Storiesonline.net ------- Impossible Dreams by Bingain Copyright© 2005 by Bingain ------- Description: This is a romantic comedy about a fictitious basketball legend. It also tells how two people of different skin colors come together, after some mental struggles. There are extremely few sex scenes in this story. Codes: MF slow rom humor cons het interr BM WF safe ------- ------- Copyright © 2005, Bingain Disclaimer: This story is a fiction. It does not relate to any real incidences or real persons. This work contains explicit descriptions of sexual activity. Anyone who may be offended by such contents, or persons forbidden by law or any regulations, should not read or download this story. Re-distribution, posting, and anything other than for personal enjoyment are subject to explicit authorization by the author. ------- This story is a romantic comedy about a fictitious basketball legend. The setting is based on the current NBA (National Basketball Association in the USA) structure. All people, except some big names, are fictitious. Beside the road to success, this story also tells how two people of different skin colors come together. It involves some mental struggles, even though not very in-depth. Since the story is about a basketball legend, inevitably there are liberal uses of basketball related jargon through out the story. For those who are interested in reading the story but know nothing or little about the game, I have written up a very brief description of the game which also covers some related terms which is in the preface. There's also an excellent online dictionary for sports terms at SportsDictionary.com. This is a story with few sex scenes (very few). If you want to see a lot of sex scenes, move on to some other nice stories. Many thanks to jhasty658 for his effort in editing this story for me. Bingain 05/14/2005 ------- Preface About the Setting The Basketball Game | The NCAA | The NBA | Dancers | Big Names ------- The Basketball Game - Introduction for the clueless: Each team has five players (and many bench players). In general, they are: Center: is a big and tall guy to control the area underneath the basket. Power Forward: another big guy, usually smaller than the center, helps control the basket, painted area, and rebounds, as well as shooting Small Forward: good in shooting and scoring, see below Shooting Guard: good in shooting and scoring. Often there is no clear distinction between a small forward and a shooting guard, and many players who play one position well can also do an excellent job at the other position. These players who can play both positions well are often called Swingman. (Tim Fowl, the guy who beats Rick's teams over and over, is a Swingman.) Most small forwards are about 6'6 and up in the NBA. You will see shooting guards of any height (from nearly 7' down to just 6' tall). Point Guard: he commands offensive plays. Some point guards don't shoot a lot, while some will score half of the team's points. Usually the point guard is the smallest guy in the court. Richard Hart is a point guard (the shortest point guard in NBA is Earl Boykins who is only 5'5). You don't have to have all five positions on the court. You can send any five players out, actually you can send less than five. You can have a team with all small players, and of course you'll lose the height advantage and can't secure the basket and the paint (the area around the basket is painted), but you may be moving much faster. It depends on strategy and what you have. Height is not the only, and actually not often, the key to win a basketball game. The game is about many factors: speed, height, strength, agility, accuracy, mobility, team work, strategy, psychological determination to win, and much more. Since it's impossible for a player to play every minute in a game consistantly (especially given the schedule of the games), bench players always play a critical role in the games. You get 2 points when you put the ball into the basket. You get 3 when you throw the ball from behind a painted 3-point line (often refered to as: from behind the arc, from downtown). You get one point when you hit a free throw (standing at the free throw line, thus often called "from the line"). For information about the basketball court and associated terms, check out this page. Lay-up: A player below the basket throws the ball up above the basket for it to drop into the basket. This is in contrast to rising up above the basket and hit (or drop) the ball into the basket which is called dunk or slam dunk. Lay-ups are often done by smaller players while dunks are carried out by by taller players or players who can fly high (the rim of the basket is 10 feet from the floor). Alley-Opp (pass): When a player throws the ball to the basket, and another player catches the ball above (or near) the basket, and puts it into the basket (often forcefully - slam dunk or dunk) while still in the air. Double-double: Officially means a player registers double digit figures in both scoring and rebounds in a game. In rarer situations can also mean double digit figures in either two of the three catagories of scoring, rebounds, or assists. Triple-double: A player registers double digit figures in all three catagories: scoring, rebounds, and assists in a game. This is a very difficult statistic to register, because small players usually can't get many rebounds, and big players rarely can dish out many assists. Jason Kidd, one of the very best point guards in recent history, and often referred to being "Triple-double wating to happen", has made 66 triple doubles in his 11 years of NBA career so far. Most good or even great players don't make one triple-double in an entire year. Charge: An offensive foul when the offensive player bumps into a defensive player while the defensive player is stationary. There are many fine rules about when exactly is it a charge, and when is it a defensive violation. In reality, a small player always has the advantage when he bumps into a big fellow, because he'll likely fall from the impact. A big and powerful guy like Shaquille O'Neal usually has the disadvantage because he can easily knock down a smaller player with just a soft touch (and players are good actors). 3-point Play: This does not mean shooting a 3-pointer. It's when a player is fouled during his attempt to make a basket. The basket will be counted if the ball goes in, and he'll have a chance to shoot a free throw. If he makes the free throw, it becomes a 3-point play. If the ball doesn't go in, he will shoot two free throws. Similarly, it will be a 4-point play when a player is fouled while attempting to shoot a 3-pointer. It's considered a stupid foul to hack a player attempting a 3-pointer, because making a 3-point shot is harder than making 3 free throws, and a 4-point play hurts the morale of the fouling team. ------- The NCAA The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) governs and organizes various college level sports events in the USA. The most prominant ones are of course basketball and (American) football. Scouts and agents from the NBA will look for future stars from outstanding players in the NCAA tournaments. An outstanding NCAA basketball player generally means a future NBA player, which means a future millionaire even if he just plays professional games for a year. Colleges tend to give generous scholarships and other perks to outstanding high school players (doesn't matter if they can spell their names) for them to attend their colleges. NCAA championship games (mainly in these two ball games) bring great honor, exposure, and financial benefits to the schools. It's not uncommon for a college basketball/football headcoach to make 10 times the money a senior professors does. ------- The NBA The NBA (National Basketball Association) is a professional basketball league in the USA, comprising of nearly all the best players in the world. The league is divided into two big 'conferences' - the East and the West. Each team in the league plays 82 games (including home games and away games) from early November to late April (the regular season). That's about 3 games a week, a very packed and busy schedule for the players and staff, and also very physically demanding. They play against all teams in the league during the regular season. The eight teams with the best records in each of the two conferences will advance to the Playoffs which begin from early May. The East and the West Playoffs are mutually exclusive. All elimination games are determined by a best-of-seven series. The winner of the East and the winner of the West will play (also best-of-seven) for the National title (sometimes they claim it to be the World Title.) Besides a big trophy (and great honor of course) awarded to the National Champion, each player in the ultimate winning team gets a NBA ring. Thus, a player with a ring means he has won a title. All entrants (new players) to the NBA will go through a "Drafting" process. Entrants comes from colleges, high schools (may soon be banned), or professional players from overseas. Generally, teams with the worst records get to pick first. The worst teams will go through a lottery process to determine which worst team gets the first pick, which gets the second pick, etc. Therefore, a team is called "lottery bound" if it is doing very badly, and is likely going to play the lottery. Quite often, when a team picks a "right" player (not necessary the first pick, Michael Jordan was a third pick. Many team executives and scouts are blind), they are destined to have a huge success (eg, Magic Johnson to LA Lakers, Larry Bird to Boston Celtecs, Michael Jordan to Chicago Bulls.) Great NBA players can make more than $15 million a year (plus commercial endorsements). A 10-year veteran players can not be hired for less than $1 million a year. Of course there are always players on the edge of unemployment who will take on a contract for as little as a few dozen thousand dollars a year. NBA headcoaches typically make between one to six million dollars a year. Richard Hart, the legend in the story, plays for the New York Knicks, that hosts their home games at the renowned Madison Square Garden. ------- The Dancers Many professional sports have cheerleaders. The NBA doesn't really have cheerleaders. Dancers are not cheerleaders. They don't lead the crowd to cheer. They don't cheer themselves. They are professional dancers performing Jazz and other routines during half time and time-outs at home games (visiting teams don't take the dancers with them.) All NBA teams have their dancer teams. Dancers often appear in community events, sometimes even at commercial activities. Dancer is not a full time job, because you make very little (if any) money from it, and generally you have to have a full time job or be a student to be considered. However, the excitement, exposure, and many other factors attract hundreds of women to chase for the few spots in a dancer team every year. Usually, existing dancers will have to audition for the coming year's jobs alongside new applicants. Many dancers also appear in other showbiz manifestation, such as MTV, commercials, etc. These are very nice looking and charming ladies, after all. Most Dancer teams have their own names. The New York Knicks' daner team is the Knicks City Dancers. ------- Big Names Mentioned in the story: Michael Jordan (aka MJ, retired), legend of legends, considered by many as the best basketball player ever; has six NBA titles, two Olympics gold medals and numerous awards. Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (aka Magic, retired), one of best players ever, handles the ball like magic (nearly nobody, including teammates, knows where the ball comes from or where it's going to), probably the most skillful player ever, also probably the only point guard ever who can play a center position well. Allan Iverson (aka AI), one of the leagues present smallest, most skillful, and quickest players, some also call him Cockroach because he won't die (he is constantly playing with injuries) and won't give up. Reggie Miller (retiring), famous for his buzzer-beating 3-point shots and clutch time performance, thus the term "Miller Time". Shaquille O'Neal (aka Shaq, Big Fella), probably the most dominant center ever, extremely powerful and agile, unstoppable when underneath the basket, poor free throw shooter, reason for and target of a dirty defensive strategy called "Hack-a-Shaq" (fouls him before he goes up, when it becomes impossible to stop him). Earl Boykins has not accomplanished anything close to these big name players, but at 5'5, he is the shortest NBA player by far (this in itself is already a near impossible achievement.) Harlem Wizards professional entertainment team: They are not a team engaged in sports competitions. Comprised of former NBA and CBA players, as well as college standouts, they deliver entertaining showtime games with unparalleled thrilling and magical tricks and creativities. ------- Chapter 1 "You know that new guy?" Candy asked Lauren on their way out of the Madison Square Garden. "You waved to him." "Yeah," Lauren said, tidying her hair as a gust of wind blew them all over her face. "I knew him when I was fourteen. We went to the same high school." "So he's back to his hometown now?" "Yeah, he's from Brooklyn," Lauren said. "He was a senior when I was a freshman at school. I was on the cheerleader team, and he was on the basketball team." "Well," Candy said. "I suppose not a very good one. He didn't even play a minute." "He can be really good," Lauren said. "I don't know what went wrong with him. He was a first round pick and was drafted into the Lakers. He didn't get much playing time because they had an all star point guard in the starting lineup. Then he got into some drug abuse scandals and had been silent since then. I hope he'll learn from his miserable years and get better." "How do you know he can be really good?" Candy said, as they went down the stairs to the subway. "Well," Lauren said, "He led NC to the NCAA quarterfinal twice, even though they were beaten by UConn both time. He'd also been on the All-ACC Team twice." "Oh, I see," Candy said. "But aren't most NBA players once an All-American player?" "That's true," Lauren said, giggling. "There's more. It's a very funny story." "I'm listening." "Okay," Lauren said. "It was back when we were in high school. We were there in the gym, after the practice. Nobody was there, except the players. Well, we were there, too, some of the cheerleaders. We were going to go out. I don't remember who started it, but then, someone called a bluff on Rick." "His name is Rick?" "Yeah, Richard Hart. Everyone calls him Rick. Anyway, yeah, it was the shooting guard. Rick was the point guard. I don't remember the shooting guard's name, but he's cute." She giggled with Candy. "May was his girlfriend," Lauren continued. "She's one of us. Anyway. It was about making 3-point shots. That guy must have been challenging Rick on that. Then Rick dared that guy and May. He said if he could make ten 3-point shots in a row, May would sleep with him. If he couldn't, he'd lose a grand to them." "How did they get so much pocket monies?" "The star players had non-commercial sponsorship. They sold the merchandises," Lauren said, laughing. Candy also laughed. "So he made the shots?" she asked. "Yeah, he made them all." "And she slept with him?" "No," Lauren said, laughing. "She went for double or nothing." "How?" "She managed to get another cheerleader to join in. Well, she asked me first, but of course I wouldn't. I wasn't that stupid. Anyway, the new deal was if he could make twenty in a row, he would sleep with both of them. If he couldn't, she's free." "So he made twenty?" "Yeah," Lauren said, laughing hard. "And the couple split shortly afterward." "Wow," Candy said. "Twenty in a row. That's really amazing, isn't it?" "Amazing?" Lauren said, turning over to look at Candy. "That's impossible! It was a record, even though not official. It was historic. Nobody's ever done that before. Nobody's ever done that afterward. Even playing only half that well would guarantee that he'd be MVP every year." "Well," Candy said. "I guess you should tell Don Wilson about it. "I bet he'll get a dozen call girls to stand by." "Forget about Don Wilson," Lauren said. "If he was of any good, we wouldn't be having all these star players who play like grade school kids." A train approached as they were laughing. They got into the train. "How did that girl bait the new girl in?" Candy said. "She used her boyfriend," Lauren said. "Offering him to sleep with her. Yeah, I remember now. His name is Mike." "And you didn't want it?" "Well," Lauren said. "Mike was cute, but not really my type. Actually, I was still a virgin back then. And, what's more, Mike slept with anyone. So, if I had wanted him, I could've just waved at him in the gym, like this." She waved her hand at Candy, and laughed. "So that's why you didn't take the offer." "Well, it's one of them. And I wasn't stupid." "You knew Rick could make it?" "I didn't," Lauren said. "Back then, I had no idea how difficult it was. But I'd been told that he could make anything happen if he determined to." "Who told you?" "Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "He's not really my uncle. He lives next door. He used to coach Rick before he was fired by the school." "For what?" "Beating a player," Lauren said, laughing. "He beat Rick, sending him to the hospital for a few stitches." "Oh, they hated each others?" "No, on the contrary, they love each others. I know Rick loves Uncle Frazier dearly. He had been supporting him even after being beaten badly, but couldn't save his coach's job." "So, it looks like you know Rick quite a lot." "Well," Lauren said, smiling. "It's like growing up together. Rick still comes to see Uncle Frazier, even after he went to college and later on when he's in the NBA. I saw him quite a bit until I moved out. Yeah, I think I know him more than any of the star players in the team, much more." "Ever slept with him?" "Nah," Lauren said. "Not my type." "Because he's black?" "Well," Lauren said, glancing left and right. "That too." She giggled. "He's rather cute," Candy said. "Especially when comparing to most other black players." "And they're so tall it just doesn't match." "Yeah, that too. I don't know how tall our center Big Mac is, but I think I can give him a blow job without having to go on my knees." Lauren laughed. "Big Mac is 7'2," she said. "But rumor has it that he's only French fries without his uniform." "Oh my God," Candy said, bending down laughing. "Any rumor about Rick?" "Are you interested in him?" "Well," Candy said, giggling. "You know the policy. I love this job. I'm not going to screwed it up. But he's small, I mean short, I mean his height." "Well," Lauren said, laughing. "I don't know if he's big or small. That you'll have to find out yourself. But he's short, very short for a basketball player. He's 5'10, only three inches taller than me." "Is he the shortest player in the league?" "No," Lauren said. "I have definitely heard about someone shorter. I think there are like three or four players in the league who are below six. He's one of them." "I think I know one who is below six," Candy said. "The Clippers point guard. You know, the guy who dyed his hair pink at the preseason game." Lauren laughed once again. "Yeah," she said. "I remember that. He's an idiot. And yeah, he's below six. I remember after that pink hair show, he said on TV that he'd like to dye his tattoos pink if it's possible." "He has the most tattoos on his body, is that right?" "I don't know," Lauren said. "All I know is he has tattoos all over his exposed skin. I also know if I see him in the street at night, I'll think I've been sucked into Monster Inc." Candy burst out laughing. "Oh my God," she said. "You're killing me. Anyway, I don't mind pink hair, but those excessive tattoos are a real turn-off for me." "Me too," Lauren said. "Actually I think pink hair will be a turn-off for me as well, bright red might be okay." "You're a nut," Candy said, laughing with Lauren. "Does Rick have many tattoos?" Lauren giggled. "Okay," she said. "I'll try to find his phone number for you." Candy giggled, too. "No," she said. "I'm just curious." "He has a few," Lauren said. "But I don't know if he has added more since I last saw him about two years ago." "Oh, okay," Candy said. "What are you laughing at?" "Nothing." "Nothing?" "Okay," Lauren said. "He has a Pluto on his left shoulder. He showed me a tattoo once and I told him it was stupid. So when he was thinking about a new one, he asked me. I told him to put a Tweety on his butt. He said he would if I had one myself. Of course I wouldn't. So eventually he had a Pluto." "That's too funny," Candy said, laughing. "I nearly had Winnie the Poof here." She pointed at her tummy before going on. "I'm glad my sis managed to talk me out of doing it, or I wouldn't be able to get into the dancer team." "You're lucky," Lauren said. "I've heard it's awfully painful and expensive to remove them. Speaking about cost, is his head shaved or is he still wearing his hair in braids? I think I didn't pay attention." "Hmm," Candy said. "I think he's shaved. Actually I'd prefer they keep their hair curly. What about you?" "I've never thought about that," Lauren said. "I guess not. I don't even like to have my hair permed." "I don't either," Candy said. "I don't even like my hair long. But I may try growing my hair. I kind of like the way your hair flows in the air when your head sways. Which shampoo do you use?" "Lancôme Intense," Lauren said. "You?" "Umberto Beverly Hills," Candy said. "I may give yours a try." "If you want to try it," Lauren said. "I think I have a couple samples." "Okay," Candy said. "Hey, feel like dining out? I'm getting sick of eating cold sandwiches everyday." "Sure," Lauren said. "Charlie's Kitchen?" "Sure." When they were waiting for food at the restaurant, Lauren heard a buzz coming from her pocket. She pulled out her phone. "Hello?" Lauren answered her call. "Hey, Rick!" Lauren said into the phone. "I'm fine, thanks. Know what? We're just talking about you. Oh, I see. Well, yeah, I knew you had signed with the Knicks. Well, did you give us your number? Alright, alright. No, not tomorrow, I can't. No, no, you idiot, we have a home game on Friday. Okay, okay. Saturday night. Yeah, I know where it is. No, no, I'll go pick up mom and Uncle Frazier. Okay, see you then. Bye." "It's him, Rick," Lauren said, laughing. "He wants to see us. He says I should have called him. Why can't he use his brain? How on earth would I know where he lives?" "How can he find you?" "He called Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "Uncle Frazier called my mom." "What does Uncle Frazier do now?" Candy said. "He's kind of retired," Lauren said. "Sometimes he teaches the kids how to play basketball here and there. It's kind of weird." "What's weird." "Well, my dad used to be his buddy. They both drank a lot. They drank during their lunches, they drank when they watched basketball games together, and they drank while bull shitting. But even my dad didn't know anything about his family." "Oh," Candy said. "A root-less man. By the way, I have never heard you talked about your dad. Where's he now?" "He passed away four years ago," Lauren said. "Liver problem. He drank too much." "I'm sorry to hear that." "It's okay," Lauren said. "Uncle Frazier's been like mom's big brother since then." "How old is he?" "I don't know," Lauren said. "I think about sixty five to seventy. May be Rick will know." "I see," Candy said. "Oh, yeah, do you need sneakers? An outlet is offering some odd size shoes to the center at a big discount." "You know my size," Lauren said. "Any whites will do." "Okay," Candy said. "By the way, have they given you that MTV job?" "Oh," Lauren said. "I nearly forgot. I'll have to ask Nessa." "You know," Candy said. "I'll never go to audition with you again. They're always watching you and drooling, and leaving me in the corner crying." Lauren laughed. "You're