Biker's Virgin

"Okay," she said, shrugging.

"Dinner's almost ready. Do you want wine?" She shook her head.

"No wine. I drove here."

"It's one glass. Besides, it's not like you have to drive back tonight."

"I don't want any wine," she snapped.

"Okay. No wine. What can I get you?"

"Nothing, Roman. I'm sorry you've already gone to so much trouble tonight."

"Trouble? What? Did you want to go out?"

"Roman," she said, looking down and taking a deep breath. "I came to end things tonight. I don't want to see you anymore." I looked at her, waiting for her to keep going, or just say something else that meant what she had just said wasn't true.

"Ron… What? What are you talking about?"

"I want to break up. I don't want to be with you anymore. It's over."

"The fuck it is. Where the hell is this coming from, Ron?"

"I shouldn't have let you back in. I had a life when you left, and you came back and acted like I should have just stopped everything for you. I did, and I wish I hadn't. It wasn't fair to me after what you did, Roman. I don't want to be with you, and I never want to see you again."

"Ron, you can't-" I reached for her arm and she violently pulled away.

"Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. I should have done this in the first place, that day I came to see you at the picnic spot. Never contact me again, Roman. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to know. I just want my old life back." She turned and walked towards the door, stopping suddenly. She turned back and came up to me. She took my hand and placed my key in it. Then she left.

I ran to the door after her, only to watch her slam her car door and back out of the driveway. She was gone.

I closed the door and looked at the key she had put in my hand. I had given her the key because she had given me one of hers, to be able to get in her place just in case she was out. I still had it. I thought for a second that I needed to return it, but stopped myself. She didn't want me to contact her.

I didn't know what to do. I had heard her, but her words didn't make sense. They hadn't sunk in all the way yet. I walked into the kitchen and picked up my phone. I scrolled down to her number but she wasn't going to pick up, she was driving. Who the hell was I going to call? Don? Tiffany? My dad? My thumb hovered over the number till I shut my eyes and let it fall, holding it to my ear. I listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before he picked up.

"Hello?" His gruff voice issued over the line. I hoped that meant I wasn’t calling him too late.

"Coach Hayes? This is Roman Blake," I said.

"Roman, I've been expecting to hear from you."

"Sorry I kept you waiting."

"So, what do you say?"

"Yes. I'll do it. I want to do it."

"You sure you don't need more time, son?" he asked. He was ribbing me. "Nobody's ever made us wait on them the way you have. You better make sure you're worth the time we could have spent looking for another QB."

"Of course. I'm ready."

"Well, the soonest we can start processing

everything is tomorrow morning. You don't change your mind, you'll be here in Miami within a month." I swallowed.

"I'm looking forward to it, sir."

"Welcome to the Hurricanes, Roman."