Center Courtship (6 page)

“I'm sorry for delaying your evening.” I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be sorry for, but for some reason I felt like she was expecting an apology.

Saraya lifted her nose and walked toward the table of goodies that still sat by the front windows. “All this wasted food, where
is
your nephew?”

“He was hit by a car this morning,” I said sadly.

“And you came here, instead of going to be with him?”

“His parents are with him at the hospital, they asked me to run his items up here.”

“How very…
noble
of you,” she said as she turned back to the pile of food. While she was turned from me I had a chance to eye her up. Her slender legs were covered in black fishnet nylons, she stood on heels that made her a good six inches taller. A skin tight dress started just below her butt and covered her slender
torso from neck to wrist. The neckline in the back of the dress came down revealing most of her perfectly-skinned back. Her shiny black hair fell in waves around her face and shoulders. Her wrists, neck and ears were decorated in gold. She turned around to face me, holding a cupcake in her hand. “I figure no one
else
is going to eat these, right?” she said with a dry smile.

I agreed with a nod, then walked to where Elsu stood and saw that the basketball had been signed by all of the guys who had joined us on the basketball court.

“Looks like the guys got here first,” he said with a smile. “Hope that's ok.”

I smiled and nodded, not wanting to seem ungrateful. “He'll love it,” I said as I helped Elsu put everything back into the new, non-ripped bag.

As we headed toward the door, I realized I had one more issue. I turned to Elsu shyly, “is there a restroom I could use before I get out of here? It's a long drive.”

Elsu smiled and pointed me to the door that stood by the front entrance. “That's a powder room,” he said. “Help yourself.”

I walked into a small room with a toilet and sink. The room was plain, no decorations or frills. It was what it was, a bathroom. As I finished up, I could hear voices outside the door. Saraya and Elsu were having a disagreement.

“Saraya, it will just be another minute. I don't know what your problem is, you're the one who's so damn early!”

“I didn't see why you needed to spend so much time with some kid when I was in town,” she said angrily.

“You knew this had been scheduled for months! Don't act surprised that it was happening,” he said heatedly.

“I knew it was scheduled with a boy, not with…with Rosie the Riveter.”

“Keep your voice down, you're being rude. She's just here for her nephew.”

I looked at myself in the mirror and could see where Saraya would have compared me to Rosie. Of course, I lacked the sexy curves.

After a few moments of silence, I quietly opened the door and retrieved Brandon's bag that I had propped against the wall. No one was in sight, so I took my cue to exit the house. Once
outside I took a breath of relief.
“That was tough,”
I said to myself. I walked to Little José, opened the door, pulled on my coat, and climbed in.

“You ready ‘ol buddy?” I said as I rubbed the dash. I turned the key in the ignition. At first it rolled right over but then stopped. That was not like him at all. I tried again and got the same response. I looked at the dials behind the steering wheel and tapped them lightly. I turned the power on, but not the engine, and noticed that the gas needle was not moving up. I hadn't even looked at the gauge on the way up because I knew I had filled it the day before. I smacked it again and it didn't move.
Really? Was this really happening now?
I looked around at the cab. I kept it spotless and noticed a piece of pink fabric sticking out from beneath the passenger side of the bench seat. I leaned down and quickly found myself holding onto the string of a pair of thong underwear. They were definitely not mine.

“What the hell, José?” I asked the truck. I tossed the underwear onto the floor and stared mindlessly over the hood. I just wanted to go home.

I picked up my phone, looked up the nearest gas station and made a call to see if someone would be so kind as to bring me a gallon with a promise to tip them kindly. After the fourth gas station's denial, I found myself getting angry.

Resigning myself to the inevitable I got out of the truck and started heading back to the front door.

“Did you like what you saw, young lady?” said a voice from behind me.

I jumped and spun around to find Elsu's uncle walking out from the side of the house. I looked at him crossly, the image of his naked sweaty body in the sauna gave me chills. “Excuse me?”

