Enter Eva Pt. 1
I asked as after I’m shown my seat by the host at Truluck’s. After our win against Indiana, the Melo and D. Wade asked if I wanted to go out to dinner, my choice.
Who turns down dinner? What they neglected to mention was that it was also going to be my treat.
“You got a double-double tonight and we got the win, I would say that’s worth celebrating.” Carmelo answered.
“Yeah, but I thought that you guys would be treating me to dinner. I mean you had twenty points right?”
“Twenty-one. But, I’m part of the reason you got the double-double. If I miss those threes, no assists for you. So, you’re welcome, Rook.”
“Wow.”
He and Melo shared a laugh. The waitress approached to take our order. It was Eva again. I smoothed the front of my Burberry Polo shirt.
“Welcome to Truluck’s, gentlemen. Are we celebrating anything evening?”
D. Wade leaned towards and slapped me across the back.
“Our man here dropped a double-double tonight, so we thought we’d celebrate.”
Eva's eyes locked with mine.
“Oh wow! Congratulations. I saw the final score, but I didn’t see the stat lines. That’s great, Antonio.”
“Antonio? I thought you only went by Tony?” Dwyane asked, raising his eyebrow in my direction.
I leaned back in my seat.
“Well, I am kind of a regular here.” I paused.
“And Eva and I go way back.” I sent a half-smile in her direction.
“Let’s get started with some jumbo crab claws and I’ll take the catch of the day.”
My teammates order and then we’re left to chat.
“Seems like y’all go more than way back, man.”
“It’s not like that, Melo. We went to high school together that’s it. She was supposed to go to New York for college. I don’t know what happened.”
“Looks like there were some sparks between y’all, Antonio.” Dwyane laughed as he put emphasis on my government name.
“You should see what’s up with that.”
“Ain’t you married?”
“Yeah, but you aren’t. I’m trying to help get you there. Join the club.”
“You realize I’m only 19, right?”
“Hey, man, I had Zaire at 20.”
“Yeah, I ain’t trying to go down that road yet.”
The conversation was cut short when the food came out. Eva made sure that our table was well attended to the entire night and I made sure to leave a sizeable tip once we were done. I told the guys that I would walk home, since it was only thirty minutes away. They both looked skeptical, but they let me be.
I checked my watch, it was a little after 11:30. I noticed some of the waitstaff starting to clear out. I spotted her talking two of the other girls that she worked with as she headed over to a dark blue Honda Civic. A gift from her parents for her sixteenth birthday. I made sure to stand in a well lit area because I didn't want to scare the hell out of her. Her co-workers saw me standing in the parking lot and I gave them a small wave.
“You mind giving me a ride?” I called out. She told her friends good night before turning her attention to me.
“I heard you hopped out of a Porsche when you got here.”
“Oh that? Wasn’t mine. I caught a ride with somebody. The guys had to leave early. D. Wade got the new baby and all. I don’t live far from here.”
“Right. Well, come on then.”
I hop into the car and wait for her to start the ignition. Before putting the car in gear, she turns to me.
"You know all the tongues are going to be wagging at work tomorrow because I have THE Tony Snow in my car."
I shrug.
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It might be." She says and guns out of the parking lot.
