Center Courtship (28 page)

Elsu stared at me. I couldn't read the look on his face. I looked at the steering wheel again. More tears came out. “So, is this the third thing?”

“Yes, mom, Uncle Larry and Bart. I wasn't going to tell you about Uncle Larry. But I guess it's part of who I am, and what I am. I'm not a virgin.”

“Mae, in this day and age, virginity isn't the judge of a woman's character. And having it stolen doesn't make you less of a person.”

“Yes, but it's a big part of my own personal opinion of myself, Elsu. It was because of his abuse that Bart started
his.
When Bart and I started dating, he was ok with me not wanting to have sex. I was a freshman and he was a junior in high school. I think he thought it was a challenge that he set for himself to ‘break me.' So when word came down that Uncle Larry was dead, I had to relive some of that experience by explaining it to Bart. He came to find out I wasn't really a virgin and got pissed that I had lied to him. He said I should just give in to him
because I was already ‘ruined' and therefore it no longer mattered. That's when the violence started. I honestly think he got angry at Uncle Larry and took it out on me.” I shook my head. “How I got out of that relationship without having sex with him is nothing short of a miracle.” I finally slouched back in my seat and stared down at my feet on the floor.

Elsu's long fingers wrapped around my hand. Our fingers wove together and he lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it repeatedly, spreading the sensation of his mouth on the skin across the back of my hand.

“Tell me what you're thinking, Elsu. If my messed up past is too much for you to deal with, tell me now before this goes any further. If you're going to leave me, please just do it now.”

“Why the hell would I leave you?” he pulled my chin so I was looking at him. “None of that changes anything about how I feel about you. You are so strong, I envy you. I don't know how you got through all of this.”

I looked out the window.

“Look at me, Mae.” I turned back to him. “I'm not going anywhere. You have done something this past week that no one has ever done. You've connected with me on a level I didn't even know existed. I've thought about you nonstop since last Saturday. That's what that jackass Carl was talking about. I was telling Uncle Richard about how much you've affected me.”

“Oh!” I blushed. “What did Uncle Richard say?”

“Well, he said he could see there was a connection when you were at my house. I knew there was something but even I wasn't sure what it was. I've definitely never felt these feelings before.”

He pulled the paper out of his pocket with the schedule on it again and placed it in my hand. “I won't always be able to be here. I feel like I just found you and there will be times when I'll be away for a week or more. I know we just met, but I don't know if I'll be able to handle that. For some reason I want you near me whenever possible. I have a credit card, you can use it to get to any city we go to. I want you in first class for every flight. I want to know when I can't be with you, you're being cared for.” He quickly pulled a credit card out of his wallet and put it in my hand.

“Elsu, I can afford my own airfare. I don't need your credit card. And I don't need to be in first class. What if there isn't a seat in first class but there is in economy?” I pushed the card back toward him but he refused.

“Mae, I can afford this, too. I want to do this as much for you as for me. Just charge it and meet me there. Even if you don't sit in the stands, knowing you're waiting for me by the locker room, by the bus, back at the hotel, that is all I'm asking. We don't have to stay together if you're not comfortable with that, but we can spend time together. I don't know how else I'm going to survive if I can't see you. I'm not expecting sex, I want your companionship. And if somewhere down the line we get to that point, I will make sure your second time makes you forget everything that led up to your first.”

His eyes were a glimmering pool of sweetness and fire. I was starting to lose the battle of the tears as I stared at him. I studied his face for the first time. Why had I not noticed the way his brows shadowed his eyes, making his irises glow even more? Where was I when those high cheekbones walked into the room? That perfectly placed nose that I suddenly wanted to kiss for absolutely no reason than to kiss it and claim it. I had already studied his lips, but I could do that forever. His chin was round, his jaw square. I reached up and touched his face. Memorizing each detail with my fingertips. “You're insane.”

“What?”

