When Hell Freezes Over (20 page)

Before eating lunch, Meridan decided to check her answering machine at home.

She listened as she heard Jacob's message inviting her to Atlanta. She looked at her calendar and realized that was the same day of the basketball tournament. She might be able to swing it, since the games started on Saturday morning. She could catch an evening flight out, but it was going to be tight. Meridan hung up and her pager vibrated. She looked at it and saw a text message appear.

Just sitting here thinking about the way suds look on your brown skin. I can't wait to see you. Love, Keaton

She smiled, then joined her staff in the lounge for soup and sandwiches and decided to wait and return Jacob's call when she got home. It was going to be a long day.

The day ended and Meridan had been thrown up on once and coughed on countless times by her little patients, but she loved her job. In her office, she changed into her practice clothes. She looked at the clock and realized she had only twenty minutes to get to the gym.

 

K
eaton and the guys were shooting around on the court when she got there. Winston made it a point to watch Keaton's expression when Meridan walked in. As expected, his face lit up with the biggest smile he'd ever seen. She hurried in and put her bag down.

“Sorry I'm late. Traffic.”

Keaton walked over and kissed her hard on the lips. Comforting her, he said, “You're not that late.”

She took off her sweat pants and revealed a sporty outfit.

He yelled, “Dayum!”

Meridan smiled and asked, “Does it look okay?”

He bounced the ball and said, “You're killing me, Meridan.”

“I don't mean to,” she said innocently.

“I know, but if Malik says one thing out of line today, I
will
bust him in his damn mouth,” Keaton promised.

Lacing up her tennis shoes, she said, “Don't worry. I only have eyes for you. Now come on, so I can give you a workout.”

“I love it when you talk dirty to me,” he answered with a mischievous grin.

Only Craig and Winston paid attention to their little exchange.

Craig walked over and asked, “Did I just see Keaton kiss Meridan?”

Winston responded, “You sure did. I think they're an item but they're trying to keep it on the down low.”

“Well, she's a fine woman and she can play ball better than some men I know. If Keaton doesn't want her, Malik would be happy to step up. He won't shut up about her.”

“Is that so?”

Craig laughed. “Don't get any mess started between them, Skeeter. Malik mentioned that Keaton told him she was spoken for a few weeks ago when he inquired about her.”

“I'll be cool. Let's get to work.”

Winston called the group together. As he talked to them, Meridan went through a series of stretches. Keaton saw Malik watching her again. He frowned, then threw the basketball at him to make him stop looking at her. Malik looked at him in confusion. When Winston finished going over the fundamentals, they broke up and started practicing.

Meridan still held the spot of point guard and she pushed them up and down the court with some precise passes. Byron showed up for practice. He was happy to get out of the house for a while after becoming a new dad. Since Meridan had been filling in so well for him, the guys voted for her to start at point guard. Byron was amazed at Meridan's skills and felt the guys had made the right decision.

Practice lasted until around seven-thirty and before everyone left, Winston reminded the group about the time of their first game.

Malik yelled, “Nine o'clock!”

Winston said, “Yes, and make sure you go to bed early, Malik, so you'll be well-rested.”

Meridan asked Winston, “If we go all the way, what time should the last game end?”

“Probably around three o'clock.”

Putting on her sweats, she replied, “Thank you.”

Winston clapped his hands together and said, “I know you're all hungry, so dinner's on me at Mae Pearls; if you guys are up for it.”

Meridan said, “I'll take a rain check, Winston, but you guys go right ahead. It's been a long day and I'm tired.”

Malik chimed in, “Ah, come on, Meridan. You can hang out with us a little while longer.”

Keaton looked at Malik and shook his head. The man wasn't going to stop.

“No, really guys, thanks, but I need to get home.” She turned and asked, “Winston, is our last practice Thursday?”

“Yes, five o'clock.”

Picking up her bag, she said, “Thanks. I'll see you guys Thursday. Goodnight.”

In unison, they said, “Goodnight, Meridan.”

Keaton grabbed his bag and yelled, “Wait! I'll walk out with you.”

Winston asked, “Keaton, you coming to dinner?”

“Yeah, go ahead. I'll meet you guys there.”

Keaton took Meridan's gym bag from her hand and escorted her out the door.

Once outside he got in the car with her as she started the engine. “You okay?”

“I'm fine. Just a little tired.”

He covered her hand with his lovingly. “Would you like me to bring you something from the restaurant?”

Smiling, she asked, “You'd do that for me?”

“Of course. I know you're tired, but you still have to eat. You were great, as usual, out on the court today.”

