#Bliss.
“Aight, yall. I’ll catch you in the morning!” I shouted as I headed out of the locker room after our Game 1 win over the Atlanta Hawks. After scoring 24 points on the night it was pretty obvious I was ready to call it a night.
“Some things never change.”
I turned to see who was there, although I quickly recognized the voice behind me.
“Oh, Liberty! Hey! Wow you look incredible. You’re rocking that new hair. I have to ask you though, how do you keep getting back here?”
She said thank you as she flipped her new hairstyle & came in for a hug.
“Same security guard. He thinks I’m still your wife so..”
“So I guess that means you were here for the game. Ya man was hooping tonight! But no #32 Knicks’ jersey for you? C’mon, Liberty!”
“Hold on! It’s right here.” She pulls a folded jersey out from her purse. “See that. I was definitely wearing your #32.” She said with a smile.
“But I wanted you to see me in my dress instead.”
Liberty spun around while Tiny admired the woman in front of his eyes.
“I can’t have people believing I’m actually a Knicks’ fan after all.”
She was right. While she never repped an NBA team, she was a West coast girl. The likelihood of her actually liking the Knicks’ was slim.
“But anyways, I was hoping I could catch you back here again. I came to see your game & thought maybe you’d be up for some more fun? If you’re not too tired.”
(I am pretty exhausted. I just scored 24 points in 33 minutes.)
“What did you have in mind?”
“Well, I know you just played a basketball game. We could go back to that arcade you took me to before, or maybe just walk around town?”
(I’m not feeling either of those.)
“How about you come back to my place & we hang out there?”
“Oh!? Well I wasn’t going to suggest that, but you did just play a playoff game so I’ll have to take you at your word that you’re really too tired. That's not too much, you don't think?”
“Sorry, Liberty. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I’m really excited to see you right now. I'm just kinda beat, & I'm down to kick it but I want to be able to crash whenever. You feel me? Come on, let’s go to my place.”
Liberty followed Tiny to the parking lot where they would be picked up by a limousine & would be dropped off outside of Tiny’s penthouse. The two carry a conversation while in route.
“So what's it like being a parent?"
"Incredible. I love my daughters. They are the reason I do what I do now. I live for them."
"That's cute. The soft side to Tiny Jimenez. I remember when I was practically the only person to know the real you."
She pinched my cheek before continuing on.
"I think you & your daughters are beautiful together. I've seen all of the photos. August looks just like you!"
"Yeah, she does. I think she's going to take after me a lot, but we'll have to wait & see. Her mom disagrees."
"Her mom. I've watched her on ESPN before. What are they like?"
"Eh. We don't need to go into too much on that. They're not here. Let's put it that way."
There was a brief silence in the car until:
"But I am." She said as she looked at me with her mesmerizing eyes.
"Yes, you certainly are. Miss Liberty Seydoux. Formerly known as Mrs. Liberty Seydoux-Jimenez."
Just as soon as I said that, her face began to come closer to mine as I soon found myself kissing Liberty Seydoux once again.
"It's been years since I've kissed your lips." She said. "& I don't want to wait another second."
Once we made it to our destination, the limousine driver came on the intercom.
"Mr. Jimenez. We've arrived at your residence. Miss Seydoux, it's always a pleasure to meet one of Mr. Jimenez's friends!"
We quickly pulled ourselves back together enough to look presentable to the limousine driver while I saw him off.
"Coming back to your place after another victory? Well, you're not quite as banged up as I'm used to, but I know exactly what to do!" She said as she, now full of confidence, pressed the elevator button to my room. "iT's AlWaYs A pLeAsUrE tO mEeT oNe Of Mr. JiMeNeZ's FrIeNdS!" she said as she mocked my driver.
"Does he know who the fuck I am?"
(There's that spunky attitude I know her for.)
Just as the doors began to open to my floor, she bolted from the elevator in awe.
"Augusto. I love your apartment!" She said as she began to take a moment to look at everything in my living room & kitchen.
"Thanks. I designed it myself. Literally. All by myself."
I turned on some Thundercat while she continued to look at everything on the walls, including photos of my daughters, extended family, & even the two of us.
"Why do you have our wedding day photo over here?"
"Because I like it. That was a special day to me."
"For me too."
I joined her on the couch as I let out a big sigh from the soreness in my legs.
"Hmm. Sounds like you need one of Liberty Seydoux's World Famous' leg massages, as seen only on Tiny Jimenez in the past." She said with a laugh.
"Is that what that sounded like? Because you know, I think you're right."
It felt great being in her presence again. While hanging out with your ex-wife is unorthodox to the average person, my entire life has been unorthodox. Besides, what hurt could come from this?
"Go ahead & just plan to stay the night." I said to her as she willingly gave me a massage.
"I thought you'd never ask."
"I need this after Game 2 as well."
"Okay now you're just being greedy, Tiny."
"& Game 3..."
".... We'll see."
Tiny turned the music up even louder & sunk his head into the pillow as he was sure the night wasn't anywhere near ending for the pair of former lovers. Both of them could feel something in the air, but weren't exactly sure what that feeling was. But to not spoil the moment, both kept their emotions to themselves & eventually would go on to fall asleep in each others arms. #bliss.