“Oh, you must not be college material,” he continued when I didn’t jump to answer or acknowledge him.
“No!” Angela nervously laughed. “Zoey here is a Princeton Tiger. She’s there on full scholarship. My family has brains, beauty and body.” Her tone turned husky.
She didn’t have to speak for me. It would’ve taken just a few seconds for me to devise my own retort.
“So, I ask again, brains-beauty-and-booty queen…” The guys laughed. But not Stenton. “…what’s your hospitality…today?” Alton amended.
I could have been wrong, but I could swear he was propositioning me. This was what these pompous athletes did to desperate women. That wasn’t me.
“Mmmm…” I tapped my chin. “Well today, my hospitality involved serving a refreshing beverage to a tiny floor mopper.”
“Floor mopper?” he asked confused.
“Yeah,” I replied. “You’re so petite compared to your contemporaries. If I wanted to locate you all I had to do was look at the floor.”
Angela kneed me under the table. I saw her eyes stretch wide, clearly appalled. My eyes raked over to Alton, preparing myself for a war. There was sputtering from the three random men at the table. Stenton stared at me, sheer humor in his eyes. And Alton gave me a blank stare.
I excused myself for the bathroom. As I stood to skirt out of the booth, I didn’t miss Alton’s gritty gaping, trying to catch a view of my rear. I made sure to take my time in there. The thought of hanging out, at least until the food was served, did pop into mind. But I didn’t give in. I’d already pissed Angela off with my temper.
When I got back to the table, I kept quiet and hoped Ang wasn’t too pissed with me. The Alton guy didn’t say much to me. Hopefully my teaspoon of humor was a repellent to his crass behavior. I wouldn’t hold my breath. As their conversations flowed, Angela tried to pull in Stenton, who eventually got off the phone, with flirtatious banter.
“So, you think you’re ready for another All—Star season, Stent? It’ll make three for your career,” Angela attempted.
“For him?” Alton shouted, seemingly offended. “You think Stent is the only man on that floor? Who do you think gets him the ball for those baskets?”
The waiters arrived with our food. I was so relieved. I was starved. I dug in immediately, tuning them all out. I checked back in every once in a while when Angela’s inflection changed to express interest or coquetry.
“So what—or should I say who—do you do at night, Stent?” Angela asked.
My eyes shot up from my plate in horror.
“Oh, shit!” Alton shouted. “She getting straight to the point, StentRo!”
There’s that moniker again.
Stenton wasn’t as spirited in his response as his friend. “My girl,” he answered as he poured ketchup in his plate.
I then noticed his huge salad and small side serving of fries.
Weird.
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend. Anyone I know?” Angela pushed.
Stenton shook his head, still not facing her. That rubbed me as strange. Did he or didn’t he? Either way, he didn’t seem to be checking for Angela.
“Well, sweetheart, if you’re looking for someone to practice that hospitality on, I’m your man. I ain’t got no girlfriend,” Alton announced.
I rolled my eyes again.
“What happened to Tynisha?” Angela inquired. “Last I saw her reality show, you had flowers delivered to her.”