Chapter 19
First dates were a big deal because they were the dawn of something new.
A great first date could change your life.
I’d made reservations at Nobu. The restaurant had the dark, moody vibe I was looking for.
I wanted something grown and sexy, and this place fit the bill.
I’d hoped to pick Danessa up but practice ran long, so I sent a car to fetch her.
We’d come a long way from our first date at the pizza shop on campus.
I ordered a large pizza half cheese, half meat lovers for us to share.
Danessa wore a pleated skirt that hit just above her knees and a stack of gold necklaces which she fussed with the entire time.
The total meal was probably less than twenty-five dollars.
After dinner we just strolled through campus and chatted about any and everything.
I was struck by how easy it was to talk with her.
She got my sense of humor and would often add to the joke until we were both in stitches.
At the end of the date, I’d already secured another.
By date three I’d asked her to be my girlfriend.
And I waited patiently until she was ready to have sex.
To make her first time special, I booked a three-star hotel because dorm rooms didn’t really allow for a romantic experience.
Danessa made me feel seen in a way being the star athlete didn’t.
I walked the campus, and people would shout out my name or pat me on the back because of a good game, and none of it mattered if I didn’t have Danessa’s approval.
Getting an education and drafted were my primary goals but after that, my mission was to consistently fill Danessa’s cup so she felt loved, heard, and safe enough to be vulnerable with me.
Cut to present day and our second first date I was just as nervous but also optimistic. Her agreeing to this meant I wasn’t the only one wishing for a second chance. I wanted my girl back real fucking bad, and I was going to do everything in my power to make it happen.
As Danessa walked toward the table, my knees felt hollow.
I had to brace myself against the booth to prevent myself from falling to the ground in worship of this goddess.
Danessa was rocking a long, form-fitted black dress with white ruffle detailing at the bottom and the straps were tied in big bows.
That dress hugged her curves and accentuated her round, plump ass.
Her skin shimmered in the light, radiant and smooth.
I peeped as men’s heads turned as she breezed past and the fact that her final destination was my table caused me to straighten my back.
Her smile was a gift. “Hi.”
“Hello.” I leaned in with a hug and couldn’t help but inhale her. She smelled like sex in its purest form, black currant, orange blossom, pralines and a hint of musk. I waited for her to sit and then followed suit. “You look amazing by the way.”
“Thank you. Honestly my bedroom is a disaster area. I couldn’t settle on what to wear.”
“Well, I’m glad that dress won the battle of the outfits. I’m mean cause you just … ten out of ten, new high score, four plus four … ATE.”
“I love it when you hype me up.”
“Don’t even get me started. I could write a one hundred-thousand-word dissertation on all the things that make you beautiful.
I’m talking three hundred pages, single spaced with a methodology, discussion points, research objectives, and a glossary to define and identify each freckle and mole on your body. ”
“Stop it, you’re embarrassing me.”
“You should be embarrassed. When God created you he must’ve had a heavy hand because you were blessed with extra doses of beauty, brains, and booty. You are literally shitting on everyone in this restaurant including me.
“I don’t know about that, but you look really handsome as well.”
“I can clean up when I have to.”
“I hope you weren’t waiting for long?”
“No, I got here early, and I’ve waited years for this so what’s an additional fifteen minutes?”
My heart was pounding in my ears. Even though this was Danessa sitting across from me, I couldn’t shake my nerves.
We’d spent a bunch of time together in the past few months, but I never had any expectations.
Tonight was different because I was hoping for so much.
After perusing the menu Danessa suggested we order drinks.
“I like the way you think.” We ordered a white wine, and a guava ginger punch. “I have a confession to make.”
“What?”
“I’m nervous as hell.”
“It’s just me.”
“Yeah, and you’re kind of a big deal. I could be sitting here with anyone else. My coach, Ms. Thornton, the Ramblers owner, shit even my dad and I wouldn’t have butterflies performing laps in my stomach right now.”
“Take a deep breath.” Without hesitation I complied, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth.
“I was nervous too on the drive over, but then I saw you and it all just melted away.” The waiter returned with our drinks and took our order.
