Love Under Quarantine

I toss the rest of the ingredients in the blender and lean against the counter. “All the women that hang around the team seem to want a player to take care of them. They live for that.”

“And are you interested in them?”

“No,” I fire off.

“No. Because those girls want something from you other than your time. They want fame. To walk around in expensive designer garb with a baller on their arm. Sadie’s not that type of woman. And I’d have to say, that’s probably part of her appeal whether you realize it or not.”

I slump against the counter and think about it. Sadie hasn’t asked me for anything. She hasn’t wanted to take a selfie or pictures of me to post online. I’m not even sure if she’s told anyone about us. That information getting out right now could cause a whole host of other issues for me during this scandal. But it’s been crickets. She’s been there for me. Just me. Seems to want to spend time simply talking, watching movies, sexing, yoga, eating meals, and laughing.

“For the first time in my life, I find a woman I want to take care of, and she doesn’t want it. How am I supposed to take that?” Sadness seeps into my pores and a heaviness grips my heart.

“Let her ask for help when she needs it, brother. Don’t swoop in and try to save the day. You met this girl less than two weeks ago. Give it time. She takes care of herself. Has been doing so without a man for as long as I’ve known her. Though there used to be some asshole that came around. I didn’t like the look of the guy. Seemed like a stuffy prick.”

“Sean. Her ex. Real tool, but she’s way over him. Though if the fucker comes sniffing around, I’ll be handling that.”

Jake chuckles. “You’ve got it bad, eh?”

“I’m falling for this girl. Shit, I may have already fallen. I don’t really know what it feels like since I’ve never had it before.”

“Falling in love is like that moment when you catch the ball in midair at the fifty-yard line. You look back and see a horde of badasses coming your way, but you turn the heat on and run. Fast. Faster. Until you eventually make it to the end zone. Except you’re still tackled down to the ground, with three two hundred-pound weights each, on top of you, making it so you can’t breathe, and you’re in pain. And yet it’s the best feeling of your life, knowing you made the score.”

“Damn. You should write for Hallmark.”

“Maybe in another life. Did I help?”

“Always, brother. Just seeing your face and hearing your voice alive and well makes me feel better. And yeah, your lesson to listen more and react less is how I’ll move forward with Sadie. Thanks, man.”

“Take care of my girl and stop overfeeding her.”

“Um, yeah the line’s getting a little static…” I warble my voice to make the sound.

“Dude, you’re on video chat. There is no static!”

“Going through a tunnel, gotta go.” I laugh.

“You’re not driving! Jesus, fine. Good luck!”

“Be safe. Love you like a brother.” I tell him because right now, with the uncertainty of his role, I want him to know how much he means to me.

“Same, man. We’ll talk when I get settled in Europe.”

I swallow down the sudden lump in my throat of worry for my best friend. “You do that. I’ll be here. Taking care of big fat devil-kitty.”

“Stop feeding my cat too much!” he yells.

Gloria takes this opportunity to scale her much bigger body up and onto the counter. “Fat cats are cuter.”

“They are not! Come on!.”

“Byyyyeeeee.” I wink and hit the off button.

Gloria meows, stretches into a rainbow shape, sits, then stares me down. While doing so she lifts her paw, stretches out her sharp-ass nails, and licks them one at a time.

A warning.

Feed me or die.

“How’s about a treat…or five?”CHAPTER 13

QUARANTINE: DAY 13

EVANSHE DIDN’T ANSWER HER PHONE all day yesterday. Water poured from the sky like a waterfall so I couldn’t catch her on the balcony either.

My girl is avoiding me.

And tomorrow is the day.

THE DAY.

I’m so damn excited I can hardly be in the same room with myself. And yet, the woman I’m obsessing over is ignoring me. So, I didn’t apologize in my texts because I’d planned on doing so to her beautiful face. Jake was right. I went about things all wrong and after a full day of thinking it through, I eventually came to the conclusion that I was a bit of an arrogant dick. Trying to swoop in and save the day using my hefty bank account.

Sadie doesn’t give one iota about money. Hell, the woman thinks football is a pastime before and after the Superbowl halftime show.