Chapter 6
At last, the day of the Battle of the Badges basketball game had arrived.
Dante promised to visit his brother a few minutes before the game started and point out Kizzy’s location.
Noah seemed more nervous about her being there than he did about the game.
He’d do well on the court. There was no doubt about that.
He’d been playing since he was ten. His older brothers had taught him as soon as they realized how tall he’d be.
Mallory had arranged to meet Dante there.
She said she had to finish her paintings first. She’d been working diligently to get her gallery submissions just the way she wanted them and could take public transportation to get to Boston Garden when she was finished.
Dante understood her anxiety but couldn’t wait to see her relax and have a little fun.
He guessed his brother felt the same way about Kizzy needing a break. Dante’s motto was: Everybody works too hard and takes themselves way too seriously.
“There she is, Bro,” he said to Noah, who was on the bench waiting for the game to start. His brother’s eyes followed Dante’s finger, pointing at the pretty brunette doctor. He looked relieved when Kizzy smiled and waved.
Grinning, Noah waved back. “Thanks. I owe you for bringing her here.”
“No problem. You’re taking her out afterward, so I’ll take Mallory home in Joanna.”
“Dude, that just sounds wrong.”
The announcer welcomed everyone and introduced the singer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Well, I’d better get to my seat.”
“Yeah. Oh, hey! I see Mallory coming.”
Dante glanced up in the stands and beamed when he saw her.
She was always so cute. Today, she was wearing a short plaid skirt.
A white blouse completed the Catholic schoolgirl look.
He didn’t know if that’s what she was going for or not.
Since they didn’t go to Catholic school, she may not have even realized it was a thing.
He waved and began climbing the bleacher stairs to meet her and guide her to their seats. She didn’t stop at the row he’d told her they’d be sitting in. Instead, she kept walking down the steps until she could throw her arms around his neck and kiss him fervently.
Wow. Her lips were warm and insistent. Her whole body was molded against his, and he felt a certain part of his anatomy stir to life.
As soon as “The Star-Spangled Banner” finished, a wolf whistle and a few chuckles made them spring apart.
“I’ve never made out to the national anthem before,” Mallory said.
He laughed. “You’re adorable.”
“Thanks. You are too.”
“Adorable?”
“Sure. Why not? I adore you.”
His brows spiked in surprise. Uncharacteristically speechless, Dante simply escorted her to their seats on the bleachers. A smiling Kizzy scooted down to make room for both of them, and he introduced the ladies to each other.
“Kizzy, this is my girlfriend, Mallory Summers.” He had wondered how to introduce her to people, as his girlfriend or friend or date, but that kiss pretty much sealed the deal. He must’ve been grinning like an idiot. “And Mallory, this is Noah’s date, Kizzy Samuels.”
As they shook hands, Kizzy cocked her head and said, “Mallory Summers? Where have I heard that name before?”
“I don’t know,” Mallory said. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone named Kizzy.”
Kizzy laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Neither have I.”
Dante pointed to the floor. “Noah is one of the centers.”
Kizzy sat forward and watched as Noah in his red basketball uniform faced someone in a blue basketball uniform.
The ball was between their ready hands, and Noah jumped, batting it first. Dante cheered him on as he rushed toward the basket.
He passed it to his right guard, who got close to the basket.
Unfortunately, the guy covering him was good and ready for him.
He threw the ball but didn’t score. When the ball was recovered by one of the blue uniforms, everyone ran like mad to the other end.
“Do you girls like sports?” Dante asked.
“Would you think less of me if I didn’t?” Mallory asked.
Kizzy snapped her fingers. “I know where I’ve heard your name,” she said. “I think you were a patient at Boston General. I work in the ER there.”
Mallory froze.
Uh-oh. Dante hadn’t thought about the two of them remembering that day. He didn’t think they had ever met.
“Um. Yeah. I think I was there. That is…I mean, yeah. I’ve been there. Once.” Mallory began to shake. She rose suddenly and said, “Please excuse me for a minute. I have to go to the ladies’ room.”
Before Dante could ask her if anything was wrong, she had fled up the stairs.
“I hope she’s okay,” Kizzy said. “I didn’t mean to upset her.”
“I hope so too.” Dante followed her with his eyes until she rushed past the exit and out of sight.
He turned back to the game in time to watch the cops score. “Damn! Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to swear.”
