Center Courtship (34 page)

“Aren't you guys all ready for the game!” I said as I touched Gina's new hoodie.

“You'll never guess!” she said with a smile.

“Elsu sent them over! For everyone! Even dad!” said Brandon.

“I thought it was just going to be you and your dad,” I said to Brandon and then looked at Gina.

“He got us two handicap section seats and two regular seats. I don't know how that's even possible, the game has been sold out
for months!” The tickets for the first game of the season were sold separately from the rest of the season to Massillon residents first. Season ticket holders who lived in the city had to buy separate tickets to this game. There was a huge uproar when the rich out-of-town season ticket holders with their fancy seats couldn't see the first game.

“Where did he put you?” I asked of the tickets.

“Section 105 row C, seats 4 and 5! Actually, they're not far from our season seats.”

“That's not too shabby,” I said.

I pointed to Aaron who was standing quietly beside me. “Gina, this is my friend, Aaron. You need to stay here and watch the big reveal! He's an artist! You should see what he put in at the shop!”

“There you guys are! All parked,” said Max who appeared out of nowhere. He gave me a quick tap on the shoulder and eyed Aaron.

“Max, this is my friend, Aaron. Aaron, my brother, Max.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Aaron as they shook hands.

“
This
is Aaron?”

“Yes,” I said.

Max looked between us. “Friends?”

“Friends,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“He doesn't know?” asked Aaron.

I shook my head. I was waiting for the dust to settle before I let Max in on Elsu, but this would have to do.

“With everything that's happened in the last 24 hours, I haven't had time.” I looked to Max and exhaled. “Elsu and I are kind of seeing each other,” I said shyly as if I had just found a kitten and wanted to know if I could keep it.

“Seeing each other? Like
dating
seeing each other?”

Aaron looked at his watch. “I've only got a few minutes. I'm going to go to my spot. If we get separated, I'll see you inside!” He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and walked away. I was pretty sure he was trying to avoid the impending conversation.

“That was
the
Aaron?”

“Yes! Why are we repeating questions?”

“The one who stole from Casper?”

“No, he didn't. It's a long story. But he doesn't know anything about that and that's the way it's going to stay. Understood?”

“If you're sure, I'll keep my mouth shut.”

“I'm sure.” I noticed Max's eyebrows had started to twitch. “What's wrong?” I finally asked.

“Is this Elsu thing what you were going to tell us last night?”

“Kind of. Yes, and everything is fixed now.”

“Fixed as in now he's banging my sister? I don't call that fixed.”

“Oh my God! Your kids are right here!” I said. Brandon was hanging on every word his dad said. “And he's not! Not…yet.”

“Yet? So he will?” asked Max.

“I don't know, we've been dating since Thursday night, or this morning. Depending on how you want to look at it! Just give me a break!”

A voice echoed over the now-gathered crowd and I was grateful that my attention was now turned toward Aaron and his sculpture. I quickly grabbed my phone and recorded the reveal.

Some man I didn't recognize introduced Aaron and he took the mic. Without a second's hesitation, he started addressing the crowd. “Hi everyone, my name is Aaron Carver. This past January I was approached by the city to create a piece for the Brothers Arena. It has been an honor and a privilege to create what is under this tarp. Only two people have seen it, me and my best friend who, unfortunately, couldn't make it here tonight. It took me a while to decide how I wanted to approach this project. This beautiful building behind me is the brand new home of the brand new Whoopsters!” There was a moment of loud applause and cheering. “But this
town
is the home of the Tigers!” The Massillon Tigers high school football team is known far and wide by anyone with a penchant for high school football. The crowd cheered even louder at the mention of the hometown team.

“On top of all of that, this arena will be used for lots of other activities, many of them being concerts and other musical acts! So, with no further ado, I present to you…” he and the man who had introduced him detached some straps and the tarp fell to the ground. “The Sound of Home!”