“The house, did you enjoy your tour?” he asked. Maybe he really didn't know we saw him.

“Oh, yes. It's very nice,” I lied.

“No it's not. It's not his taste at all. He bought it because he saw room for a basketball court and that was all she wrote. He should be closer to Massillon, if you ask me. Those people are going to think he doesn't want to be part of their community,” he said as he hobbled up to me.

“I'm from Massillon, there are many complaints about the team, the arena, the increase in visitors, the way money has been managed and I'm sure I'm forgetting something else. I've honestly never heard anyone complain about where their star player is living,” I said.

“Players,” he said. “Those boys in there, they're all living here with him. Paying him rent.”

“Oh, he never mentioned that.”

“Yeah, they claim it's until they find places of their own, but I think they're actually the smart ones, they don't want to settle in and then find out they don't like playing for a new team, or something changes and they have to move, you know?”

I nodded. “So, how did you know I was here for the tour?”

“I have my ways. I like to hide in the shadows and observe,” he said with a dreamy look in his eyes. “I'm so sorry ma'am, my name is Richard,” he held out his hand to me.

“I'm Mae,” I said shaking his outstretched hand.

“Mae, I was heading to my room when I saw you sitting out in your truck looking upset, so I came to see what the problem was. Is everything ok?”

“Apparently someone took my truck on a joyride last night and used up all my gas. I'm trying to find a gas station that will bring me some gas without having to pay a tow truck.”

“Hmmm, let me see,” he took the phone from me and pulled up the browser. He did a search for something I couldn't see and held the phone to his ear. “BART! It's Richard,” he said loudly into the phone. “Elsu's uncle. Yeah, that Richard! Hey, I need a favor, can you bring a couple gallons of gas up to his house for a guest who's run out? I'll pay you for your time. Half hour? Ok, we'll be here.”

Richard handed me back my phone. “I will pay for the gas, I'm perfectly capable,” I said.

“And so am I. You're a guest. Come on, take a load off till he gets here,” he said and we walked to the steps in front of the front door and sat down.

“I can't believe this. I just wanted to go home and relax tonight. Murphy's Law was written for people like me,” I said as I propped my head in my hands.

“Hey, we all have days like that. Don't beat yourself up over it,” he said as he put his hand on my shoulder. I scooted away at the touch.

“Grandpa's Chop Shop, eh?” he read on the back of my coveralls. “You work there?”

“I own there,” I said. “…it.”

“Impressive. You're awfully young to own a business.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Yeah, it was a graduation gift.”

“Some gift! Where did you go to college?”

“That was from high school. I've taken a few business and computer classes here and there from a community college. I never graduated, though. Just got what I needed to be able to run the business,” I said as I looked at my watch willing time to go faster.

“Am I boring you?” asked Richard.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I'm just anxious to go home, it's been a long day. By the time I get home it's going to be going on 10.”

The door to the house opened and just as I turned around to see who it was, the door slammed shut. “That WOMAN is still here!” I could hear through the wall.

I sighed. “She really hates me for some reason,” I said looking at Richard.

“Because you're female. And because she hates everyone. If you ask me she's about the biggest bitch I've ever met.”

I stifled a giggle and the door opened again. Saraya and Elsu exited the house. Elsu was now dressed in dark blue dress pants, a white shirt and a tie. He cleaned up well.
Really
well.

I stood up and looked at the couple. They would make a great ad for some expensive wine or clothing. “I'm sorry. I'm out of gas. Your uncle was kind enough to call in a favor to have someone bring me some and I'll be gone, I promise.”

“Don't be sorry,” said Elsu. “I'm glad you're still here. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.”

Saraya and I both looked at him dumbfounded. “Oh, I kind of got the feeling I wasn't wanted, so I tried to sneak out. Little José had other ideas,” I said as I pointed to my truck.

Elsu looked at my truck and his jaw hung open. “
That
belongs to
you
?” He rushed to my truck and walked around it in awe. “What is this, a 71?”