Kizzy smiled. “No worries. I’ve heard much worse.”
Just then, a brawl broke out, but it was quickly shut down and paled in comparison to the ruckus toward the back of the bleachers.
When Dante turned to see what was going on, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
A monkey wearing a white blouse with a crossbody purse hanging from its shoulder was swinging from the rafters. People were pointing and laughing.
The game continued as if nothing was wrong until the monkey reached the scoreboard. The players must’ve noticed the crowd pointing at it and halted the game. There was no use trying to play basketball with the whole audience looking away.
Everyone’s attention was riveted on this wild animal, wondering how it got there. Dante heard people in the crowd commenting that it must’ve been someone’s pet that got loose.
“Why would someone bring a pet monkey to a basketball game?”
“Some people are idiots.”
“Someone should call animal control.”
“Or the cops.”
Their annoyance was smothered by the laughter of the crowd.
Dante shot to his feet. He wished he knew what to do.
He knew it was Mallory, of course. He recognized her purse, blouse, and alternate form.
But shape-shifters didn’t exist according to humans—all paranormals had been warned not to blow their covers, and the game was being televised! How could he help her?
He ran down to the sidelines. Dante skidded onto the floor, stopping just under the scoreboard. Holding up his arms, he called out, “Here, babe. Come to me.”
“This is your monkey?” one of the firefighter players asked.
“Yeah. What of it?”
“Dude. That’s weird.”
Dante didn’t care how weird it was. He continued to hold out his arms in supplication. “Come on, babe. Jump. I’ve got you.”
Mallory climbed the rafters and swung around the area above his head. Either she was confused or afraid—or both.
One of the other players said, “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.” Then he laughed and added, “Or maybe that’s Noah’s title.”
Dante looked askance at the firefighter and noticed it was Noah’s buddy, O’Rourke. He tuned him out and concentrated on getting Mallory down.
“C’mon, now. I’ll catch you.”
“It’s all right, babe.” One of the other firefighters called to her. He must have thought that was her name. “You can let go, babe. He’ll catch you.”
She let go with one hand and swung by the other arm.
“You can do it. I promise to catch you,” Dante pleaded.
At last, she nodded, then let go and fell into his arms. He pulled her into a tight hug, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding on for dear life. Dante hurried up the stairs but paused next to Kizzy, not knowing what to say.
“I…ah…”
Kizzy seemed less confused than he would’ve expected. She smiled. “Yeah. I can see you need to go. I’ll wait for Noah.”
Dante let out a deep sigh of relief. And then he noticed the security guards coming toward them.
* * *
Mallory had no choice but to make her escape and meet Dante at his car. She wanted her skirt, but where had it fallen off? She tried to scramble out of his arms and go back for it, but he held on tight.
“Now, settle down, everybody,” Dante said.
“What kind of dumbass brings a monkey to a basketball game?” one security guard asked the other.
“Damned if I know. What do you have to say, dumbass?” He was squinting at Dante. “Maybe you can answer my friend here.”
“Sorry. I’ll get her right out of here if you’ll just step aside.”
The guards regarded each other. “Step aside? So we’re supposed to just trust you to take this menace back to the jungle?”
Dante shrugged. Mallory wriggled harder, but he clamped down tightly on her shoulder and held her fast.
“I think it’s illegal to own a monkey, isn’t it?” one of the guards said to the other.
“Is it? I have no idea.”
“Hmmm. Maybe we should call the captain and find out.”
As they were hemming and hawing about what to do, Dante calmly said, “Excuse me, gentlemen.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” the larger of the two guards asked.
He fixed that one with an angry glare. “I’m taking her to where she lives. Unless you want to invite us to your house, so your family can adopt her.”
“Are you saying you don’t own this chimp?”
“She’s not a chimp. She’s a spider monkey, and no, I don’t own her. I can make sure she gets home safely though.”
“Spider? Shouldn’t she have eight arms and legs or something?” one guard asked the other.
Dante just sighed and tried to dodge their body blockade.
“You do know where it belongs? Is that what you’re telling us?”
Dante let out a deep breath in a frustrated whoosh. “I’m not telling you anything except ‘please excuse me’ while I take care of this problem for you.” He outmaneuvered the stunned guards and ran off in the direction of the parking lot.
* * *