Authors: Anne Leigh
I removed myself from the task at hand, which had been unwrapping the Italian food from the takeout bags, and walked towards him.
“Here Ace.” His brown eyes shone brightly and twin dimples appeared between his cheeks.
I put my hand over my mouth, “Kieran, this is so cool!” It was an 18 x 24 picture of all of us – Kieran, Zander, me, Tanya, Nalee, Dom, Xavier, John, Jackson, Duncan, and Peter— taken during graduation. We were smiling and our graduation caps were thrown up in the air. It was a special moment caught on camera.
He stood up and I hugged him. He was the bestest friend a girl could ever ask for.
“I love you Kieran,” I said as I smiled at him. Since he was taller than me, I had to crank my neck up to meet his eyes.
He smiled wide and said, “I know you do Ace. I mean, how can you not?” His left hand drifted down the side of his body, gesturing that he was a ‘fine, male specimen.’
I rolled my eyes.
“You know what Ace?” His voice held that teasing and reflective quality that only Kieran could successfully pull off.
“What Kieran?” He must have missed my annoying presence because he was trying to hug me as tightly as he could but my protruding belly left a huge gap between our bodies. We hadn’t seen each other in a while. We texted and talked a lot on the phone but it was not the same as when we were in college.
“I’ve always loved you more.”
I slapped my right hand against his arm and snickered, “Whatever.”
When I pulled out from the hug he asked, “How’s everything?”
“It’s good. Honestly though, I want my internship to be over so I can stay with Zander. I have a few more months before I can finally move in with him,” I explained. “He’s been having a hard time with his teammates. I think it’s because he has to prove himself to them. I’m just glad John’s with him.”
“Yup, those football players have egos that are as massive as the size of their biceps,” he snickered. “He’s been playing good lately. I saw his game the other night. Two touchdowns. For a rookie your man does know how to throw a ball.”
Kieran might say all sorts of stuff but I knew he liked Zander. He was Zander’s # 2 fan since I was # 1. I would never make him admit that though.
“Oh, that reminds me. Can you turn the TV on? Zander’s going to be interviewed on the Sports Channel today.” Zander was presently in New Mexico. He was attending a charity event hosted by the station.
“Great. I get to see his ugly face again,” Kieran joked and turned the TV on.
We were eating in the kitchen when Zander’s voice came through the TV. Zander texted me ten minutes ago that he was going to be on.
Samantha Morgan, a gorgeous African-American sports reporter, was interviewing Zander. He was wearing a dark purple shirt and aviator sunglasses. He was smiling, and he looked good as he did so. The sun was brightly shining across the field behind them.
Kieran turned up the volume on the TV.
After Samantha introduced Zander to the viewers, she went right into the interview.
Samantha:
How are you Zander?
Zander:
I’m doing good, thank you. I’m happy to be a part of this event. This is a big help to the families of children who are suffering from leukemia.
My mother had died from leukemia. Zander had insisted in joining this event to raise awareness and advocate for research about it. I knew how tired he was from last night’s game, but he wanted to participate in this charitable event for my mom’s legacy.
Samantha:
Yes, it is. Now, how have you made the transition from college football to the NFA? From your last games it looks like you’re gaining ground as Minnesota Fox’s quarterback. With three wins in a row, people are starting to talk about you being the next Jason Fielder.
Zander:
It’s only been three games. I have a long way to go before I could be in the same playing field as Jason Fielder. I mean, he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of our time.
He put two of his fingers to his mouth and waved at the camera. That was his private gesture to me
.
Samantha:
Your next game is against the number two team in the NFA. How are you going to change your game plan against the Wisconsin Riders?
Just then, a voluptuous woman joined in the interview. The camera soaked up her big blue eyes, apple cheeks, and full red lips.
Samantha Morgan was momentarily stunned at the interruption before she regained her composure.
Samantha:
Okay, we’re now joined by Inna Posey, Sports Magazine’s swimsuit cover model of the year.
Inna:
Hi, Samantha. I just want to say hello to Zander. I have to say, he’s the hottest quarterback in the league.
Her blue eyes glinted flirtatiously and it looked like she was devouring Zander.
I was speechless. Did Inna Posey just come on to my man on national TV? My face heated up. I suddenly had the urge to burn all the things I’ve bought that she modeled – which would probably be all of my underwear.
Zander was shocked. He had nothing to say, with his mouth slightly hanging open.
Samantha:
Folks, are we making a love connection here?
This was definitely going to do wonders for the station’s ratings. A supermodel flirting with a hot, young quarterback on national TV? This video footage would be replayed for days.
Zander:
Umm, thank you.
Samantha:
So Zander, I guess you have tons of fans, including Inna Posey.
Inna flashed her supermodel smile, the one that earned her millions of dollars. The gap in her front teeth showed and I wanted to make that gap even wider with my fists.
Inna:
I’m sorry for interrupting the interview. I guess I should go now.