silly," she said. "I think it's because they want a blonde. Next time take a wig with you." "What about your dimples?" Candy said. "How do I fake one, or both?" Lauren laughed again. "With a pin?" she said. Candy slapped Lauren in the hand as she laughed. "What about your breasts?" she said. Lauren nearly fell off her chair. "You're a riot," she said, laughing. "You have nicer ones." "Nah," Candy said. "Seriously, I'd rather have yours, even though yours are a little smaller. Mine sag a bit too much. I think you can do Jazz without wearing a bra." "Shut up," Lauren said, laughing. "I always wear one, and stuff some cotton inside to make mine look as good as yours." ------- Lauren went into her apartment, kicked off her sneakers, and hung her jacket in the closet. "Won or Lost?" her roommate Vanessa said from the couch. She was watching a sitcom on TV. "Lost again," Lauren said, carrying her bag to her bedroom. "A bunch of worthless million dollar men." Vanessa chuckled. "Hey," she said, raising her tone. "I got you a photo still job." "What kind?" Lauren said, coming out of her bedroom. She had changed into a bathrobe. "Head shot, web page," Vanessa said. "Five hundred bucks. They want a long haired blonde like Elisha Cuthbert, but with their budget they can't have anything better than you." Lauren faked a kick at Vanessa as she laughed. "Studio?" she said. "Yeah," Vanessa said, laughing. "When?" "Friday at four-thirty," Vanessa said. "Damn," Lauren said. "I can't. Home game." "Oh well." "Dye your hair blonde and go take the job. You'd wanted to dye them anyway." "If I had your face," Vanessa said. "I would have." "You have a pretty face." "They want a prettier one," Vanessa said, giggling. "And a more pleasant smile." "Oh well," Lauren said. "Hard luck. Oh, by the way, still no response about the music video shooting?" "Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you. Another talent agency got the job." "Oh, well," Lauren said. "Hard luck again. But still, thanks for doing them for me." She went to take her shower. ------- Lauren hadn't been to a steakhouse for more than a year, partly because her ex-boyfriend considered it a costly gimmick, and also because all of her jobs required that she keep her fitness. Rick rose from the table to give a hug each to Uncle Frazier, Lauren, and her mom. Lauren had always found it funny to see a basketball player only three inches taller than her. "Hi, Mrs. Gasol" Rick said. "How've you been?" "I've been fine, thanks," Lauren's mom said. "Derek says you are now playing for the Knicks. I hope you can do what you did at North Carolina." "We'll see," Rick said. "Let's order food first." While waiting for their food, Rick said. "I didn't know you're a City Dancer, Lauren." "It's my rookie year," Lauren said. "It helps my exposure." "Do you still teach dancing?" "Yeah, I'm still a dancing instructor. You know the dancer job practically pays nothing, don't you?" "Yeah, I know," he said. "Still not married?" "Did you get my invitation?" "No," Rick said, staring at Lauren. "I didn't. When are you getting married?" "You didn't get the invitation," Lauren said, smiling. "That means I didn't send you one. I don't have one to send out." Rick laughed with the old folks. He also shook his head. "Actually," Lauren said. "I don't even have a boyfriend now, got any referral?" "Well, the guys I know, you won't want them." "That bad?" the mom asked. Lauren laughed before Rick responded. "Did I say something wrong?" the mom said, looking at her daughter, then at Rick. "No, mom, you didn't," Lauren said. "Okay, Rick, tell her." "Nah." "Come on." "Nah." "Okay, mom. The next thing he'll say is, they're worse than him, and I might as well be dating him." The mom and Uncle Frazier laughed together again. "Then why did you ask?" the mom said to Lauren. "So I can smack him," Lauren said, laughing. The mom laughed once again as Uncle Frazier shook his head. "By the way," the mom said. "Rick, I heard you got divorced. Is the kid with her?" "Yeah," Rick said. "Almost two years now. Yeah, kid's with her." "So where do you live now?" Lauren's mom said. "Forest Hills," Rick said. "Why not Brooklyn?" the mom said. "I'd been to the house you bought for your folks. It's very nice." "Pros don't live in Brooklyn," Uncle Frazier said. "They usually live in Westchester." "Then why don't you live in Westchester?" the mom asked Rick. "I ain't making that much money," Rick said, a little hesitantly. "How much are you making now?" "About seven hundred forty grand this year." "My God," the mom said, gapping. "And that's not that much?" "In the NBA," Uncle Frazier said to the mom. "A million dollar is like the minimum five-and-a-half you make flipping burgers. He's making below minimum." "Wow!" If he had not done those things to screw up his career," Uncle Frazier said. "He should be making more than ten million by now." Rick began looking very uncomfortable. "How big is that diamond on your ear?" Lauren said, switching topic. "Three carat and eighty. Like it?" "Makes you look gay," Lauren said, giggling. I can show you I ain't gay," Rick said, looking Lauren up and down, smiling. "Not even in your dreams," Lauren said, laughing with a little flush on her face. Lauren's mom shook her head. "Jesus," she said. "Rick," Lauren said, after the meal. "Do you mind taking Uncle Frazier and mom home? I have to get up very early tomorrow morning." "I'll take you all home," Rick said. "Where do you live now?" "Near Interfaith hospital." "You'll get off last then," Rick said, as he gave the tag to the valet parking attendant. After dropping off Uncle Frazier and her mom, Lauren moved to the front seat and Rick drove her home. "Where are you going tomorrow morning?" Rick said. "WB 11 Morning Show," Lauren said. "Dancers' appearance?" "Yeah," Lauren said, while studying the console of Rick's car. "Looks like it's loaded." "The car?" "Yeah." "Yeah," Rick said. "Fully loaded. Like it?" "Nah," Lauren said. "How much?" "Why not? It's big, it's nice. Feel it, all leather. Listen to it, surround sound stereo," Rick said, patting the seat and turning on the CD as he described the features. "Well," Lauren said, reaching forward to turn down the volume. "You're driving this car like you're a chauffeur." Rick laughed. "Then why didn't you stay at the back?" he said. Lauren laughed, too. "Actually, sounds good," she said. "I'd never had a chauffeur before. How much?" "Not even for the prom?" "No," Lauren said. "My date borrowed his dad's car, but on the way back, he smashed it into an ambulance. Moron!" Rick laughed. "So no romantic moments that night?" he said. "No," Lauren said, laughing. "So how much?" "Seventy-two," he said. "Altogether. I paid forty-nine after trading in my previous one." "Did you buy it here?" "Nah," he said. "I bought it while I was in Memphis. I ain't going to buy a new one until I know I'll be signed next year. This is just a one-year contract." "You haven't played for a minute so far, have you?" "Nah," Rick said, letting out a long sigh. "They should've given me more chances." "Chances are in your own hands." "What do you mean?" "You should have worked harder." "I work very hard, man," Rick said. "I'm one of them to show up earliest. I stay behind to practice my shots. I had some tough years, so I know I have to work harder. You have no idea." "Well," Lauren said. "Yeah, I have no idea. But Uncle Frazier should, and he's always been saying you don't work hard enough." "He has no clue," Rick said, with an intimidated expression on his face. "I just ain't getting no luck. I just need a chance." "I think you had your chances," Lauren said. "I still remember watching a game at Uncle Frazier's place last Christmas. You came off the bench and played like an idiot. You hesitated when you were completely open, and made shots when you had hands in your face. I think you turned the ball over at least three times. Uncle Frazier nearly smashed his TV." "I didn't play well in that game," Rick said weakly. "Yeah, I admit. But every player has his ups and downs. I just happened to have my downs that night." Lauren took a deep breath. "I think it's about your mind," she said. "I told Candy your story." She giggled. "Candy?" "Yeah. The girl who was with me the other night when you saw me." "Oh, that brunette. She's also a dancer?" "Yeah." "What story?" "Do you remember those twenty 3-point shots?" "Yeah," Rick said, smiling. "Of course I do. You ain't going to believe it. That chick was very reluctant at first, but she was like..." "Damn it," Lauren said. "Don't talk to me like that." "Oh, oh. Okay." "Anyway," Lauren said. "I told Candy the story. And I said if you could play like that now, you'd be MVP every year." "Man," Rick said. "That was just good luck. I had prepared to lose a grand when I picked up the ball. You know it's impossible." "I didn't know," Lauren said, laughing. Then she went on. "But Uncle Frazier had said you could make anything happen if you had the determination." "He's been expecting too much from me," Rick said. "I ain't no Michael Jordan, and even MJ ain't good enough for him." "But you had the determination that evening," Lauren said. "Didn't you? And, at least for that evening, you made the impossible possible." "Yeah," Rick said. "I couldn't lose to that moron. I had to teach him a lesson, and I really wanted to screw that... What's her name?" "You're a jerk!" "Huh?" "You're a jerk." "Oh," Rick said, and laughed. "Okay. Sorry, ma'am." "So, you see, when you had the determination, you did it." Rick became silent. "Well," he finally said. "Actually, we were all so high during that dare thing, they could have doubled me for another round and..." "Oh my goodness," Lauren interjected. "What?" "Two weren't enough?" Rick laughed. "Not that," he said. "Actually, not two, just one." "Huh?" "The other girl," Rick said. "The one who came in for the double. I didn't sleep with her." "Why?" "She cried," Rick said, laughing. "So I let her go. I thought you all knew." "Oh," Lauren said. "I didn't know that. Okay, go on. If they had doubled you for another round." "Okay," Rick continued. "If they had doubled me for another round, I'd be so stupid I'd have agreed to anything. Not even a robot can make forty in a row." "Not enough girls there." "No, I think there were," Rick said, and turned over to smile at Lauren. "I'm not stupid enough to do it," Lauren said, giggling. "Forty is totally impossible," Rick said. "I don't know," Lauren said. "But, not even eighty. I won't." Rick glanced at Lauren, smiling. "What about eighty for this car?" Lauren laughed. "You really are a jerk," she said. "No! No! No!" "I'll throw in my earring." "Shut up!" "Half of my contract this year?" Lauren looked at his face. "You're out of your mind," she said. "So you're in?" "No," Lauren said, holding her laughter. "Now, shut the fuck up and drive." "Chicken," Rick said. "Easy money and you won't take it." "I said shut the fuck up. You know I won't sleep with you, no matter what." "Because I'm black?" "No," Lauren said, looking away from Rick. "Because we are friends, close friends. I don't sleep with friends." "So," Rick said, after a brief moment of silence. "How have you been? Why did you quit college? You never told me." "Well," Lauren said, looking out of the window. "Some big mistakes. You know, big mistakes when you're stuck with the wrong guy." "Boyfriend?" "Whatever you call it," Lauren said. "Expensive lesson. And, no, I'm not quitting college. I'm going to finish it one day." "Why not now?" "Are you insane?" "Why?" "I don't even have time to date, with two jobs, both taking up a lot of time." "You virtually don't make anything from the dancer team." "I don't," Lauren said. "But I love it, and the exposure and potential is huge. Getting into a dance team is, I think, tougher than getting into the NBA." "What about the main job? You can quit it for school." "Are you insane?" "Why?" "Who's going to pay my bills?" "Well," Rick said, after another momentary silence. "You said we are friends, close friends. I can give you a loan. And, no, you ain't gonna sleep with me for that." "You know," Lauren said, smiling at Rick. "You finally made my day. It means a lot. But no, I will do it my way. I know I'm going to make it." "Okay," Rick said. "But keep it in mind. It's an open offer for life." "Okay," Lauren said. "By the way, you didn't finish your college either, did you?" "I didn't," Rick said. "You know I went for the draft after my junior year." "Why didn't you finish it?" "The degree means nothing to me," Rick said. "I went to college for the NBA, not for the degree." "Well," Lauren said with a sigh. "It's an accomplishment. When you start something, you want to finish it. A degree may also mean very little to me, but I don't want to leave behind something unfinished. Don't you feel like you miss something you haven't achieved?" "I'd never thought about it," Rick said slowly. "Actually, you know, I'm an underachiever. I haven't achieved anything, really." "Well," Lauren said. "You know..." "I know what?" Rick said, when he didn't hear anything from Lauren after a while. "Well," Lauren said, and took a deep breath before going on. "Yes, you've been an underachiever. I've read what the columnists wrote about you. Actually, I think I've been calling you that in my mind. But know what?" "What?" "You're an idiot," Lauren said. "You've been an idiot. You know you can do better. I know you can do better. Everyone knows you can do better. Why don't you do better?" "Are you okay?" Lauren said, a little later. Rick had been silent since her last remark, breathing rather rapidly, gripping the wheel firmly and looking straight ahead. "Yeah," Rick said slowly, after letting out a long sigh. "I have been an idiot. But I've also been trying to do better. I will do better. I will. I promise you I will." "That's good," Lauren said, smiling. "I'll buy you a beer mug if you win the MVP." Rick began choking as he laughed. ------- Chapter 2 Candy bent her waist laughing. "Oh my God," she said. "How much does he make?" "About three-quarters of a million," Lauren said, pulling her sweater down her head. "Oh my God," Candy said, wiggling her dance pants down her legs. "Why didn't you take it? Eighty is totally out of the reach, isn't it?" "Two reasons," Lauren said, as she also pulled her dance pants down. "What are they?" Candy said, holding her jeans in her hands. "First," Lauren said. "What if he makes it?" "Well," Candy said. "Let's hope he's good." Lauren laughed, and slapped Candy in the arm. She then put on her jeans. "Second one?" Candy said after her laugh. "Okay," Lauren said, sitting on the bench to put her socks and shoes on. "You go out the door, a guy comes to you and offers you a million to sleep with you. Will you take it?" "Is he Aaron Carter?" "You're hopeless," Lauren said, laughing. "I am. And so are you," Candy said while tying up her shoes. "Stop it," Lauren said. "Will you take it?" "Sure," Candy said. "I'll sleep with him the entire week. But, of course I'll have to cash his check first." "Why cash it first?" Lauren said, and started combing her hair. "Oh my God," Candy said. "You won't trust a guy for anything like that, will you?" "Exactly," Lauren said, smiling. "He misses a shot. He goes away. What do I do? Sue him?" "Oh, yeah," Candy said. "I see what you mean. But it's still tempting. If he offers it to me, I think I'll call my lawyer at once to draw up a deal." "I think you will counter offer him for free," Lauren said. "Free only if he's not on the team, or I'm not on this team," Candy said, as she stuffed her belongings into her bag. "But, for three hundred seventy five thousand, I'll risk being fired." "Told you," Lauren said, laughing. "You're hopeless." "Got a moment, Lauren?" Danna Franco, the dancers team director, said, as Lauren was about to leave the studio. "Sure," Lauren said. She waved bye to Candy, and then went over to Danna. Danna pulled out a photograph from a brown envelope she was holding. She showed it to Lauren. It was taken in the restaurant where Lauren, her mom, Uncle Frazier, and Rick went to the other night. "Where does this come from?" Lauren said. "A sports reporter," Danna said. "It's not worth posting. But you do know the policy about dating, don't you?" "I'm fully aware of it," Lauren said. She pointed her finger over the photograph and continued. "This is my mom. This is our neighbor Derek Frazier. He coached Rick in high school. I knew Rick Hart when I was fourteen. I'm not dating him. I have never had anything with him." "Very well," Danna said, smiling as she put the photo back into the envelope. "I wasn't questioning you, but I need to know how to respond if I have to. We're a team and we need to come together as a team." Lauren smiled back. "I won't let you down," she said. "I love the team." ------- "Fragrant-Two, Antonio Miller," the game announcer publicized the referees' conclusion on a foul play through the PA system. A visiting team's player was escorted off the court as spectators booed. A few of them tossed plastic cups at him before he disappeared into the hallway. "Time-out, New York Knicks," the game announcer declared briefly afterward as a Knicks player was helped off the court. Lauren and the other dancers rushed into the court to perform a Jazz routine. They returned to the courtside when the referee whistled the end of the time-out. "What happened?" Candy whispered to Lauren. "I wasn't watching." "Number ten pulled Brat Hood's arm when he went for the lay-up, then swung him on to the floor." "You think he'll be okay?" "I don't know." "Hey," Candy said, nudging Lauren's arm. "Rick's on the court now. First time, huh?" "Nah, he'd played some garbage time before," Lauren said. "You should pay more attention instead of daydreaming all the time. Damn, shoot! Damn, stupid." "I can't believe it," Candy said to Lauren as they were walking towards the subway after the game. "You said he could make impossible shots, but he didn't even make one attempt." "I don't understand it either," Lauren said. "He said he needed chances. He had the chances, and he didn't step up when he's needed." "Hey," Candy said. "I forgot to bring your sneakers. I'll give them to you when I come back." "Come back?" Lauren said. "You've changed your mind?" "Yeah," Candy said. "I'm going home for the Thanksgiving." "Oh, okay," Lauren said. "Have a nice trip." ------- "Lost," Lauren said when she went into her apartment. "I know," Vanessa said from the couch. "It was in the news. And Brat Hood's out for the season." "Out for the season?" "Yeah," Vanessa said. "Ruptured wrist ligament." "Damn," Lauren said. "Looks like we're going lottery bound again." "You're just a dancer," Vanessa said. "Winning or losing has nothing to do with you." "I know," Lauren said. "But it's still our team, and it also means less performances for the dancers if they don't make the playoffs." "Well," Vanessa said. "Looks like less performances, then." Lauren took her shower then went to bed. "He-l-lo?" Lauren groaned into her mobile phone from her bed. "Lauren," Rick's voice came through. "Your mom's in the hospital." "What?" Lauren said, jigging in her bed. She raised a hand to shield her still sleepy eyes from the sunlight. "Brooklyn Hospital Center," Rick said. "She fell down the stairs." "Oh my goodness," Lauren said. "Is she okay?" "Yeah, I think so." "I'm coming now." "Fractured wrist and bruises," the doctor told Lauren. "Nothing serious." "Can I see her? Is she awake?" "Sure. Yes, she's awake, all the time." Lauren went inside and saw her mom talking with Uncle Frazier. "Are you okay?" she asked her mom. "I'm okay," the mom said, pointing to the cast on her other arm. "Other than this." "What happened?" "I was going for groceries," the mom said. "Some assholes must have spilled a drink and I didn't see it. I fell down the stairs." "Wow." "Yeah," Uncle Frazier said. "We heard a bang, went outside, and found your mom moaning down the stairs. Rick brought us here in his car." "Where's he now," Lauren said. "He went for a coffee." "When are you going to be released?" Lauren asked her mom. "When Rick comes back," the mom said. "They want me out. They need the bed." She laughed with Uncle Frazier. "And what's Rick doing at your place?" Lauren said to Uncle Frazier. "We're having breakfast," the old fellow said. "He bought me some wines, too." "I thought you're not supposed to drink anymore." "I'd rather drink than live longer," the old man said. "You'll know it when you're my age. Rick's back now. We need to get ready." "Why didn't you shoot the goddamned ball last night?" Lauren asked Rick as he drove them back. "Do you know we lost by only three?" "I know," Rick said. "But it was the game plan." "What kind of game plan is that?" "Coach told me," Rick said. "Pass the ball, run the court, pass the ball, make extra passes, don't shoot, don't shoot the fucking ball. Well, he didn't say 'fucking'." "Why would he not want you to shoot?" "Beats me." "So you never make any shot whenever you're on the floor?" "One game," Rick said. "In Dallas, last month. I made two 3-pointers, and then coach put me on the bench. He told me afterward if I didn't follow his game plan again, I'd go to the injure list." "So," Lauren said. "What do you think, Uncle Frazier?" "Well," the old man in the front seat said. "Game plan is one thing, in-game reaction is another. I'm not talking about last night, but I think they should fire this coach." "They won't," Rick said. "He goes, Brat goes." "Brat's out for the season," Lauren said. "We're busted," Rick said. "For this season, anyway. They'll need Brat next season, and the following." "What about you?" Lauren said. "I don't think they'll re-sign me," Rick said. "I don't know. Maybe I'll try the European leagues. I don't see much future here." "Do you think you can match Brat?" Lauren said. "Nah." "Yes," said Uncle Frazier. "Of course you can, kid. You just won't do it." "I can't," Rick said, raising his tone. "It doesn't matter how hard I try, I ain't getting there. It's fate." "I thought you said you will do better," Lauren said. After a brief silence, Rick said. "I'm sorry. Yeah, I will do better. I don't know if I can match Brat Hood, but I will do better." The remainder of the trip back to the old folks' homes was pretty speechless. Rick saw Lauren opening the rear door of his car, when they came down after taking the mom and Uncle Frazer to their respective apartments. "You're not coming to the front?" Rick said. "You be my chauffeur today," Lauren said, smiling. "Oh, okay," Rick said, and got inside the car. Lauren closed the rear door, opened the front door, and got into the front seat. "What're you doing?" Rick said. "Playing with you," Lauren said, smiling. Rick laughed. He pulled off the curb. "Home?" He said. "Or where?" "Home," Lauren said. "I called in for a day off. I didn't know how long it was going to take. I need more sleep anyway. Oh, yeah, sleep. Hurray!" "Okay," Rick said, and made a turn. "Hey, want to have a coffee?" "No," Lauren said. "Know what?" "What?" "My dance team director showed me a photo of us in the steakhouse," Lauren said. "She said it was taken by a sports reporter." Rick laughed. "These guys are everywhere," he said. "Do you know we can't date anyone from the team? Not players, not coaching staff, not the mascot, not anyone." "We ain't dating." "I know," Lauren said. "But I don't want to explain it again." "Alright," Rick said. "Home then." "What?" Rick said, a while later, when Lauren was snickering. "I told Candy about your newest bet," Lauren said. "She said she'd take it if you offered to her." "Oh," Rick said. "Nah, I won't. Actually, you were stupid, and I was stupid." "Why's that?" "I was stupid because I would be giving you four hundred grand right away if you had taken the bet. It was just, you know, just totally not possible. You were stupid because you didn't take it." "Oh," Lauren said. "Is it too late?" Rick turned over to look at Lauren, and laughed. "If you're in, I'm in," he said. "Oh my goodness," Lauren said, laughing. "You're setting me up." "I ain't," Rick