“Wow, umm yeah. It is.”

He looked at the tailgate and smiled. “Why did you name it Little José?”

I walked to the truck. “He came with the name,” I said. “I didn't have the heart to change it.”

Elsu walked to the driver side door and opened it. Everything inside was original. The seats were covered with a woven store-bought cover and the steering wheel was worn down from years of handling. “Does he drive?”

“Oh, he drives, alright,” I raised the hood and Elsu's eyes glazed over in wonder at the chrome. “Everything under the hood and underneath is new.”

“Wow that must have cost a fortune!”

“I have connections for parts, and I did the work myself.”

“Elsu, honey,” the saccharine rolled out of Saraya's brightred lips like acid. “It's time to go, we'll be late.”

“Hold on,” said Elsu as he continued to walk around the truck. “Did you see this thing, Saraya? Ain't she a beaut?”

“He,” I said. “He doesn't like to be called ‘she'.” Actually, I didn't like him being called ‘she'.

“Really? It's a truck. It's not a he or a she. It's a stupid truck!” Saraya put a hand on her hip and started tapping her foot in frustration.

“Stop being rude, baby. You know I love old cars.” He looked at me, “I should have shown you my bedroom.”

“REALLY?!” yelled Saraya and she stomped off to one of the SUVs.

I raised my eyebrows surprised. “What?”

“I mean, I have a whole display of model classic cars in there. I'll have to bring them out when you come back.”

“When I come back?”

“Yeah, you'll bring Brandon and Mitchell, right?” He seemed concerned that I wouldn't be returning.

“I was thinking my brother and sister-in-law would be bringing them back.”

“Oh, yeah…right. Well, you're invited to come back too. I'll show you my cars.”

“I'll see what I can do,” I said.

A horn honked behind me and I turned to see a tow truck at the gate. I recognized the man in the cab immediately. “You have GOT to be kidding me,” I said, as I felt my blood begin to boil.

“What's wrong?” asked Elsu.

“That's my ex-boyfriend,” I said as I buried my head in my hand.

The gate opened and the truck pulled in. I knew there was no hiding because he knew Little José. He also knew I had once had a restraining order against him.

I looked at Richard. “Are you ok?” he asked.

“No, I'm not. This could get ugly.”

Bart stepped out of the cab of the tow truck and walked up to our group. “Who needs the gas?”

“I do.” I pulled my wallet out of my pocket and fished out a twenty. I knew it was way over but I just wanted him gone.

“So Mae, still looking like a dyke, I see.”

“Still being an ass, I see.”

“Witty, Mae, witty. Twenty? I don't think this will be enough. This is the high octane shit.”

“I'm pretty sure I could call the police right now and get your ass arrested for standing here. So if I were you, I'd take what I could get and get the hell out of here.”

“That was over five years ago, honey. I'm pretty sure it doesn't count anymore. Besides, I'm not interested in you anymore, you frigid bitch.”

“Just because I wouldn't put out, doesn't make me a dyke, or frigid.” I air quoted my frustration at him.

“You're going to be a virgin for the rest of your life, Mae.”

I could feel my face turning red with embarrassment.

“I'd rather be a virgin than ever be with you,” I said angrily.

“Bart, you need to leave,” I hear Elsu's voice behind me. “You're no longer welcome here. These Escalades? No longer your concern.”

“But I put the security in those, you owe me!”

“How much do I owe you?”

“I don't know, but I gifted you service and discounted the parts.”

“And who asked you to do that? I owe you nothing. Now leave before I call the cops.”

“You'll regret this!” Bart turned quickly and got in his truck. He pulled out of the driveway, his wheels skidding in anger as he went.

“Can we go NOW?” I heard Saraya hiss from behind us.

“Are you ok?” asked Elsu. “What was that about?”

“Way too long a story,” I said.

“If you say so, I need to get going. Thanks again for coming,” he reached out and gave me a quick hug before turning to his Escalade.