“It is. Let’s head in and I’ll show you.” Getting out of the car I hear the waves crash onto shore. The noise brings back so many memories. Even though I don’t live far from the water, I don’t visit it enough. Anthony unlocks the wooden front door and gestures me in. At first sight, I can see the vast expansion of water that is the beautiful ocean and I wish I had my camera.
I walk to the back window hearing him shut the door. “Come on, let’s go out,” he says, setting our food down on the table. I follow his lead and go outside. I have to blink a few times to make sure what I’m seeing is for real. The ocean is not but twenty yards away.
“Do you like the water?” he asks me.
“I love it. When I was younger, we used to spend the summers at my family’s beach house in St. John’s, but now that my brother and I are grown, we hardly ever go.”
“Ahh, you have a brother. Older or younger?”
I smile, looking over at him as his hands are tucked tightly into the pockets of his pants. “We’re twins, so there’s not much of an age difference. But if you ask him he’d tell you he’s older by a minute and a half.”
“Do you have a picture?”
“Yeah,” I respond scrolling through the photos on my phone, finally landing on a picture of Bain and I together the last time that he was home.
“I don’t think you two look anything alike. Cool tattoos though.”
“You’re the first to say that, everyone else says we are identical. Maybe you could meet him; he’s coming to visit next week.”
“I would like that.”
Just then, a light breeze swoops through the air, giving me chills, and he wraps his arms around me. I’m not sure what to think of Anthony’s affection. I mean, I like him and I like how it feels to be alone and close to him like this. It’s just not something I’ve ever done with someone that’s really a stranger. “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?”
I shake my head glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. “Well, they really should, because you are.”
Pulling away, I stare at him to make sure he’s sincere. “What’s wrong?” he asks suddenly.
“Nothing. Its just…Do you do this with a lot of your students?”
“No!” he says firmly, with his forehead creased and an expression I can’t quite read on his face. “I told you, if I didn’t get to know you I’d always regret it. There’s something very special about you. Please don’t think I’d do this with anyone else.”
I decided if I got Bain drunk, he’d have a better time and be easier to handle at the game. The problem is the man can handle his liquor. He’s had three beers and a shot of Patrón and the only difference – he’s horny. I’d have to say it was the right decision, though; it’s such a turn on to see him like this. If I thought he was horny before, this is a whole new level of eagerness. For the first two quarters of the game, it’s been nothing, but dirty talk in my ear. As the cheerleaders clear the floor from their halftime performance, an older gentleman comes over and rests his hand on Bain’s shoulder. Bain looks up at him and then immediately stands and the two men embrace.
“Holy shit, how are you, Coach?” he asks.
“Good, good. I think the better question is, how are you?”
“I’m all right.”
“How about your parents?”
“My dad’s good and my mom’s getting there.”
“That’s great news. It’ll take some more time, I’m sure of it. And who’s this lovely young lady?” he asks glancing over at me.
“This is my good friend, Arion,” he responds.
“Arion, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is James Lawrence. I coached Bain through high school.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Thank you, but please, just call me Coach.”
“Okay, Coach,” I respond, looking into his warm, brown eyes.
“You know, Arion, you better start feeding this boy. He has the draft coming up in soon and can’t go into it looking like this.”
“Funny you should say that. We were just talking about it.”
Bain glares at me and I know right away he doesn’t want me to push the subject any further. I’ll respect his wishes – for now.
“Did you hear the news about Conner?” he asks.
Bain shakes his head.
“He tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. I believe he’s scheduled for surgery this week. From what it sounds like, he’s going to heal and try next year’s draft.
Bain just nods his head and James watches him, reading his expression. “Do you have any idea what this means for you, son?”
“Coach, I don’t know if I—”
He cuts him off and puts his hand up. “Bain, I’ve known you since you were fourteen years old, and I know there is no way in the world you would give up on your dreams of the NBA, much less the chance to be a very high draft pick.”
The players are back on the court and Coach says, “Call me this week, let’s have lunch. I wanna know what’s going through your mind, son. Will you at least do that for me?”
“I promise he will,” I blurt out and instantly regret it, it’s not my place to put Bain on the spot like that. But James doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that will let Bain give up on basketball, and I know he needs someone like him.