said, smiling. "But if you're in, I'll risk it for a big miracle." Lauren felt herself blushing. She shook her head. "Damn," she said. "You just won't quit." "And it doesn't matter," he said. "Does it? You never will. But it's still fun teasing you." Lauren giggled. "So, a four hundred grand tease," she said. "And a four hundred grand jerk." "That part's not a tease," Rick said. "Well, you know I ain't no Saint Patrick. I ain't no Pope Benedict. I lie, I cheat, I had done drugs, I do everything bad, but I've never lied to you. I've never taken advantage of you." "I know that," Lauren said, smiling. "You've been very nice to me, all the time. You're one of my best friends." "Would you have taken me if I weren't black?" "It's not about your skin color, silly." "You know it is." "No," Lauren said. "It has nothing to do with your skin color. I repeat, nothing. I think we shouldn't be discussing this again." "Okay." "Well," Lauren said. "Now that Brat's out for the season, you're going to get more minutes. Work harder, take the opportunity, show them how good you can be." "I'll try," Rick said. "Coach Frazier says I need to work on my defense more. I'm going to work on that." ------- A few days after Valentine's Day, Lauren came home and saw commercials on the TV, but nobody was in the living room. As she went towards her bedroom, she heard faint moans coming from behind the door of Vanessa's room. She knew her roommate was with her boyfriend. Lauren realized that the TV was showing a Knicks game at Portland when she came out of her room. She also understood why the couple had gone to bed instead of watching. It was the start of the forth quarter and the Knicks were trailing by 35. The game was practically over. Lauren saw bench players, including Rick, on the floor. There were no starter players from both teams in the court. Lauren stood in front of the TV and watched two possessions. She sighed at the 'game plan' her team was executing. She decided to go for her shower when the Knicks called a time-out. When Lauren came out of the bathroom, the situation on the TV had changed drastically. The Knicks were only trailing by eleven. Lauren sat in the couch to watch the remaining two minutes of the game. Portland had just called a time-out. "Rick Hart's been phenomenal tonight," the commentator said to his partner. "Six of seven from behind the arc, a perfect three from the line, five assists, and a steal, all in just ten minutes of play. Have you ever seen him play like this?" "Not in my life," the other commentator said. "His career high is eighteen. This is by far the best game of his career. He has single-handedly saved the game for his team. There's still two minutes and seven seconds to go, plenty of time. The Knicks are pretty much still alive." "Yes, I agree," the first commentator said. "Wait, what do we see? They are bringing back Jerry Dupree. I don't know what Tom Bullock thinks he's doing. You don't replace a red hot player at clutch time." "I think he wants a better defense now that both teams are playing with their starting lineups," the other commentator said. When the buzzer signaled the end of the game, Lauren went over to the TV to pick up the stuff she had tossed at it. The Knicks lost by fifteen. She switched off the TV and went to bed. ------- "Hey," Laura spoke on her phone. "Hey," Rick replied. "Guess who I am?" "You calling to take the four hundred grand bet?" Lauren laughed. "Damn," she said. "Can't you stop it?" "Nah," Rick said, laughing. "What's up?" "Do you know about the news?" Lauren said excitedly. "Tom Bullock's just been fired." "Yeah," Rick said. "I know." "And you said they wouldn't?" "Well," Rick said. "I guess they're preparing to rebuild the team from ground up. I've heard rumors about Brat Hood trying to force a trade." "So you're going to get more chances," Lauren said. "Aren't you?" "I don't know," Rick said. "Jerry's now the starting point guard." "You almost saved the game last Saturday," Lauren said. "Almost," Rick said. "But we lost in the end." "Didn't you tell me your coach wouldn't let you shoot the ball?" Lauren said. "Yeah," Rick said. "But he called a time-out and asked me why the fuck didn't I shoot. So I started making shots." He Laughed. Lauren laughed too. "Well," she said. "He put you on the bench when you were most needed. He's a moron, and that's why he's fired. I've told you that you could do it." "It was one of those times I had my ups. I didn't play that well this week. You know that. You were there at the home game." "You just don't concentrate enough," Lauren said. "Like, what made you so determined last Saturday? What were you thinking when you went to the floor?" "I don't know. Maybe thinking about you, and the bet." Lauren nearly dropped her phone as she laughed. "Listen, Rick," she said. "Stop doing this, or I'm not talking to you again." "Then why are you laughing?" "I am not." "You were." "I wasn't," Lauren said. "Shut up!" "Okay, okay. You weren't." "Okay. Anyway, I got to go. Talk to you later." "Wait." "What?" "That's it?" Rick said. "Huh? What do you mean?" "I thought you called me for something." "Yeah," Lauren said. "About the firing of your head coach." "Oh," Rick said. "I thought you had something else." "Why? What makes you think so?" "Nothing," Rick said. "Well, you'd never called me unless it's something big." "This is big," Lauren said. "He's fired. You're free from that evil coach now." "Alright." "You don't like it?" "Don't like what?" "For me to call you." "No," Rick said. "No, no. I like it." "Okay," Lauren said. "Talk to you later. Bye." She hung up the phone. Lauren's phone buzzed just as she put it on the night table. She picked it up again. "Hello?" she said. "It's me," Rick said. "What is it?" "I forgot to tell you. I've just registered. I'm going to enroll in distance learning courses. I'm going to get my degree. Too bad the spring term had already begun, so I'll start from summer." "Now, that's good news," Lauren said. "I'm glad you've finally made up your mind." "What about you?" "What about me?" "Your degree." "I don't have the time." "If I can have the time," Ricky said. "So do you." "You don't understand," Lauren said. "If I'm going to take the courses, I'll have to cut my working hours, and I'll need more money. If I need more money, I'll have to take up more working hours. So it means I can't make it, not now. Get it?" "You'll never make it," Rick said. "I will," Lauren said, raising her tone. "I know what I'm doing." "Why won't you let me help?" Rick said. "You ain't gonna sleep with me. You'll pay me back the money, so you owe me nothing." "I don't like it," Lauren said. "Please?" "No." Lauren heard a long sigh coming through the phone. She nearly laughed. She held her laughter as she smiled. "Listen," Lauren said. "I'll think about it. I'll let you know if I want it. If I don't talk about it, it means a no. How's that?" Rick sighed again. "Oh," he said. "By the way, do you give money to your mom?" "What?" Lauren said. "Hey, listen. Don't you ever do it. Don't you ever think about it. She's my mom, not your mom. You're not going to give her any money. One buck and we'll never talk again. Get it?" Lauren heard another sigh. "You know what I want to do now?" Rick said. "What?" "I want to come over and slap the crap out of you." "I dare you." Lauren heard Rick laughing. She also laughed. ------- Chapter 3 "Hey!" "Hey!" "Is this 411?" "Yeah, ma'am," Rick said, laughing. "How may I help you?" Lauren was laughing so hard she couldn't talk for a while. She took a couple deep breaths before she spoke through the phone again. "Do you know you've got a new head coach now? "Yeah," Rick said. "George Lamont." "Is he good?" "He has a reputation with new players and building up teams." "So that's good for the team and for you?" "Definitely good for the team. Not sure about me." "What about the playoffs?" "I don't think so," Rick said. "Too late, it's already March. We have only fifteen games left. We'll have to win at least twelve to have a chance, and still have to see how the other teams do." "Play the best you can!" "I'll try," Rick said. "Actually I've been trying. Do I get any reward for playing my best?" "Like what?" Lauren said. "Oh, No. Not again. Stop it, you jerk." She laughed. "Why am I a jerk?" Rick said, laughing. "Because," Lauren said. "Never mind, you jerk." She covered the phone as she laughed. "I've an idea," Rick said. "What is it?" Lauren said. "And watch your mouth." "Nah," Rick said. "Not like that. Anyway, if I can make five double-doubles in a row, you'll take my loan." "Double-double is easy. Make it triple-double and I'll think about it." "Come on," Rick said. "I'm only 5'10. How do you expect me to grab ten rebounds a game?" "Well," Lauren said. "Make impossible things happen." "For that," Rick said. "You'll have to offer more." "More?" Lauren said. "I'm not going to benefit from it. You want to become a star player and also have me in your bed? How nice!" "Did I say the bed?" "Oh my goodness," Lauren said, as she felt her face heating up. "You really are a jerk. Jerk! Jerk! Jerk!" "Okay," Rick said, laughing. "Let's not get carried away. You know triple-double is impossible. I'll make ten double-doubles before the end of this season, and you'll take the loan. Otherwise, I'll donate fifty grand to charity. That's a win-win situation. How's that?" "Triple-Double, and you'll donate fifty grand to the charity, no matter what, then we have a deal." "Know what?" "What?" Lauren said. "I'm tired of this." "Me too." "You'll be there tonight, won't you?" "Of course," Lauren said. "It's home game." "I'll make a triple-double tonight. I'll donate fifty grand." Lauren thought it over briefly. "I'll think about it," she said. "I'll let you know before the game." "Okay." "Actually," Lauren said slowly. "Let's have a deal. You'll have a triple-double tonight. You'll donate fifty thousand to charity whether you make it or not. I'll pay you back the money if you win. I'm not going to owe you anything, no matter what. This is the last time you'll ever talk about it, no matter what." "Man," Ricky said. "You make harsh terms. But okay, we have a deal." ------- "Was Rick winking at you?" Candy whispered to Laura at the courtside during the game. "Yeah," Lauren said, after a sigh. "He was." "What's it about?" "He's just won the bet," Lauren said. "Goodness, he really can make impossible thing happen. How can he grab ten rebounds when he's not even to the chest of the other guys?" "So you're going to sleep with him?" Candy said, giggling. "No," Lauren said, laughing, and slapping Candy in the arm. "He's going to give me a loan for me to go back to school." "What?" Candy said. "He needs to win a bet to lend you money? Are you alright?" "Yeah," Lauren said, laughing. ------- "We won," Lauren said, kicking off her shoes, when she went into her flat. "I know," Vanessa said, covering the mouthpiece of the phone with her hand. "And your guy had just scored his first career triple-double." "He's not my guy," Lauren said. "Whatever," Vanessa said. "I'm going to take a shower," Lauren said. "Say hi to Jim for me." When Lauren came out of the bathroom after her shower, Vanessa waved at her. She covered the mouthpiece. "Your guy called you on your mobile while you were in the shower," she said. "Told you he's not my guy." "Whatever," Vanessa said, and returned to her phone chat. Lauren went into her room and closed the door. She went to her bed and made a call on her mobile phone. "Hey!" "Hey!" "I thought you're going to the night club for a celebration," Lauren said. "Nah. I want to talk to you." "I should have known," Lauren said. "It's another setup. You had everything planned." "Nah," Rick said. "I was just trying to do the best. I nearly failed, you know. Jerry was at the courtside waiting to come in when I grabbed the last rebound." "Whatever." "So how much do I owe you?" "I don't know," Lauren said. "I'll have to figure it out." "Are you going to quit the instructor job?" Rick said. "Or do it part-time?" "I haven't thought about it yet," Lauren said. "But I think part-time. I don't want to start it all over when school is done. Which charity are you going to give the money to." "What do you say?" "It's your money," Lauren said. "Silly." "What do you say?" "Child care?" "Sounds great. Hey." "What?" "What's next?" Lauren laughed. "No next," she said. "I know what you're thinking." "What am I thinking?" "You're a jerk." "Whatever. Hey!' "What?" Lauren said, and laughed again. "I'm having breakfast with Coach Frazier tomorrow. Why don't you come join us?" Rick said. "You ain't working tomorrow, are you?" "No, I'm not working," Lauren said. "But I have an appearance in the afternoon." "Breakfast doesn't last that long." "Well," Lauren said. "No, I can't. I can't go out with you." "We're going to Uncle Frazier's place," Rick said. "That's not going out. Bring your mom if you don't feel alright." "Well," Lauren said. "I'll think about it." "You don't have a lot of time to think about it." "I know," Lauren said, giggling. "Alright. What time?" "I'll come pick you up at seven." "Okay," Lauren said. "Hey, I'm starving like hell. I need to go grab a sandwich. I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay?" "Okay," Rick said. "See you tomorrow." Vanessa was still on the phone when Lauren went to the kitchen. Lauren made herself a sandwich, and began eating her meal at the dining table. Vanessa came over a little later. "Is that the last sandwich?" Vanessa said. "Yeah," Lauren said. "You're hungry, too?" "Yeah," Vanessa said. She went to the kitchen to get herself a bowl of cornflakes and then sat with Lauren at the table. "I watched the news," Vanessa said. "They said your guy was superhuman today. They said he was everywhere, doing everything, playing like MJ and AI combined." Lauren swallowed the food in her mouth in a gulp. "He's not my guy," she said. "I've told you a million times. I'm not dating him, I'm not sleeping with him, and I haven't even been to a dinner with him alone." "Well," Vanessa said. "That's indeed platonic." "Huh?" "Do you talk to him on the phone?" "Yeah, of course. I just did. We are friends." "Do you talk to him everyday?" "Well, I talk to you everyday. I'm not your girl." Vanessa laughed. "We live together," she said. "That's why we talk everyday. Tell me, how much time do you spend talking with him everyday?" Lauren knew she was blushing. "Depends," she said. "Like an hour or two, or even three?" "It doesn't mean anything." "Whatever," Vanessa said, snickering. ------- "Tell me something," Lauren said in Rick's car, while they were on their way to Uncle Frazier's apartment. "What?" "Do you think I'm your date or girlfriend?" "Why?" "Just tell me." "Well," Rick said. "I wish. But, no." "Why not?" "Why why not?" "Damn it," Lauren said. "Just answer me, you jerk!" "It's obvious," Rick said. "We've never gone out, we've never kissed, and we've never been to the bed. Actually, I've never touched you except the hugs. What's wrong?" Lauren let out a long sigh. "Nothing," she said. "Come on." "I said nothing." "Do you know you're impossible to deal with?" Rick said. "I know," Lauren said. "And you don't have to deal with me." "Nah," Rick said. "I didn't mean that." "Then stop whining," Lauren said, smiling. She then thought of something and changed the topic. "Are you always like this?" "Like what?" "Being," Lauren said. "I mean, consenting, until you have the girls in your bed." "Nah." "Nah?" "Well," Rick said slowly. "You know I was a star player at school, both at P278 and at NC. I've never had problems getting girls to sleep with me. Well, not all of them would, but I was, like, I mean, I never had to worry. You know what I mean?" "Yeah," Lauren said, giggling. "You jerk." Rick laughed, too, and then went on. "I've never been a star in the NBA, but once you're in the NBA, you don't have to worry about women." "So you've been having women all the time?" "Well," Rick said, laughing. "Not always. But, anyway, no, I ain't consenting to anyone because I want to sleep with them. And I ain't consenting to you, for anything, although, yeah, I won't deny it, I'd dreamed about it." Lauren almost felt tears in her eyes as she laughed. "You goddamned jerk!" She said. "Anyway," Rick said. "I bought Coach Frazier some Iberian ham. I though your mom might like it, so I bought a little more. Will you give them to her?" "Okay, thanks," Lauren said. "I'll tell her it's from you." "Nah," Rick said. "Tell her it's from you." "She knows I wouldn't," Lauren said, giggling. "Did you buy some for your folks, too?" "Yeah," Rick said. "I'm having dinner with them tonight." "Okay," Lauren said. "By the way, how did you get divorced?" "Well," Rick said. "She found out I cheated on her." "Damn it," Lauren said. "Don't you feel ashamed?" "Well," Rick said. "Yeah, when I saw her face after she found out." "Not when you were doing it?" Lauren said. "Not afterward?" "Nah," Rick said. "You're right in that I'm a jerk." Lauren sighed. "Yeah," she said. "You really are a jerk." "I've also learned one thing," Rick said. "From the brief marriage." "What's it?" "It's easy to say 'I love you'," Rick said. "It's very hard to do it." "Yeah," Lauren said. "You're right this time." "Yeah." "So," Lauren said. "Do you mean if you really love someone, you won't cheat on her?" "I don't know," Rick said. "I hope so." "You hope?" "Yeah," Rick said. "I hope. You know, I've never been there yet. So, I don't know. I can't tell. It's a mouthful of shit to say something I don't know shit about." "So you're saying you didn't love her?" "Like you said, I didn't feel shameful when I was cheating on her, and I mean, it wasn't just once, it wasn't just twice..." Lauren laughed as she shook her head. "My goodness," she said. Rick laughed before he went on slowly. "I'd thought about it after the divorce. I couldn't have been giving her my whole heart. Doesn't sound right, does it?" "I guess so," Lauren said. "Did she get a great deal out of you?" "Well," Rick said. "I guess. But I'd never made big bucks from the NBA, so it's not huge." Lauren went to her mom's apartment, gave her Rick's ham, and chatted with her for a while before she went over to Uncle Frazier's flat. "Mom says thanks," Lauren told Rick when he opened the door for her. "She had already had her breakfast, and she's not interested in basketball talks, so she's not coming." "Alright," Uncle Frazier said, holding the coffee Carafe in his hand. "Milk or black?" "Black, please," Lauren said. "So, what's the topic?" "We're talking about my head coach," Rick said. "What about him?" "How things turned around so drastically," Rick said. "Coach Lamont didn't even make it to the NBA as a player, but is now a NBA head coach." "Oh," Lauren said. "That's interesting." "And guess what?" "What?" "He coached Coach Lamont," Rick said, pointing at Uncle Frazier. "Wow!" Lauren said, turning over to Uncle Frazier. "In high school?" "No," the old man said slowly. "At Arizona State." "You'd coached at Arizona State?" Lauren said. "I didn't know you had coached in college." "It was a long time ago." "Why, why, I mean, why did you come to coach high school, then?" "It's not something I'm proud of," Coach Frazier said. "About what happened at Arizona State." "Oh, I'm sorry," Lauren said, and switched topic. "So did you watch the game last night?" "Of course," Mr. Frazier said, smiling. "I was there. He gave me a ticket. I saw you dance, too. You were adorable." "Thanks," Lauren said, smiling. "He can really make impossible thing happen, huh?" "The triple-double? That's nowhere near impossible." "Come on," Lauren said, giggling. "Don't be too hard on him. He's only 5'10." "Earl Boyce is only 5'5," Uncle Frazier said. "That's two inches shorter than you, and he's grabbing about two rebounds off the bench." "Wow," Lauren said. "That's amazing. So, what do you think is impossible for him?" She glanced at Rick, who was watching them attentively. "Not much." "Like, forty 3-pointers in a row?" "That is impossible," Uncle Frazier said. "But you don't make forty 3-point attempts in a game." Lauren glanced at Rick again. He was smiling slyly at her. "What will he get if he makes forty?" Uncle Frazier said, smiling at Lauren. "Nothing," Lauren said, blushing a little. "It's just an example." "My advice," Uncle Frazier said, looking at Rick, then at Lauren. "Is that you don't bet anything you can't lose. I'm not going to be held responsible for anything." "Well," Lauren said, switching topic again. "So is there any improvement he needs to make?" "Of course. Lots of them. Rick, do you know you made two lousy shot selections? They went in, but were more about luck. The down-the-lane pass to Big Mac was an awful one. You forgot he's a big man and is bound to have problem grabbing a pass below his knees. And..." "Wow," Lauren said to Rick on their way back. "I'd have committed suicide everyday if he's my coach. How long has he been lecturing you?" "Not that long," Rick said, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. "But know what?" "What?" "I ain't a great player," Rick said. "But if I hadn't had him, I'd have been a much worse player. You ain't going to believe how much impact he has on my development." "That's why you love him." "Yeah," Rick said. "I love him. But it's not just about his coaching. He's like, you know, my dad. I think he cares for me more than my dad." "Yeah," Lauren said. "I can kind of feel that, too. The way he looks at you." "Yeah," Rick said. "What are you laughing at?" "Nothing," Lauren said, still snickering. "Come on." "It's funny he said it's impossible, and then told me not to bet anything." "Just anything you can't lose," Rick said. "You can bet your clothes." Lauren slapped Ricky on his arm as she laughed. "Stop it," she struggled to say. "You jerk." "I didn't mean those you're wearing," Rick said, holding his laughter. "I said stop it. Hey, where's your earring?" "At home." "Oh, okay," Lauren said. "I thought you left it at Uncle Frazier's apartment. Hey, wait, you haven't been wearing it lately, have you?" "No." "Why?" "You said I look gay with it." "Does it matter?" "Yeah," Rick said. "I ain't gay." Lauren laughed again. "I didn't mean that," she said. "You idiot. I mean what I think doesn't matter." "Of course it does." Lauren took a deep breath. "Let's talk about something else," she said. "Has anyone from the team talked with you about a contract extension yet?" "Nah," Rick said. "But I had a talk with my agent last week. He said if I had confidence I could play at this level, I should wait until the season is over when I can be contacted by more teams. You know, competition means better price." "Okay, yeah," Lauren said. "But I really hope you'll stay at New York." "Why?" "It's my team," Lauren said. "I thought it's because we can talk." "Nah," Lauren said. "It's not about that. Next topic." She giggled. "Alright," Rick said, chuckling. He then went silent briefly before he continued slowly. "Do you mind if I ask you something?" "Yes," Lauren said, giggling. "I do mind. What's it?" Rick laughed. "Alright," he said, glancing at Lauren. "Don't get mad, okay?" "Well," Lauren said. "May be you shouldn't ask, then." "Alright." "What's it?" "You said don't ask." "Shut up," Lauren said, and slapped his arm before she continued. "And ask!" "Well," Rick said, with a choking expression on his face. He paused a little before he went on. "Coach Frazier said your mom had expressed concern about us being together." "We're not together." "I know." Rick said after a long awkward moment of silence. "Where's your appearance in the afternoon?" "I have two cousins I have never seen," Lauren said slowly. "Oh." "They were from my aunt and a jerk, a black guy," Lauren went on, even slower. "They went to foster care while still in infancy." "I'm sorry to know about that." "Shut the fuck up and listen," Lauren said sternly. "My aunt resisted a lot of pressure to go with that jerk, but the jerk ran away while my aunt was pregnant the second time. She nearly killed herself." Rick pulled out a few sheets of tissues from the