Samantha:
Oh no. Please stay, Inna. I’m sure the viewers would be interested in this. We have two gorgeous, single people who are burning up the camera as we speak.
Zander:
Umm, I am not single.
He was shaking his head. He didn’t remove his sunglasses
.
Samantha:
Oh.
Inna:
Again, I’m sorry for interrupting the interview.
Inna gave the camera another beatific smile and left.
Samantha:
We’re going to go on break for a few minutes, and when we return we’ll continue catching up with Zander Zobowski, who I’m pretty sure just broke hundreds of hearts with the statement that he’s not single.
Kieran was laughing during the commercial break. “Did Inna-freaking-Posey just flirt with Zander on live TV?”
My phone was ringing. It was Zander.
I answered right away.
His voice was low as he said, “Babe, did you see the interview? She caught me by surprise.”
“I did,” I huffed. “Tell that woman to keep her hands off of you.” Inna had touched Zander’s arm when she first came in front of the camera.
“I love you,” he said steadily.
“She’s a supermodel, Zander.” I was still fuming. “And she just told millions of viewers that she’s hot for you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he reasoned. “I’m only hot for you.”
I sighed, “I know, babe. She just irritated me. She shouldn’t be doing those things in front of the camera.”
His voice came through the speaker, loud and clear, as he said, “I gotta go, babe. Samantha’s signaling me that we’re going to be on again in a minute. Love you. Say ‘hi’ to Kieran for me.” He whispered, “And to baby.”
We have kept the pregnancy within our innermost circle of family and friends. If not, the press would definitely be hounding us. Now that Zander had said he was not single, it was safe to assume that the curiosity would build up as to who his significant other was. I could already foresee another Chatty Pepper scenario, though not that it ever left us. Tanya had sent a couple of pictures from Chatty Pepper’s site taken after graduation. Apparently the site was still insinuating that there was a love triangle between Zander, me, and Kieran.
“I love you,” I said before he hung up.
Kieran sounded wistful as he said, “Man, you know how many guys would exchange places with Zander? A supermodel crushing on him and a beautiful fiancé waiting on the sidelines? I swear, that guy is born with all the luck in the world.”
I crumpled a table napkin and threw it at his face. “There had better be no supermodel in the picture, or Zander’s guts will be flying all over the place.”
“Oh, come on, Ace,” Kieran reflected. “That man is tied to you like you were his belly button. I bet you that it didn’t even register with him how gorgeous Inna was. It’s pretty pathetic how whipped he is by you.”
I laughed. Zander didn’t have to say that he was not single in front of the camera. He did not talk about his personal business during interviews. I had a feeling he did that to deter Inna’s advances. Plus, he wanted to reassure me that he was mine.
The rest of the interview went by smoothly. Samantha did not broach the topic of Inna and Zander’s love life again. They talked about the charity, the upcoming games, and the Minnesota Fox.
Once the interview was done, Kieran and I planned out his stay in New York. We were going to visit the 9/11 Tribute Center, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Harry Potter: The Exhibit at Discovery Times Square. Kieran and I loved Harry Potter. It was the only book in common that we both loved; Kieran was more into classical works of literature and I read more of the scientific journals and publications.
Just as I was drying the plates over the sink the door of my apartment opened.
My roommate Brynn entered. I met her at New York State University Hospital during the first day of general orientation. She graduated nursing from Nevada State College. We bonded over lunch that day, and when she mentioned that she was looking for a place to stay, I offered up my place without hesitation. I had been on the hunt for a roommate since I wanted to have someone with me in this city. Zander and I were sharing the costs for the apartment. It was pretty hefty, but once my internship was up we were thinking of keeping the place since I had really grown to love it. Zander said that it could be our New York hideaway.
“Sedona, I have some of your favorite cupcakes!” she exclaimed. Her cheeks were pink, her blue eyes twinkled, and her long, golden blonde locks hung loose around her face. She was so pretty. She had a classic patrician face. Initially, I had thought she was snobbish because of her looks, but she was the most down-to-earth person in the world.
She was holding the pink, polka-dotted carton of my favorite Sugar Time Cupcakes when her steps halted. “Oh, you have a visitor.”
How rude of me! As soon as I heard her say cupcakes I had forgotten about Kieran, who was now back to sitting on the couch, watching sports on TV.
Kieran stretched his legs, stood, and walked towards us.
I said, “Brynn, this is my best friend Kieran. And Kieran, this is my roommate Brynn.” Brynn held out her hand to Kieran, setting the cupcakes on the dining table.
Kieran shook her hand and smiled at her, the kind of smile that meant he was checking a girl out.
He was definitely interested in my roommate.
Brynn grinned. “So you’re the famous Kieran?”
“Yeah,” Kieran said mischievously. “Whatever Ace told you, I’m ten times better than that.” I had mentioned to Brynn that Kieran called me Ace, and that he was a snobbish, arrogant guy when he wanted to be. He only showed his true self when he was comfortable with the people around him.