Interlocking her fingers with his, she said, “So were you and now that I think about it, I would like something from the restaurant. If they have a shrimp or chicken alfredo dish, I'd be so ever grateful to you.”

“I don't mind at all,” he answered as he caressed her hand.

Meridan leaned over and kissed him. He'd been waiting to kiss her properly all day.

“Whew, Keaton! That was sweet!”

“Ditto that.”

Rubbing her neck, she said, “Well, I'd better get going. My bubbles are calling my name.”

Smiling naughtily, he said, “That's a nice visual. I might just get my dinner to go.”

“You're so bad. Go on and hang with your boys. I'll see you later.”

He looked at her seriously for a moment. “I won't be long. Meridan, have you had any more phone calls?”

She looked away. “Nah.”

He opened the car door and climbed out. He walked around to her side of the car and said, “That's good. Drive safely, and don't fall asleep before I get there.”

“I won't, and Keaton?”

“Yes?”

“Kiss,” she proclaimed as she closed her eyes in anticipation.

 

M
eridan turned on the water in her tub. She stripped out of her sweats and decided to return Jacob's call.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Jacob, it's Meridan. I got your message.”

Clearing his throat, he said, “I'm glad you called back. I really need you to do this favor for me. I really don't want to go to this dinner with anyone else.”

“Why? What kind of dinner is it?”

“It's a benefit banquet that I'm chairing.”

“Congratulations, Jacob, but couldn't you have told me about this when we were in Mississippi?”

“Yes, but it slipped my mind. Look, I realize this is short notice, but I really could use your company. Can you make it?”

She sighed. “I have something I can't miss Saturday morning. What time does it start?”

“Eight o'clock.”

“If you can get me a flight out of here by five o'clock, I just might make it. I'm gonna beat you up when I see you. You'd better be glad you're my boy.”

Laughing, he said, “I'll take care of everything. Do you have a dress? It's formal. If not, I can pick something up for you.”

“Thanks, but I think I have something that will be appropriate. Make sure you get me back to Philly on Sunday; no later than six o'clock. Okay?”

“Okay, and thanks, homegirl.”

“Goodnight, Jacob.”

“Goodnight, Meridan.”

She hung up the telephone and sighed. She didn't have any definite plans with Keaton Saturday night, but she'd hoped for some. She would break the news to him when he came over later. Returning to the bathroom, she turned on the jets and climbed in the hot swirling water.

At the restaurant, Keaton enjoyed his time with the guys. He constantly checked his watch to keep up with the time.

Winston noticed and decided to tease him.

“Hey, Keaton. Why do you keep checking the time? You got somewhere you need to be?”

Keaton gave Winston the eye. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

He motioned for the waitress and put in the order for Meridan's dish.

Everyone was silent and listened to him place the order. Malik, in particular, was interested in the order.

He asked, “Who are you ordering for?”

“If you all must know, I'm ordering it for Meridan,” he answered with a frown.

Winston said, “I think it's nice of you to do that for her. I'm sure she's hungry.”

Craig smiled. “So you going to drop it off by her house, or are you going to stay and feed it to her?”

The group laughed.

“If Meridan wants me to feed her, I'll feed her. Is that okay with you guys?”

Keaton didn't see the humor in their comments, but he should've expected it.

Preaching about being a bachelor for life was coming back to haunt him.

Malik asked, “So, Keaton, are you and Meridan seeing each other seriously?”

Getting angry, he asked, “Why do you want to know?”

“I just wanted to know because after you go back to Texas, I thought I'd ask her out.”

Keaton's blood pressure shot up instantly. He wasn't about to let Malik or any man get within ten feet of Meridan St. John… Ever! Winston stared at Keaton. What he saw in Keaton's body language was a man whose temper was about to blow. Now was better than any time to intervene.

Winston stood and said, “Malik, stop getting Keaton all worked up. Meridan's too busy to fool around with either one of you clowns.”

Malik took a sip of his water. “Well, I'll just have to see for myself.”

Malik knew he was getting under Keaton's skin and he took pleasure in pissing him off.

Keaton calmly looked at Malik and said, “Knock yourself out, man.”

The waitress brought the order to the table and he stood to pay her.

Winston stared at him, knowing Keaton could take a swing at Malik at any moment for taunting him. He also knew Malik had Keaton close to his boiling point.

To make sure he was okay, he asked, “You cool, Keaton?”

Shaking his hand, he said, “Yeah, I'm cool, Bro.”

“Should I wait up for you?”

They all laughed again.

“Funny, Winston. I'll holler at you punks later. Peace!”

He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.