box and handed them to Lauren. "We will not talk about this anymore," Lauren said, as she wiped tears off her eyes. "Get it?" "Yeah." After an extended moment of silence, Lauren said. "I want a drink." "It's still early," Rick said. "And I don't think you're in the right mood for a drink." "I don't care," Lauren said, raising her tone. "I want a drink." "You ain't getting no drink," Rick said. "So shut up and let me take you home." "Drop me off here," Lauren said, nearly screaming. "I'm going home myself." Rick pulled his car to the curb with a loud squeaking sound. "Wait here," he said and went into a store. He brought with him a six pack of beer when he came out of the store. He opened the passenger side door and put the chilled beer on Lauren's lap. Rick went back to the driver seat and pulled his car into the traffic. "You're at home now," Rick said, and looked over at Lauren. The six pack was still on her lap. They had not exchanged a word since coming off the store. "This is a fire hydrant space," Lauren said. "You can't park here." "I'm not parking," Rick said. "I'm dropping you off." "Yes, you are parking," Lauren said. "You're going up with me." "Why?" "To sleep with me." "Huh?" "To sleep with me." Rick looked at Lauren's rather emotionless face. "No," he said. "I thought you said you had wanted to sleep with me." "Yeah," Rick said, breathing a little heavily. "But not now. Not like this. You ain't in the right mood. This, this is not what I mean." "Listen," Lauren said, looking at Rick's eyes. "You want to sleep with me, and I want to sleep with you. So, shut the fuck up, go with me, and get over with it, hopefully once and for all." "That's why I don't want..." "Shut the fuck up!" Lauren said. "Either we do it now, or we never will." ------- Rick broke the kiss. He stepped back, almost bumped into the closet door, breathing heavily. He dropped his head, like he was studying his track shirt on the carpet. Lauren was also breathing heavily. "What's the matter?" she said. "I can't," Rick said, looking down at his hands. He gripped his hands into tight fists. "I can't do it." "What's wrong with you?" Lauren said, frustratingly. "Let's get over with it." "That's why I can't," Rick said, his face twitching. "I don't want it to get over. I'm sorry." He looked like he went limp, sliding down against the wall, and sank onto the floor. He sat on the carpet, with his hands on his head, and muttering to himself. Lauren reached behind herself, and clipped her bra, which was undone a little earlier. She went over to Rick, and sat beside him. She stroked his hand and shoulder, until he stopped his muttering. Then she slid her head down to his shoulder. They didn't say a word. The apartment door nearly hit Rick when it was pushed open. Vanessa jigged as she came in, and the couple jolted. "What're you doing here?" Vanessa asked. Lauren felt her face heating up. She instinctively put her arms across her chest, and looked around for her sweater. "Oh," Vanessa said, smiling slyly and waving to Rick. "Hi, Mr. Superhuman. Nice broad chest you have." Rick smiled embarrassingly. "Hi," he said. "She's," Lauren said in a flushed face. "She's my roommate Vanessa." She crawled over to grab her sweater from the floor. "You guys coming in or going out?" Vanessa said. "We, uh," Lauren said. "We just came in." "Okay," Vanessa said. "Don't worry. I'll get dressed and will be gone in a minute. Go on with your business." She carefully stepped around them and went into her room. "Where is he?" Vanessa said, when she came out of her room and saw Lauren sitting in the couch staring at the blank TV. "He left." "What happened?" Vanessa said. "Did I screw up anything?" "No," Lauren said. "We weren't doing it." "You weren't?" Vanessa said. "Then who tossed your sweater on to the floor?" Lauren was feeling so bad she would rather cry, but she couldn't help. She laughed. "Well," she said, a little embarrassingly. "He, uh... We, uh, changed our mind." "Oh my God," Vanessa said, giggling, and went to sit beside Lauren. "You took off your clothes and he changed his mind? Is he gay?" "No," Lauren said. "You won't understand." She let out a long sigh. "Are you alright?" "Yeah," Lauren said. "I'm alright." "Okay," Vanessa said. "I have to go now. I'll be here tonight if you want to talk with me." "Okay. Enjoy the day, Nessa." Lauren went to her bed after Vanessa had left. She stared at the ceiling until it was about time for her dance team appearance. She got up and made a phone call. "Donna?" "Who's that?" "This is Lauren. I need to talk to you. Do you have time?" "Now?" "Yeah." "What's it about?" "Well," Lauren said into her phone, after taking a deep breath. "I'm quitting." "Something about Rick Hart?" "Yes." "I thought you said there's nothing between you and him." "There was nothing. But things have changed." "You're dating him now?" "Well," Lauren said. "No, not exactly. Not yet. But I think I'm about to." Lauren could hear Donna giggling on the other end. "Come see me tomorrow afternoon at the studio," she said. "Okay," Lauren said. "But I have to let you know about it now. Do I still go to the Girl Scout Reach of Home event at four?" "Have you violated the policy? Have you slept with him?" "I don't think so," Lauren said. "No, I haven't slept with him." "Then get your ass over there, now." "What?" Candy said, with an unbelievable expression on her face. "You're quitting? Do you know you're the most popular City Dancer?" "I am?" Lauren said. "Yeah," Candy said. "According to the latest online poll. Go check NBA.com if you don't believe me. What happened? Oh my God, you've slept with him." Lauren giggled. "No," she said. "Then why?" "I have not," Lauren said, and lowered her voice. "But I know it's going to be just a matter of time." Candy giggled, and then poked Lauren in her waist. "Damn," she said. "I'm going to miss you badly." "Me too," Lauren said. "We'll go out together." "And I hope I'll replace you to be the most popular City Dancer," Candy added. "Me too," Lauren said, laughing. "Hey, where are you going after the event?" "Home," Candy said. "You're not going out?" "No," Lauren said. "Feel like dining together?" "Okay," Candy said. "Shall we ask Leta and Rosanne?" "Why not?" Lauren said. "I'll go ask them now." Lauren went home after the dinner. She took her shower, went through her bills and mails, and then went to her bed to wait for the phone call. "Hey." "Hey." "Well," Rick said. "Lauren, I, uh, I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" "You know what." "Don't worry about it," Lauren said. "And don't ever talk about it again. Don't ever. Get it?" She heard deep breaths coming through the phone. "Okay," Rick said. "I've also registered for the classes starting this summer." "That's great," Rick said. "How much?" "How much what?" "How much should I write the check for?" "I'll let you know when I have it figured out." "Okay," Rick said. "I thought you would register after the audition." "I'm not going to audition," Lauren said. "I quit." "What?" "I quit." "Why?" Rick said. "You can't." "Why not?" "You love it, don't you?" "I don't like it when you wink at me after you've made a basket." Lauren heard him laughed. "Why?" he said. "Do I need a reason to hate that?" Lauren said, covering the phone as she struggled not to laugh. "No," Rick said, laughing. "Why quit." "I'll never make it," Lauren said. "The school, I mean. I can't quit my job. It's even more important, and I love it even more." "Well," Rick said. "Wait, you will quit? Or, you have quit?" "Does it matter?" "I, uh," Rick said. "I don't know." Lauren giggled. "Next," she said. "Next what?" "Next topic." Lauren heard a banging sound. She knew Rick was banging his head against something. She covered the phone again and laughed. "Hey," Lauren said. "What?" "What are you doing after the Sunday game?" "I don't know yet," Rick said. "Maybe to the club with Diesel." Lauren made up a sigh. "What?" "Nothing." "Come on." "I haven't been to dancing for at least six months," Lauren said, lying. "You want me to take you dancing?" "No, no," Lauren said. "I was just saying that. I think I'll ask Candy." There was a momentary silence. "If I ask you," Rick said. "Will you?" "Are you asking?" "I am." "I'll think about it." Lauren heard deep breaths on the phone. "Will you?" Rick asked again. "I'll think about it," Lauren said. "Actually, I will think about it after we win." Lauren heard deep breaths again. "Do you know I've never hated a woman so much in my life?" he said. "Well," Lauren said, smiling. "You don't have to talk with me." "Okay," Rick said, very slowly, almost spelling each letter. "We will win it." "Call me after the win." ------- Chapter 4 Lauren came back to her apartment on Thursday night. She found Vanessa, wearing her sleeping tee, cuddling with Jimmy in the couch. Jimmy was topless and was wearing Vanessa's pajama boxer. They were apparently taking a break from their lovable activity. The TV was showing a Knicks game. They greeted Lauren. "Why so late?" Jimmy asked her. "I'm taking up additional hours," Lauren said. "Half time?" "Beginning forth quarter," Jimmy said, smiling. "And I'm waiting for a replacement off the bench. Ouch!" He groaned when Vanessa was apparently giving his crotch some hard time. Lauren giggled with Vanessa. "What's the score?" she said as she went to sit beside her roommate. "Trailing by five," Vanessa said. "Your guy is two rebounds and an assist from his second triple-double." "Is Rick on the starting line-up?" Lauren asked. "No," Jimmy said. "But he played more minutes than Jerry, much more." "I wonder why they won't put him on the starting line-up." "They usually put the more experienced guy for that," Jimmy said. "Unless he's a star player. Oh." He sighed when the audience in the TV jeered as a Knicks player missed a jumper. "Yes, pass, idiot! Fuck!" He bawled when the Knicks grabbed the rebound but made a shot way off the mark. Lauren saw Rick tossing his sweat and went over to crouch in front of the scoring table. "Your guy's coming in," Vanessa said. Lauren poked Vanessa in the waist. "He's not my guy," she said. Vanessa rolled her eyes. "It's so gusty this morning the wind blew away my sweater," she said, then turned to Jimmy. "Or did you take it off?" "Stop it," Lauren said, blushing. She poked Vanessa again. "Are you sure she wasn't moaning when you saw them on the floor?" Jimmy asked Vanessa, while glancing at Lauren. Lauren reached over and slapped him in the head. "Stop it, Jerk!" she said to Jimmy as the Knicks called a time-out. "You know," Jimmy said, returning his attention to the game. "We have the worst starting line-up in the entire league. We have a good B-team, and an even better C-team. Isn't that stupid?" "Who's on the C-team?" Lauren said. "Diesel," Jimmy said. "Peanut, and of course, your Rick. Your Rick, your Rick." Lauren laughed. "Shut up!" she said, "Diesel isn't that good." "Yeah," Jimmy said. "He can't shoot, he can't run, but he's like a bull, he hustles. He'll throw his body at you whenever you're in the paint. It doesn't matter if you're kicking him in the balls, he'll go grab that rebound, and dunk it even with your elbow in his face." "What about Peanut, then?" Lauren said. "He can't shoot either, and he's so small." "Wait until you see him without his pants." Lauren and Vanessa both bent down laughing. "He'd been in your ass?" Vanessa struggled to say. "Actually," Jimmy said. "He's okay in shooting, 39% from downtown is okay. Not everyone can make 60% plus like your guy does. He's all hustle, he's everywhere, and he does all those little things that won't show on the stat sheets. But what's best is when he's on the floor with your guy. He's one of the small players who can play a screen well, especially for your guy. He gets your guy the path to drive in, and give him the half second needed to make a shot." "Oh, okay," Lauren said, "Hey, I'm going to grab a drink. What do you guys want?" "Is there still any beer in the fridge?" Jimmy said. "What happened?" Lauren asked when she came out of the kitchen with beers in her hand. "Your guy's fouled when he was driving in," Vanessa said. "I think it's a mis-call," Jimmy said. "See? The commentators agree. Rick was hit by Kenny, not by them. Oh, a Technical to Johnson, too. Well, never hurts to have a few free buckets." "That's the second Technical for Johnson," Vanessa said, "Isn't it?" "Yeah," Jimmy said. "See? He's walking out now." Lauren saw Rick going to the line. He missed the Technical Foul free throw badly. "The shot is so way off," Jimmy said, turning over to Lauren. "It's like he missed it on purpose." "I think he missed it on purpose," Lauren said after a while. "Why? What's wrong with him? We need that basket. See? They're calling a time-out. I think George Lamont is going to beat the crap out of your guy." "I think it's about fair game," Lauren said slowly. "Yeah, I know it doesn't exist in the NBA." "Fuck fair game," Jimmy said angrily. "They need this fucking basket, they need this fucking game!" Lauren saw the head coach sticking his finger at Rick's nose, and then waving his hands as he talked to the players. The game went on, and then it was less than a minute on the clock. The Knicks were trailing by six. "Do you think they have a chance, Jim?" Vanessa said. "Hard to tell," Jimmy said. "Oh, fuck." He groaned in a depressing tone as the home team sank a 3-pointer. Lauren saw Rick hit a 3-pointer. Peanut then made a steal and dropped in a jump shot. The Knicks were trailing by four. Lauren checked the clock on the TV screen. Less than eight seconds were left on the clock. "They need to make a fast bucket," Jimmy said. "And then go for a steal or a foul, and hope they miss the shots, and then another fast bucket. If your guy hadn't made that fucking fair game miss, we would've been in a better position." A few seconds later Rick was fouled near half court, before he got anywhere near to shooting range. "The game's over," Jimmy said in a frustrated tone as the Knicks called their final time-out. He stared at Lauren, as if it was her fault. "Do you know how much I want to beat the crap out of your fucking guy now?" he said. "We can still force an overtime," Lauren said. "He makes the first, purposely misses the second, gets the rebound, gets out to behind the arc, and makes a three." Jimmy laughed with sarcasm. "Yeah," he said. "How perfect! Who do you think he is? Reggie Miller? AI? I don't even think either of them can make it." Lauren didn't respond. When the commercials were over, she saw Rick nodding as his head coach talked. Rick went slowly to the line when the time-out was over. The home court audience was booing loudly at him. Rick made his first shot. The second shot hit the side of the rim and bounced off strongly to the side, over the heads of the players by the paint. Rick ran over to grab the ball and dashed towards the sideline as the clock was winding down. Rick turned around and sank in a 3-pointer to silent the home court audience. Then they heard the buzzer. "Oh my fucking goodness," Jimmy screamed. "Oh my fucking goodness." He held Vanessa forcefully in his arms, and then kissed her madly in the face. "I said he could do it," Lauren said, smiling, after Jimmy had finished pecking her cheek. The overtime belonged to the Knicks. The buzzer beating shot Rick made had demolished the home team's morale. They won by ten at the end. Lauren went into her room as Vanessa and Jimmy went for their unfinished business. She lay in her bed waiting for Rick's call. "Hey." "Hey," Lauren said. "Did you miss that free throw on purpose?" "Yeah," Rick said. "And I thought Coach was going to beat me to death when I saw his eyes." Lauren laughed. "Why?" she said. "Why did you do it?" "It was a mis-call," Rick said. "So obvious. And Johnson didn't deserve that 'T'. It's not fair, very unfair." "But you needed that basket." "Yeah," Rick said. "I know. Actually, I was very sorry, right afterward. I think I will never do it again." "Well," Lauren said. "You'd made up for it." "Yeah," Rick said. "Lucky me." "It's not luck," Lauren said, giggling. "It's your will. It's the best game I've ever seen in my life. Sportsmanship, hustle and come back, and a miraculous buzzer-beating shot. That's just amazing. And don't be sorry about the miss. I think you did the right thing." "Well," Rick said. "Right things can be costly." "You're a man, you stick to your ground," Lauren said. "I'll try." "Don't call me after the Sunday game," Lauren said. "Come pick me up at six thirty." ------- "What are you looking at?" Lauren said, smiling, when she met Rick at the entrance of her apartment building. "Nothing. Oh, I'm looking at you." "Did you say hi to me yet?" "Hi, Lauren." "Are the flowers for me?" "Yeah," Rick said, and then realized the flowers weren't in his hand. He picked up the roses from the door steps and gave them to Lauren. "Sorry," he said. "Were you staring at my legs when you picked up the roses?" she said, sniffing the roses. "No, of course no." "I thought you said you never lied to me," Lauren said, smiling again. She was wearing a mini-shirt that showed her slender legs off very well. She had purposely left the top two buttons of her cream satin blouse open and had worn a black bra inside. "Okay, I was," Rick said, reluctantly. "And were you staring at my chest when you said hi to me?" "Yeah. Okay, I was." "Why?" "Well," Rick stuttered. "You're very pretty, and... And, very sexy." "Am I?" Lauren said, smiling, while slowly turning and posing for him. "Yeah," Rick said. "Yeah, of course." Lauren smiled again. "Are we going to eat first?" she said. "Yeah," Rick said. "Of course. I've reserved a table." Lauren liked it when Rick knew that he was caught looking at her chest. "Are you studying the menu?" she said. "Yeah," Rick said. "I am." "I don't think so," Lauren said, smiling. "I think you're staring at my chest again, over and over." Lauren knew he was flushing, even though it didn't show on his dark face. "Okay," he said. "Let's order. I'm sorry. I've never seen you dress like this." "I didn't dress much when I was on the floor dancing," Lauren said, after they had ordered their food. "Well," Rick said. "That's different. You're on the floor performing. And, and, usually I'd be in the dressing room or listening to Coach." "Oh," Lauren said. "So you'd never looked at me while I was performing?" "Well," Rick said. "Of course I had. It's different." "Okay," Lauren said, smiling. "So do you like it, I mean, how I dress." "Of course," Rick said. "Of course I like it. You know that." "So," Lauren said, after the waitress had taken the dishes away and gave them their coffee. "Which club are we going to?" "Which one do you want to go to?" "You pick." "You pick." "You pick," Lauren said, smiling slyly at him. "Or I'm going home." "Are you tired?" Lauren said, sipping her tequila cocktail at their table in the night club. They had not spent much time on the floor. "Well, uh," Rick said, a little uneasily. "Yeah, a little." "Really?" Lauren said, smiling at him. She knew he wasn't tired. She knew he didn't want to go to the floor with his obvious bulge in his pants. "Well," Rick said. "I, uh. Alright, I admit. You know why. Well, give me a little time. You can go to the floor first if you want." "I can?" "Yeah, of course. Why not." "Do you see that guy in cowboy shirt?" "Yeah, he's been watching you." "Do you think he's cute?" "I don't know." "Do you think I should go dance with him?" "I, uh. Nah." "Why not?" Lauren said, giggling. "He's interested in you." "Is that bad?" "Yeah," Rick said. "Okay, okay. Let's go to the floor. I don't care." Lauren didn't know if Rick ever liked dancing. She had never seen him on the dancing floor before. She knew he wasn't enjoying the dance though. He had been trying to hide himself in the corner. Lauren always loved dancing. She loved doing it all night long. However, she knew it wasn't the dancing she was enjoying. She was enjoying teasing him. "Why are we leaving so fast?" Rick said, when they stepped outside of the club about an hour later. "You want to go back in?" Lauren said, turning around to look at Rick. "Nah," Rick said. "But I thought you're going to stay here till one or two." "I think I'm a little tired." "So," Rick said, carefully. "So, what now?" "Aren't you taking me home?" "Well," Rick said slowly. "Yeah, okay. I'm taking you home." "This is a fire hydrant space," Lauren said, smiling at Rick, when he stopped his car in front of her apartment building. "You can't park here." Rick turned to look at her. He then pulled his car off the curb and almost slammed his car into the meter in a nearby parking space. The moment Lauren locked the door behind them in her apartment, Rick pulled her into his arms forcefully, and pressed his lips onto hers. Lauren wrapped her arms around his neck, and sucked his lips, then his tongue, thirstily. She rubbed her body against his, feeling his hardness through the fabric. She felt his breathing getting a little rapid as he also pressed himself against her body. Lauren broke the kiss when Rick tried to unbutton her blouse. "Not here," she breathed. She pushed him off, kicked off her shoes, and then held his hand, leading him into her room. Lauren kissed Rick again when they were in her room. Rick unbuttoned her blouse again. And then a chill went down her spine as his finger began running up and down her body. Her lips went loose and she moaned into his mouth. She felt her body quivering as his hand was cupping her breast. She broke the kiss involuntarily when he began rubbing her nipple through the bra. She pushed him off again. Lauren reached behind herself and undid the clip on her skirt and then unzipped it. She let the skirt fall down her legs as she undid her bra, while Rick was staring at her body through the dim street light coming through the window. Lauren slowly lowered her arms and let her bra fall onto the floor. She could see his Adam's apple moving up and down as he gulped. Lauren reached for his shirt and began unbuttoning him as he raised his hands to stroke her arms. She moved her fingers on his chest as he began stroking her back again. Lauren moved her face closer to his as she moved her fingers to his back, slowly pressing her breasts on to his warm and throbbing chest. They kissed again. "I think my panties are soaking," Lauren breathed when they parted the kiss. She giggled as he began reaching down to examine her. She let out a deep breath as he touched her groin through the flimsy fabric. She felt very sensitive. "They are," Rick whispered, looking in her eyes. He began slipping his fingers inside her waistband and rolled her panties down. Lauren moved her arms to wrap around his neck, pulling herself up to her toes. Rick carried her toward her bed as Lauren's panties slowly slid down her legs. Rick put Lauren in the bed and began removing the rest of his clothes. Lauren kicked her panties off, and reached for the night table drawer. She tore opened a packet as Rick joined her in the bed. Lauren pushed him gently on his chest until his back was on the sheet. She reached for his cock, studying it through the dim lighting for a bit, before she wrapped the condom over the tip of his cock. She ran her fingers up and down his cock as she pulled it down, looking at Rick's eyes. She continued caressing his cock after it was done, extending each stroke a little towards his balls. "Don't," Rick said, panting a little. "I'm going to explode." "Really?" Lauren said, giggling. "You aren't, are you? You can't. You aren't going to explode without making me happy first, are you?" Rick pulled her down to him, kissing her fervently, and rubbing all over her body. Lauren returned the kiss passionately, while rubbing her breasts against his chest, and grinding her groin against his shaft. She felt a combination of chill and heat on her skin, as well as a sense of hollowness growing within her. Rick began slipping a hand between their bodies, inching toward her groin. Lauren moaned uncontrollably when she felt his fingers over her labia. She knew she was very