“Seafood salad.”
I moved around her kitchen until I found the plates. I took one down for each of us, then proceeded to make two seafood salad sandwiches. I added chips to each of our plates and grabbed us both a bottle of mineral water from the fridge.
“CJ wants me to let you know not to come in tomorrow... well, later on today. Like me, he thinks you should rest. He said he’ll stop through to check on you.”
“Okay.” She took a tiny bite from her sandwich.
I let her make it. She didn’t need me fussing at her, even though I thought she should eat.
“We have nine embryos left.”
“We do.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin.
“When the doctor clears me, I wanna try again.”
I put my sandwich to my lips to hide my smile. There wasn’t much I liked more than a woman with a fighting spirit. “I’m wit’ it.”
I stayed the night with Ryann. After we ate, the two of us climbed back into her bed and I held her until we both knocked out. Later that morning, after the team meeting, film review, and timespent with the trainer, I got into my truck. I immediately dialed my personal assistant, Malakai.
“What’s up, Brix? How can I be of service?”
Malakai was a young dude that had come into my employ through a mentoring program. He’d been with me for four years while he went to college part-time. We had a good rapport and I liked him. I was that professional athlete with the rare opportunity to play in my hometown, so I was big on giving back to the city. Being able to hire a local kid did my heart good.
“What’s up, Malakai? I need you to call around and see if there’s a local florist that has the product on hand to send Ryann about ten to twenty dozen pink roses. If they don’t have pink roses, then I need pink flowers. Ten to twenty dozen bouquets. If somebody can do ten, call around and find another florist to do the other ten. And make them send you a pic of the bouquets. I don’t wanna pay for no flowers that look half dead. I’mma send you the address of where I want them delivered.”
“Okay.” He sounded hesitant.
I didn’t owe him an explanation, so I surely didn’t offer him one.
“That lady, Tiffany? She called about the collaboration. If you still want to work with the facility, she wants you to call her today. They have a candidate that needs placing immediately.”
“Cool. I’ll call her now. Thanks.”
I ran around handling business, but I always knew that my last stop before I headed home would be a stop by Ryann’s. I needed to check up on her and possibly cheer her up.
“Brix!” she exclaimed with a bright smile on her pretty face when she opened the door for me. “I can’t believe you.”
I stepped inside the foyer and was immediately bombarded with the sight and scent of several dozen flowers.
CJ approached me holding out his hand for dap. “You got my sister’s spot looking like a flower shop.”
I slapped his hand and gripped him up. “Just a little pick-me-up. Just a little pick-me-up.”
“Yeah.” He grinned his appreciation for me sending something to cheer his sister up. “She was grinning and giggling. Every time the delivery guy came in with more vases, she basically jumped up and down.”
I looked around. There were vases on every flat surface, even the island. “Damn, this is a little bit of overkill, huh?”
“Yep,” CJ said.
“Not at all,” Ryann said at the same time. “I love it.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“What’s in the bag?” she asked me.
“Yeah. Well, I’m working with this organization that provides foster homes for misplaced puppies. They want me to be the face of the campaign. I went by today to see the puppy they want me to shoot a video with for their website and…” I unzipped the carrying case and pulled out the little puppy.
“Oh shit!” Christian chuckled at the petite stature of the dog.
