She threw the book at his head then she slammed the door and looked straight ahead. She was so hurt but she promised herself she wouldn’t cry. As the cab pulled away, Ramón punched the air. He didn't mean for her to hear any of what he said and he felt like a prick for saying any of it. He bent down and grabbed the book feeling like he just ruined something amazing.
As he walked into the gym, Aj walked over to him.
“So where is Desiree? Gia and I wanted to take you both out for Ice cream before she left.”
Ramón looked out the door and sighed heavily. “Well you don't have to worry about that now. She is on her way to the airport.”
“What? Why? What did you do?”
Ramón didn’t even pretend to be hurt at his friend’s question which is why Aj didn’t believe him when he said “Why does it have to be something I did?”
Aj shook his head. “I’m your best friend that’s why. So what did you do?”
“I was talking to Pauli about last night and I didn't want him to know that I liked her so I said she was a charity case I have been working on and she heard me and now she hates me.”
“I am sure she doesn’t hate you.” He said trying to console his friend.
“She threw this book at my head.” He held up the book in his hands. Aj tried to hide his smile.
“Ok yeah I can see how she can be pissed about that.
“Ya think?” Ramón indicated.
“It’s your own fault.” Aj said matter-of-factly. “You have a big mouth!”
“I know.” Ramón rubbed his head. “I know. I screwed up.”
Aj looked at the book.
“Isn’t Catcher and the Rye your favorite book?”
“Yeah.”
Aj opened it and read.
“Ramón, so you can finally scratch this off your to do list! Thank you for everything. Love Desi! Wow.”
“What? I told her in passing that I lost my copy.”
“And she took time out of her day to go out and buy it for you.”
“How big of an idiot am I?” he asked shaking his own head at disgust within himself.
“Well think about it. Out of all the women in the world you finally meet one who is down to earth, funny, cute, sweet, caring, sensitive and gets along with my wife. Your daughter adores her and your mother likes her and I think she’s great. She could have given you a thank you card or a hug but she got you something you wanted and needed. And you manage to screw it up. I say you surpassed being an idiot, miles ago and you’re headed towards asshole town. But there is good news for you.” He said giving his best friend some hope.
“And what is that?”
“This is fixable.”
“How?” Ramón asked willing to do whatever was necessary.
“I don't know yet. What I do know is first things first. You need to call Gia and tell her you screwed up. Because I am not going down for you.”
“Wimp.” Ramón snorted.
“Damn right. “ Aj agreed.
They began to walk further into the building but Ramón couldn’t stop looking at the door wishing she would walk back in willing to give him a second chance.
Chapter 3
Ramón gazed over towards the campers while they ran drills. He loved the big turnout they had every year and this year was no exception. With 95 kids wanting to learn all they can from him and his fellow teammates he enjoyed seeing the eagerness they displayed. As the month and a half of camp came winding down he could already tell who with the right help could make it. He smiled down at his group of twenty kids on the court.
Ramón made it so every time he was there his daughter and Zack could be in his group; he figured he would kill two birds with one stone. Keep Maddie in his sights and learn a little more about Desiree from her son. Which turned out to be extremely easy because Zack wasn’t shy on talking about his family at all.
Ramón had already learned about Desiree’s divorce and how hard she worked so that Zack could have all he needed. He learned that she wasn’t currently dating anyone and was not interested in finding anyone. And according to her best friend she was still very angry about what happened.
Ramón didn’t understand why he cared so much. He didn’t know why since she left he had dreams of Desiree. Dreams of caressing her curvy body, of pulling her lips closer to his and tasting her. He regretted not tasting her lips at the cliff and not being able to explore her body. As he thought about it he realized the reason he cared about her being upset is because in the short time he knew her, he started to care for her. He shook his head as he blew his whistle. He needed to stay focused.
“Ok guys lets run the one on one drills. Zack come on up. Who wants to go against Zack?”
Ramón couldn’t help but smirk as the other eight to ten year olds who looked around at each other. Then Madison raised her hands and he beamed with pride.
“I'll go coach.”
She ran onto the court and high fived Zack. Ramón blew his whistle again.
“Ok this is a one on one drill first to ten wins remember each shot is worth one point. And have fun out there.”
As Zack and Maddie began to play against each other Ramón saw why the others didn’t want to play with Zack. He was one of those kids with a natural talent, but with the training he has gotten these last few weeks he was incredible on the court. As Zack shot from the three point line and made it Madison jumped up and grabbed the ball and ran it back down the court. She tossed the ball and scored before Zack had a chance to defend her. Ramón had to give Madison her credit she was most definitely holding her own.
The other kids cheered them on as the score went 7 to 5 and Zack was heading back to his basket to put him up by four. Zack went up for a lay-up and Madison shot up to block his shot. As she did, they somehow collided and both fell hard to the ground. Ramón was at their side along with AJ.
“Madison can you hear me baby girl?”
Madison’s eyes fluttered open and she held her head up but immediately laid it back down and began to moan. He looked over to AJ and noticed Zack had opened his eyes too. Zack placed his hand to his head as he looked over to Madison.
