She stood but he pulled her back down.
“You know they are not here. They are with my mom like they are before every away game.”
“I forgot.”
She stood up again but he pulled her back down.
“Desiree let’s talk about this.”
“Oh so now you wanna talk?”
Desiree pushed him off of her and grabbed her robe. He frowned.
“Look don’t be like this.”
Desiree walked away from him.
“You gonna tell me that I have no say in this? I love Maddie like my daughter. And you have the nerve to tell me that it’s between you two?”
“I’m sorry but you need to realize that it was just Maddie and me for a long time.”
The anger she felt lit a fire within her. “Don’t give me that bull!” she raised her voice. “It was just me and Zack for a long time too and yet I had no problem letting you in.”
“I let you in.” he yelled back.
“No you let me in part of the way. I tell you everything that went on or goes on between Charles and me! And I just want the same thing.”
“Those are different situations.”
She faced him.
“Why? Why is your situation so different from my situation?”
“Because.”
“Because what?” she challenged.
“Because you had a chance to get over Charles.”
Desiree felt a pit slowly creep into her stomach. Her heart began to race and all of the possibilities of his words played in her mind.
“What are you saying?”
“I am just saying I need to handle this situation differently.”
Desiree rolled her eyes and walked out the room as Ramón followed her.
“No we need to resolve this.”
“Resolve what? Six months ago you asked me to marry you. And now I find out you’re not over your ex. It’s pretty clear to me what is going on.”
He pulled her close to him but she rejected him. “Desiree you have to know I love you.”
“So what you wanna be with her?”
“Baby I wanna be with you.”
He pulled her closer to him again. She didn’t have the energy to fight it anymore. She didn’t have the strength to handle what usually came next when she opened her heart. Charles broke her down like a fraction on every occasion always telling her how much weight she gained from the pregnancy or how she couldn’t do anything right. If he wasn’t belittling her he was cheating. Desiree hated the way Charles closed down. She didn’t want to lose Ramón she was willing to do anything she could to make it work. Ramón pulled her close to him.
“I don't wanna go to these away games not knowing what is going on with us.”
“Ramón how am I supposed to handle this?”
“I love you so much we are gonna make this work.”
“Are you sure I am what you want?” she asked looking up to him, searching his eyes for an answer.
“How can you even ask me that?”
“Because Ramón we moved here, I gave up my apartment and my job, I have nothing I don't want to have to start over again. You promised me I wouldn’t be hurt.”
“And you won’t.”
“How do I know that?”
“You have to trust me. I love you so much.”
“Ramón I don't know how to change the way I feel.”
“Just trust me. Trust in what we have. I won’t hurt you.”
He pulled her lips to his as he directed her back to their bedroom. He laid her down and nuzzled her neck while undoing her robe. Grabbing the oil bottle that was still on the bed, he poured more onto his hands and rubbed them together. He rubbed her body down front and back with oil hitting every hot spot she had along the way. As he worked his way back up he could see the look in her eyes telling him she wanted him. He looked into eyes and knew he could love her forever. As he entered her slowly she arched up with him. Wrapping her legs around his waist he lifted her off the bed and pushed her against the wall. He legs hooked each other around his back and she moaned loudly as he pushed harder inside her.
“Desi I love you. Tell me you believe me.”
He pushed deeper in her and she closed her eyes letting a few tears fall from her face. He stopped moving looking at her and she opened her eyes.
“Desi talk to me.” He whispered.
“I love you too.” Was all she could say. She began rocked her hips against his wanting him to give her the pleasure she desired. He began to push into again with each thrust moving deeper and harder. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pushed harder and faster. She felt her orgasm build up from her core and begged him to move fast. His head became light headed as he gave her one big thrust and she tightened around him signaling she was Cumming. As if he was taking his cues from her he let his rip and his knees went weak and the releasing. They fell backwards onto the bed still locked with each other.
Chapter 8
Present
Ramón walked back onto the court ready to get the game over with. As much as he wanted to win back to back championships he needed Desiree more. She was the reason he won the first time and she is the reason even after breaking his wrist he came back stronger than ever this season. He moved his wrist around and glanced back up to Desiree. She was everything to him and he wanted her more than he wanted anything. He thought back to that game just a year ago that threatened his whole career.
One year earlier
Desiree stood to her feet as the clock ran down. With one minute left in the playoff’s it was anyone’s game. The Eagles were down by two and had to get it together if they wanted to win.
“Come on eagles. You got this!”
Desiree couldn’t help but scream as loudly as she could. She wasn’t sure if she was even heard over the roaring of thousands of fans per team rooting and cheering and chanting. The crowd was screaming Defense and Virgil Stone their newest power forward stole the ball and tossed it to Aj. He ran the ball in from half court faked a shot and passed it to Ramón. As Ramón went to shoot a layup Jerome Hill, the center for the other team jumped up with him. As they collided the ball went in and they both fell to the ground.