I was speechless. There were absolutely no words to explain how I felt looking at the piece. An Owl formed from metal pieces and wire soared up in a circular motion around the tubular shape of the piece while a tiger in an about-to-pounce position circled down. Between the two were music notes carved into a ribbon of metal that wove between the two magnificently formed animals. A basketball was gripped in the talons of the owl, the face on the tiger was mid-growl. Shiny, sharp teeth were nearly hypnotizing. It stood still, yet it appeared to move. I found myself circling around the piece without even realizing I had moved. My eyes were drawn from the bottom to the top and then from the top to the bottom. I couldn't comprehend how anyone I knew was this talented.

I stopped the recording and took multiple pictures and sent two to Elsu. “How amazing is Aaron? He named it ‘The Sound of Home.'” I knew he was probably busy, but I thought he'd like to see it.

I stood back with Max and his family as people swarmed around Aaron. “So, tell me more,” said Max. “Tell me why I shouldn't kick your ass. Or his.”

“Why would you kick my ass? Why does everyone think I'm incapable of making my own decisions?”

“When you said he was moving into the apartment, I wouldn't have let him if I had known this! Now he's got a booty call a floor away! I spent the last hour on the phone with that thug of his talking about security. Got the whole damn team staying there now.”

“His name is Millard and he's just concerned for Elsu's safety. Anyway, it is not the whole team. Four players, and they're not staying long. Besides, security isn't a bad thing to have, is it? Don't you want your sister safe?”

“Does mom know?”

“She knows we're seeing each other. Not that he's staying at the apartment. She thinks he should be dating Candice instead because I've tarnished the family name with my asparagus eating.” Max's face changed. He was probably not surprised about mom's reaction.

“So this is pissing mom off?”

I nodded.

“Then you better be careful. Just so you know, I'm keeping an eye on him.” I knew the mom card would work in my favor. If mom didn't like something, Max went out of his way
to
like it. We didn't always get along, but our combined goal was to make our mom as unhappy as possible.

“ELSU!” yelled Mitchell as he started running away from us and towards the entire basketball team dressed in their warm-ups as they appeared from the arena's front doors. I ran and stopped him before he got trampled by the rest of the fans. Security guards quickly stepped in and formed a wall between the team and the swarm, allowing the team to see the sculpture. They all oohed and ahhed appropriately and got their pictures taken by the press who had quickly pushed their way to the front. Scott was in the middle making sure he got good shots with everyone else. I saw some of my employees in the crowd and was happy they could make it. I eyed Elsu, but he was preoccupied with signing autographs and being the star. I could watch him forever.

I hefted Mitchell onto my shoulders, quickly wishing I hadn't. He was a little boy but his weight on my neck wasn't as light as it used to be. His height gave him a view over the crowd and he started yelling for Elsu. I couldn't see what he saw because my head was being forced forward as Mitchell pushed on me to gain leverage as he waved towards the team. “He sees me, he sees me!” shouted Mitchell as he patted my head. Poor Brandon sat in his wheelchair.

“Brandon, just think, you've got one up on all of these people. I bet no one else here got visited in the hospital by most of the team!” I smiled.

“I know,” he said, forcing a smile. The poor guy still wanted to see.

There was a commotion in the crowd and I started to panic when I thought Mitchell was falling. I then realized Elsu was lifting him off my neck.

Elsu placed Mitchell on the ground beside him and kept a hold of his hand. He looked at Brandon and smiled. “Hey, super hero!” He gave Brandon a fist bump. Cameras began flashing around us as the reporters formed a circle around the six of us.

Elsu finally looked at me and I nearly melted. How could one person make a simple glance in a crowd feel so private? He
placed a hand on my arm and kissed me on my lips. Cameras flashed and I didn't care about this picture being taken. In fact, I wanted multiple copies including 8x10's, 5x7's and a dozen wallets to stuff into Christmas cards. I was in heaven. Even though I was surrounded by people, I felt safe beside him. “I know this is your day, Brandon.” said Elsu. “I also know I told you I got you handicapped seating, but I was looking at the set up for where your aunt's seats are. I can get you and one guest down in the VIP level, if you'd like.”

Brandon's face lit up as he looked to his parents. “Can I, mom?”

