"Hello," she said finally, "You look great this evening."
"Thank you. You too," Eric replied. Bee was wearing a black dress that came just above the knees and showed a scandalous amount of cleavage.
Bee tried to look into his eyes, but his eyes had drifted downward. "We're going to be very early," remarked Bee with a chuckle.
"Oh god Bee," Eric blurted without thinking as he was wont to do when Bee looked especially sexy. Then he snapped out of his trance, "I bought something for you," he retrieved a necklace box from inside his jacket pocket and presented it to her.
Bee gasped, and opened the box slowly. It was a golden chain with three petite stones dangling from the end. They where all understated stones. The first one was a pink stone, the second was a the second, Bee recognized as a amethyst, and the third was a diamond. Bee started getting teary eyed.
"That first one is a cobalt calcite," Eric explained, "It is a very rare jewel found in Baja. My mother gave it to me. My grandpa gave it to my grandmother. No one in my family has had the money to set it until me. I bought that second one in Pennsylvania. It was mined there. You probably know its an amethyst. That last one, I bought here in Italy when I had the necklace made. It is a diamond."
"No one has ever done anything like this for me," Bee as she began bawling, "Its so beautiful!" she thrust herself in to Eric's arms, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said sincerely, "Now wipe your tears, or we're going to be late."
She turned to have him put on the necklace. It was perfect. Bee took a quick pit stop at the bathroom, and they walked to the elevator. There, they met two of Bee's teammates and their escorts.
"Wow Bee, you look great!" exclaimed Jenn, "and that necklace is divine!"
"Thanks. Eric just gave it to me."
"You know my mom right?" Jenn inquired.
"Yeah. Its great to see you again Linda. This is my friend Eric."
"Oh from the look of that necklace, you're more than just friends," Linda joked.
Bee blushed, "The fifth anniversary of our meeting was recently," she explained, "And today was a big day."
Sheila ran interference, "This is my boyfriend Sam. Sam, this is Jenn, Linda, Eric and Bridget."
"Please, call me Bee."
"Its nice to meet you all," he replied, then the elevator opened.
It revealed the rest of the soccer team and their loved ones. Sheila looked around at all the people, "All present and accounted for!" she announced, "Lets head out!"
There was a roar of female cheers, and then they all began talking amongst themselves
At dinner, Bee sat between Eric and Jenn. The girls across the table all oooh'ed over Bee's necklace. Bee set her hand casually on Eric's leg as she scanned the menu. She leaned over to his ear.
"Do you want to split a pizza?" she whispered.
"Sure. I was thinking about pizza, but I wanted a side Caesar too."
"Sound great," she smiled at him.
He patted her hand with his and smiled back.
"Nothing like pizza in Italy," remarked Eric after he had his first bite.
Bridget couldn't muster up a word, she just replied, "mmmmmm"
"Bridget," Sheila began, "I caught your interview."
"Oh?" Bee said with her mouth half full of food. Sheila wouldn't have brought it up if she didn't have something to say about it.
"I especially loved the part about Eric," she shot him a friendly wink.
How did everybody know that something was going on with her and Eric without anyone saying anything? "Its really annoying when reporters ask personal questions," Bee countered.
"When someone is as good at playing soccer as you are, people take notice. You and Eric are two really good players. People are doubly interested," explained a veteran player.
Bee nodded, "It sucks though."
"Such is the life," Sheila remarked.
The waiter came and offered dessert. Everyone was so full, they declined.
"Let me get your checks. How many ways do I have to split this?" the waiter asked.
Sheila took charge and told the waiter who would be paying together. She did not know what to say when she got to Bee and Eric.
Eric spoke quickly before Bee could argue, "I'll be picking up the tab for this young lady and myself."
"Eric," Bee said after the waiter left, "That isn't necessary. Especially after the necklace."
"Yes," he replied with a smile that could kill, "but I want to."
Bee did not protest. Instead, she just said, "Thank you."
The bill was paid. Eric and Bee decided it was time to walk back to the hotel. Eric delivered Bridget to her room.
"Want to come in for something from the mini bar?" she offered.
"I don't drink the night before a game," he reminded her.
"Thats right," Bee said regretfully. She opened her door, "Eric?" she turned around. He was still standing there, "Thanks again." Bee smiled flirtatiously. She grabbed his hand, and pulled him into the room. She kicked the door shut. Then, Bee put all her remaining energy into a passionate kiss.
Eric smiled as the kiss ended. He pulled away slowly, "I've got to go," he whispered.
"If you must," was Bee's reply, "You need your sleep," she let go of his hand, "Goodnight," she received a quick peck, and then he left.