wet, because his fingers became damp at once on contact. "You're very wet," Rick whispered. "I know, silly," Lauren breathed. She could almost feel herself emitting as he ran his fingers around her labia. Her knees shuddered uncontrollably. She intuitively raised her hips in anticipation of an intrusion. She let out a sigh as she felt a finger tip sliding inside her. She moaned loudly. Lauren couldn't stand it anymore. She spread herself wide open and reached for Rick's cock, while pulling on his arm. Rick slowly retreated from playing with her pussy and positioned himself between her legs. She guided his cock towards her wetness. Lauren saw Rick's eyes looking deep into hers, as she felt his tip entering her pussy. A turgid and warm feeling began filling up her emptiness, sending another big chill into her body. The chills intensified as he pushed himself deeper and deeper into her. Lauren moaned as she raised her hip to meet him. She let out a sigh as he bottomed out, filling her entire hollow with his warmth. It felt like he was pressing right up against her cervix. Lauren lowered her hips as he began withdrawing, and running her fingers indiscriminately over his body. She locked her eyes into his, smiling and moaning as he thrust and pulled out. The fiction of the movements was sending enchanting currents to her entire body. He began moving faster and harder, sending more chills down her spine. He had also begun groaning intermittently and breathing faster. She moved her hips faster and faster, feeling the friction caused by his cock stroking inside her getting intensified. Lauren began biting her lip as the chills were sending her nearer and nearer the summit. She saw him tightening his teeth as he began pounding on her with rapid and deep thrusts. She dug her finger nails deep into his ass cheeks and pulled him as deeply as possible. Lauren started feeling his cock pulsating inside her. She saw his face turning a little pale. Rick was gnashing his teeth fiercely, as he pounded her vehemently. She hoped he could last a little longer, as she knew she was about there. Lauren felt as if a series of lightening bolts had struck her. She began experiencing rapid roller-coaster runs inside her, each new peak taking her climax a little higher. Her vision became blurry. She could not make a sound. She could not breath. Her entire body was trembling. Then she felt herself falling flat onto the bed, panting loudly, and she felt sulky warm all over. Rick was gapping his mouth atop her, his eyes a little blank. Lauren didn't feel his cock pulsating. She knew Rick had finished shooting inside her. Rick's arms were a little shaky, and he had begun panting as well. She also felt the turgidity inside her starting to fade, although the feeling was still enthralling. Lauren smiled at Rick, and he struggled to smile back at her. His smile soon grew bigger and more contentedly. They looked at each other's eyes for a while before Rick slowly moved to her side, withdrawing his deflated cock from her, leaving behind a trace of wetness on her hip. Rick lay beside Lauren, sliding an arm underneath her neck, and leaned over to kiss her on her forehead. Lauren tilted her head until their lips touched, and they kissed again, tenderly this time. When the kiss was over, Lauren moved her head over to rest on his chest, listening to his heartbeat while he was stroking her shoulder and back. "I can't believe this," Lauren said softly. "Me too," Rick said, also softly. "This is amazing." "Yeah, it is." "You're not leaving here tonight." "I ain't leaving." "Don't follow my line," Lauren said, giggling. "Say something new." "You came awfully hard." "I did." "Always like that?" "I wish," Lauren said, smiling. "I don't always. Actually, not very often." "I'm that good?" "You wish!" Lauren said, giggling again. "I haven't had it for too long." "How long?" "You?" "A few weeks," Rick said. "You?" "A long while." "How long is 'a long while'?" "Shut up." "How long?" "Next topic." Rick chuckled. "That's quite a long while," he said. "Told you," she said, laughing. Rick began stroking her hair. "You know," he said. "I've never been so crazy about a woman in my entire life. You're driving me nuts, over and over." "Is that good or bad?" Lauren said, tilting her head to look at his face. "Both," Rick said. "I don't know how to deal with you." "My goodness," Lauren said with mock anger. "You finally got me into bed, and now you're thinking about dumping me?" "No," Rick said, laughing. "I don't mean that. I ain't going to dump you. No way. Never. Know what?" "What?" Rick took a deep breath. "If there's one thing I have faith in," he said, looking in her eyes. "That's about my feeling at you. Not championship, not a ring, not any woman, not anything, but about you." Lauren dug her face in his chest so he couldn't see her smiling. "That's nice sweet talk," she said. "It ain't," Rick said. "Time will tell." "Well," Lauren said. "Hey." "Huh?" "You said you never have to worry about women, didn't you?" "Yeah." "Then why a few weeks? Why not since last night?" "What do you mean?" Rick said. "Oh, the how long thing?" "Yeah," Lauren said, giggling. "Well," Rick said. "They became bad. I mean, okay. The last one, I mean the last time. I was hard when I drove her home, but I went limp when I was in the bed." Lauren giggled. "You're a useless jerk," she said. Rick laughed. "Yeah," he said. "She tried jacking me off and it didn't help at all". Lauren giggled again. "So now you're saying you're jerk-less"? Rick grinned. "She then tried blowing me and got very frustrated when that didn't work". I was very scared, too, but doc said nothing was wrong with me. He said it could be the pressure, said I need rests, and told me not to try Viagra." Lauren giggled again. "So?" she said. Rick laughed again. "Well," he said. "I knew I didn't need Viagra, too, that night." "You slept with a better woman?" "Nah," Rick said as he was struggling from laughing too hard. "I beat myself off." Lauren laughed. "Guess that proves it, I've been telling you that you were a jerk since forever," she said. "Well," Rick continued. "And then I knew what the problem was." "What was it?" "Well," Rick said. "Well, okay. Don't get mad, okay?" "Okay," Lauren said. Then she realized. She blushed. "Oh my goodness, you really are the dirtiest jerk in the world." Rick was laughing embarrassingly when Lauren tilted her head to look at him. She hit his chest with her fist. "Jerk," she said, laughing, and shaking her head. "They were so good," Rick said. "I didn't need women in bed anymore, until tonight. It beats everything." "My goodness," Lauren struggled to say. "Damn. They? Oh my goodness. You weren't doing it everyday, were you?" "Well," Rick said. "Yeah, I was." He laughed. Lauren shook her head again. "Even on that day?" she said. "That day?" Rick said. "Oh, that day. Well, you don't want to know." "I want to know." "You don't." "I do. Shut up and tell," Lauren said, giggling. "Well, I nearly passed out." "What?" Lauren said. "You passed... Oh my goodness. You're, my goodness, I can't believe this." She began laughing with tears in her eyes. Rick began stroking her hair again as they slowly let their laughter subside. "Don't you ever dare to do it again," Lauren said, smiling. Rick started to laugh again. "Okay," he said. "There are more condoms in the drawer," Lauren said, giggling. "If I can move a finger in the morning, you're not going to see me again." Rick laughed again. "That's going to be tough," he said. When Lauren woke up the next morning, she found her head on Rick's chest. He was stroking her hair. "Good Morning," she said, slowly moving her fingers to his chest. "Morning," Rick said. "How's the sleep?" "Did I sleep on your chest the whole night?" "Nah," Rick said. "I pulled you over. I love smelling your hair." Lauren giggled. "Hey," she said. "What?" "What is this?" she said, raising her finger into the air. "Your finger." "Is it moving?" Rick laughed. He pulled her in the armpits until her lips where within reach, and kissed her. "No," Lauren said, after the kiss. Rick was trying to roll her over. "It's almost eight now. I'm working today." "Where will you be in the afternoon?" "At work," Lauren said. "I'm taking up more hours." "Okay. But you don't have practices in the evening now, do you?" "Seven." "What?" "I get off at seven," Lauren said, giggling. ------- Chapter 5 "Know what?" Rick said, when Lauren got into his car. "What?" Lauren said. "And why didn't you say 'hi' and kiss me first?" "Hi," Rick said, and leaned over to kiss Lauren. "Okay," Lauren said, smiling as she put on her seat belt. "What is it?" "I've talked with Coach Lamont," Rick said. "I hired Coach Frazier." "You hired him?" "Yeah, as my personal trainer." "You're paying him?" "Yeah." "Why don't they pay for him?" "I ain't no Shaq," Rick said. "I ain't no star player. The team ain't going to pay for this. They already have a coaching staff to deal with everything." "Then why do you need Coach Frazier." "I need more." "Why?" she said. "Well," Rick said, "You know I didn't play well yesterday, even though we won. So this morning I had a long talk with Coach Frazier. Then I knew what's the problem." "What's the problem?" "I didn't work hard enough," Rick said. "I'd been playing with my gift. I mean, not the one in my pants." He smiled as he turned over to look at her. Lauren laughed. "Say it once more," she said, mocking a disgusting expression. "And I'm getting out of your car." "Okay," Rick went on. "Anyway, I realized that I'd not been playing with my heart. I can't compete with the best players, simply can't, because I don't have the heart. I may grab a double-double everyday, but will lose to them when it matters. I also don't have enough details and experience." "You've been in the NBA for five or six years." "Yeah," Rick said. "Six years. But you know, I never got any major minutes on the floor until now. If you count minutes on the court, I'm just a rookie, at most a sophomore. Anyway, I need someone who knows me for post-game play-by-play reviews and skill refinement. I also need to work on my defense. Coach Frazier says I'm too ambitious for steals and make too many mistakes." "I'm not sure if I know what you're talking about," Lauren said, smiling. "But I'm glad you have realized what you've been missing and have decided to work on them." "I want to show them my best," Rick said. "I had never thought about winning a championship. But I do now. Well, not really now, but I do want it, one day." "Why not now?" "We're too far away from it." "Work harder," Lauren said. "Idiot." "It's a basketball game," Rick said. "You can't put MJ in a crappy team and tell him to get you a ring, and I ain't no MJ." "Make yourself better than MJ," Lauren said. "Or I'll stop going out with you." "Please," Rick said. "Don't do this to me." "Don't do what?" "Teasing me," Rick said. "And relating yourself to the game." "I thought you like the teases." "Nah." "Then why have you been teasing me all the time?" Lauren said. "Forty shots, eighty shots." "Okay," Rick said, laughing. "I like you teasing me. But I still don't like you relating yourself to the game." "Why not?" Lauren said, giggling. "I, well," Rick said. "I'll tell you when we get inside." Rick stopped his car in front of a restaurant. A valet parking attendant came over to take his car as they went inside. "Okay," Lauren said, after they were seated. "Now go on." "Let's order first," Rick said. He waved the waiter over. "Okay," Rick said, while waiting for their food. "You know, I had never thought about us being together, I mean really together, not like pure friends. You know what I mean?" "Yes." "Okay," Rick continued. "They were just dreams." "Dreams?" "Yeah," Rick said. "Dreams. You know, dreams are happy but unreal things. You can't catch them and you can't make them come true." "Wait," Lauren said. "I thought all those were teases. They weren't teases?" "Well," Rick said, smiling a little embarrassingly. "They were, and also dreams." "My goodness," Lauren said, laughing. "I didn't know that. Since when? Don't tell me it was the first time you saw me." "Nah," Rick said, laughing. "You were just a kid. Well, in fact not really a kid. You know what I thought when I first saw you in cheerleader uniform?" "No," Lauren said. "What did you think? To see me naked?" "Nah," Rick said. "Damn, I should. I was stupid." Lauren laughed. "Okay," she said. "What did you think?" "I said to myself: Oh, this can't be that silly kid." Lauren laughed and slapped his hand. "Okay, Go on," she said. "Wait. So you really wanted me as part of the additional double thing during the twenty shots bid?" "Nah," Rick said. "Well, first of all. It didn't matter which girl was there, if they had doubled me again, I would have taken it. I was out of my mind already. It would be great if it was you, even though you wouldn't be sleeping with me. It would be really fun teasing you for the rest of your life." "My goodness," Lauren said, shaking her head. "Okay, so, since when?" "I'm not sure," Rick said. "I think it's your junior year. I think it was when I came home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Suddenly that silly little girl who lived next door to Coach went poof, and an attractive girl showed up to give me a hug." Lauren laughed again. "Wow," she said. "And since then you've always wanted to sleep with that attractive girl, huh?" "Nah," Rick said, laughing. "Well, okay, I think a little. Hey, stop kicking me. Anyway, Nah, I think it was after a while. I mean, I saw sexy chicks all the time, I can't be drawn to you simply by that. I think it's how we talked, and how you teased me." "Duh," Lauren said, sticking her tongue at him. "I don't think I'd ever teased you during those days. I had a boyfriend." "Yeah, I think you had a boyfriend, too. But you actually had done the teases as well. You remember when I joined you guys to watch a movie? It's a James Bond movie, I think." "Yeah," Lauren said. "I remember. Yeah, it's a James Bond movie. And we made you pay for it, too. So?" "You remember that new point guard Jack who replaced me?" "Yeah, I remember," Lauren said, giggling. "We called him JJ, short for Jack the Jerk." Rick laughed. "Okay," he said. "He lived next block, so we went home together. He asked me if you were with me. He said he'd never seen you flirt like that." Lauren laughed. "Those weren't flirts," she said. "Well, okay, may be friendly teases." "So you admit you had teased me," Rick said, smiling. Lauren laughed again. "Okay," she said. "So?" "So, of course nothing happened. You know that. I knew you liked teasing me, playing with me, but weren't really interested in me. And I'd been happy to have you as a friend. Never thought about anything. But dreams are dreams, you can't control it. I never told nobody nothing bout these dreams." "Well," Lauren said. "You've done a very good job keeping me in the dark. Anyway, so what about relating me to your game?" "Oh yeah," Rick said. "So, I mean. I think we are kind of together now." He smiled at her. "Maybe," Lauren said, smiling. "It's scary to think I'll lose you. I mean, you know I can't be MJ. I deserve to lose you if I do something wrong to you, but it sucks to think I may lose you because I'm not good in basketball. You know what I mean?" Lauren mulled it over. "Okay," she said, smiling. "I'm not related to your game anymore. But you still have to be better than MJ, or I'm not seeing you again." Rick laughed. "You're impossible," he said. "I am," Lauren said, smiling. "Want to dump me?" "Nah," Rick said, laughing. "Hey, do you want to see my place after the dinner?" "Do you mean you want me to sleep with you again?" Rick laughed again. "Nah," he said. "I mean to see my place, I mean it. Okay, okay, that too." "I'll think about it," Lauren said, giggling. "Hey." "What?" Lauren said, and laughed. "Are you coming to our last home game? I mean, the last regular season home game." "I'll think about it," Lauren said. "How many tickets can you get?" "How many do you need?" ------- "I still can't do the math right," Vanessa said, as they walked towards the gate. "If we win, we go to the playoffs?" "Depends," Lauren said. "The Grizzlies are playing the Bobcats right now. If the Bobcats win, we are out. If the Bobcats lose and we win, we are in." "We'll see the result on the big screen during the game," Jimmy said. "They should be near half time by now." All three of them were wearing Knicks shooting shirts that Rick bought them. "Looks like your guy has to be superhuman again today," Vanessa said as she shrugged. "Yuck, against Houston. Yuck." The Knicks put up an early run and led the Houston Rockets by twelve early on, but the Rockets started narrowing the gap. The Knicks led by six at the end of first quarter. The Rockets further narrowed the gap and evened the game at half time. The audience turned their attention to the huge screen hung above the arena for news about the other critical game. Everyone rose in joy when they learned the Bobcats had just lost their game, as if they had already earned a spot in the playoffs. "It's not over yet," Jimmy said, after his chanting and returning to reality. "We still have to win this game." He then realized he had just pushed Lauren off him. "Come on," he said to Lauren. "Let's kiss again." Vanessa slapped Jimmy, then said to Lauren. "I'm a little worried. Your guy doesn't play like a superhuman today. How many times did you do it with him last night?" Lauren poked Vanessa. "I was in my room last night," she said. "You know that." "I mean phone sex." Lauren laughed and slapped Vanessa. But she was more worried than Vanessa. She began feeling ill when the Rockets slowly gained en edge and led by five at the end of the third quarter. The Knicks fought off the deficit in early forth quarter, and neither team had any meaningful lead since. It was a very tight game. It was also a game with both teams making many mistakes. "Your guy's been rather dull today," Jimmy said to Lauren during a time-out. "If not for Peanut and Kenny, we won't have a chance." Lauren nodded her head. "Yeah," she said. "Peanut and Kenny have been outstanding." "It looks like the game will be determined by the last shot," Jimmy said. Indeed Jimmy was correct. The Knicks were leading by one but the Rockets had the possession with eighteen seconds to go. The Rockets called a time-out, regrouped their players as well as formulating a play, and then went for their last shot. They made a basket when the clock was down to two seconds. The Knicks called a time-out. The entire audience was silent. "If it's the other night," Jimmy said to Lauren. "I'd bet a hundred to one on us as your guy would definitely make it. But he's a so-so-human today and I don't know who to count on." "I don't know either," Lauren said. "May be Peanut, or Jerry." "I think you're right," Vanessa said. "Jerry will be coming in. Diesel is sitting." Before the ball was in-bounded, Rick ran toward the referee, and called another time-out. "What's he doing?" Vanessa said. "I don't know," Lauren said. They both looked at Jimmy. "I don't know," Jimmy said. "They must have found something and need to change the plan. We only need one, so I don't think we're going to see a 3-pointer, unless it's from Rick, but Rick's not exactly Rick today." "They're in-bounding it now," Vanessa said, as Jerry went to stand beside the referee at mid-court. "Why are they taking out Kenny and bringing in Diesel?" Lauren asked Jimmy. "A bigger screen, I think," Jimmy said. "I bet Rick's going to make a fifteen to eighteen foot jumper." When players started moving before the ball was in-bounded, Rick faked a move to the baseline and then dashed toward the top of the key. The player chasing Rick nearly bumped into the defender guarding Diesel, who had set a screen for Rick before he went toward the basket himself. Rick continued to move to the key, taking the Rockets defense with him, as Jerry threw in an alley-oop to the basket where the unguarded Diesel made an easy slam dunk. The arena was in chaos even though there was still more than a second to go. The Rockets kind of tossed the ball away to welcome the Knicks to the playoffs. "That's one of the most brilliant moves I've seen," Jimmy said to the girls when they were filing out of the arena. Great decoy, great screen, pin-point alley-oop, and slam dunk from the least expected. Brilliant and stunning!" They had some food and then went home. Vanessa and Jimmy went into her room to celebrate their team's victory. Lauren changed into her pajamas and waited in her bed. "Hey." "Hey." "Can I come pick you up?" Rick said. Lauren laughed. "Where are you?" she said. "Just dropped off Coach Frazier." "Well," Lauren said. "You know it's the time of the month for me." "I know," Rick said. "I just want to be with you." "Okay." "That was a brilliant move," Lauren said, after Rick gave her his kiss in the car. "Thanks," Rick said, smiling. "You made it up?" "Well, I suggested, and Coach refined it." "Why?" "Everyone was expecting it from me," Rick said. "They were, like, gluing on to me, and I wasn't playing that well today. I didn't have that buzz." "Wow," Lauren said. "Amazing. I like that." "I knew you would," Rick said. "I seldom get compliments from Coach Frazier, but he complimented me a million times tonight." "Why were you not playing that well today?" "Honestly, I don't know," Rick said. "I don't know if it's the pressure, or I'm a little tired, or because you're having your period." Lauren slapped his arm as she laughed. "You really are a jerk," she said. "I told you it's not a one man game," Rick said. "I wasn't playing that well, but Peanut and Kenny did, and we had a chance. Jerry was a non-factor today, but he made a perfect alley-oop to send us to the playoffs." "So how do you feel about being in the playoffs?" "I don't know," Rick said. "We'll have a brief rest first, while Coach works on it." He laughed. "Poor coach," Lauren said, laughing. "Hey!" "Huh?" "Are you working tomorrow?" "You know I am." "Want to call in for a day off?" "No," Lauren said. "Actually, I thought about it, but eventually decided not to. I will never live in anyone's shadow." "Okay," Rick said. "I understand that. What if I come to pick you up when you get off work?" "I'll still be having my period," Lauren said, smiling at him. "You know I don't mean that," Rick said. "I just want to be with you." "So you don't want a blow job tonight?" "Well," Rick said. "I didn't mean that. But, you know, now that you've mentioned it. Damn, you're starting to kill me again." Lauren giggled. "Well," she said. "I'm having a long day tomorrow, getting off at eight." "Okay," Rick said. "Hey!" "What?" "Move in with me." "I'll think about it." "Please?" "I'll think about it." "I don't know how long I can stand this." "You mean you're still hard?" "I am," Rick said with a sigh. "But that's not what I'm talking about." "Pull it over," Lauren said. "I'll blow you now." "Are you serious?" "Do you want it or not?" ------- "Is the game over?" Lauren asked when she came back to her apartment on Saturday. "No," Vanessa said. "Three minutes to go, but I think we're toasted. Trailing by fifteen. Why so late?" "Damn," Lauren said, as she walked over to the couch. "A girl had to leave early and asked me to take up her class. How is he playing today?" "He's pretty good," Vanessa said. "He's everywhere, twenty six points and eleven assists. It's the useless A-team guys." "Where's Jim?" "Working late," Vanessa said. "I think he'll be here anytime." The Knicks finally lost by nine. "You know," Vanessa said. "The average spread on the sports wagers is fifteen points. So it's not too bad." "You betting?" Lauren said. "No," Vanessa said. "Some of his coworkers are, that's why I know the numbers." "I see," Lauren said. "Where are you guys going? No dancing tonight?" "How do you know?" "You never wear jeans to a dance." "Yeah," Vanessa said, giggling. "Don't feel like doing it tonight. I think we'll go to a movie after dinner. Do you want to come?" "Nah," Lauren said. "I'll stay home." "I'm