“Really?” I said.
“Oh, yes,” Fawn confirmed. “You know, there aren't very many Christians on this team.”
“You're Christians too?” Shay asked.
Fawn smiled. “Well, I can see the three of us are going to get to know each other very well.” Fawn took our elbows. “Why don't y'all sit with me?”
After the luncheon, I used the time to run errands: I picked up clothes from the dry cleaners and purchased toiletries from Wal-Mart. When I returned to our apartment, Chase was waiting for me.
“How was the luncheon?”
I kicked off my shoes. “It turned out to be okay,” I admitted.
He smiled. “Good,” he said in an “I told you so” tone. “You must have made some friends.”
“I wouldn't go that far, but there were a couple of women who seemed pretty nice.”
Chase leaned back on the couch as if he had just scored the winning touchdown in a football game. “I'm glad to hear that.” He paused. “ ‘Cause we've been invited to go to dinner at one of the players’ homes tonight.”
I sighed. My day hadn't been that good. “Do we have to go? I did the social stuff all day.”
Chase took my hand. “I'd really like to. It's one of the wide receivers.”
I flopped down on the couch. “I'd much rather stay here with you. Just kick back, hear about your day and do nothing. Is that okay?”
That might have sounded selfish, but I just could not muster up the energy to accept the dinner invitation. Chase could have pouted about my decision, but even in his reluctance, he was supportive. I was falling deep for this guy.
Though Chase's face showed his disappointment, he still said, “That's cool. I'll just call and cancel.”
“Thanks,” I said with a relieved sigh. I felt a bit selfish since I could tell that Chase really wanted to go to this dinner. But I had done all the socializing I could do for him in one day. I would find a way to make it up to him.
As Chase walked to the phone, I noticed a newspaper sitting on the coffee table. The sports page was on top, and Chase's picture was on the front page.
“Hey, what's this?” I asked, picking it up. A quick skim told me the great news. “You're starting this weekend!”
Chase rushed back into the room, the phone call forgotten. “I haven't read the whole article yet, but I get the impression this sportswriter doesn't think I have the talent.”
“No way.” I patted the couch. “Come on over here, and we'll read it together.”
As he sat down, I once again started to imagine things that weren't happening. In my mind, I eased up to him and snatched the paper from his hand, threw it to the floor and kissed him from his forehead to his luscious lips.
I regained control of my desires and tried to concentrate on the article. But then I noticed him smiling at me.
I wondered what was on his mind. For years, I had told Chase we could be nothing more than friends. After all, I was his best friend's girl. But that was no longer true. He was available and so was I. And from what I saw, he wouldn't be available for long. Someone would want to make him hers. I knew I wanted to be the one who won him over.
But could I? I was sure that he'd gotten used to the idea of just being friends with me. But I longed to tell him everything that had been building in my heart.
Would it matter, though? Would he care? Would he want to go beyond what we had now? Could we be an item? Would he wrap his strong, muscular arms around me and kiss my fears away? I just didn't know.
So I said nothing. Instead, I followed along as Chase read the article out loud. But my thoughts weren't with him. My mind was still on all that I wanted to happen between us. I didn't know which way I would eventually go. My doubts were as hazy as a cloud.
T
ouchdown!” I heard a man in the stands behind me holler.
“A solid catch by Chase Farr,” came over the intercom.
I sprang to my feet and screamed. Chase had done it! He had made his starting debut a success. That eighty-yard catch was his third reception for a touchdown in this game.
With under a minute left in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Seattle Storm would win their first game of the season. And Chase was responsible for most of the action.
My new friend Shay Smith gave me a high five as we sat back down.
“Way to go!” she shouted as we settled back into our seats.
I laughed because she'd said that as if I had caught the ball. But I knew she was excited for me, just as I had been when her beau caught the only other touchdown in the game. We were two proud women.
Several other folks sitting in the players' section gave us thumbs-up. We even received smiles from the three wives who had been so rude to us at the luncheon.
