The dayof the game came, and surprisingly enough, I was excited. After letting the advice my mother had given me sink it, I decided that being embarrassed was stupid. Denying myself the opportunity to enjoy time with a guy I liked was dumb.
When we arrived at the suite, Mr. Israel met us right inside the door. He greeted me with a hug. “Wyndi, Kaynaan told me you were coming. It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you, too.” I pulled my mother to me. “This is my mom, LaToya Castle, and my best friend, Maloah Kenton.”
They both greeted Mr. Israel. “You raised a golf phenom,” he told my mother, who smiled at me lovingly.
“She definitely took to the game. I’m not sure where her skill came from. Nobody in our family plays golf, but Wyndi was determined to master it.”
Mr. Israel laughed heartily. “That sounds a lot like Kaynaan. We tried to steer him away from football so many times, but he was adamant. Finally, we gave him an ultimatum: Find a safe way to play or give it up. Next thing I knew, he was practicing kicking in my backyard, and I was paying for akicking consultant.” They laughed together before Mr. Israel caught the hand of a beautiful woman lingering close by. “Wyndi, you got to meet Shiloh at the homecoming, but both of my daughters are at home this weekend. Instead, I was able to bring the best of the best with me this time.”
The woman simpered and touched him gently on the chest in an “oh, stop” gesture.
“This is Kaynaan’s mother, my wife, Bethany.”
I immediately became shy. I extended my hand. “Hi, Mrs. Israel. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
She gave me a thousand-watt smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Wyndi. I can see why my son is so taken with you. I heard he could barely hold the golf club properly in your presence. You’re gorgeous.”
It was my turn to simper. “Thank you.”
She extended her hand to my mother. “Bethany.”
“Nice to meet you, Bethany. Please call me Toya.”
Mrs. Israel introduced herself to LoLo, then turned back to my mother. “Your daughter and my son. Seems like we might need to talk. You drink wine?”
My mother bugged her eyes. “Now see, you’re my kinda woman.”
They walked off to the other side of the crowded suite.
Mr. Israel gestured around. “We got this suite when Kaynann was drafted to the Coyotes. We have one at the LondynvilleLeopards stadium at home, and it’s been a great incentive for our employees at Grand Aviation.”
“Wow. So, when they’re successful at work, they’re rewarded with tickets to your suite?”
He nodded. “The people you see here today are some of our top associates, a few are our most popular cabin crew members, and a few are our decorated pilots.”
“That’s a cool way for your company to recognize excellence,” LoLo commented.
“Thank you.” He gave her a genuine smile. “The food and drinks are set up. Please get yourselves something to eat and find seats. Kickoff’s in less than thirty minutes.”
LoLo and I got food, then found seats right in front of the panoramic windows. The field looked so different than it looked when I watched games on television. It was surreal to be here in person, in a luxury suite and as the guest of one of the players.
The game wasn’t even close. The Coyotes murdered the Portland Pioneers. Once the final whistle blew, the crowd dispersed, and soon, there was just me, my mother, LoLo, and Mr. and Dr. Israel.
“Let’s head down. Kaynaan will meet us after he finishes up in the locker room.”
When Kaynaan showed up, he was freshly showered, dressed in a suit, and wearing a big grin. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was the first one he greeted.
“Yo, let me see the back,” he said after he released me from the embrace he had me hemmed up in. I turned slowly and showed him the bedazzled letters that spelled out Israel, along with his number, 5. “I like it.”
I turned back to face him, went up on my tiptoes, and placed a quick peck on his lips. “I’m glad.” I took his hand in mine and steered him toward my mother who stood next to LoLo. “Kaynaan, you know LoLo.”
“What’s up?” He embraced LoLo.
“Hey.”
“Mom, this is Kaynaan, and this is my mother, LaToya.”