not going to blow him in front of you." "That's why I'm not going," Lauren said, giggling. "You're such a bitch," Vanessa said, laughing. "But join us for dinner." "I'll think about it." "I believe he still owes you a dinner." "Does he? I thought the cover charge at Le Jardin was counted as one." "Nah, Bruce paid for it. You don't even know you'd taken advantage of him?" "No," Lauren said, laughing. "Damn, I should've known. No wonder he wanted me drunk. He wanted his investment back." "Poor Bruce," Vanessa said. "Half bottle of vodka and he's down. And he didn't even see you pour your bottle into the ice basket." "I didn't," Lauren said, laughing even harder. "You did, you bitch." Vanessa was also laughing. "By the way," she said after the laugh. "I don't get it." "Don't get what?" "Why are you still staying here? Why haven't you moved in with him?" "Should I?" "I don't know," Vanessa said. "But you're spending more time there than here." "It's just, you know, he was having a few days off," Lauren said. "When he's playing, he's on the road half of the time." "So you're moving in with him when the season is over?" "I don't know," Lauren said. "I really don't know. Let's see how things go. What about you?" "I don't move in with guys unless I get a big diamond ring as an invitation." Lauren laughed again. "That's good advice," she said. "Diamond's not easy for Jim," Vanessa said, giggling. "But no big deal for your guy." "I was thinking about a diamond boat," Lauren said. Then she heard the buzzer. "Hey, I think it's Jim," she told Vanessa. "Well," Jimmy said, when they were at the restaurant. "I'm not that much concerned. First, a best of seven series doesn't really start until the third game. Second, we really don't have a chance against the Pistons. They're too good to be a first round opponent." "Oh well," Vanessa said to Lauren. "Looks like you'll be moving in a couple weeks." "I didn't say I was going to move," Lauren said. "I honestly don't know." "Where does he live?" Jimmy said. "The Kingston, in Queens," Lauren said. "Very nice place," Jimmy said. "But I thought he lived in Westchester." "He doesn't make that much. You should know that." "He will," Jimmy said. "All time regular season highest percentage 3-point shooter, nearly a double-double per game, indefensible at the perimeter. He's not going to sign for less than ten million next season." "Is he going to stay with the Knicks?" Vanessa said to Lauren. "I don't know," Lauren said, giggling. "I'm not his agent. Damn, I wish I were." "Easy," Vanessa said, laughing. "Tell him you'll be his agent or he'll go beat himself off." Jimmy laughed so hard his head nearly hit the waiter when he came over to serve them their meals. "It may be tougher than you think," he said to Vanessa. "Unless they trade Brat Hood away for just some draft pick options, they're not going to have the salary room for Rick. Well, not at the new price tag." Vanessa sighed. "I'll miss you, Lauren," she said. "Why?" "Because you're going to move to Los Angeles." Lauren laughed. "I don't think so," she said. "Actually, I suspect I never will." "Honestly," Vanessa said. "Have you ever thought about a future with him?" "Have you?" "I haven't," Vanessa said. "I'm not interested in Rick." "Damn," Lauren said, laughing. "Why not?" "Two reasons. One, I love Jim, even though he's worthless. Two, sue me, but I only sleep with guys with a white dick. Jim, I forget your color. Can you show us your dick again?" "I'm wearing a black condom," Jim said. "Does that count?" Lauren took a few deep breaths to ease her laugher. "I didn't know that," she said to Vanessa. "You didn't know what? His dick color?" "No," Lauren said, laughing again. "Your dick color preference." "Oh," Vanessa said. "Well, because it's kind of personal. I don't think I'm discriminative against people with different skin colors. I have so many close friends with different skin colors and I love them. I think it's the way I was brought up, and it's hard to change it overnight." "I think it's prejudice," Jimmy said. "If you had given it a few nights, well, of course not now, I won't let you try." He laughed with them before going on. "Your attitude might have changed." "I thought you'd only slept with Caucasian and Hispanic," Vanessa said. "Actually, I have slept with women of all skin colors," Jimmy said. I don't have a problem with any of them." "I didn't know that," Vanessa said. "You know I was a quarterback at school." "Yeah, I know." "And you know a quarterback sleeps with everyone." Vanessa giggled. "Okay," she said. She then turned to Lauren and said. "Are you saying you're having a problem with this?" "She's already sleeping with him," Jimmy said. "Shut up, Jim." Vanessa said, slapping his hand playfully. "Are you, Lauren?" "Well," Lauren said, shifting. "A little." "I don't get it," Jimmy said. "You're sleeping with him, and you're having problem with skin color?" "Shut up," Vanessa said to Jimmy again. She then turned to Lauren. "Because of your aunt's incident?" she said. "Yeah, probably," Lauren said softly. "I think so." "What incident?" Jimmy said. "None of your business, Jim," Vanessa said. She then halted, as if she had thought of something. She said to Lauren. "I think we should tell him." "It's kind of personal," Lauren said. "Nah," Vanessa said. "You'll know why. Go tell him." Lauren thought it over briefly. "You tell him," she said. "Okay," Vanessa said, and turned to Jimmy. "Her aunt had a relationship with a black guy, and had two kids, then the jerk ran away, leaving them behind. The kids went to foster care. The aunt ran away from her family. Sounds familiar?" "Yeah," Jimmy said. "Nearly identical." "What are you guys talking about?" Lauren said. "Well," Jimmy said. "My momma had a similar history. She had a relationship when she was still in high school. The jerk ran away, leaving my momma behind with two kids. My step-brothers were sent to foster care when momma couldn't show that she could raise the kids. She was kicked out of her family. Luckily, momma met my dad later, or I'd never have existed." "I'm sorry to hear that," Lauren said. "He's also black?" "No," Jimmy said. "Whiter than the three of us combined." "So?" "So," Vanessa said. "Jerks are everywhere, in all skin colors." Lauren took another few deep breaths. "Thanks, Nessa. Thanks, Jim," she said. "So, you're moving out next week?" Vanessa said. "No," Lauren said, giggling. "I don't know." "I hope you remember you'll share the rent till the lease expires in September, whether you stay or not." "I remember," Lauren said. "I always keep my word, and I really don't know if I'll move out or not." "You really don't know?" Vanessa said, smiling slyly at Lauren. "I don't," Lauren said, giggling. "Okay, okay. I may, I don't know." "Fair," Vanessa said. "So are you going to pay for the movie tickets?" "Okay," Lauren said. "On one condition, you blow him in front of me." "Why don't you blow him?" Vanessa said. "It's your last chance to blow a white dick." ------- Chapter 6 "Hey." "Hey," Lauren said, and laughed. She just woke up. "Morning," Rick said. "Sorry, I didn't call you last night." "It's okay," Lauren said. "I went out with Nessa and Jim anyway. We went to a movie." "Oh," Rick said. "Which one? Is it good?" "'Die Hard, The Come Back'. Don't watch it. It sucks." "I ain't going to the theatre without you." Lauren giggled. "Okay," she said. "Did you have a good sleep?" "Nah," Rick said. "Coach Frazier had been bombarding me nearly all night." "For what?" Lauren said. "You played pretty well last night, even though you lost. Wait. He went with you?" "Nah," Rick said. "I called him. I think he broke your record for the longest phone chat." Lauren laughed. "Okay," she said. "And?" "You know," Rick said. "We didn't really believe we could win the series, no matter what Coach had been saying. Nobody believes it. The Pistons are too good. But Coach Frazier said nothing's impossible. He'd been trying to make me believe we can." "So do you believe it now?" "I don't know. Well, honestly, I still don't." "Why?" "I think we'd already played our best last night," Rick said. "But whenever we were almost there, they pulled it apart. They're too good." "You know you can play better, a lot better." "Lauren, I ain't no God of basketball. I'm just a human." "Yeah, a superhuman," Lauren said, struggling not to laugh. "If I were," Rick said. "You'd have come every time." He laughed. Lauren laughed. "Damn it, you jerk," she said. "I did." "You didn't," Rick said. "Silly." Lauren laughed again. "Okay," she said. "I didn't. But I nearly did. So, for Christ sake, you're superhuman." "You know," Rick said. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to play the best of my best. I ain't going to worry whether we'll win or lose. I'll just concentrate and play my best." "No," Lauren said. "That's not good enough. Concentrate, play the best of your best, and win the goddamn games, win the series." "I'll try," Rick said. "You're not going to try," Lauren said, again holding her laugh. "Idiot. You're going to make it happen." "Don't do this to me." "Know what?" "What?" "I'll grant you a wish." "Oh, no," Rick groaned. "Don't do this to me. Just pack and move in with me." Lauren couldn't hold it. She bent in the bed laughing. "Go make it happen," she said after she had enough. "One game at a time," Rick finally said. "No," Lauren said. "The series." "One game at a time." "Shut up." "Come on." "Shut up. Next. Hey." "What?" "Do you think you'll be voted the regular season MVP?" "Nah." "Why not? Every time I watch the TV, they say you play like a true MVP." "As far as I know," Rick said. "My name is not on the ballot form." "Why not?" "I practically only played the second half of the season. And I didn't play that well to start with. I don't have the stats they have. I'm also not a star player. You know, they want a star to be the MVP, not someone who may play a good season and then disappear the next season." "But you've won the 'Player of the Week' title in the last three weeks. And you're going to play at least as well next season, aren't you?" "I guess it's too late," Rick said. He paused and took a couple deep breaths, then went on. "Yeah, I believe I'll be able to play like I'm doing now. And know what?" "What?" "I don't give a damn," Rick said. "I don't care if I'm on the ballot form or not. I've never been happier in my pro years. What's more, the MVP is about a player's performance and contribution over the entire season. I don't deserve it. If I were to vote, I'd give it to Tim Fowl. He's taken his team to a whole new level." "So, do you think Tim Fowl will be MVP?" "I don't know," Rick said. "I hope he will." "Okay. Wait. Is that Tim Fowl the guy form UConn?" "Yeah," Rick said, laughing. "He's that asshole." "I thought you hate him. He kicked your ass both times at the NCAA quarterfinals." "He did," Rick said. "And yeah, I hate him. But he's really good. He deserves respect and recognition." "Well," Lauren said, giggling. "At least you're not as bad a jerk I had thought you were." "I don't get it," Rick said, laughing. "Why am I still a jerk?" "Because," Lauren said. "Well, next topic." Rick laughed, and so did Lauren. ------- "What?" Vanessa said, laughing in the couch. "You made yourself a reward for the series?" "No," Lauren said, laughing. "I told him I'll think about it." "That means you will." "I don't know," Lauren said, giggling. "You will," Vanessa said, smiling. "You're hopeless." "I don't know," Lauren said, still giggling. "No," Lauren suddenly said. "I will not." "Huh?" "He has not said the magical words to me yet." "No?" "No." "And you have slept with him?" Vanessa said. "Not just once, not just twice, not just..." "Shut up," Lauren said, giggling. "Do you sleep with guys only after they have said it first, every time?" "No," Vanessa said, laughing. "Not if they are for fun or I am too horny." "See?" "But you don't do it with him for fun, do you?" "No. But horny, may be." Vanessa laughed and shook her head. "You're hopeless," she said. "So, have you said it to him?" Lauren tilted her head thinking. "No," she said. "Hey, he's the one supposed to say it first." "Do you think he'll say it?" Vanessa said. "I mean, do you think he loves you?" "Yeah," Lauren said, smiling. "Yeah." "You're hopeless," Vanessa said, shaking her head. "Both of you." "Hey," Lauren said. "What?" "Damn it," Lauren said. "Go with us. I don't feel comfortable going to the game with Jim alone." "Why not?" Vanessa said. "He's not going to force on you. I don't have problem with it if you go to bed with him on your own accord." "You're the worst bitch I've ever seen," Lauren said, laughing. "I'll think about it," Vanessa said, giggling. "What will I get?" "Ralph Lauren Romance for your birthday?" "And Elliot Lucca shoulder bag?" "Oh my goodness," Lauren said, laughing. "Who do you think I am?" "Okay," Vanessa said. "I'll see if I can make it. I actually don't want to go myself. I'll talk with my cousin to see if I can get away with it." "Okay," Lauren said. "And forget about Ralph Lauren Romance, I saw a Rampage Ruched v-neck dress you're going to love it. Jim's going to have a huge hard-on watching you dancing in it." "Remember what you've just said. If I don't see that hard-on, you're going to blow him until he has it." ------- "Hey!" "Hey." "Why didn't you call me?" Lauren said. "I'm sorry." Rick said. "Why didn't you call me?" "You know why." "Because you lost?" "Yeah." "The series is not over." "I know," Rick said. "But we're down two-nothing. Chances are very slim. Only four teams had come back from two-nothing in the past. I, well, I don't know. I really wish we had won the game. You know, I really wanted it. It's a key. Come on, Lauren, please, forget about the series." "Well, what were the chances of me sleeping with you?" Rick laughed. "None," he said. "It was a miracle, a big one." "So?" Lauren heard Rick take a deep breath. "Okay," he said. "I'll be back around ten. What time are you getting off today?" "Damn," Lauren said, giggling. "One second you're depressed, the next second you want to sleep with me." "We don't have to sleep," Rick said. "I want to see you." "Yeah, yeah," Lauren said. "And every time I end up in your bed." Rick laughed again. "Okay," he said. "We sleep, if you also want it. But honestly, I want to see you." "Six thirty." ------- "What are our chances?" Vanessa asked Jimmy after they took their seat at Madison Square Garden at the forth game of the playoffs. "Assuming Lauren hasn't worn her guy out." "Well," Jimmy said. "Good thing is we won the last game, so our guys have the momentum to even the series. Bad thing is the Pistons are still too tough. It doesn't matter if Rick can fly. It's not a one-man game. The rest of the guys, at least the B-team and C-team guys, have to step up. I've long given up hope on the A-team guys." "I guess you're right about the hopeless A-team guys," Lauren said. "Both Peanut and Diesel are on the starting line-up. George Lamont has given up on his A-team as well." "I think I don't even see Big Mac on the bench," Vanessa said. "Is he injured?" "No," Lauren said. "May be he's late?" "No," a voice beside Lauren said. She turned over and saw a big guy with his face almost covered entirely by his beard, wearing a Knicks cap and a Knicks jersey. "He's not playing for the rest of the series, most likely not for the rest of his life." "Why?" "Like your friend said, hopeless." "How do you know?" "It's in the news," the guy said, pulling a micro-radio out of his pant pocket. "Officially, he has a stomach flu. Unofficially, he's suspended. Unidentified sources say he was not happy he didn't get enough minutes and didn't go to the practice." "Damn," Lauren said. "I hope Diesel can step up better." "On the brighter side," Jimmy said. "They'll most likely have more salary room to play with for re-signing Rick." "Yeah," the big fellow said. "If Don Wilson doesn't re-sign Rick Hart, I'm quitting as a fan. It will mean he's hopeless and therefore the Knicks are hopeless." "That's right," Jimmy said, reaching across Lauren to do a high-five with the big fellow. The big guy then handed Lauren the big bucket of popcorn he was holding. "Want some?" he asked. "Thanks," Lauren said, and picked up a few into her hand. "Pass it on," the big guy said. He then studied Lauren briefly. "You face looks familiar," he added. "You're a singer?" "No," Lauren said, smiling. The sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden had been booing loudly at the Pistons whenever they touched the ball during what could be the last Knicks' home game for the season. However, Lauren could feel the unspoken worry among the people around her. "I don't like this," Jimmy said. "Me too," Lauren said. "That's nasty." "That's not alright," Vanessa said. "That's not just double-teaming. What are they doing?" "They're trying to intimidate him," the big fellow said. "After the first quarter, they have apparently concluded that half of the Knicks is not much of a factor today, so they concentrate on Rick. If they can stop him, we are toasted. They are throwing bodies at him, challenging him whenever he touches the ball, boxing him out, and trying to make him irritated." "Oh, no," Lauren said, as the Knicks head coach was waving and arguing with the referee. "Damn it, go back, you idiot." "Oh, no," Vanessa said. "That's the second Technical for George Lemont. He's ejected." "Oh, no! Damn it, stop it," Lauren said, as she saw Rick exchanging words with an opponent player. "Technical foul, Richard Hart and Shawn Artest," the broadcaster announced the double technical foul declared by the referees. "Gee," Jimmy said. "I think we're done. You see, Rick's intimidated. Another 'T' and he'll be out, and our season will be over." "Time-out, New York Knicks," the announcer said again. Lauren saw her former dance team teammates rushing into the court to perform a routine. "I don't know how we can win this game," Vanessa said. "Well," Lauren said. "First, Rick has to contain himself, and, and..." "And," Jimmy followed up. "He has to be a superhuman, a very super-superhuman." He let out a long sigh. "Why isn't Rick making many free throws?" Vanessa said, after checking the scoreboard. "Because the Pistons are good," the big fellow said. "They've been avoiding it. They don't want to foul Rick Hart. He's too good a free throw shooter." "Why have they pulled Rick out?" Vanessa asked, when the time-out was over and they saw Jerry Dupree was on the court. "I guess they want to give him time to calm down," Jimmy said. "He needs some rests, anyway." The crowd began chanting for their team. They booed whenever the Pistons had the ball. It didn't help. The knicks were trailing by twelve at half-time. "I think you should call him in the dressing room to offer a huge reward," Vanessa said. "Tell him you're going to marry him." Lauren wasn't in the mood of joking, but she couldn't help laughing. "Should I throw in a blow job from the maid of honor?" she said to Vanessa. "Well," Vanessa whispered at her ear. "Tell him to buy white condoms." The crowd made deafening chant as the Knicks slowly regained the ground and pulled off a lead in the third quarter. "Wow," Lauren said to her friends during the break. "What a come back." "Yeah," Jimmy said. "Nobody can imagine this. The intimidation has turned into motivation for Rick, and he's Super-Rick in the quarter." "Except," Vanessa said. "I've had enough. Jim, you switch seats with me. I have enough pinches from Lauren." Lauren giggled. "Sorry," she said. "I was too nervous." "Okay," Vanessa said. "One more pinch, you will blow Jim. He'll buy me an Effy diamond pendant for it." Lauren giggled, then shook her head. "For a diamond," she said. "You'll sell everything, your friend, your body, and even your soul." "You're wrong," Vanessa said. "I'll do the same thing for a sapphire." "Okay," Lauren said, as the players returned to the floor for the forth quarter. "Let's hope they can keep the lead till the end." At the buzzer, the big fellow bear-hugged Lauren so tight she could hardly breathe. Lauren had never heard a louder chant since she started dancing for the team. While walking up the stair to the hallway, the big fellow suddenly turned around and pointed his big finger at Lauren's nose. "I remember who you are now," he said. "You're Lauren, City Dancer!" "Yeah, I am Lauren," she said, smiling, after her momentarily shock. "I'm not a dancer anymore." The big guy pulled his hat off his head, and put it in Lauren's hand. "Doesn't matter," he said. "Will you autograph it for me, please? My son's not going to believe this. He's been trying to bid for one on e-bay." "Do you have a pen?" Lauren said. The big guy searched his pockets, then started asking people around him for a pen. Lauren autographed his cap for him. After they had left the arena, Jimmy said to Laura. "I didn't know the dancers also have fans. He was like asking for a movie star's autograph." "Oh, yeah," Lauren said, smiling. "The City Dancers do have fans, even though much smaller than the team's. We have autograph time at our off-court appearances." "Can I have an autograph, too?" Jimmy said. "I do have my own pen, a big one." "Sure," Lauren said. "Drop your pants." "I think it's about to rain," Jimmy said. "Let's move faster." "Chicken!" Vanessa said to Jimmy. She then turned to say to Lauren. "Hey, we forgot to discuss my reward for attending this game. What do I get?" Lauren giggled. "V-string from Victoria's Secret?" she said, glancing at Jimmy. "Complete with satin thigh-length wrap?" Vanessa said, also glancing at Jimmy. "Gee," Jimmy said. "You guys really want me to drop my pants now?" "So," Vanessa said, when they were in the subway. "Are you going over tonight to celebrate with him?" "No," Lauren said. "I'd told him no. But I don't know if he'll still call me." "Why aren't you going over?" Vanessa said. "Well," Lauren said. "Whether they win or lose, he'll still have games to work on. I don't want him to stay up so late in critical times. Doesn't matter what he says, I'll, you know," She giggled before going on. "I'll end up there." "I think it's you who make yourself end up there," Jimmy said with a lewd smile. Lauren giggled, and slapped Jimmy. "Shut up," she said. "You jerk." "Poor Rick," Vanessa said, giggling. "By the way, Jim, is that a record for a playoff game? fifty three points in a single game." "No," Jimmy said. "Michael Jordan still holds the record with, I believe, sixty three points." "That's crazy," Vanessa said. "Yeah," Jimmy said. "But I think twelve consecutive 3-pointers is a record, both for the playoffs and for the regular season." "That's crazy," Vanessa said, "What's his record with you, Lauren?" Lauren laughed. "I'm not telling," she said. "So what do you think about their chances now, Jim?" Vanessa said. "Well," Jimmy said. "If Lauren continues to torture him like this, and he can play like he did tonight, they're going to win the series. The Pistons don't have an answer for him." ------- Lauren went to see her mom after work. Uncle Frazier was talking with her mom in the kitchen. She gave money to her mom and talked with them while the mom was cooking. "Are you staying here for dinner?" she asked Uncle Frazier. "Of course he is," the mom said. "And so are you." "Of course I am," Lauren said, laughing. After the dinner, the mom tuned the TV to ESPN, but Lauren knew she had wanted to watch the movie she was talking about during dinner. She went over to Uncle Frazier's place to watch the game. "Don't stare at me," Uncle Frazier said, as he carefully poured whisky into a Martini glass. "I've been cutting down. This glass is all I get for tonight." "I hope you remember what you've just said," Lauren said. "Or I'll kick you so hard you'll regret you're ever alive." Uncle Frazier turned around and shook his head as Lauren giggled and went to take her seat in the couch. "So," Lauren said. "How are our chances?" "Well," Frazier said. "They will come out hard. They'll use their first four team fouls on Rick to stop him from getting early buckets. They will