From Me To You

Chapter 10 - Pékerman

The next day the four of us go out for breakfast and I head out to Queens to visit my parents after I pick up my older brother from the Upper East Side.

It was a fun reunion even though it only took place in a car and then we surprised my parents.

We all stayed together in the living room talking about Spain and the new job until I convinced my parents to come with me to Long Island to visit my Grandma and cousins, aunts and uncles, to have a nice get together. At my aunt's house we have a nice barbecue and extended family come over. It was super fun and my cousins and I got to the liquor cabinet and started to play some games when night finally fell and we all stayed in the kiosk in the back yard.

The night came to an end and after I said bye to my wonderful family, my brother drove my parents and I back home. I wasn't in any state to drive. Once I finally arrive back at my apartment I throw myself on the couch with Vivian and we wrap ourselves in a heavy blanket as she asks me about my day. I leave tomorrow night and it was nice to see everyone again, but now it's all the more difficult to say goodbye once again.

"Hey, you know what?" I ask.

"What?" Naomi pops out from the hall that leads to our bedrooms.

"There are no Wendy's in Spain," I say raising an eyebrow. "And I could really do with some french fries right about now..."

"A frosty sounds so good," Naomi jumps in.

"Bacon," Vivian adds. "Anything with bacon."

We get up and grab Chelsea then head out the door.

Vivian drives us to the nearest Wendy's with a drive thru. We order ice cream for each of us, two of them get some chicken burgers, Vivian gets a bacon burger and I get the greasiest thing on the menu, knowing I won't be feasting on this food for a while. We get the food and park the car in the lot and proceed to eat.

"Thank God they close at 1 am," Chelsea speaks after her first bite.

"Bless them," I add.

"So," Vivian starts. "I heard you on the phone with Neymar last night."

I almost choke knowing I'm gonna get bombarded with questions. I take a huge bite out of my burger as they start talking and point to my mouth to tell them I can't speak.

"Did you sleep with him?" Naomi asks.

I nod and Chelsea squeals, then I shake my head frantically. I swallow the last bite and explain.

"I didn't have sex with him, just slept in his bed with him," I shrug.

They all look at me and Naomi adds in a sarcastic "okay."

"I was gonna sleep with David, but he was too drunk-"

"What about James?" Chelsea asks.

"What about him?" I ask back.

"Did you sleep with him?" Vivian asks for her.

"He's married, why would you think that?" I ask offended.

"He's almost all you ever speak about," Chelsea explains.

I dip my fries in the ice cream and stuff them in my mouth. Was he seriously all I spoke about? I feel a bit embarrassed. Sure I like him as a person and he is attractive, but we are never getting together.

"Why do you guys think I've slept with any of them?" I ask.

I tell them about all the football players and they each tell me to go for a different one. I honestly don't even want to date anyone so I just ignore their suggestions. We finish up eating and on the drive back home my phone begins to ring. It's almost one am and the caller ID says Pékerman.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Katalina, I am sorry to call so late," he starts.

"It's fine, I'm up, what's going on?" I inquire.

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to speak to you about James."

Well I can go on for days about him, according to the world.

"What about him?"

"Well, I just received a call from him, and he sounded very upset. He had been reading some hateful comments about the game on Friday and about him being on Real Madrid-"

"Did he threaten to do something?" I sit up in my seat as I ask that, genuinely concerned at this point.

"No, no, nothing of those sorts, I just," he paused. "Well, I sat in front of you two on the bus after the match on our way back to the hotel, and I overheard your conversation. I know James, he's like a son to me, I know how hard he can be on himself, and I was really happy about what you said to him. It calmed him down for quite some time. He would usually check what other people said the day of the match. Anyway, he listened to you. You had kind words to say to him. I can see you two are very close and that he cares about what you have to say. I know it's pretty late where you are and I'm not asking for you to call him or anything, all I ask of you is that you keep caring for him the way you do. Be loving to him. That's all he needs, support."

I bite my tongue.

"Of course. I understand, I always will," I barely speak.

"Thank you, Katalina. Goodnight, take care."

"Thank you, you too. Goodnight," I respond then end the call.

"What was that about?" Vivian inquires as she turns the ignition of the car off after parking it and we all get out.

I tell them it was work and they ask nothing more. It kind of is work, in a way.

As we're stood on the elevator, I stare up at the fluorescent lighting. It begins to blink.

First I can't stop talking about him and now I'm loving?

Either embrace it or distance yourself from him, Kat.

Your choice.