retrieved the ball. ‘Looks like I might have some stiff competition. Ready to start?’
‘If you’re ready to lose,’ I teased.
He walked over and placed the ball in my hands. His dreamy eyes pierced mine. ‘If I win do I get anything special?’
I pulled out a piece of gum I’d stuffed in my shorts pocket earlier and held it up. ‘The winner gets this.’
Eric laughed. ‘Okay. Game on. Be prepared to give up the gum. You can go first.’
I shook my head. ‘No special treatment. Do you have a coin to toss?’
He pulled out a quarter and tossed it in the air. We both reached down to pick it up and our hands touched, sending electric impulses throughout my body.
‘Looks like you won.’ Eric smiled.
I went to the free throw line and took a shot. It bounced off the rim.
Eric grabbed the ball. ‘Nice try.’
He shot from the right, about five feet from the basket, and it went in. He retrieved the ball and passed it to me. ‘Your turn.’
I went to the spot where he stood and took a deep breath. Should I use the backboard or aim for the hoop? Back in the day, I was decent at making bank shots so I chose that. Bingo!
‘I do have some stiff competition,’ Eric teased. ‘Let’s see if I can make this one.’ He went to the free throw line and nailed the shot. It was my turn. I took a deep breath and imagined the ball sailing through the air and into the net. ‘Dang!’ I stumped my foot. ‘Guess I have an H.’
An hour later, I found myself out of water and out of luck. And out of a piece of gum! ‘I can’t believe you beat me three times. Are you sure you haven’t played in twenty years?’
‘Honest. Cross my heart. But I can leave the basketball with you in case you want to practice for our next competition,’ Eric teased.
‘Who said there’ll be a rematch?’ I smirked.
‘I thought you’d want the opportunity to avenge yourself. I mean, I know how competitive you are. I want to give you the chance to beat me.’
I shook my head and smiled. ‘Would you like to come back to my apartment and have a beer?’
‘A beer sounds great.’
I stuffed the basketball in my closet and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. ‘Sorry I don’t have a lot to eat. I wasn’t expecting company. But if you’re getting hungry we can order a pizza.’
‘Do they deliver?’
‘Yeah. And it’s pretty decent pie.’
I ordered pizza and Eric and I took our drinks into the living room and sat on the couch.
‘Comfy couch,’ he said.
‘Thanks. I’ve had it forever.’
Eric turned towards me. ‘Did you have it when you were married?’
‘Yes. I got most of the furniture in the divorce. The only thing Scott took was the flat-screen TV.’
‘It doesn’t bother you having a house full of things you shared together?’ he asked.
‘No, not really. It saved me a ton of money. Most of the furniture I picked out anyway. Well, except that TV.’
The doorbell rang. ‘Looks like the pizza’s here,’ I said, jumping up.
Eric placed his drink on the coffee table and stood. ‘That was quick.’
‘Yeah, it’s not far from here.’
Eric followed me to the door and insisted on paying the delivery boy. He handed him a fifty-dollar bill and told him to keep the change.
The boy’s eyes widened. The pizza was fourteen dollars. I was sure the delivery boy had never received a thirty-six-dollar tip on a fourteen-dollar pizza. Wow, he’s generous!
‘You were right,’ Eric said a few minutes later as we settled back on the couch with our slices. ‘This is excellent pizza. But not as excellent as the company.’
‘Thanks. Are you always this sweet?’
‘I try to be.’
I picked up my napkin and wiped my mouth. ‘I had fun today. Thanks for coming.’
‘Me, too. We’ll have to do it again. I mean, after you practice.’ Eric grinned. ‘No, seriously. I had a wonderful time, Shelly. No one has ever made me this happy before.’
‘Ever?’
‘Never,’ he said.
I felt my face heat up. ‘But I’m nobody special.’
Eric stared into my eyes. ‘Yes, you are special, and I’m so glad I found you.’
He leaned in to kiss me and I pulled away. I wanted to kiss him, but I worried that a kiss would lead to something else, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that. ‘I’m sorry, Eric. I like you. A lot. I just haven’t kissed a guy in a long time. Can we slow things down a bit?’
‘Sorry,’ he said, sitting back. ‘I can’t help it. I feel such an intense connection to you. But I don’t want to scare you away. I promise I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do. I won’t kiss you, unless you want me to. And if our relationship progresses, you’ll be the one to decide how far it goes and when.’
My heart melted as I listened to Eric. He valued me. He wasn’t going to pressure me for anything I wasn’t prepared to give. I realized I was falling for him. I knew it was too soon to have feelings so deep, and yet I couldn’t help myself. No man had ever said the things he said to me. No man had ever made me feel so beautiful and so wanted.
‘Thanks,’ I told him. ‘That means a lot to me.’
‘I was thinking you should come visit me. I’d love to show you around the city.’
‘That sounds fun.’
‘Any chance I could talk you into coming next Saturday? You can spend the night and go home Sunday. I have a spare bedroom.’
‘I’d love to, but before I give you a definite yes, let me double-check my work schedule. Can I get back to you tomorrow?’
‘Sure.’
I walked Eric to his car and he hugged me. I felt as if I were wrapped in a warm, cozy cocoon and I was sad when he released his embrace. I watched him pull away and walked back to my apartment. As I was cleaning up I found a note addressed to me on the kitchen table.
Shelly,
You are special!
Love,