Gina placed her hand on Brandon's shoulders and looked at Max. “Sure, you and your dad can sit down there and Mitchell and I will sit in the non-handicapped seats Elsu gave us before.”

“YES!!” cheered Brandon as he pumped his non-casted fist in the air.

Elsu stood behind Brandon's chair and started to push him toward the arena's front door. “I can take you guys in now, get you set up.” He looked at me, “I'll see you later! I'm pushing it right now bringing them in, are you going to be ok?”

I nodded, knowing the cameras would disappear once the team did. Besides, I wanted to find Aaron. Elsu blew me a kiss and herded my family through the door.

Just as I had expected, the cameras started to leave until someone shouted “Mae!” over the crowd.

“Oh, no,” I said as they all turned back to me. “Guys, please leave me alone. I'm no one special. Please,” I pleaded.

“Is it true you and Elsu are dating?” asked one of the men. I stepped back trying to get away but found I was backed up to a van that was parked for the popcorn and snow cone booth.

“Please, leave me alone,” I begged again. I saw Scott in the crowd and he had the biggest shit-eating grin smeared across his face. He was loving this.

“Are you going to quit your job, now that Elsu and you are together?” asked another nosy loser.

“No!” I said, angered that that was even a question. Damn, I was trying to not give them anything to quote me on.

“How long have you known Elsu?” yelled Scott, acting like a reporter and not like he knew the answer and was trying to get me to break.

“The Asparagus Farmers of America are not happy with you. Are you willing to make a statement right now?”

“Please, everyone.” I scooted to the back of the van and saw a gap between it and the group. I took my only opportunity and ran through it and towards the smaller group of people who were still looking at the sculpture. The team had all gone in by now. I found Aaron's glowing head and grabbed him by the hand and stood behind him. “Help,” I said into his ear.

The crowd of reporters had followed. Why me? I thought. I was a no one. They formed a half circle around us and started with the questions again. I had made a mistake in going to Aaron, because now he was involved.

“Are you and Mr. Carver an item?”

“Does Elsu know you're seeing Mr. Carver?”

“UGH!” Said Aaron, as he tried to keep himself between me and the reporters.

“What do you mean you don't have my ticket?” I had never been so happy to hear the voice of someone I disliked as I was right then. Saraya was standing at the will call ticket booth with her hand on her hip and a finger pointing at nothing on the counter in front of her. “I
always
have a ticket at the will call window. That's what he does!” I couldn't hear the reply she got from the employee inside the box but it was not what Saraya wanted to hear. “You get him on the phone right now and he'll tell you I have a ticket here! Look again!”

I had a feeling I knew where Elsu found Brandon's suddenly-available tickets and had to laugh. I also was struck by the fact that she knew the same system that Elsu had prepared for me. I sighed, but smiled when I saw the reporters begin huddling around Saraya. I could finally breathe and looked at Aaron. I was pretty sure he had the same look of relief on his face as I did on mine.

I turned to face The Sound of Home. “This is awesome, Aaron!”

“Thank you, Mae! This was my toughest sculpt yet. I hope they don't get mad that I included a tiger.”

“I don't know how anyone could be mad at any part of it! It's perfect!” We walked around the piece and he pointed out details to me. The whole piece was gray metal. “Is it weather proof?” I asked stupidly.

“Oh yeah, there are some bits of copper that will turn green in a few years, but I did that on purpose.” He pointed out a few more parts and then noticed that a line to get in had started to form at the front door. The doors were supposed to open at six and it was nearly 5:30.

“I think there's a VIP entrance around here,” said Aaron as he pointed toward a door with a VIP sign and green awning above it. “I saw it earlier. I wonder if we can go in now.”

We stepped to the door and knocked but there was no answer. I tried the doorknob but it was locked. We went back to the ticket booth where Saraya was still arguing with one of the poor employees behind the glass. “Excuse me,” I said to another of the employees at a different window. “We have Owner's seats and we were under the impression we could get in early,” I lied pretending I knew what I was talking about.