs and legs.” I look at his legs, as he is sitting cross-legged, and scan up his body.

  “You like what you see?” he says with a chuckle.

  “I was just checking out the legs and thighs.” And I giggle again. Before I know it, he has me on my back, straddling me and tickling me. I am writhing with laughter. I am laughing so hard I can’t catch my breath and tears are rolling down my face. I grab his wrists, wrap my legs around him, and roll. Now I’m straddling him and the look on his face is priceless. That’s one thing about being an athlete, in my spare time I am always working out and lifting weights. I pin his wrists above his head as I look into his gorgeous chocolate eyes that just melt me when I look in them. All laughter stops, and I let go of his wrists.

  I thread my fingers in his unruly blonde curls, as I take his mouth with mine, capturing it, devouring it, as if he was my meal and I hadn’t eaten for several days. Our tongues tasting, twirling, and dancing together as we drink each other in. I bite his lip and pull it through my teeth as a deep guttural growl comes from deep i
n his throat. He then grabs my hair by the bun, holding it tight and wrapping his other arm around my back. He rolls and he is on top again and takes control. He takes my face in his hands and consumes me as I moan. He pulls away as we are both panting, but we never lose eye contact with each other.

  Shit, what the hell was that? Never have I had those feelings go through me like that. I think he is feeling the same way from the look in his eyes. I don’t know what came over me. I think I just did something I shouldn’t have, but my feelings took over. I’ve never done that before. I need to leave; I need to forget about him. This isn’t a good idea.

  Chapter Six

  Zain

  FUCK ME! “Christ.” I’m panting, trying to regain my sanity. I never … Shit, what the fuck. I have to taste her again. I look down at her, she is panting just as hard as I am and her hand is pressed against her chest.

  After a few minutes, she rolls out from under me and stands up. She looks at me, her hand still on her chest as she whispers, “I’m sorry,” and she turns and runs.

  I sit there as I run my fingers through my hair. What the fuck just happened? I throw all the food back into the basket, pick up the blanket and toss it in the back of my truck, slam it into gear and drive home. Once there, I take the basket into the house and put all the food away. Then out of nowhere, “FUCK!” I yell, as I throw the basket across the room and it hits the lamp, tipping it over and crashing to the floor. I jump when my phone rings. I answer it without even looking at who it is. “WHAT!” I yell, into the phone.

  “Yo dude, who peed in your Cheerios?”

  I take a deep breath as I rub my eyes. “It’s nothing, what do you need, Dylan?”

  “I just wanted to let you know that the gymnastics team is coming in this week and we’re having a party. Thought you might like to come over and enjoy some of them. If I remember correctly, you enjoyed all the positions you could put them in.”