“For wanting me, for wanting my crazy past. But I believe you. I don't know why, but I believe every word you've said. I might not be able to come to all of your games, I do have to work, but I will make an attempt. I can't promise you your ultimate goal, not yet. But the more I see you from the inside, the more I want to know you on the outside. My mind needs to catch up to my heart. It will take a long time. I don't know if I'm worth waiting for.”

“Stop with the self-doubt, Mae. You are more than worth waiting for. Sex is not my ultimate goal, Mae. You are.”

I scooted over on the bench seat and wrapped my arms around his chest and squeezed him to me as tears finally escaped my eyes. How was this man interested in me? How could he possibly want anything to do with me? He was willing to wait
for me to come around? What man does that nowadays? If he was lying, he was damn good at it. But no man could say the things he was saying with the passion he was saying them and not mean them. I had to let my heart open and accept his.

We sat in that position for a long time, his arms around me, and his hand rubbing my back in a slow rhythmic opening and closing. I caught a glimpse of my watch and realized it was already past three. I was being a horrible boss, I needed to step it up if I was going to be missing all this time for basketball season. Who would have thought Mae-Belle Rogers was going to be a basketball star's girl?

I sat up and looked him in the eyes again. “You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen, Elsu.”

“You obviously haven't looked very close in a mirror, Mae. Those baby blues suck me in every time I see you.”

“Can you answer a question?”

“Sure.”

“On the away game days when I can't be there, will you find another girl to keep you company at night?”

“No, never!”

“I thought that was what basketball players did. I'd understand if you did. I mean, you're a man and you have needs. I'm not…” I looked away from him.

“Mae, I'm not that kind of basketball player. Yes, some guys have girls in every city. I've never been like that. I'll never be like that. The only girl I want is you.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “When I saw those girls with you, I got really jealous. I've never had that feeling before.”

“I saw, and it was nice to be defended. But be warned, you will see pictures of me with women. Remember, they're just pictures. They're just fans. None of them are you.”

Why was I suddenly so possessive of him? I never felt that way about Bart.
Why did he have to keep coming back into my head?
I looked at Elsu again and touched his cheek then grabbed both cheeks with both hands and pulled him to me. I kissed him. He kept his mouth closed, so did I. I hoped he wouldn't push me away if I didn't open up for him soon. “Slow,” I whispered.

“Slow,” he repeated.

I pulled Little José into the shop and put him in park. Elsu had spent the ride on the phone with Carl and then the Independence police and fire departments regarding the house fire. He had a lot to deal with and I sat quietly as he finished his conversation with his uncle. Apparently Magdalena and Uncle Richard had been seeing each other behind Elsu's back for a few weeks and the fire was a blessing in disguise. Now they were staying together in a hotel. I couldn't help but laugh as Elsu's look kept changing from shock to disgust and back to shock again.

He finally disconnected his call and looked at me without a word. I burst out laughing.

“You think this is funny?” His eyes told me he was laughing too.

“Your uncle is a good man. He was very helpful last weekend. Well, ok, helpful in getting me gas, not helpful in bringing Bart around, but he didn't know. Anyway, everyone deserves someone, right?”

“I guess,” he sighed as he put his hand on mine.

“What did the police say? I heard you talk about Casper.”

“He won't admit it. He's claiming it was already on fire when he got there. I don't know. My uncle just happened to see the shadow of flames in his window or he and Magdalena might not have made it out. He called 911 and said when they got outside, Casper was just standing by his Corvette watching it burn. So he's out and will be playing tomorrow.”

I nodded and looked toward the door of my shop.

“Don't worry about him, Mae. He knows better. He'll leave you alone or I'll finish what I started.”

“Where will he stay?” I was suddenly reminded of the text I was waiting on from Max. I pulled out my phone and was upset that I hadn't received it yet.

“Don't know, don't care,” said Elsu as he watched me dial Max again.

