Page 62 of The Tip-Off
At Ray Fieldhouse, I park myself on the sideline and pull out my economics textbook. I don’t need to study for my online final exam, I know it backward and forwards, but if I just gawk at Zeke for the next couple hours, he might get creeped out. Still, it’s hard to look away.
Malone uses some sort of pad like a shield and pushes against Zeke’s back. Zeke has the ball and forces his way backward, shuffling his feet and spinning to try and get around Malone. Malone is fast and blocks Zeke at every turn. Power and determination etch Zeke’s features. He’s bigger than Malone and if they were under the basket could probably just shoot over his head, but Zeke never looks to take a shot, they just move up and down the court over and over until I’m tired just watching them work so hard.
I’m fending off a yawn when they call it. Zeke walks over to me, sweat dripping from him and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He moves in to give me a sweaty bear hug. I shriek but don’t really care. Actually, I think it’s kinda hot.
“Did you just lick my chest?”
“Mayyybe.”
“You never cease to amaze me.”
“Is that a good thing?” I ask hopefully.
He grabs my bag from the floor and takes my hand. “Yeah, it’s a good thing.”
31
Zeke
We goto my place so I can get ready for my flight tomorrow. After a shower, I’m packing while Gabby sits on my bed with her laptop open in front of her. She’s put on a pair of glasses that I’ve never seen her wear, but hello sexy librarian, and has a look of deep concentration.
“You studying?”
“Sort of,” she responds without looking up.
I re-count the boxers and pairs of socks already in my bag and then toss in a hand full of workout gear. My suit is already in the garment bag hanging from the door so I don’t forget it.
The combine lasts several days and selected players from all over the country will be there. Sara and I went back and forth about my going. It’s an honor to be invited, only about sixty players total, but whereas it's an opportunity for some players to showcase their talents, it’s also an opportunity for players to drop from a team’s radar. It’s almost all downside for me since I’m already getting the attention and consideration from teams, but I want to prove I’m worthy of the number one pick and I also want to show these teams that I’ve leaned out a bit. All those cardboard meals can’t have been for naught.
“How flexible are you?”
“Decent.” My mind goes to the flexibility and agility tests I’ll be undergoing. I’ve practiced them over and over, I know I’m where I need to be, but until Sunday when I’m on a plane back to Valley, I’m not going to stop wondering if I’ve done enough and if it’s a huge mistake to be going at all.
“Any preferences on standing versus sitting?”
I grab a pair of compression shorts and tights and add them to the bag. “Standing or sitting? What do you mean?”
I’ve got my back turned to her, setting my packed bag by the door when she answers. “For sex. I was thinking this looked fun, what do you think?”
I face her, processing the words as I do. Her blonde hair has fallen over one shoulder as she leans over the laptop that is now rotated so I can see the screen. She presses a button and suddenly my room is filled with cheesy porn music and some girl moaning like she’s, well, a porn star. My gaze flies to the screen where a chick with giant boobs is being held against a wall by a creepy AF looking dude who pounds into her while simultaneously sucking a nipple.
When I can speak past my surprise, I ask, “What were the other options?” I’m hella curious what else she’s been watching while I packed my bag completely oblivious.
Her eyes light up and she quickly navigates to another video. This one features the same chick. This time she’s bouncing on a guy’s lap. The dude, as creepy as the last one, is reclined back in a big La-Z-Boy chair and he’s looking past her, presumably to a TV since instead of the porn music it’s a football game announcer talking Green Bay stats.
“Or…” Again she takes control of the keyboard and switches to another video.
“Definitely no,” I say and shake my head at the video of some sort of wheelbarrow sex. The chick looks miserable trying to hold up her own weight in a push-up position while the guy stands behind her, holding her thighs and driving into her. I’m all for mixing things up, but I don’t want the girl I’m banging to be grimacing and counting the seconds until I come because there’s no way she’s getting off like that.
“Does that also mean no standing doggy style?”
She sounds so disappointed that I can’t help but laugh. “You know what, we’ll do whatever you want. We’ll try them all if that’s what you want.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be arealburden, but I’ll manage.” I take the laptop, close it and set it on my desk. Then I join her on the bed and pull her onto my lap.
“Where should we start?” she asks as she wraps her arms around my neck.