When he left, we each savored our first sips. “Is it good?”
“Yeah, it’s delicious. Try it.”
Her fingers brushed against mine as we exchanged the drink. Danessa took a timid taste. “Oh, wow it is really good.” She slid the drink across the table placing it in front of me. “Why’d you stop drinking? Is it because your body is a temple?”
A first date wasn’t the right moment to delve into my addiction and recovery.
Even though alcohol was never really my struggle, I’d decided to give it up because drinking in excess could lead me to make poor choices and my sobriety wasn’t something I was willing to gamble on. “Umm something like that.”
“I think it’s great. So much of our socializing as a society revolves around alcohol and the whole party culture.”
“Exactly if you can’t have a good time sober, I think that’s a problem. But I’m never going to be the liquor lieutenant. Fuck all that, people can do what they want.”
“Well, whatever you’re doing is working because the Ramblers are on a winning streak. My social media feed is filled with highlights from the games, and the comments are all positive. Of course you have your occasional hater, but for the most part people are loving the new direction and you.”
“It’s been going better than I expected. But I can’t help but feel like the press is building us up to knock us down.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because that’s what they do. Feel good stories don’t get engagement. People live for the drama. If I see one more article about the rivalry between Colin and me I’m going to lose it.”
“But you two hate each other.”
“Hate is putting a little too much on it. We don’t fuck with one another but we’re also professionals and know when it’s game time, all that shit falls to the wayside. I’m going to set him up for easy lay ups and he’s going to screen the offense so I can drive to the basket.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re learning to compromise.”
“Don’t get me wrong I still want to punch him in the face until his teeth fall out of his mouth like Chicklets, but I have restraint.”
“That sounds like hate.”
“Maybe more of a strong dislike. Enough about work. Classes start in a few weeks. Are you excited?”
“No, I feel like I’m in over my head. I registered for my classes and this first semester I’m going to try to continue to work while I’m in school.
I don’t want to blow through my savings too soon.
If I’d just stayed in school, I’d be a lawyer already.
Really wish I had a time machine so I could go back and slap the old me. ”
“Shit, if I had a time machine I would go back and slap so many people. My fifth-grade teacher who told me I wasn’t ever going to be shit.
Slap. My junior high bully, who made fun of me because I wore off-brand shoes.
Slap. Funny enough during the summer before eighth grade, I shot up like a weed and never got bullied again.
Anyway, life is filled with shoulda, woulda, coulda’s, at least you’re doing it now. ”
“I know you’re right. And I’m very excited to start this new journey. Are you planning to make it home for Christmas?”
“No, I have an away game Christmas Day.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah but the team is going to host something, so I’ll get my turkey and stuffing fix. What about you?”
“You know my mother puts it down in the kitchen. So I will be wearing sweatpants and going back for seconds.”
“That’s what’s up.” I took a bite of the lobster and shiitake salad. “Hey, do you know any good realtors in Philly?”
“Why, are you looking to buy a place out there too?”
“Yeah, not for me, for Duane.”
Danessa narrowed her eyes. “I thought he had a place?”
“He does but it’s a shoe box. And he wants two bedrooms so my niece has her own space when she visits.” Danessa jaw tightened like she was trying to stop herself from speaking her mind. “What Danessa?”
“I think it’s great you wanting to provide your brother with a place but …”
“But what?”
“When does it end Aldridge? Are you expected to finance everyone else’s life for all of eternity?”
“Duane’s had some hard breaks.”
“And that’s not your doing.”
I leaned back into the booth. “So I’m not supposed to look after my family?”
“I didn’t say that. I just know you. You’ve been taking care of your family since high school. You’re a giver and people tend to take advantage of that.”
“By people you mean my family?”
Her lips stretched into a straight line. “Taking care of your mother, I totally understand, paying for Tootie to go to college. Acceptable. But Duane is a grown ass man with a child of his own—”
“A grown ass man with a criminal record. It’s not like he can apply at a bank and get a nine to five.”
“But why does that become your responsibility?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I wasn’t the kind of man who left my family high and dry when they needed me. I had the funds to provide and as long as I could they would never be without.