“Mae! I'm texting you right now! I am so sorry!” said Max as he seemed to be trying to catch his breath.

“Ok, I'll talk to you later.”

As I disconnected, his text came in. “1A, 2C and 4D,” I said as I showed Elsu the message and the rental rates. “4D would have three bedrooms. The Ds are across from the elevator on each floor. 1A would be like mine, but on the first floor. I have two bedrooms. 2C is like Arnold's but on the second floor. Arnold has one bedroom.”

“I'll take the three bedroom. I'll need a place for Millard, and the spare room will be nice if I can ever get my uncle away from his woman. I need to find Magdalena a job. Know anyone who needs a housekeeper?”

“She could move in with me until you find a house. I never use my spare room. I thought I'd make it into an office or something, but I never did. There's already a dresser and bed in there.” Why was I offering her my home? I hadn't even said two words to her at his house and now I was giving up my bachelorette status for her.

“You'd do that?”

I smiled. “Why not? I figure if you trusted her to live at your house, I could trust her to live in my apartment. I know someone who could use help with his apartment if she can take some verbal abuse from a 95-year old man.”

Elsu laughed. “It will be up to her if she wants to do more than my apartment. She lost everything, too. I need to go shopping for furniture after this, can you point me in the direction of a furniture store?”

“4D is lightly furnished. I'm sure it's not much, but it will get you through the night. Especially since you've got a big day tomorrow.” I pulled my apartment key off my key chain and handed it to him. “Right by my door is a peg board with keys hanging on it. Grab the one that says 4D and take a look. When I come home, I'll get this back or if you're not there, Colette…oh shit I forgot to give her my spare back this morning. Well, I guess I'll have to come find you.”

“Have to? You make it sound like finding me is a bad thing.”

“It will be the best thing,” I smiled at him. “I'll see you later, let me know what you think of the apartment and I'll bring you the contract when I come home.”

“Thank you so much, Mae. You're too kind.”

“Nah, it's what anyone would do.”

“You don't understand, Mae. It's not. Most people wouldn't offer their apartment to a stranger. You're so trusting,” he looked at his key. I had nothing of any value that could be stolen and other than that one drawer by my bed. I didn't have anything I didn't want him to see. “I'll call Magdalena and let her know you've offered her a place to stay. She may not even accept. I'll let you know.” We got out of Little José and he walked around to my side of the truck and pulled me to him. “I really like knowing I'm going to be living so close to you. I can see you anytime now.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tight. Who knew hugs could be this awesome?

He kissed the top of my head and hugged me back. “I'll text you later.” He gave me a quick kiss on my lips and we parted ways.

I floated into the shop and smiled at Bonnie. “Someone had a good, long lunch.”

I just grinned at her and went to my office. I changed into my coveralls and steel toes, not wanting to stink up my new Whoopsters outfit any more than I already had. I placed it carefully back into the box I received it in and reread the note from Elsu. When I exited the bathroom I could hear Bonnie giggling and talking to someone at the front counter. I recognized his voice immediately.

I turned the corner and glared at Carl. “Leave!”

“I'm here about a part, Mae. Aren't I allowed to shop in your fine establishment?”

“NO, you're not! LEAVE!”

“See, I don't think that's something you want to say to me right now. Can we have a seat? That's your ‘office,' right?” he asked as he eyed my clear walls.

“LEAVE!”

“Mae-Belle, let's talk.” He walked into my office without being offered and I glared at Bonnie.

“I'm sorry, Mae. I didn't know he was a problem,” she whispered.

“It's ok,” I said.

I went into my office and stood behind my desk. “What do you want?”

He helped himself to moving the boxes that held my door open so he could make sure it was good and closed. “Sit, please. You make me nervous.”

“No! What. Do. You. Want?”

“Oh Mae-Belle, here's the problem. A very important item has come up missing since last night.” He sat down and pulled on the cuff of his pant leg so he could lift his fat ankle up to cross his knee.