When the game clock ran out, we were all standing on our feet and cheering as the final score gave the Storm their first win. With a throat sore from screaming, I rushed to the locker room, wanting to be the first to congratulate my friend.
But when Chase sauntered out of the locker room, almost thirty minutes later, I couldn't get anywhere near him. Reporters and fans swarmed around him, so I stood back and smiled. Chase deserved this.
As the crowd began to disperse, I moved closer, wanting to get my turn at Chase. Just as I got close, a voluptuous chick, with hair weaved down to her butt and wearing the tightest black miniskirt I'd ever seen, pranced up to Chase. Wordlessly, she took a piece of paper out of her low-cut blouse and shoved it into his hand.
I squeezed between her and Chase.
“Hey, baby, great game. You ready to go?” I planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Excuse me, girl, but we were talking,” the floozy said, swinging her hair into my face.
Chase took my hand. “She's with me,” he said. “I don't think I'll be needing this.” He graciously handed her the piece of paper. Then he placed his arm around my waist and walked me out of the dome.
Although we were only steps away from his car, it still took almost an hour to get there. Players, coaches, reporters, and fans constantly stopped us, wanting to offer their congratulations or to get an autograph. It didn't bother me. Chase had waited a long time for this. It was his time to sparkle.
Still, I was eager to be alone with him. I knew today that I could no longer hide what I was feeling. He was definitely the total package—the type of man I wanted to spend my life with. Even though I'd known this for several weeks, today all of my emotions seemed to converge.
I stood back and watched him with the fans. His dream had emerged, but that wasn't what made him so attractive. It was the glow that he wore, not from his football victory, but from the favor he had from God that allowed those dreams to come true. God was smiling down on Chase because he never doubted what God could do.
Granted, there were several more games to be played before Chase could be considered a true player in this league. But this amazing game—with almost three hundred receiving yards, some tremendous catches that others would have dropped and one snatch from a cornerback that probably would've been an interception—showed that Chase Farr was on his way to stardom.
By the time we got to the car, I was ready to show my own appreciation. I gave him an enormous hug. When I tried to pull back, he held me close and I relented. Neither one of us wanted to let go.
Keeping his arms around me, Chase whispered, “Today was a great day for me. But a lot of what I needed to succeed was given to me when I glanced into the stands and saw your gorgeous face smiling at me. I was in the zone.”
I held my breath as he held me closer.
“I love you, Zoe,” he whispered into my ear.
It only took a moment for our lips to meet. It was a soft, sweet, innocent kiss, filled with passion that we'd both kept hidden away.
He loved me, and I loved him. This felt so different from anything I'd ever experienced. And this wasn't the beginning stages of a budding romance. This was full, blossoming love.
When he finally leaned back, tears slid down my face. I was overcome by the love I could feel from him.
“Baby, don't cry,” he said.
“How can I not?” I replied as more tears flowed. “Just a few weeks ago I thought love was over for me. But God is so good. He knew what He was doing when He let Devyn leave me. I'm so happy right now.” I took his hand in mine and kissed his palm. “I love you too, Chase, and you're a blessing I don't deserve.”
He smiled at me. “We all deserve God's blessings.”
I shook my head. “Look at my history with Devyn. That wasn't how God expects dating to be.” I paused and stroked Chase's precious face. “Yet, despite how messed up I am, God gave me a tremendous blessing. I am so full of love for both you and God right now.”
Chase's soft dark brown eyes caressed me with his love. The kind of love every girl longs to experience. The kind of love every girl expects to have only once in a lifetime. And I knew that this was the true kind of love that God wanted me to experience.
Over the next two weeks, Chase continued to play amazing football. It was a whirlwind of success, with fans cheering, the press calling, and through it all, Chase loving me. I was the most blessed woman in the world.
And even though Chase was very affectionate with me in public, we made no formal announcement about our relationship. So, I wasn't very surprised when a lady from the public-relations department for the Seattle Storm called me for an interview. I had heard that players' significant others never work in the front office. Rightfully so, I guess. But what would happen now? When I'd applied for the job, Chase and I were just friends. Now we were much more than that. I was nervous. If they knew Chase and I were involved, surely I wouldn't get the job. And I really wanted it. I was tired of letting him make our way.