try to get an early lead to hurt our morale. When our guys become anxious, they will double team him." "It doesn't sound good," Lauren said. "It doesn't." "What are we going to do?" "George will have to rely more on Peanut and Kenny," Uncle Frazier said. "And the other guys will have to step up early on. If we can hang around till half time, I think we'll have a very good chance." "How do you think he's playing now, anyway?" Lauren said. "Do you remember the last game?" "Yeah, of course," Lauren said. "He made his career high scoring." "It's not about the scoring," Uncle Frazier said. "It's about his determination. I think you didn't notice the flames in his eyes. Even I didn't expect the ejection of George and his 'T' would give him so much stimulation. His heart was blazed with profound desire to win the game. That's what he needs. When he has that will, he's unstoppable. He's the most talented player I've ever seen. He was just never able to find himself. I hope he can now, and can carry this throughout his career." "Did you see the blaze in his eyes this morning?" "You don't get this blaze until you're on the court," Uncle Frazier said. "You can gnash your teeth and act like you're full of determination in front of the camera, but it's the moment when you're on the court that counts." "Oh." "Does your mom know it?" "Know what?" "That you're with him." "He told you?" "Do I need that?" Uncle Frazier said, smiling. "I'm not blind." "Well," Lauren said. "You're old and wise, but you can still be wrong at times. It's about tip off now. Shut up and let's watch the game. Oh, and tell me if you see the blaze in his eyes. Oh yeah, and don't tell mom anything. Get it?" Uncle Frazier coughed as he laughed. ------- "What are you doing?" Rick said, when he woke up. Lauren giggled. "Nothing," she said. "You were pulling my beard," Rick said. "Yeah," Lauren said. "I was." "It hurts." "No, it doesn't," Lauren said. "Shut up." "You don't like them?" "Nope." "Why?" "Itchy," Lauren said, giggling. Rick laughed. "Okay," he said. "I'll shave them. But they grow fast." "Nah," Lauren said. "I may like it." "Hey," Rick said. "Do we still need to go over to your place? You don't seem to have moved everything over yet." "I'll leave them there for the moment," Lauren said. "The new roommate may want them, and I have no place to put them, anyway." "Okay," Rick said. "Hey, do you want to take a vacation after the season is over?" Rick said. "Where do you want to go? Vegas? Grand Canyon? Bermuda?" "Depends," Lauren said. "Depends on what?" "If you win the title." "Oh, no," Rick said. "Come on, beating the Pistons and going into the second round is already a huge achievement." "Don't you want it?" "Yeah," Rick said. "Of course. But I doubt if we're there yet." "You know what they say?" Lauren said. "The columnists." "What?" "They say the Knicks are a totally different team now, compared to just a few months ago. They say you've been playing like a MVP, and have led other players to play at the level they had never been before. Diesel is now a dreadful dunker thanks to your drive and behind-the-back passes. How can he know you're passing, anyway? I don't even see the ball before he dunks." "We practiced that move a lot," Rick said. "When we were still both on the bench. It all started out trying to have some fun. He's learned to read the tiny gestures during my drive and know when I may be passing. We'd also practiced some funny moves. I'll show you sometime." "Tiny gestures? What if you don't pass?" "He doesn't care," Rick said. "That's one good thing about him. He goes up, doesn't get the ball, he comes down and wait for another one, or the rebound. He's the most hustle player I've ever seen." "But his free throws are still terrible," Lauren said. "All time lowest percentage. Why don't you practice it more with him?" "I had," Rick said, and laughed. "What's so funny?" "Well, I made a deal with him, told him if he could make four free throws in a row, I'd pay for a call girl for him. If he lost, he'd buy me a beer." "My goodness," Lauren said. "You're the worst jerk I've ever seen. Is he married?" "He's separated, I think his divorce should be near conclusion now." "Oh, okay," Lauren said. "So did he get any?" "Nah, but I have a year's stock of beer now." "Poor Diesel," Lauren said, laughing. "Anyway," Rick said. "He hired a shooting trainer for himself, trying to improve. But, you know, he ain't really a basketball player. He doesn't have that in his head. All he can do is hustle and dunk. He ain't a basketball player, he's a fighter and a hustler." "How much does he make now?" "Slightly more than me," Rick said. "He still has another year on his contract." "Well," Lauren said. "Anyway, I mean, the Knicks are now a different Knicks. You're a different Rick now. Diesel's a different Diesel now. Peanut, well, they're now calling him Coconut. And most others are also different now. So I don't see any reason why you can't go for the ring now. You may still not get it, but you can't always wait for the next year." "Well," Rick said. "Do you want to make a deal?" Lauren laughed, then she slapped his chest. "You're a jerk," she said. "You already have everything from me." "I think there's more." "No," Lauren said, smiling. "Shut up. Next topic." "Your mom is still not happy that you're with me? "Well," Laura said, letting out a sigh. "She's still not very comfortable, but she's okay with it. After all, she knows I know what I'm doing, and I'm a grown up. Know what?" "What?" "I hate Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "I didn't plan to talk with mom so early, but I can't trust him. He'll tell her everything he knows when he gets drunk. Also, Know what?" "What?" Rick said, still laughing. "It's all you fault," she said. "You ever look at me with those lustful eyes again, I'm going to stick my fingernails into your eyes." It took a while for Rick to stop laughing. ------- Lauren went into a Starbuck, and saw her former teammates waving at her from a table at the corner. She waved at them too, and went to the counter to buy her coffee before joining them. "Do you know I hate you?" Candy said to Lauren. "Why?" Lauren said. "Because I'm sexier than you?" Candy laughed, and so did Rosanne. "Alright," Candy said. "That makes it two reasons. You're sexier, and you're still the most popular City Dancer." "How can that be?" Lauren said. "Because nobody knows you've quit." Rosanne said, still laughing. "They haven't updated the information." Lauren laughed. "Not my fault," she said. "Yes, it is," Candy said. "Give me your driver's license. I want to be Lauren Gasol." "No," Rosanne said. "Lauren, give her your new address. She actually wants your guy." "Oh, yeah," Candy said. "That too." "Stop it," Lauren said, laughing. "Both of you." "If I had known he was a superhuman in bed," Candy said. "I'd have taken him without the three hundred seventy five thousand dollar bet. Am I stupid?" "Yes, you are," Rosanne said. "Extremely stupid. See how happy Lauren's laughing now?" Lauren took some deep breaths to cure the pain in her stomach from laughing. "You really are a bitch," she said. "And, no, he's not superhuman, not there." She laughed again. "Oh my God," Candy said. "You're in love with French fries?" Lauren slapped Candy in the hand as she laughed. "Stop it," she said. "Your tears are washing away your make up. You still need to perform tonight." "Still lots of time to get prepared," Candy said. "I'm not worried. Do you think we can wrap up the series tonight?" "You're a real bonehead," Rosanne said. "We can't wrap up the series in this game. We can at most take a three-one lead, and have to win one more game at Philadelphia." "Oh," Candy said. "I thought it follows the rules of strip poker." "I still don't understand, why do we have a dancer who knows nothing about basketball, not even sports," Rosanne said. "Why did you join?" Candy said, rolling her eyes. "Excitement, exposure, resume, and sexual satisfaction," Rosanne said, laughing. "Oh, and hopefully a MVP boyfriend." Lauren reached over to slap Rosanne as they laughed again. "See?" Candy said. "It has nothing to do with basketball. Anyway, is he still frustrated?" "Yeah," Rosanne said. "And it's hard on me, too." "Why?" Lauren said. "I can understand why your boyfriend's getting frustrated from the postponement, but why hard on you?" "You know I hate giving blow jobs," Rosanne said, lowering her voice. "But it's now the only way I can keep him from going on to vacation without me." ------- Chapter 7 "No," Lauren said, snuggling up to Rick's chest. "I don't want a car. What's more, I don't want a car for free. What's even more, I don't want a car as a free gift from you." "What do you want," Rick said, playing with her bathrobe belt. "Beside my gift." He pressed himself against her bum. Lauren giggled. "Who said I want that?" she said. "You don't?" "Nah," Lauren said, laughing. "Not in my ass." "So what do you want?" "Nothing." "Come on." "Well," Lauren said. "Actually, you know what I want." "I know?" "Yes." There was a momentarily silence. "I don't," Rick said. "Do you think you love me?" "Of course," Rick said. "You know that." "I don't." "You don't?" "I don't." "I love you, Lauren. I love you." "Do you mean it?" Lauren said. "Of course," Rick said. "You told me it's easy to say, but hard to do it." There was another momentarily silence. "I do love you, Lauren. I know it from my heart." "Then why didn't you tell me?" "I don't know I haven't," Rick said. He paused, and went on. "You didn't either." "Because you never had." "So, do you?" "No. Well, I don't know." Lauren resisted, but Rick managed to turn her around to face him. "You're smiling," he said. "No, I am not," Lauren said, struggling not to smile or laugh. "Yes, you are," Rick said, smiling. "Do you?" "I don't know," Lauren said, giggling. "Say it again." "I love you, Lauren. I've never been so crazy about a woman before." "I love you, too, Rick," Lauren said, smiling. "I am madly in love with you." Rick pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. "What now?" Lauren said after the kiss. "No," Lauren said, giggling, pulling Rick's hand out of her robe. "I don't mean this." "You don't?" "No," Lauren said. "Not right now." "What, then?" "I want something first." "Okay, what's it?" "The championship ring." "Oh, no," Rick said. "Not again." "Well," Lauren said. "Yes, again. Yes, again." She giggled, then went on. "You'll beat the Heat for the East Championship. Then beat, hmm, who do you think will win the West?" "I'll bet on Seattle," Rick said. "The columnists are blind. They still don't know how good Tim Fowl is." "Well," Lauren said. "Okay, beat the Heat, then beat that goddamned Tim Fowl." "It's very tough, honey," Rick said. "And the Heat are tough." "Show the 'Big Fella' you can be bigger than him." "You've seen him?" Lauren slapped his lap. "Say it once more and I might," she said. "Okay," Rick said. "It's very tough, honey. We don't have an answer for Shaq." "Send Diesel to stop him." "Diesel will be fouled out before he knows what has happened." "Well," Lauren said. "They don't have an answer for you either." "I still don't understand. Why is the ring so important to you?" "You're an idiot," Lauren said. "Because you're important to me, and the ring is important to you." "I thought this is," Rick said, pressing himself against her again. "Rick?" "Yeah?" "I forgot," she said. "Were you able to move a finger after you defeated the Sixers?" "I'm not sure," Rick said, laughing. "Why?" "When you come home after beating the Heat," Lauren said. "I will guarantee you won't be able to walk for a day. How's that?" "What if I can walk?" "You will do it until you can't," Lauren said, laughing. "Oh, damn it. Stop it, get your damn hand off my thigh. You know I'm already wet. Okay, I'm telling you this. If I can still talk afterward, you're busted." ------- "What are you doing?" Lauren said when she came back from work and saw Rick fiddling with the wires behind the TV. "I'm showing you a video," Rick said. "Remember I told you something funny I used to practice with Diesel?" "Yeah," Lauren said. "Okay, let me change first." Lauren bent down laughing as she watched the video. "My goodness, this is so funny," she said. "What are you doing with him?" "I'm bumping myself into him," Rick said. "And bouncing off his tummy." "I know that," Lauren said, still laughing. "And you throw the ball up while you're bouncing away, too." "Yeah," Rick said. "And you see? The ball goes in." "Do you make it on purpose?" Lauren said. "You're facing away from the basket. You don't even see the basket." "Yeah," Rick said. "It's on purpose. Well, half of the throws won't go. See? This one doesn't go." "Oh my goodness," Lauren said. "It's so funny. You're going to join the Harlem Wizards professional entertainment team?" "Nah," Rick said. "Well, I may, after retiring from the NBA. I told you it was for fun." "Okay," Lauren said, snickering. "You're silly, and Diesel's silly, too." "Well," Rick said. "Coach now has a dirty answer for Shaq. I don't quite like it though." "You're going to bump into him and bounce off in real games?" "Yeah," Rick said, laughing. "I'll have to be fast though, before he gets into position, or I'll be called a 'charge'. But if I can bump into him before he's set or still inside the arc, he'll easily get into foul trouble and hopefully I'll be able to attempt a 3-point play." "Well," Lauren said. "That's kind of nasty, isn't it?" "Yeah," Rick said. "That's why I don't quite like it. But this is the NBA. We do all kinds of nasty things to win. Actually, they will do nasty things to us as well, like slapping Diesel before he dunks. Nobody can make a worse free throw shooter than Diesel." "Poor Shaq," Lauren said. "Tell him I feel sorry for him." "You know," Rick said. "If they play clean with us. I'll play clean with them, I don't care what Coach says. Otherwise I'll play Harlem Wizards with them." "Okay," Lauren said. "Well, it's kind of late. Pizza or Chinese food?" "Neither," Rick said. "Let me play a dirty game with you first. I haven't had my shower yet." Lauren slapped him off as she laughed. ------- The crowd in Madison Square Garden was chanting for their heroes at their final conference home game of the season. The Knicks led the series three-to-two into this game, and it looked like they were playing with huge confidence. Many fans were already wearing tee-shirts bearing the championship series signs. The crowd became dead silent when they witnessed Rick fall hard on to the floor in a collision not long into the second half and started squirming on the floor. Lauren gapped as she stood up to look over the shoulder of the guy standing in front of her. She felt Vanessa patting her hand. The Knicks called a time-out. Lauren saw the team trainer and physician went over to inspect Rick. And then two bench players were waved over to carry Rick into the dressing room. "Do you want to go inside to check on him?" Vanessa asked Lauren. "I can't," Lauren said. "It's a restricted area. I'm not a staff." Lauren didn't know how the game was going even though she was watching. Then her phone buzzed. It was Uncle Frazier calling her. The old trainer was carrying Rick's phone. "He told me to call you," Uncle Frazier said. "He has a hamstring spasm. X-ray is negative. We're taking him to the hospital for MRI. You'd better go home after the game." Lauren didn't wait for the end of the game. She bid goodbye to her friends, went outside, called a cab home, and waited while she watched for news on the TV. Lauren rushed to the door when she heard people talking in the corridor outside. She opened the door and saw Rick on a crutch. Uncle Frazier is on one side of him and a big guy was on his other side. Rick smiled at Lauren as she threw herself onto him. The big guy bid goodbye to them as then went inside. "So how are you feeling now?" Lauren said. "I'm okay," Rick said, slowly sitting down in the couch. "Just a spasm. Damn, we'll have to go to Miami again." Lauren laughed and sighed. "You're an idiot," she said. "You can't even walk by yourself. Oh goodness, we lost the game?" Rick and Uncle Frazier laughed at her. "You didn't finish watching the game?" Rick said. "And didn't watch the TV?" Lauren slapped Rick in the arm. "Of course I didn't," she said. "I was so worried." Rick held her in his arms. "I'm sorry," he said. "But I'm fine, and I'll be fine." "He's day-to-day," Uncle Frazier said. "How can you be day-to-day?" Lauren said. "You can't even walk." "That's why day-to-day," Rick said. "I may be tomorrow. I have to. The 'Big Fella' will be laughing at us." Lauren sighed. "Uncle Frazier," she said. "Are you staying here tonight?" Uncle Frazier thought over it briefly. "I think it's a good idea," he said. "Do you have a spare room?" "Yeah," Lauren said, giggling. "But let me go clear out the room first. I'm not sure if I still have my baggage there." Rick was on his phone when Lauren went back to the sitting room. "Yeah, thanks," he said. "Of course I will. Oh, and congratulations. Yeah. Hey, not this time. I'm going to kick your ass hard this time. Okay. Thanks again. Bye." "Who is it?" Lauren said. "And milk or juice? No alcohol for both of you tonight." Rick laughed with Uncle Frazier again. "It's Tim Fowl," Rick said. "Tim Fowl?" Lauren said, raising an eyebrow. "What's he calling you for?" "Encouraging me," Rick said. "And telling me he's longing to kick my ass again in the championship series." Lauren laughed. "That's very nice of him," she said. "I told you he is a MVP," Rick said when Lauren came back with soft drinks for them. "Well," Lauren said. "I don't want him to be MVP. I want you to be MVP. Do you talk to him a lot?" "Never," Rick said. "Except on the court. Well, I sent him a two-buck card when he got the MVP award." "Rick is not the only guy who will purposely miss a shot," Uncle Frazier said. "Some do it in a different way. Tim Fowl is a knight." "Oh," Lauren said. "No wonder he always kick your butt, Rick. You're only a jerk." Rick laughed. "Should I put up a bet with him?" he said. "You for his wife." Lauren laughed. "Yeah, of course," she said. "You'll call him when I kick you out of the window." "I think I need to go to bed now," Uncle Frazier said, smiling at Lauren. "And don't do it too vigorously tonight. His hamstring still hurts." Lauren threw a cushion at Uncle Frazier as her face turned pink. "Say it once more," she said. "And you're flying out of the window." ------- "What are you doing here?" Jimmy asked Lauren when she opened the door for him at Vanessa's apartment. "And what is the score?" Lauren made a kicking gesture. "To watch the game, idiot," she said. "74-72, it's a very tight game." "Alright," Jimmy said, dropped his bag, and went over to kiss Vanessa. "Need any drink?" "Nah," Vanessa said as Lauren moved her snacks to the other end of the couch. "But if you don't mind, I want that raspberry yogurt." "No," Lauren said. "That's mine. Jim, get her the kiwi." Lauren and Vanessa looked at each other, and dashed together into the kitchen to fight for the raspberry as Jimmy laughed from behind. "Bitch," Lauren said, laughing, as she ate her kiwi yogurt. "Hmm, hmm," Vanessa said, giggling. "I like this taste." "How's Rick doing?" Jimmy said when he didn't see Rick on the floor. "He's not playing a lot today," Lauren said. "But Shaq's not either. He's in foul trouble. Peanut alone got him two fouls." She giggled. Jimmy laughed. "I think they need to change the rule," he said. "Small guys taking advantage of big fellows. You know, sometimes I like to see the blameless and frustrated look on him when he's called for the foul as a result of Rick bumping into him. But sometimes I also feel sorry for him. I think Rick makes him take at least three fouls per game, is that right?" "Yeah," Lauren said, laughing. "That's about right, and yeah, I feel sorry for Shaq, too. But they don't play clean either. They have been doing nasty things to Rick, so he goes on to punish their main guy." "Oh well," Jimmy said, laughing. "This is the NBA, what can we say? Oh damn." He groaned as the Heat made a 3-pointer. They saw Rick getting ready to check in when the Heat sank in another jump shot. "This is another game to be determined at the buzzer," Jimmy said, after a little while. "That's why we have time to fight for the yogurt, silly," Vanessa said, giggling. "Hey, Lauren?" "Huh?" "Let's talk about my reward for attending the championship series." "Oh," Lauren said, glancing at Jimmy. "Hmm, plunging V-neckline ultra high cut swimwear?" "Nah," Vanessa said. "You know I can't swim. What about a knotted straps mesh dress?" "I knew you guys would be doing this to me again," Jimmy said, smiling. "Sooner or later. So I have myself ready." He went over to his bag and pulled out two scalloped lace camisoles with front openings, one in pink and one in white. He waved the tiny garments in his hands. "Either you guys put them on now," he said, smiling. "Or shut up." Vanessa looked at Lauren, then went over to take the pink camisole from Jimmy. She pulled her halter off her head, then put on the tiny garment. She left the front of the camisole open. She then walked in a catwalk-like gait back to the couch and smiled at Lauren. "Oh my goodness," Lauren said, laughing. "Oh, no. Another setup?" "No," Vanessa said, smiling. "It is not. I didn't know he has it planned. But since he has. I think a little show doesn't hurt." "I'll shut up from now on," Lauren said, giggling. "You're a bitch, Nessa." "Well," Jimmy said, tossing the other garment into Lauren's lap and taking his seat beside Vanessa. "Let's watch the final five minutes of the game, without sexual interruption." The game was now down to sixteen seconds to go, with Knicks down by one but had the ball. They called a time-out. "What do you think?" Lauren said to Jimmy. Jimmy pointed at the camisole in her lap. "You said you would shut up," he said, smiling. Lauren made up a frown. "You're a jerk, Jim," she said. "And you're a bitch, Nessa." She put the camisole on, over her halter. "You're not supposed to wear it outside," Jimmy said. "It's lingerie." "So?" Lauren said, giggling. "What are you going to do? Sue me?" Jimmy laughed with Vanessa. "Okay," he said. "Sixteen seconds is a lot of time. They won't do anything fast. Rick will dribble until the last few seconds. The point is who will shoot." The play didn't go so well. Rick slipped as he began to drive in with eight seconds to go. The player guarding him stole the ball and went for a fast break. Peanut managed to foul him by nearly pulling his shorts off. Jimmy sighed. "I don't know how bad his hamstring is," he said. "But this is a fatal mistake. Maybe George Lamont shouldn't have him make this play." "We're not done yet," Lauren said. "There's still six seconds to go." "I know," Jimmy said. "But we're out of time-outs now, and they will use full court defense to make it hard for us to get a fast basket." The Heat player only made one of his two free throws. They saw Kenny in-bounded the ball to Rick and he dribbled it cross court under the harassment of his defender. He faked a sprint and suddenly threw the ball toward the basket at the other end of the court. The ball hit the backboard and bounced back, with Diesel high up in the air ready to catch the ball for a dunk. He was fouled before he had the ball. "Damn," Jimmy said with a sigh. "That's a gorgeous pass, perfectly executed, but we're still over. Diesel will miss both free throws." Lauren sighed too. "Yeah," she said. "The worst free throw shooter in the history of the NBA." They saw Rick talking to Diesel before he made his free throw attempts. To everyone's surprise, Diesel made both free throws. The Heat had the possession with less than three seconds to go, but they couldn't score. The game went into overtime. "You know," Jimmy said, after kissing both girls. "Those two free throws alone is worth ten million bucks." "Yeah," Lauren said. "I hope they'll kick out the entire A-team and sign an extension with Diesel and give him more money. He deserves a