“What? Tim’s coming over?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I hope tonight will be one of their better ones; if not, prepare to clean up after the fight.”
“They’ve been alone together. Tim has had dinner here before, and he and Dad have actually had a beer together while watching the Knicks. I had to actually pull Tim away so we could go back to his place.”
“I guess your father figured he’d better get along with Tim or lose his daughter.”
“You got it, because Tim is a permanent fixture in my life. Also, I don’t want Tim having to do anything, because this is also partly a belated birthday surprise for him. He was at a conference on his birthday in January.”
“I bet your aunt can’t wait to get over here to see him.”
“She’s sweating me big time about him, asking if we’ve done it yet.”
“I know you have, and I’m sick over it.”
“Why?”
“Because I can just imagine how on-jam he is in bed, girl, and that he’s not with me doing it!”
“You’re so silly. I will not say a word about what Tim and I do together.”
“You don’t have to; your blushing cheeks say it all.”
“Enough; help me with these balloons.”
“How’s it going with what you want to present at Niagara, Brandi?”
“Good, I guess, Tim. I still won’t concentrate on winning. It’s early though; only March. Besides, that would take me too far away from you.”
“This could be a good opportunity for you.”
“You’re a good opportunity for me, now cut the crap and finish that steak before I finish it for you.”
His cell pulsed and he looked at the display; it showed Dr. Drexler’s number. “I’d better take this. It’s my doctor.”
“Anything wrong?”
“Not to my knowledge.” He excused himself and walked into the lobby of the restaurant.
He returned with a somber expression on his face.
“Tim, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing; she’s just checking on me.”
“Why? Nothing’s going on with you for someone to check.”
“It’s nothing.”
Brandi knew it was something, but couldn’t pin him down. “Are we still going bowling?”
He looked around at the crowded restaurant, then back to her. “Sure, we should get there before the crowd takes the lanes.”
On the way to the alley, Tim was silent, turning to her favorite radio station to keep her occupied while he tried to sort out the news brought to him by the phone call back at the restaurant.
Brandi bowled her two games and became tired of bowling a score of less than 65. She watched Tim continue practicing. Yes, something was definitely on his mind. He threw the ball down the alley with such ferocity it made her think he was trying to destroy the lane. It was as if he was in a trance, picking the ball up almost robotically, not thinking, just rolling. He beat his own record, but Brandi was concerned about his actions. She met him at the ball return, stopping his hand before he could retrieve the ball. “Tim, what was that call really about?”
“Brandi, why are you down here? This is dangerous.”
He moved her aside and rolled the ball with lightening speed.
“Tim, what’s wrong? Can’t you tell me?”
“Nothing is wrong, Brandi.”
“Ever since you got that call, you have been preoccupied.”
“I’m just tired.”
“Then let’s go, because you and that damn ball are scaring me. I’ve never seen anyone throw a bowling ball that hard. You’re rolling strikes without even trying.”
“Isn’t that the point?”
“Don’t be cute, Tim. There’s anger behind that ball. Come on, let’s go so we can talk.”
He refused to talk about the phone call; instead, he rested next to Brandi as they watched movies well into the night. His mind was not on House on Haunted Hill, or any other movie he and Brandi had rented. It stayed on that phone call off and on until they were ready to leave for Niagara University.
* * *
Brandi and her fellow classmates sat behind the first-class curtains laughing, singing and enjoying the flight. Tim heard her laugh, her voice, and wanted to be out there with her, but he was worried now, and he had a feeling Eric was the cause of the worry. His concentration level dropped to its lowest point and he fell asleep in his seat. He woke as the plane taxied into Niagara Falls International Airport.
They arrived at Niagara University on a blustery evening in early April. The weekend had been reserved for Madison’s retreat, so there was hardly any student activity that weekend, and an entire dorm building had been reserved for them. Tim immediately gave out the dorm assignments so he could pass out in his own bed, but he still had Brandi and Tiffany’s assignments. He spied Brandi in a corner alone, and called to her. She lugged her suitcase over to him. “Brandi, where were you? I’ve been looking for you for over ten minutes to give you and Tiffany these room assignments.”
“Take it easy, Tim; I was just down the hall getting a Coke. Are you okay?”
“Sure, I’m just tired I guess.”
“You’ve been tired a lot lately. Is it me?”
“Don’t start that again.”
“I’m serious. Ever since that call a couple of weeks ago, you’ve been in the twilight zone.”
“I’m sorry about that, but everything’s fine.”
She was not convinced. “Yeah, sure; anyway, I waited for the crowd to disperse. Those women standing around gawking at you were making me sick.”
He looked into her face. “Are you okay?’
“Just tired and ready to go to bed—with you.”
“Umm, Brandi, don’t go there. You know we can’t share rooms here.” He handed her the room assignment. “I put you with Tiffany.”
She looked down at the room number. “Where’s yours?”
“The floor above; I’m not telling you which room.”
“Spoilsport. I’ll figure it out.” She dragged her suitcase over to Tiffany, and they got on the elevator. She blew him a kiss.
The doors closed on her lovely face. He wondered how on earth he was going to survive in that hotel for six days without making love to her. And he wondered how he was going to cope with the intrusion of Eric Fontaine in their lives. He slowly rolled his own luggage to the opposite elevator, and rode up to room 712.
Tim walked into the banquet room for the start off meeting and found himself sitting next to Brandi. Earlier that morning he had seen her and other class members setting the room up and placing papers, handouts and menus. Did she have anything to do with switching her seat with Frank’s? He slid into his chair, and in a low voice asked her: “What have you done? Frank was supposed to be seated next to me.”
“You checked the seating arrangements?”
“I check everything; now, what did you do?”
“I switched with him. He didn’t care.”
“Fine, Brandi.” He shook his head at her audacity as the rest of the staff filed in. During the first speech, he glanced at Brandi and caught her seductively nibbling a sausage link. He tried to ignore her, but he could still see her out of the corner of his eye. She was sliding the sausage between her lips. He felt an instant erection and slid further into the chair so no one would notice. The room buzzed with conversation, making it possible to speak to Brandi without being overheard. “You are a devil.”
“And a good one at that.”
“Whatever!”
Wasting no time, her hand moved under the table, resting on his lap briefly before unzipping his pants. Her antics took him by surprise, making him sit up straight. She wasn’t going to stop her little games, so he relaxed. He was embarrassed and excited at the same time and he struggled to hide his emotions.
Brandi was relentless: fondling, stroking, massaging his scrotum. Trying to stem the rising tide of passion, he grasped her hand. Too late. Seconds later, heat waves flashed through his body, and his pants became soaked with his own moisture. He glared at Brandi, who was pretending to listen to Mr. Tobias’s boring speech.
For once, he was not grateful for that fabulous release, because standing to deliver his speech was now impossible. He had to get out of there; he tipped over his glass of juice, letting it land in his lap. Anything to get out of there and change his pants.
The breakfast meeting adjourned. Tim hated that he had been scheduled to speak last anyway. He wanted it over so he could retreat to his room, allowing Brandi no latitude. He told everyone to meet him back there for lunch for the last of the speeches. When the last person left, he went to Brandi pointing to his wet pants. “That was so wrong, Brandi.”
She dabbed at his wet pants, but he pulled back. “Why did you do that to me?”
“Because you need some levity in your life. You’ve been moping around for weeks now. I thought it would help.”
“It didn’t!”
She heard anger in his voice. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to take your mind off whatever has been consuming you.”
“During a speech I was supposed to be making? Brandi, I don’t even know what to say to you now.”
She moved closer to him, making sure the door was completely closed. “Did you enjoy it, though?”