LITMIR.BIZ

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Ely.

      “Propose? I didn’t even know you were seeing someone. Congratulations.”

      “Well, that’s the funny part. He’s not seeing anyone. He’s going to ask the girl sitting next to him.”

      “So when are you popping the question?” Ely asked.

      “Right before the end of the game, He’s doing it over the big screen.” Lewis laughed.

      Jake was now leaning against the wall. The room seemed to be spinning. He felt lightheaded. It’s just a joke. It’s not the real thing. He reminded himself.

      “Well, I have to get back to work. See you two after the game. I can’t wait for your big moment, Jake.” He punched him in the shoulder. Jake smiled slightly then he made his way back to his seat with a grinning Lewis in tow.

      ***

      The game was coming to an end with five minutes left and the score was tied. The Dolphins took their final time out. The big screen turned black and the words: Sam, Will you marry me? –Jake flashed. Jake carefully eased himself off the chair and found a way to kneel. Sam was laughing about something Barry said, but then Barry pointed to the big screen. She slowly read the words, but they did not make sense to her. Then she realized Jake was kneeling holding something out in his right hand. Ely’s voice boomed over the speakers.

      “Attention, Ladies and Gentleman, Jake Jameson has just proposed!” The big screen was now filled with the image of Jake kneeling next to Sam.

      Sam looked from Jake to the big screen and back. There were murmurs throughout the crowd.

      What the hell is going on? Sam asked herself. She could hear Barry laughing behind her.

      “Priceless.” He said.

      Sam smiled; two can play at this game. “Sure.” She said and flung herself at Jake in a tight embrace. The crowd roared. The game was on again.

      “Jake Jameson?” Sam asked.

      “Yes.” Jake answered. He didn’t try to look at her. Since she was wearing those dark glasses he couldn’t judge her reaction. She was simply sitting there chewing her bottom lip.

      “You probably want this back.” She held out the straw with the earring sticking through.

      “Uh, thanks.” Jake took the ring. They were both watching each other in their peripheral.

      The Bears had the ball. The crowd was on their feet. A classic Hail Mary play went into effect. The seconds ticked down on the clock. The receiver made the catch and the crowd went wild. Now the score was a field goal away to deciding the winner of the game. The ball made its way to the kicker. He kicked. The ball flew end over end into the air. The kick was good. The Bears had won. The stadium began to empty almost immediately. Few Miami fans wanted to stay and watch the visiting team celebrate.

      “It was nice meeting you.” said Sam extending her hand to Jake.

      “You too.” He said shaking hers.

      Barry, Janet, and Dylan waved good-bye calling out thank you to Jake. Barry was on cloud nine.

      Sam was still in shock.

      ***

      “Ready to go out on the boat?” asked Lewis laughing as they left the stadium.

      “Sure.” Jake answered hurriedly. The two were rushing out of the stadium before the thousands of people who had seen Jake on the big screen stopped him for an autograph. An SUV with dark tinted windows waited for them at the exit. Once again Jake’s bodyguard, Anthony, had done what was needed to handle the situation smoothly. Jake and Lewis jumped into the back of the SUV. They couldn’t exactly speed off due to the traffic in the parking lot so, Jake watched the crowd as they poured out of the stadium.

      To his surprise, he actually recognized Sam when she emerged. She was walking a few steps behind Barry, Janet, and Dylan. She had the appearance of being invisible. People walked past her and around her. No one bumped into her or acknowledged her in any way. She just seemed to float along in her own world. He wondered what that must feel like. It had been so long since he was able to go unnoticed surrounded by a crowd of people. The car moved along and he lost sight of her.

      Chapter 9

      When they arrived at Lewis’ house his wife Lisa ran out to meet them. She was a feisty, petite, woman from the Dominican Republic.

      “So where is she?” She asked peering into the car.

      “Where’s who?” Jake and Lewis answered in unison.

      “The lucky girl, you kept hidden from us.” She answered.

      Jake and Lewis exchanged a bewildered look.

      “Come on, you just proposed! It’s all over the news. The entertainment channel is going crazy trying to find out who she is.”

      Jake was stunned. He withdrew his cell phone from his pocket. The screen read 12 missed calls. Everyone had been trying to reach him but he had put the phone on silent when he was at the game, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to hear the ring over the crowd. He thought it was on vibrate. He flipped open the screen. His publicist, his mother, his sister, Aunt Patsy, the list went on. He vaguely heard Lewis retell the story to his wife.

      “He bet you the boat?” She cried.

      “Yep!” replied Jake smiling. At least one good thing came out of this. I have a great boat. He thought.

      Lisa slapped Lewis in the arm. “I guess he didn’t tell you what happened to it during the last hurricane.”

      Jake’s smile faded as Lewis roared with laughter. “The joke is on you buddy.” He put one arm around his wife and the two walked into the house.

      Damn, thought Jake. Now, how do I explain to all these people it was a stupid bet? He chose to leave that problem for tomorrow and drowned the remainder of his evening in beer.

      The next morning bright light streamed through the window. Jake tried hard to cover his face. He reached for the blanket several times before he realized he was not covered by one. He was still fully dressed in the jeans and the jersey he wore the day before. He scratched the stubble on his chin. His mouth was dry and pasty. His head throbbed. He was afraid to open his eyes. His mind couldn’t focus. Where am I? He wondered. Am I at a hotel? Where did I travel to last? That must have been some party. He groaned and turned over. The bed was soft. He heard footsteps running up the stairs. His door squeaked open and a small voice giggled.

      “Uncle Jake’s got a hangover.” He heard Jonathan, who was seven; explain to Michaela, who was five. Michaela giggled again.

      “What’s a hangover?” she asked.

      “I’ll tell you when you’re older.” Answered Jonathan using the standard big brother answer, which really meant I don’t know, but by the time you get older I will have found out. Michaela accepted the response without any other question.

      “Will he be ok?” asked Michaela in a truly concerned voice.

      “He’ll be fine. Leave him alone.” Their mother Lisa’s voice answered as she whisked the two away.

      Suddenly, yesterday’s events became too vivid in Jake’s mind: The bet, the proposal, and the unanswered calls on the cell phone. How do I explain this one? He asked himself. I’m a grown man, almost forty, well next year. I acted like a teenager making a stupid bet that got televised.

      Slowly he opened his eyes. Still lying face down on the bed, he opened the drawer to the nightstand. With his left hand he rummaged through its contents until he felt the smooth exterior of his phone. Now the screen read 39 missed calls and the battery was almost dead. He pushed himself up and swung his feet off the bed. His laptop was in its carrier resting against the nightstand. In the front pocket he had packed the charger to the cell phone. He reached down. Suddenly, the room was spinning as the blood rushed to his head. Placing

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