Desiree jumped in her place as she heard the call and Ramón was given a foul shot, which could make for a three-point play. It wasn’t until she saw him still lying on the ground holding his wrist did her heart sink. The game forgotten all she wanted to know was if he was alright. As they pulled him up the coach sent the backup center in for Ramón. When she saw how disoriented he was that was when Desiree knew he wasn’t ok. As the clock ran down, and the free throw shot was made the Eagle’s leap in celebration and all Desiree wanted to do was make sure Ramón was ok.
Desiree paced back and forth in the small hospital waiting room, as she waited to hear from the doctor. As Aj paced with her, seeing her shaking hand he wrapped his arms around her. She held back the tears as Gia ran into the hospital waiting room. She hugged Desiree and Aj looked at them.
“You know he is gonna be ok.”
Desiree shook her head “They have been running test for over an hour. They already said he broke his wrist and that he has a concussion. What more is there?”
Gia held her hand.
“He is a strong man he can handle anything that comes at him.”
“What if he can’t come back from this?”
“He can. We gotta be there for him. Make sure he realizes that we love him and are here to support him.”
Desiree wiped the tears from her eyes, “I am always there for my family no matter what.”
“Good I hope you mean that.” Aj said before he could stop himself.
“And what does that mean?” She turned to face him. He sat in a chair and motioned for her to sit next to him. She did as he motioned and frowned. He raised his head.
“I have seen a lot of girls come in and out of my teammates lives. Some create lasting relationships and some don't.”
“Ok
and what does that have to do with me?”
“I have also seen players come back from major accidents and I have seen players with minor ones never come back.”
“I am still not following you.”
“What if he can’t play anymore? Then what? Are you gonna leave?”
Gia smacked Aj in the head.
“Aj!”
Desiree looked at him.
“What?” She stood up. “How can you ask me that?”
“I have seen it before.”
“You mean gold diggers? You really think that I am only with him for the money?”
“I think he is worth a lot of money and marrying him would make you worth a lot.”
Gia stood as Desiree tilted her head.
“You listen and you listen well because I am not going to repeat myself.” She moved closer to him. “I love Ramón with all of me, everything I have in me. I wouldn’t be with someone if I didn’t love them. I am not that kind of person. And you know what I thought you were the last person to think of me like that. You have some nerve if you think that I am gonna sit here and allow you to talk to me like some groupie.”
He held up his hands and smiled. Gia put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes.
“What’s so funny? Aj I can’t believe you would say something like that to her.”
“Gia, Desi I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Most women would have made excuses or changed the subject. Some would have begun to cry and begged me not to say a thing and then there are the few who would walk away to ashamed to say a word. But you, I knew you were different. You came with us to Dave and Busters and just had fun. You speak your mind no matter who you are talking to. Like right there you went right for my throat. You pull no punches and I like that. I like you and I think Ramón is lucky to have you.”
“You were testing me?”
“I'm sorry but I needed to know how you felt about him.”
“I can’t believe that you actually thought I was one of those women I am in love with Ramón.”
“I get it but you have to understand that’s my best friend and I needed to know that you really did love him.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “And what do you think of me now?”
“I don't think he could do any better than you.”
Gia shoved Aj.
“You idiot. Don't do that again.”
“Desi is he ok?”
Desiree looked at Rachael as she walked towards her. Desiree saw the fear in Rachael’s eyes.
“Joe is with the kids and Brit is on her way up.”
Desiree went over to her and hugged her wanting to ease her sadness. “We don't know yet. I'm sure it’s gonna be ok. I know he is.”
The doctor walked over to them and smiled. He looked at his chart then back to them.
“It’s not as bad as we thought. He has just like we thought a severely sprained wrist and a mild concussion. We are gonna keep him over night just to make sure he is ok. All of the other tests we have run have come back negative so that is a good thing. You can go in and see him now if you want.”
Rachael looked at her Desiree.
“You go first I wanna call everyone let them know he’s ok.”
“Ok.”
Desiree walked into the hospital room and walked over to Ramón. He turned his head away from her as she sat next to him.
“Baby how are you feeling?”
Ramón shrugged his shoulders.
“Do you need anything?”
He still stared the other way. Desiree turned his head towards her and saw the anger in his eyes.
“Baby what’s the matter?” she asked now more concerned for him then relieved.
“Nothing I just wanna be alone right now.”
“Baby talk to me! What’s going on?”
“You wanna know?”
“Of course I wanna know.”
He pulled himself up with his right arm his left in a freshly set cast.
“I have been in the NBA since I was 18. That’s over ten years. I have worked so hard for this day. I worked so hard to make it to the playoffs. And now we get down to the last minute in the last quarter of the last game and I go down hard. I almost cost us the game. I didn’t get to stand up with my team I didn’t get to hold that trophy above my head. I didn’t get to feel the feeling I have been praying to feel since I was a little boy.”
