He handed my phone back to me. “If I find any pictures of me in here, I’ll know they came from you and I’ll have you reprimanded.” His tone was derisive.
My heart pounded in my chest. “And if I find you scored a jump-shot, I’ll know you’re the world’s biggest fraud who doesn’t have any natural talent.” I met his glare.
What in the world was I talking about? I knew nothing about sports!
“Is everything all right here, Mr. Rogers?” I heard just behind me.
I turned to see the site coordinator, Jeffery, headed our way. Shoot! I was in trouble. I wouldn’t survive the embarrassment of being escorted off private property. And how would I get back to campus? Angela and her Stenton-Rogers-obsessed self wouldn’t leave this gig to run me up the highway.
All I could do was stare at Stenton with coldness in my eyes and chin in the air. I would go with my dignity, not giving him the satisfaction of my groveling.
His eyes were stapled to mine as he replied, “I was just asking Ms…” He was asking for my name. Inexplicably besieged, I couldn’t think quick enough under his piercing gaze to give it to him. But Jeffery did.
“Barrett. Elizabeth…” Jeffery provided, respectfully.
That answer only further intensified Stenton’s glare.
“Yeah…Ms. Elizabeth Barrett here to be sure to keep enough Pepsi products on ice. That’s all I drink.” Stenton never moved his eyes, so I’m sure he caught my deep exhalation of relief.
“Oh, sure, sir. We have loads of Gatorade, Tropicana and Aquafina in stock specifically for you. We are fully aware and prepared for your contractual obligations, sir,” Jeffery eagerly and efficiently advised.
Stenton nodded stiffly, but his eyes never left mine. I scrambled inside the ice box of the bar because the glare he was giving made me uncomfortable. I randomly pulled out a Lemon Lime flavored G Endurance Formula and handed it to him. If I wasn’t so perceptive, I would have missed the flash of his quizzical gaze.
“Electrolytes,” I croaked out. “To help maintain your fluid balance and regulate muscle contractions.” I nodded towards the Olajuwon guy, who was waiting with his hands on his high hips. “You need it, right?”
When my eyes returned to Stenton, I watched as his heart-shaped lips slowly twitched into a smile. He took the bottle from me, opened it and turned to walk away as he gulped from it.
“Good job, Elizabeth!” Jeffery gushed as he patted me on the shoulder before walking away. I let out a long sigh of relief.
What a close call.
After the guys were done a few hours later, we got invited to lunch. Well, it was more like Angela got us an invitation to a diner not too far from the country club after we “happened” upon Stenton Rogers and Alton Alston coming out of the locker.
Angela had me drive so that she could reapply her makeup on our five-minute ride there. As we sat in the car and waited for them in the parking lot at Angela’s insistence, feeling self-conscious about not being duteous about my appearance, I checked my long-wear MAC lipglass that my sister, Ruth, had let me borrow and saw it still glistened, even if less glossy than this morning. I was starving and wanted to eat.
“I wonder how big he is,” Angela mused as I pushed back my cuticles with my fingernail. “If he’s small, I won’t tell him, but damn, I’ll be disappointed.” She twisted in the passenger seat to face me. “You ever heard of pencil dick men? Girl, I had one or two in my day. They are the worst—or maybe the thick but short ones. Those don’t make it past your lips.” She let out a frustrated groan. “I don’t know which is worse. God, please just let him be big.”
I snorted and shook my head as I continued with my nails.
Finally, they pulled up. I was tired of hearing about what Angela wanted to do to Stenton Rogers in bed and guess whether she’d get the opportunity that night. We got out of the car and walked up to the Jeep Wrangler they pulled up in. The guys were still piling out of the truck. They were with three other big, meaty men, one carrying a camera.