“Are you ok Maddie?”
She glanced towards him and nodded as Ramón noticed a bump forming on the back of her head. He looked at Zack and noticed a bump forming on the side of his face.
“AJ I think we should get these two to the ER.”
“Yeah you’re right. Jeremy” he called one of the assistant coaches over to him. “We are going to take these two to the hospital and I need you let Malcolm know what is going on and take the other 18 players to Kellan’s group.”
Ramón looked over to Jeremy as he helped Madison up. “Oh and please have Greg call my parents and call Zack’s.”
“No problem.”
***
Desiree forced a smiled as she sat at the table. She took a sip of water as her date Matt spoke on his landscaping business. Desiree made a mental note to smack Nikki when she saw her. This was by far the worse date she had ever been on. Nikki had set up on three dates and each seemed to be worse than the last. She actually thought Matt was a great catch until he began to speak and his lips spewed out nonsense and crap. Matt spoke up, which pulled her out of her train of thought.
“It’s good money when you own the business. You can hire whoever you want so of course I hooked my boys up you know keep it in the FAM stuff like that. So what do you do? Nikki didn’t tell me.” He asked flashing her what he thought was his million dollar smile but she thought was just ridiculous.
She stiffened in her seat. “I work at Kline’s in their customer service department.” She said taking another sip of her water. She looked around wondering where the waiter was.
He chuckled. “You really can’t make much doing that can you?”
“What?” she asked confused at his comment.
He grabbed his glass “I mean tell me how much do you make?” he asked drinking from his glass.
She
scooted her chair back. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah I am how can you afford to take care of your son on that kind of salary?” he said looking into his menu.
“I don’t see why that is any of your business?” she said feeling anger rise within her. “You can’t really be asking me how much money I make on the first date?” she said glaring at him.
He gave a snicker. “Well seeing how we are on a date and I am the one making the most money looks like I am footing the bill.”
“Wow.” She said throwing her hands into the air. “Just wow.”
He leaned into her and gave her a seductive look which to Desiree looked like he was constipated. “So tell me are you a tiger in the bed?”
“Excuse me?” She uttered unsure of what she was hearing.
“Hey if I'm paying you better be laying.”
A fly could have flown his whole family into her mouth at the point it was open so wide. “Ok that’s enough.” Desiree stood taking a deep breath she had had enough he had been making demeaning comments all night and she was all to overjoyed to give him a piece of her mind.
“Look here you ignorant fool it doesn’t matter what I make or where I went to school. I don’t care if you started your own business and I could give a damn about your ability to sing a woman’s dress off. And whether or not I am good in the bed is something you will never have to find out. You’re an ass, dinner sucked, and your breath has been humming all night and so I am leaving, get the bill since you make so much money I'm out.”
As she turned to leave he stood. “Wait I thought we were having a good time. I thought we had a vibe.”
She laughed. “Then you thought wrong.” She gripped her purse and walked away from the booth. She grabbed her keys and got into the car. She dialed Nikki’s number.
“Hello.” Nikki answered laughing pushing her husband away from her. Any other day Desiree would be thrilled at them acting like love birds but right now all she saw was red.
“How in the hell could you think I would like him?” she yelled into the phone.
Nikki held up her finger to her husband as she heard the anger and disappointment in her best friend’s voice. “Date didn’t go so well I take it?”
“Hell No! You have lost all your rights to hook me up. No more.” She said close to tears.
Nikki exhaled “Look you said you wanted a date. And I didn’t see anything wrong with any of the guys.”
“Really Jayson wanted me to meet his ex-girlfriend and double with her and her new man so he can spy on her. Yeah he actually said that. Cole was so into himself that I was shocked he even remembered my name and Matt don’t get me started on that dog who is obviously in need of a flea bath.” She said in anger.
Nikki sat on her four poster king-sized bed. “You know after you left Greenville a few weeks ago I have seen a change in you, you’re irritable well more than usual and you won’t tell me why.” She questioned.
“It’s nothing.” Desiree said immediate getting defensive.
“It’s something.” Nikki said challenging her.
“Look Ramón turned out to be a jerk end of story.”
Her line beeped.
“Hold on someone is calling. Hello?” she said trying to erase the sadness from her voice.
“Hi is this Desiree Holloway?” the person on the other line asked.
“Yes.” She said being to feel uneasy.
“I am Greg from the Eagles basketball camp.”
Her heart dropped. “Is everything ok?”
“I am calling because I tried to get a hold of Charles Denton but couldn’t. Zack was in a little accident. Him and another camper collided we are taking them to the hospital.”
Desiree’s mind began to race. Trying to remain calm she chose her words slowly. “I am in Fort Lauderdale. But tell him I am on my way.”
“We are at MUSC Hospital in Azela Square.”
She hung up the phone and headed to Fort Lauderdale airport. Her phone rang and she picked it up.
“I said I am on my way.” She spoke into the phone.
“Desi what happened you hung up on me?” Nikki asked suddenly panicking at her friend’s voice.
