As I lay in bed staring at the ceiling I hear the vibration of my cell phone on my side table. I look over at the phone and a picture of my mom pops up. I pick up the phone and answer it.
"Hi mom" I say
"Hola hijo" She answered. My mom Barely spoke English unless she was talking to someone outside the family.
"Mom, aren't you supposed to be on your way to the airport. Please don't be late. How are you getting to the airport anyway?"
"Anthony, I don't know why you assume that I can't things done on my own. I am the one who raised you remember. I am on my way to the airport. I figured I would call and let you know I was leaving the house. If I am staying with you I hope you are not having any of them la mujerzuela staying with you." My mom was a strong willed, stubborn Puerto Rican who did not have a problem telling it like it was.
"Mom I don't mess with any whores or sluts. The women I mess with are really nice women. Why is my dating life always up for discussion?" I said. She always starts in on my dating life I swear it is her main goal to have me married with kids.
"What dating life? Ever since you started playing for the NFL all you mess with are these rubias tontas. I can't wait until you settle down."
"I don't mess with dumb blondes Ma. You know what we are not going there I hope you have a safe flight. I will be waiting for you when you land."
"Alright I will see you when I get to California." With that we both hung up. My mom was a bit much at times but she is also overprotective because she raised me by herself and I am all she has. When I went away to college I stayed close to home for her and my high school girlfriend ChanaeChanaé, when I got drafted tot the San Francisco 49ners it was hard for her because I was moving half way across the world. I needed the getaway though because after the crazy break up with my ex I couldn't be in Connecticut. I actually have not been back since I graduated and was drafted.
I roll over and look at the blonde in the bed with me asleep and smile. All I could think about was what my mom said about dumb blondes. I like not being in a relationship, I like being with who I want when I want, and I especially like that I don't have to deal with them after sex if I don't want to. My mom has been trying to marry me off and asking for grandkids. She tells me I am still hung up on Chanaé and asks what I did to lose her. The thing is I don't know. That day is still a mystery to me, all I know is in all the years that we were together I never saw her cry, not even when she broke her foot in gym class a year after we started dating. That day she said she was upset because of my friend Sherri but I felt it was more. She left and never answered any of my phone calls or text. I tried for three months even when I went back to school, but nothing. I went to her house one weekend when I went back and her mom answered the door to tell me she wasn't home, the way she looked at me and spoke to me exuded hatred. I never understood what her problem was but I just figured that Chanaé must have told her I cheated on her. I never cheated on her Sherri did try something with me and I told her that we could never go there, I only thought of her as a friend and she said she understood. I never told Chanaé because she didn't like her and I didn't want to end a friendship that I had for years, but if Chanaé only knew she was right about Sherri she did try to sleep with me again after Chanaé and I broke up and that is when I decided that no matter how long we had been friends we were no longer going to be friends. Since Chanaé I feel like relationships is a waste of time. To be with someone, and love someone and they're able to just up and leave like she did I am good. I rather be alone forever.
I got up from the bed and walked into my walk-in closet attached to my room. I brought this house as soon as I was drafted, it was my pride and joy, not a car but the house. It secured my future because it was brought out right. I tried to get my mom to move out here with me but she refuses to, she says Connecticut is her home. I picked out my attire for the day and headed to the adjoining bathroom. I went over to the shower and turned it on. My bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub and a rainfall shower. I brushed my teeth and looked at myself in the mirror.
"Damn, I'm handsome." I said to myself. I had to admit I did miss my braids. I cut them off because I didn't want anyone else doing my hair. I had a close cut, with a neat goatee (thanks to me going to the barber yesterday), I looked like Jesse Metcalfe and now that I was in the NFL the attention from females was ridiculous, they didn't know me but threw themselves at me.
"That you are" came a voice behind me. I looked in the mirror and it was, was…. damn I forgot her name, well the blonde from my bed.
"'Hey. I was about to get in the shower. You can just show yourself out. Donna the maid is downstairs if you get lost." I turned around to look at her. She walked towards me with a smile.
"How about I join you in the shower?" She said as she caressed my chest.
"I like to shower by myself, it's my me time before practice. I will call you though…" Shit I drew a blank on her name. She looked like I just killed her cat.
"You don't remember my name, are you serious?"
"No, it's not that I am just bad with names. Look…."
"Melanie" she said aggressively.
"Look Melanie it's not like we are dating or going to date this is fun. I am not looking to get into anything. I want someone that I can maybe hit up and we do what we did last night every now and then."
"Wow, I don't know what made you think I wanted something serious. I just figured we could continue from last night before I left." She turned around and walked away without another word. I am speechless I don't know what just happened.
I jumped in the shower and begin my day forgetting the scene with Michelle. Oh, great now I can remember her name. I headed down stairs and went into the kitchen Joanne my cook was at the sink doing dishes. Joanne is an older, short woman of mixed heritage. She is Mexican and Black, which was great because she spoke Spanish and cooked both types of food.
"Do you want something to eat?" She asked when she noticed me.
"I am just going to have a protein shake." I said opening the refrigerator.
"Top shelf" she said. This is why I love her she was already prepared and I didn't have to tell her what I wanted. She was the next best thing to my mother, and I do mean mother. She is after me just as much as my mom about me settling down just as much as my mom is.
"Thanks Jo. My mom is on her way here she was leaving for the airport about an hour ago." I closed the fridge and sat down at the island facing Joanne.
"So, I am guessing that there won't be any of your amigos coming around while your mom is here." There it is. I knew there was going to be some conversation about me having a female here last night. I am actually surprised that it took her this long to say anything about it.
"Oh, I see you guys are working together. No Jo you know how my mom is unless I am putting a ring on someone finger she doesn't want to meet them." Joanne walked to the island.
"We both just want you to think about settling down."
"More like forcing it on me."
"You are so dramatic." She walks away from the island and heads to the refrigerator.
"I am headed to practice." I got up from the island and grab my shake.
"Ok, do you need someone to pick up your mom?"
"No. Practice will be over before she lands. Her flight won't get here until tonight." I headed out the door waving Joanne bye.