Desiree caressed his head, “It was an accident.”
He jerked away from her angrily. “An accident that cost me a lot, I worked so hard this season. I have improved my stats I have set records and the one thing I really wanted I couldn’t get. So excuse me for being pissed off.”
“Why are you getting mad at me?”
“I don't know maybe because from the first game I have played as your fiancée I wanted to play hard for you and tonight was no exception to the rule. I played hard because I wanted to impress you. And now look at me.”
Desiree stood and glanced at him tears filled her eyes. “You’re blaming me for you getting hurt? Seriously after everything I have been through for you?”
“What?” he yelled. “What have you been through? Oh I'm so sorry you had to leave that crappy apartment quit a job you hated and move into my mansion and spend all my money. That must have been so hard for you.”
She backed further away from the bed hurt at his words.
“What?”
“Desiree what don’t you understand I have been working so hard trying to build up my career and what have you been doing? Living off of me. You and your son have a free ride so I would think if I want a damn minute to myself you would give me that much.”
Desiree stared at him for a minute allowing her tears to fall freely. She wiped them away and moved closer to him. She was done being understanding and caring she was done being the nice one now it was on. “You know what forgive me for caring about what happens to you.” She said matching his tone. “I would think you would understand what I am going through how I am feeling. How I felt when I saw you lying on that floor? When I saw they had to help you up! And as for living in your house forgive me for thinking you really wanted to be with me. That my son and I meant something to you. I didn’t want to give up all of the things that made me, me but I did it for you and look at what I get an ungrateful excuse for a fiancée who is still talking to his ex.” She walked to the door. “I can deal with the media and articles. I can deal with the wet towels on the floor and empty cartons that you put back in the fridge and I can even deal with the fact that no matter how I feel about Kim she is not going anywhere. But you being like this I won’t deal with.”
“Desi wait. I'm sorry.”
“No Ramón I am sorry that I believed you loved me. I didn’t know my son and I were such an inconvenience. We won’t be anymore.”
Desiree turned away from him and walked out the room. She looked at Rachael begging the new forming tears to wait until she was out of the hospital to start falling.
“He’s ready to see you guys.”
“Desi what's wrong?”
“Nothing I just need some air.”
She forced a smile as she passed his teammates. They looked so happy holding the trophy up in the air as they walked into his room. Desiree walked out to the parking lot as Aj walked after her.
“I am sorry for what I said if that’s why you’re mad.”
“I can’t do this.”
“Do what?”
Desiree turned to him “he made me feel so stupid in there. All I wanted to do was console him and he lashes out at me. Telling me I don't know what he’s been through how I'm living off him and spending all his money.”
“He didn’t mean any of that Desiree you have to know that.”
“What I know is I am not going to deal with this. You go tell your friend I’m moving out.”
“Don’t. Desiree he needs you. Don’t walk out on him.”
“I went through this before with Charles I will not do this again.
”
“He loves you so much it's just when he gets hurt he turns into a jerk.”
“I don't care. He was wrong.”
“And he knows it.”
“Aj just leave me alone. I have nothing to say to you or him.”
Desiree turned her head and walked away. She didn’t want Aj to see her cry. She walked into the house and wondered around. She knew it wasn’t right to just pack up and leave but she wasn’t sure she liked where the situation was going.
***
Ramón felt better than he had in days. Desiree was still mad at him and he knew it. He thanked God she didn’t leave like Aj thought she would. Ramón walked into the room and sat on the bed next to Desiree. She was writing in her laptop. Ramón loved how she looked so content writing.
“Hey babe.”
“Hey.”
“Come on it's been two weeks will you stop being mad?” Ramón lifted her face to his but she pulled away, she didn’t want his sorry's.
“Ramón I really just don't wanna talk about this.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Didn’t you? All I wanted was to help you and you made me feel so bad.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Yeah.”
She continued to write. He moved behind her.
“Can I read what you’re writing?”
She shrugged and moved to the side. He bent down to read.
“Empty promises, broken dreams, unfulfilled wishes torn at the seams, unspeakable bond, unspoken words, uninspired love that had no worth. Shadowy figures, cast down on my side, afraid to speak up so instead you hide. No one looks, for you can’t see, the one you hurt is only me.”
He exhaled and looked at her.
“Wow. Your words are…wow. I made you feel this bad.”
She placed her laptop on the bed and stood up.
“I don't want to be in a relationship where I feel bad about being me. I am going to be out of your hair soon.”
“I don't want you to leave. I want you to be my wife. I know I messed up I was just angry.”
“So you take your anger out on me.”
Ramón stood and walked over to her, he removed her hair out of her eyes.
To Love a Man Page 20