“You two are both foolish if you ask me. There’s no way that summer would have ended with me still being poor. Y’all ain’t play your cards right. Dude is fine and paid? Yup! Fools.” Ruth’s tone was resolute.
My dad’s head shot back to her. And there goes the peace. While my dad gave a rebellious Ruth a piece of his mind, I turned my attention back to the screen where I watched a series of basketball-related questions Stephan threw at Stenton, who was skilled at answering them. Stenton used knowledge and charm as he articulated his answers and responses. The only thing alluring about that segment of the interview was ogling Stenton’s heart-shaped lips. They were plumped and even a dim shade of cerise as the top was wider than the bottom, creating sensual perfection. Involuntarily, my sex clenched.
“So, let’s talk about something you hate to discuss: your personal life.” Stephan provided a disclaimer to prepare Stenton. “You know man, back in the day the media couldn’t get enough of airing your dirty laundry. What has changed? You are an extremely, extremely private man now. Speak on that.”
Stenton smiled, squinting his eyes to the point of closing them—something I loved. “I started giving my laundry to the cleaners instead.” Stephan belted out a hard laugh, Stenton followed. “Really. I grew up with cameras and microphones in my face. Eventually, I grew rebellious and didn’t care what others said or reported.”
“And now?” Stephan asked, almost cutting Stenton off. Indicative of why he irked me!
“And now, I know the best things in life are things that can’t be shared. I now have the advantage of letting people get to know me without the assistance of Google. And I’ve been enjoying it.”
Was that an insider for me? No. It couldn’t have been. Stenton knows I don’t follow his career. But he told me he’d put away his wild and reckless behavior at least two years before meeting me, so why use an insider only I’d appreciate?
“So, here’s the question every female I work with,” Stephan gestured behind him, “…and am friends with will never speak to me again if I don’t ask. Are you dating anyone?” Stephan’s eyes grew larger than they usually are.
He annoys me!
Stenton’s face wrinkled to express contemplation. “Uhhhh-mmm… Dating? Not exactly.”
“Well, what the hell else is there, StentRo?” And there’s that name again. Usually only his teammates referred to him as that. That could have only meant they shared some level of friendship, comradery. “I mean, you have to date every woman you have that type of connection to,” Stephan goaded.
“This is true, but sometimes these things take on different paths. I’m on a different path right now.”
“All right. I know Stenton Rogers and that was a shut-down answer, which means that’s all we’re getting. Crack the code for yourself and confer with your girlfriends, ladies. That’s all the time I have…” Stephan went on to end the interview.
“Hmmmm…you know who he’s screwing, Zo? It sho’ nuff ain’t you. You spent the whole summer with him and probably didn’t get him to even look at you,” Ruth taunted.
“That’s it, young lady!” My dad jumped from his chair. “Upstairs. You go to your room if you wanna encourage behaving like a harlot. Not in my house!”
That was my cue. I kissed my dad on the cheek while he was still fuming at Ruth. I sent a teasing wave her way before I left the house. I had too many things to think about. So much had happened that evening. My mom didn’t help much but accepted that I’d been with one of the most respected basketball players in the world. But that didn’t help provide resolve with what I was feeling for him. I didn’t know how to reconcile that.
Two days after seeing Stenton in the library, a fully loaded MacPro was delivered to my parents’ home. I couldn’t believe he went through the trouble…and expense. It took me a few hours to rebound from the shock his gift hurled me into.
Stenton, however, never waited for me to call him; he made sure to text me every day from that day out.
Stenton: What are you up to?
Me: At the Laundromat.
Stenton: Doing what?