Desiree exhaled hearing Nikki’s voice “Zack is in the hospital and Charles is not answering his phone and I got to get to the hospital. I am heading to the airport.”
Nikki gasped “How far away are you?”
“I don't know about thirty minutes.” She said turning onto the expressway.
“Ok I am going to meet you there.” Nikki said pulling on a pair of jeans. “And before you say anything the kids are with my parents so we are coming.”
“I couldn’t argue with you if I wanted too.” Desiree said relieved to have the support.
“We are on my way.” Nikki said grabbing her sweat shirt.
Desiree hung up the phone and drove to the airport. When she got there, she heave a sigh of relief upon seeing Nikki walking up to her followed by her husband Bryant. Desiree hugged her.
“Hey guys. Look you didn’t need to come I am gonna try to get a flight out.” she said reaching for her wallet.
“Are you sure?” Nikki asked.
She nodded. Nikki stood next to her.
“I am coming inside with you and if I can get a seat with you I am coming.”
Desiree frowned “No I will be ok.” She gave a weak smile that didn’t reassure Nikki.
Nikki stood her ground. “I got you so let’s go.”
They walked into the airport and Nikki followed her up to the first airline and Desiree pulled out her wallet.
“I need a flight departing here like now going to Charleston.” She said not hiding the desperation in her voice.
The woman in front of her gave a smug smile as she looked Desiree up and down. Desiree stared at the woman wondering what was taking so long. She glance over the white button down shirt and black skirt the attendant wore, and the uneven bob around her head. Desiree knew that look she was getting it was the “let me size her up” look that people gave those they were unsure of. The woman pushed her glasses up from the tip of her pointy nose and Desiree sighed deeply.
Desiree glanced down to herself to see what the woman was staring at, she was still wearing the blushing pink shimmer splice dress that had an allover ruching and asymmetrical drapes the enhanced her curves. She looked towards her pair of multi glittered heels and stomped her foot enough was enough. She pointed her finger at the woman which was dressed with a silver ring with tiers of rhinestones on her right hand middle finger and the matching four row rhinestone bracelet moved up her arm as she snapped her fingers.
“Hello did you hear me?” Desiree asked placing one hand on her hip and the other on her necklace which was a rhinestone bib with a silver toned chain.
“I heard you hold your horses.” The woman said with a smirk that Desiree wanted to smack off her face.
She ran her hands down her dress trying to take her mind off her son. It was such a beautiful dress she wasted on that loser. She wished she would have went with her first choice which was an all-black pantsuit even more now that this was happening, but Nikki made her buy it and wear it. When Desiree first tried on the dress she didn’t like the way it flowed around her curves but once she had it on she felt beautiful. She tapped her foot as she fiddle with her hair which was in loose curls clipped to the left side of her neck. Finally the woman glared at her.
“Can I ask what the hurry is? Running from your pimp?” she said amusing herself.
Desiree looked at the woman and then Nikki.
“Oh my Gosh this not happening.” Her hands began to shake “Nikki I swear if she doesn’t help me I am gonna cut her and her chia pet hairstyle. You don’t know me my son is in-”
Nikki pulled Desiree aside. “Desi calm down.”
“No let me handle this woman I got something for her.” Desiree said lunging towards the woman at the counter. Nikki grabbed Desiree again looking at her husband.
“Bryant
sweetie can you come take Desi for a second.”
Bryant pulled her back. And Nikki looked at the Lady.
“Hi, what’s your name?” Nikki said sweetly to the woman. She gave Nikki a confusing look then smiled.
“Kathy.”
Nikki clapped her hands together. “Ok Kathy look my nephew is in the hospital his no good father is nowhere to be found and my sister has to get to him in Charleston. Now she is crazy right now and really won’t be liable for what she might do. One time a teacher shoved her son and she shoved her fist in that teachers mouth so what I need for you to do is do your job and get her a ticket on any flight leaving out as soon as possible. Now you either do that or I will let her loose on you while I speak to your supervisor.”
Kathy looked at Desiree then down to her screen.
“Ok look we have a flight leaving out in 20 minutes she would have to hurry.”
“We will take it.”
“It’s $105 for a one way nonstop.”
“I don’t care here.”
She handed Kathy her credit card and grabbed the ticket from her. She handed the ticket to Desiree.
“Gate 37D. You gotta hurry I think it’s already loading.”
Desiree took the ticket and reached in her purse for her keys. She took the car key off the chain.
“Here I am parked in lot B can you take my car please.” She handed it the key to Nikki. “I will call you as soon as I get there.”
“Be careful. I love you.” Nikki said pulling her best friend into a hug.
Desiree sent off a wave as she shot off like a bat out of hell. As she reached the security check she thanked God that there was only one person in line. She took off her shoes and jewelry and placed them into the basket along with her purse. She walked through the metal detector then grabbed her things and ran to the gate not putting on her shoes. Desiree almost cried when she realized she made it just in time to board. As she walked onto the plane he phone rang.
“Hello.” She said looking around the plane for her seat.
“Mom?” at the sound of Zack’s voice her heart leap for joy.
To Love a Man Page 10