lot." "What do you think Rick was talking to him about before the free throws?" Vanessa said. "I don't know," Jimmy said. "Maybe offering Lauren as reward to Diesel." Lauren giggled as she slapped Jimmy. Rick made three consecutive 3-pointers from way downtown to give the Knicks a lead early on in the overtime. The Heat couldn't overcome the deficit. The Knicks won the Eastern Conference Championship. "Wow," Jimmy said. "Rick is amazing. Each game he gives me something new." "And Diesel is amazing too," Lauren said. "Isn't he?" "Yeah," Jimmy said. "A playoff rookie making two crucial free throws. A rookie who's the worst ever free throw shooter." He shook his head. "Well," Lauren said. "Are we going to eat now?" "Yeah," Vanessa said. "Lauren, are you really going to wear like this to the restaurant?" "Are you?" "Yeah," Vanessa said, giggling. "I am." Lauren looked down at her attire. "Okay," she said. "I am too." She giggled. ------- "Hey." "Hey." Lauren said on the phone. "Congratulations!" "Thanks," Rick said. "I love you." "I love you, too," Lauren said. "What did you say to Diesel before he made those free throws?" "I told him he could have you for a day if he made both." Lauren laughed. "You're the worst jerk ever," she said. "What did you say?" "That's what I told him." Lauren was staggered. "Oh my goodness," she said. "You are not serious, are you?" "Nah, I ain't serious." Lauren laughed again. "Do you know I hate you?" she said. "Nah," Rick said, laughing. "You love me, admit it." Lauren laughed once again. "No," she said. "Okay, I used to, but no more. I hate you now. What did you say to him?" "I told him Tim Fowl wanted to kick my ass, and my ass was itchy." "Oh my goodness," Lauren said. "Are you serious?" "Yeah, I am serious. Well, I also told him if he could make them both, I'd take care of the overtime." "Okay," Lauren said. "So how's the feeling now? Winning a championship." "Feels good," Rick said. "Slightly less than beating off." "Oh my goodness," Lauren said, laughing again. "You nasty jerk. You still do it?" "Nah," Rick said, laughing. "You think I'm an idiot?" "You are an idiot," Lauren said, still laughing. "How's your hamstring?" "I'm still on compressive bandage and ice," Rick said. "but I'm doing a lot better now. By the time I see Tim Fowl's shorts sliding down I'll be completely healthy." "You're a riot," Lauren said, shaking her head. "When are you coming back?" "Around eleven." "Okay," Lauren said. "Your car is still here. Do you want me to take a day off? Or is someone giving you a ride?" "Nah," Rick said. "Diesel will give me a ride. You save up the day off for our honeymoon." Lauren giggled. "You're silly," she said. "Who said I will do that? Stop dreaming. Stop beating off. Stop everything." After hanging up the phone, Lauren turn on the TV and switched to a sports channel. The famed sports commentators Charlie Brown and Heber Green were talking about the upcoming basketball championship series. "Hey, hey," Charlie Brown said. "Don't put words in my mouth. I never said I'd lick his sneakers if Al Davis could hit those two free throws. I merely said it would be like a miracle." The other commentator, Heber Green, was laughing. "Anyway," the anchor said. "Congratulations to the Knicks for winning the Eastern Conference Title. What do you think about this year's playoffs and finals?" "Well," Charlie Brown said. "This year's playoffs are indeed full of miracles and surprises. We have the New York Knicks, which was a lottery bound team just a few months ago, on one side, and the Seattle Sonics, who have swept every star studded team on the way to the finals, on the other side. But know what? The Sonics are going to sweep the Knicks. Yeah, I know, Rick Hart is Richard 'the superhuman' Hart. But know what?" "What?" Heber Green said. "We all know the playoffs are about match-ups. Let's do a match-up between them." Lauren saw a split screen on the TV showing the pictures and key statistics of Diesel and the Sonics' center, as she heard Charlie Brown continued. "Center: Al 'Diesel' Davis, you don't become a great center by shooting two free throws everyone expects you to miss; he's no match for Donald Robertson. Baron MacDonald would have been a closer match-up if he had not become a New York runaway kid. Power forward: Kenny Russell is okay but he's too old, too slow, too weak, and too small for the all-star Kevin Magnet. Small forward: who's Knicks' small forward again? Oh, okay, Jack Leigh, yeah, he is small, that's it. They need Jet Li, not Jack Leigh, against Terence McSleppy. At least Jet Li can kick. Shooting guard: Yeah, I know Paul 'Peanut' Peeler is now Paul 'Coconut' Peeler, but how can you compare him to this year's MVP Tim Fowl?" "I remember you crossed Tim Fowl out during the voting," Heber Green said, chuckling. "It was a mistake," Charlie Brown said. "I meant to strike out Kenneth Smith, not him. Anyway, you can't find any shooting guard playing at a comparable level to Tim Fowl, not even close. Point guard: Okay, I admit, I misjudged Rick Hart. I now stand corrected, Rick Hart is the current best point guard in the league. I still can't understand how a garbage time player can suddenly transform into a superhuman. If he's taking some drugs I'd like to have some of them. I can still play again if I can lose another hundred pounds." "I had seen Rick Hart three years ago at a summer training camp," Heber Green said. "If you were there, you wouldn't be surprised. That kid can do anything a human player can, of course, except dunks." "Yeah, I agree he's spectacular, if he's on Tim Fowl's team, we don't need the regular season. We don't need the playoffs. We can just give them the trophy and go fishing from November to October." "And there are more things about the playoffs," Heber Green said. "There are pace and tempo. The Sonics play a half court offense. They like to take their time, look for higher field goal percentage instead of more shots. They also have one of the best open court player Tim Fowl who will punish you for a tiny mistake in the defense." "Yeah," Charlie Brown said. "And they shoot from everywhere. You're going to be wasted by their rotation and then a ball comes from nowhere sinks into the basket." "Yeah," Heber Green said. "They are also a very solid defensive team. On the other hand, the Knicks are a much faster tempo team. They are more a transitional offense team, and will punish you for any mistakes and turnovers you make. They are also a team centering on Rick Hart, who does everything, including driving in, creating opportunities for teammates, and making perimeter shots. They have developed a sophisticated screen and roll system for him." "That's the best and also worst thing about the Knicks," Charlie Brown said. "If Rick Hart is not performing, they are done." "Yeah," Heber Green said. "That's exactly their biggest weakness. Anyway, I think it may come down to the point if the Knicks can defend their paint with modest success. They can't completely stop the Sonics, but slowing them down may enable them to enter a shooting contest against the Sonics. As for the Sonics, they will have to keep the Knicks perimeter players occupied. They can't afford to allow Rick Hart too many chances, his laser guided 3-pointers can really hurt. They may have to make him penetrate, while boxing out his supporting cast, and keep a shot blocker to protect the basket." "That I have to agree," Charlie Brown said. "And I think Gary Page will have big problem guarding Rick Hart. He is experienced and a terrific play maker, but he simply can't match Rick Hart for his speed and agility. I suspect they will put Tim Fowl to guard Rick Hart. With Fowl's height advantage and wing span, Hart may have hard time finding much opportunity to shoot." "Have you also noticed one thing?" "What is it?" "During the past few games," Heber Green said. "I have noticed that Rick Hart's been shooting from farther and farther away from the three point line. It'll be very dangerous to stick to him too close, or to try double teaming him before he's in the paint, because that will leave the zone open." "I have noticed that, too," Charlie Brown said. "I think next season we will be seeing him shooting from the half court line." He laughed. "We'll continue with depth analysis and answer calls from our audiences when we come back after the commercials," the anchor said. Laurence didn't know if the commentators' remarks were objective or not, but she's already sleepy. She turned off the TV and went to bed. ------- Chapter 8 Lauren hadn't been so exhaustive in many years. The moment she collapsed on Rick's chest after another explosive orgasm, she nearly passed out. For the next half hour or so, all she could hear was the panting and breathing from herself and Rick. "I think I can still walk," Rick said, weakly, while running his fingers on Lauren's still sweaty skin. "I don't give a damn," Lauren said, also weakly. "I don't think I can." "Hey," Rick said after his weak laugh. "Huh?" "Did you see what I said at the end of the interview with Michelle Tetra?" "No, I didn't," Lauren said. "I was either talking with Vanessa on the phone or was watching Heber Green and Charlie Brown. What did you say?" "Damn," Rick said. "I have to ask them for a tape." "What did you say?" "I said I love you." "Did you?" Lauren said, smiling and adjusting her position so she could see his face. "And who was that 'you'?" "You, of course," Rick said, quaking. "Show me the tape," Lauren said, smiling. "I don't trust you." She lowered her face and began licking his chest. "Okay." "Hey." "Huh?" "I know Charlie Brown does not talk objectively," she said. "But do we really have a chance against the Sonics?" "Very slim, honey," Rick said slowly. "It's a miracle for the Sonics this year. If you split the Sonics roster apart, they are just good players, not great players. Of course except Tim Fowl and Kevin Magnet. But putting them together, and under the leadership of Tim Fowl, they have become a super-team. It's very hard to beat them at the level they're playing now." "Then how are you going to kick Tim Fowl's butt?" "Well," Rick said. "We have to steal games from them. We have to try to make it a fast tempo game so they don't feel comfortable. We may have to let Tim score, but put pressure on the other guys and hope they will become silent. Make it a two man game. Tim may be better than me, but if I can drop a three when he puts up a two, then we may win the game. If we can steal enough games, we'll be the champion." Lauren let out a sigh. "What do you want if you win the championship?" she said. "You." "You already have me." "Every bit of you." "You already have them, silly." "A honeymoon?" "Are you proposing?" "Will you, if I am?" "Nah," Lauren said. "I don't know. Damn, stop it. It tickles. Okay, okay, I'll think about it." "Will you marry me?" "I'll think about it," Lauren said. "Wait. Is that a real proposal?" "Yeah. Will you marry me?" "I'll think... Where is the ring?" "Will you?" "Show me the ring and I'll think about it." "I can't." "Can't what?" "Can't show." "Well, buy the ring and talk to me again. You're really a jerk, an insincere jerk." "It's underneath the pillow. I can't reach it. You're on top of me." "Oh my goodness," Lauren said, giggling. "You're a super-dirty jerk." "Okay, one moment," Rick said. He struggled to reach underneath the pillow while holding Lauren in his other arm. He pulled out a diamond ring. "Will you marry me?" Rick said, raising the ring in his hand. "I'll think about it," Lauren said, smiling. "Will you marry me?" Rick said again. "Hmm," Lauren said, smiling. "I still don't know if you really love me. How can I risk myself?" "I love you, Lauren. Will you marry me?" "Say it again." "I Love you, Lauren. Do you want to be my wife?" "Put it on my finger." "That means a yes, right?" Rick said, sliding the ring into her finger. "I'll think about it," Lauren said, giggling, while studying the ring on her finger. "Do you love me?" "You know it, silly." "Do you?" "Okay," Lauren said, giggling. "I love you, and I'll marry you. Happy now?" "Yeah," Rick said, with a wide smile on his face. "How big is the diamond?" "Three carat and eighty," Rick said. "It's from my earring." "Why use that one?" "You don't like it?" "No, but why use that one?" "It's like a memento," Rick said. "For some strange reason, that moment you commented about my earring, I mean, the picture in my mind, is like everlasting." "Oh," Lauren said, smiling, and still studying her new toy. "So that's why you use it instead of buying me a new diamond?" "I'll buy you a new one." "I like this one," Lauren said, smiling. "You buy a new one for your earring." "No more earring," Rick said. "There's another reason." "Another reason?" "Yeah. It's like," Rick said. "I think, it's is symbolic. I took it off my earring and put it on your ring. You know what I mean?" "It means from now on all diamonds go to my rings?" Lauren said, giggling. "Yeah, that too," Rick said, laughing. "And no more earring on me." "What about me?" "What about you?" "My earrings," Lauren said, giggling. "Like, Edwardian earrings, Trellis earrings, Stephanie diamond earrings. You know?" "Of course," Rick said, laughing. "I've never been to Europe," Lauren said. "And I've not taken a vacation for like two years." "Okay," Rick said, laughing again. "You book? Or I book?" "I'll book," Lauren said. "I don't trust your taste. I do have some credit lines." "Use your new credit card." "My new credit card?" "Yeah," Rick said. "The envelop in your drawer." Lauren laughed. "You are a hopeless dirty ugly gay useless tricky jerk," she said. "What if I had said no?" "Don't matter," Rick said. "You'll still use the new credit card, and one day you will say yes." Lauren laughed again, and began drum-hitting him in the chest. ------- "Oh, my," Vanessa said on the phone. "You have?" "Yeah," Lauren said, smiling while watching her ring. "You're hopeless," Vanessa said. "And last time you said you wouldn't?" "Well," Lauren said, giggling. "He's a jerk. He had everything planned and led me into the setup." Vanessa laughed. "Congratulations," she said. "You're the silliest bitch I've ever seen." "You are, too," Lauren said, laughing. "Well, it may take a year or two, but you're going to be my maid of honor, and I'll buy white condoms for him." Vanessa sounded like she was choking as she laughed. "You're the worst bitch I've ever seen," she said. "Have you told your mom yet?" "No," Lauren said, laughing. "I'm going to now. I'm a little scared." "Well," Vanessa said. "I'll tell you what. Tell him to transfer his investment fund account to your name. Show it to your mom. Tell her you don't care if he runs away." "You're a bitch of the bitch," Lauren said, laughing. ------- Vanessa was sniggering as the kids were participating in a sponsored shoot around on the floor at Madison Square Garden prior to the most crucial game of the year. The Knicks were down two-to-three in the final series. They had to win this home game or the Sonics would become the champion. "What're you laughing at, Nessa?" Lauren said. "Did you watch the sports show on TV last night?" "No," Laurie said. "Charlie Brown?" "Yeah," Vanessa said, giggling. "They painted a Rick Hart butt on a board for Charlie Brown to kiss." "I thought he had taken it back," Lauren said, laughing. "He didn't?" "He insisted he had," Jimmy said. "But the anchor showed him video segments of him staying firm on his projection that the Knicks would be swept, until we came back from two-nothing." Lauren laughed. "So did he kiss the painted ass?" she said. "No," Vanessa said, laughing. "In the end he banged his head against the board, and started saying they drew a totally wrong butt of Rick Hart, said it looked more like a Janet Jackson butt." "It's in bikini?" "No," Jimmy said, laughing. "In Knicks hook shorts." "Well," Lauren said, laughing. "Charlie Brown is an ass. But it's fun watching him bullshitting and then the other guys having fun on him." "Yeah," Vanessa said, still laughing. "Better than any soap. I wonder what will he say if we win the championship." "He's neutral now," Jimmy said. "Even though the spread on the wagers are still on the Sonics' side. They don't believe Rick can keep on making more than fifty points a game." "Yeah," Lauren said. "It's hard. It's like it's Rick against the entire Sonics." "I don't get it," Vanessa said. "They say the Sonics would be a much inferior team without Tim Fowl, and they also say the Knicks would be crap without Rick Hart. Then why is it that our guys still can't match up with their guys?" "Simple," Jimmy said. "Most of the Sonics players are good players individually, but not good enough to be stars. Putting them together makes them very good. Kevin Magnet is one of the best power forwards in the league, so their interior is among the best. Putting in Tim Fowl fills up all the gaps. I don't like the way Charlie Brown compares, but I can't argue that our players are inferior. We need a couple better players to fill in the gaps. Rick's been doing too much. We practically don't have a third shooter other than Peanut and Rick. Diesel's again hopeless in his free throw shootings, so they foul him every time he has the ball underneath the basket. It's hard." "They're coming out now," Lauren said as the arena light dimming and spot light began illuminating the area the players would come out. "Wow," Vanessa said during a time-out. "Rick's really a superman. Thirty five points and there's still two minutes to go in the first half." "He needs this game," Lauren said. "He can't lose this game." "I think Rick is the only player Tim Fowl has problem guarding," Jimmy said. "He's the runner-up for 'Defensive Player of the Year'. The crowd chanted thunderously as the Knicks pulled off a 52-47 lead after Rick made another fade away 3-pointer towards the end of the first half, the biggest lead of the day. Peanut then slapped the ball away from the Sonics small forward and swung the ball toward Diesel as he dived into the crowd. The big man threw the ball to the front court as Rick sprinted forward. He grabbed the ball and made a shot at the buzzer as the Sonics point guard pulled his jersey trying to stop him. The ball went in, but Rick fell on to the floor, landing on his left wrist. He held his wrist while twisting on the floor. The crowd's roaring whoop turned into groan and then into silence. Lauren was again on her feet gapping. The Knicks staff went into the court to check Rick's condition as the referees went to the scoring table to check the replay and the clock to determine if the shot was made in time to be counted and if a foul was to be given to the Sonics point guard. Lauren knew Rick was in great pain as she tried to look over all the heads and shoulders in front of her and surrounding Rick. "Basket counts," said the broadcaster a little later. "Fragrant-One, Gary Page." "How can he shoot the free throws?" Vanessa said, as she saw Rick still holding his wrist. "If he can't," Jimmy said. "The Sonics will assign a name of their choice from our bench to do it." "He's going to make the free throws," Lauren said, as she watched Rick walking towards the free throw line. "Oh, my," Vanessa said. "He's going to shoot the free throws with one hand?" "I guess so," Lauren said. "It looks like he can't use his left hand." Rick made both free throws with one hand as the crowd chanted. He then held his left wrist and went into the hallway with staff surrounding him, and followed by cameramen. "Do you think he can still play?" Vanessa said. "I don't know," Lauren said. "They'll have to examine him first." The crowd still tried to chant for their team without their emerging star in the third quarter. Rick had not come out of the dressing room since he went inside at the half. The Sonics had overcome their deficit and was beginning to pull apart. The crowd roared and chanted when they saw Rick appeared from the hallway, with a big pack of ice on his left wrist. He went over to the bench and started talking with his coach. "Is he coming in?" Vanessa said. "Looks like he wants to," Jimmy said. "But I'm not sure. It depends on what's the doc's conclusion and what the coach thinks." "I'd rather he not play," Lauren said. "We can try it again next year if we lose this year. But if he makes his injury worse, we may lose more than we want." "He's coming in," Vanessa said, nudging Lauren. Rick played with one arm for a few minutes, struggling every time he tried a drive, and making one three-pointer out of three attempts, before the Knicks coach called a time-out. "They're taking him out," Jimmy said, as the crowd turned silent again. Lauren watched, with tears in her eyes, as Rick went back into the dressing room, accompanied by a couple staff, and some cameramen behind him. "Are we staying to watch the presentation?" Vanessa said after the buzzer. The Knicks lost the game by sixteen. The Sonics won the Championship. "Well," Lauren said. "He'll still have to come out for the presentation, and I'll be waiting for him." "We'll stay with you," Vanessa said, patting her hand. "Will he get the MVP?" "No," Jimmy said. "It's always from the winning team. Tim Fowl's been the Sonics best player in the series, so he's going to be MVP." Lauren saw Tim Fowl went over to hug Rick as he came out of the hallway. The crowd booed when the NBA commissioner presented the championship trophy to the Sonics. The commissioner then raised a smaller trophy in his hand. "The MVP of this year's playoffs," he said into the microphone. "Averaging twenty eight points, seven rebounds, seven assists, Tim Fowl!" The crowd booed again, even more louder this time. Tim Fowl came over to the presenter. "Thanks, Commissioner," he said. "I can't accept this honor. We win the championship, but I am not the MVP. Richard Hart is the MVP." He smiled and waved to the crowd as they cheered, then went back to his teammates who were clapping hands. "Is the commissioner going to give Rick the trophy?" Vanessa said, giggling. The commissioner was still holding the trophy in his hand. The big screen showed a very embarrassed expression on his face. "He can't," Jimmy said, chuckling. "Tim Fowl is not the one to determine who is the MVP. He's the one to determine." ------- Lauren switched the TV to the sports channel when Rick went to the bathroom. It was Charlie Brown shouting again. "Okay," he bawled. "Get that board out, and I'll kiss it. But know what?" "What?" said Heber Green, chuckling. "There's no written rule anywhere saying the MVP must be from the winning team. It's always been the case because a better team always wins a best-of-seven series, and the best player of the winning team is usually the best one in the series." "And?" "Well," Charlie Brown said. "Had Rick Hart not injured his wrist, the series will go to a game seven. If that's the case, I'll still bet on the Sonics, but anything can happen. Rick Hart has been playing with eight hands and six feet. He's the MVP of the series, everyone knows it. I mean, even a MVP can't play against an entire great team like the Sonics, but that's what Rick Hart's been doing single-handedly. Tim Fowl has the courage and dignity to admit it. David Steiner doesn't." "Finally," Heber Green said, smiling. "We share the exact opinion. You know what I'm thinking now?" "What?" "I feel sorry for the players on the other teams," Heber Green said. "It reminds me of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Rick Hart is going to share the trophy with Tim Fowl for years to come. I don't know who's going to get more championships, but like you said, the other teams can go fishing from November to October. If I were a player wanting a ring, I'll have to join either one of them, even for free." "I'll join Rick Hart." "Why not Tim Fowl?" "I'll have to play more minutes if I join Tim Fowl," Charlie Brown said, laughing. "I don't have to lose weight if I join Rick Hart, and I can play Gameboy while watching him play." ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-05-15 ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------