“You're going to be terrific, sweetheart,” Chase said to me when I told him my concerns. “They are gonna want you because you're good. So what if they find out. I want the whole world to know that you're my woman!”
By the time I sat down with Kelly Wallace, I felt better. And when she asked me that first question, I knew I'd be all right. The questions were simple, easygoing: How did I like Seattle? What were the major differences between Seattle and Miami? I was relieved that she kept the interview to what I wanted to do; I wouldn't have felt too comfortable talking about my personal life.
“So, what are you doing here in Seattle?” Kelly asked.
I sighed. “I'm still searching for the perfect job.”
“What are you interested in doing?”
“Actually, I have a degree in public relations and I really hope to work in the field.”
Kelly snapped her notepad shut. “You know what, Zoe? I think I might have an opportunity for you. We don't have anything open in that department here, but…”
In minutes, she gave me the details and set me up for an interview with Blanche Wright, a sharp-tongued Bo Derek look-alike. Blanche was a private party-planner who gave some of the hottest shindigs in Seattle.
That same day, I went to Blanche's work address, and she and I were only ten minutes into my interview when Blanche said, “Zoe, I like your style. You're hired.”
I wanted to jump up and kiss her. But instead, I remained in one of the two leather chairs in front of her desk. “Thank you, Blanche. I'll do a good job for you.”
“You'll get paid by the job,” Blanche explained. “But you don't have to worry. There is plenty of work.”
This job would be better for me than working for the Storm anyway,
I thought.
I can still do what I love, and Chase and I won't have to keep our relationship a secret.
The first weekend after I started, I helped Blanche do the grand opening for a chic local restaurant. For just that project, I received $1,200. Next, we dedicated a library, and I got $800. I was ecstatic.
I was even more excited when Blanche called me into her office and told me that we would be doing the governor's ball.
“You'll make three grand for this,” Blanche said nonchalantly.
“Three thousand dollars?” I wanted to make sure that she hadn't made a mistake.
Blanche grinned. “Don't worry, honey. You'll earn every penny.”
I didn't care how hard I had to work. At that rate, I'd soon be making more money than Chase!
A few weeks later, I was dressing for the governor's ball in a body-fitting silver gown that was both elegant and sexy. I waited in the living room for Chase to come out of his bedroom. Not only was he going to be my escort, but he was also a guest speaker.
I turned when I heard his footsteps. I whistled and he grinned.
“You look good,” I said, licking my lips playfully.
He bowed slightly and said, “You don't look bad yourself.”
I twirled, knowing that I looked good. “You like?”
He nodded.
I loved the way he looked at me.
A limousine took us to the hotel, and when we arrived, the entryway was filled with other limousines and cars dropping off guests. It was going to be an elegant affair, with politicians and other dignitaries mixing with many of the athletes from the Storm and the other Seattle teams. At the entryway to the ballroom, I paused, taking in the sight of the white-and-gold decorated room.
Chase pointed to the ice sculpture of a wave sitting in the center of the buffet table. “That is gorgeous.”
We walked closer to the table. “Do you like it?” I said. “I figured with all the excitement about the Storm, I'd get a sculpture with the team's logo.”
“Sweet!” He looked around the room. “Did you do all this?”
I nodded. “A lot of the decorations were my idea. Working with Blanche is great. She's allowing me to blend my personal taste with her flair. It's a cool mix.”
“Come here,” Chase said in a romantic tone, putting his arm around my waist. “There's something I forgot to tell you.” He placed his lips near my ear. “The sculpture is beautiful,” he whispered, “but it doesn't have anything on you. Baby, you got it goin' on. You look great.”
I smiled, inside and out. “You look mighty fine too,” I said. “You could be a model.”
I floated through the evening, mixing with the guests and making sure that everything proceeded smoothly. I even had the chance to pause and listen when Chase spoke.