26. Game Day
twenty-six
Game Day
I ’m not sure who I dressed to impress or who I’m hoping to turn off.
All I know is the original Blitzen meeting sweater dress had to make an appearance, but this time, appropriately, with black tights underneath.
I’m wearing the same leg warmers, but they scrunch out of a heeled boot this time.
A very high heel. In my defense, Ellis is a tall man, too.
The buzzer dings ending the opposing team’s warm up as we step into the gym and the air feels immediately different than the auction.
My boot heels click on the glossy, hardwood floor as we glide past the already-crowded bleachers.
This does not feel nostalgic of high school game days, oh no…
the professional giants passing the ball back and forth and more of Blitzen than I’ve ever seen before in the stands feels like I’m at a Bulls playoff game.
Maybe because that’s not all Blitzen. There are people from towns all over here tonight. There’s a news crew. Wow. I look up and around, taking it all in, while Ellis mumbles something beside me. “Total showoff. They don’t call him McShotty for nothing.”
“What?” I look at Ellis like I’ve heard him for the first time this evening. He asked to take me to dinner, but I told him I didn’t want to be late for the game.
“Nothing. Want a drink or something?” Ellis stands with his hands in his pockets. His shifty eyes roam my body up and down.
“Hey, what is it with you two anyway? Do you guys go way back or have some kind of rivalry? Is there something deeper-rooted than basketball versus football?” My hand lands on Ellis’ forearm as I look up at him sincerely asking. I’m making an effort to give him my undivided attention.
Shrugging it off, his eyes roam the gym, and I sense my sincerity is completely lost on him.
“Why? Didn’t he tell you?”
My eyes blink wildly up at Ellis, completely dumbfounded.
“It’s… whatever, but wow. I can’t believe he didn’t take the opportunity. Let’s just say you’re not the first girl we’ve shared an interest in.”
“Excuse me?”
“I know. It’s hard to believe that guy and I could have the same taste on anything. But you’re undeniably attractive and so was she.”
Again. Excuse me?
“Did he tell you about Angie? I mean. It’s not my place, but you asked—”
“Yeah, and I think I’m sorry I did. That’s absolutely none of my business.” Was this amazing asshole about to speak ill of the dead? Or worse… say something about a man who lost his wife?
And I paid money for this.
A voice in the background has me standing up straight, and my eyes leave Ellis in search of what has my heart pumping faster.
“On second thought, I’m parched. Any soda they have is great, thanks.” I toss the words over my shoulder as I take a step or two forward. And there he is. A little side room off the court between the restrooms and the concession stand has four or five extremely tall men hanging out before the game.
They’re a good ten feet away from me, but the smile on Kourt’s face as he high-fives his equally giant friends and spins the ball might as well be at me the way it highjacks my stomach, the rhythm of my heart and the thousand butterflies that awaken and scurry through me.
He tilts his head back laughing heartily.
I’ve never seen him so happy. It’s almost mesmerizing to me.
Oh my God.
My body is behaving as if I had a sex dream over a boss I loathe or something. I had no such thing. It was a Christmas dream, thank you very much. A holiday mixtape of a nightmare that Kourt starred in without a basketball.
And now he’s here, in the flesh, standing next to NBA stars. And he looks like he belongs there every bit as much as they do. It’s shocking to see him in a basketball jersey and shorts, as opposed to his normal coaching duds.
“I do love a man in uniform. And lucky us, there will be at least ten out there playing for Blitzen tonight.” A hip bumps mine as very expensive perfume invades my senses and a wink launches from below a red spectator hat. Judge Angelina stands beside me, seeing what I see.
“Of course, we both know the others aren’t necessary, handsome as they may be.” She squints into the room with the door cracked open for our viewing pleasure. “You only have eyes for one.”
“Oh—I—”
“It’s alright duck, wait until you see him on the court. No pun intended. He used to play ball with my son. I never missed a game. Hell, look around, none of Blitzen does.” Angelina looks above me and her enthusiasm fades as her lips pinch to one side and her eyes stretch back down to me.
A wax paper cup adorned with a lid and a straw appears in front of me and I realize my date is behind me.
“Oh my. Don’t make me wrong about you, duck.” Judge Angelina gives me a poignant look, then floats her eyes up to my auction prize. “Ellis,” she says, as she nods at him on exiting, without really meeting his eyes.
I catch Ellis in time to see him rolling his eyes at the Judge.
Good God, has this guy pissed off everyone in town?
“Shall we?” Ellis presses his hand in the small of my back a little too firmly, guiding me toward the bleachers. I peel my eyes away from watching Kourt’s smile as he’s still enthralled in conversation with his basketball buddies. He’s really in his element.
Ellis leads us through the bleachers, looking for room to sit. I spot June grinning at me as we scootch and weave through the stands. She tugs at my jacket on my way past her. “Now you’ll see why they call him McShotty,” she taps my hand.
Finally, we squeeze into a spot in the bleachers where there’s barely enough room for us.
I’d say he did it on purpose, so we have to sit this close, but the place really is packed.
A lot fuller than it was on auction night.
I see Bob and Georgia sitting next to Helen as the three of them make a huge production of waving at me.
Helen puts her dainty fingers to work and whistles like a construction worker across the stands at me and we both laugh out loud.
Once settled, I’m almost positive I catch Walter leaning by the rail on the side of the bleachers waiting for the game to start.
Ellis doesn’t seem affected by any of the people I’ve grown to love.
Meanwhile, I feel like Rose DeWitt Bukater at the end of Titanic, when the old lady ascends into heaven’s version of the ship and is reunited with all the people she knows who helped her along the way as they greet her back onto the ship—the whole reunion thing… not the dying part.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s December again in Blitzen!” A booming voice comes over the loudspeaker like a colosseum. The announcer’s words vibrate across the gym. Everyone whistles and cheers so loud I can’t hear the rest of what the announcer says.
“Let’s go center court and get ready for the jump ball!!!!” The voice rumbles again and so does the crowd over their applause. They begin cheering wildly and I can’t hide my smile.
I even direct it toward Ellis assuming he’s just as excited, but I’m met with another eye roll.
I shrug and return my focus to the gym floor.
Kourt does some special handshake with Jamarcus, then Jamarcus steps out with the ball.
I don’t know if there’s three or four NBA players here tonight, but there are definitely more than Jet.
Jet wins the jump ball for Kourt’s team. He turns, dribbling the ball and passes it to Kourt. Whistles blow, the score climbs, and all I can hear between the roar of the crowd and tennis shoes screeching is the rim rattle every time Kourt nails it in the basket.
Ellis is talking to me, and I have no idea what he’s saying.
“Go, go, go, go. GIVE ’EM THE BALL!” The buzzer goes off again, and I realize, that’s me who screamed at the top of my lungs.
I watch as the players shuffle below, then a whistle blows and Kourt is dribbling down the court with the ball. The opposing team stops him in his tracks, and I fly out of my seat screaming for him to shoot. My soda tips over by the heel of my boot and it spills all over Ellis’ shoes.
I look over at him as apologetically as possible, as he shakes the ice and carbonated liquid off. “Did you want another?” He asks as annoyed as he can be.
Normally I would say no and not let anyone make a fuss over me, especially seeing as how this is my fault. However, I look up at Ellis and say, “Yes please, and thank you. That is so generous of you.”
It’s the least he can do for the money I paid.
The guy stalks through the crowd toward the concession stand. Let’s be honest, he’s better off. This has to be painful for him to watch.