**** Saturday 7/10 ****
Tuesday and Wednesday, Zanna was busy with meetings with the other team photographers along with representatives from Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. Thursday through Saturday, she and the other photographers met with dozens of other team photographers in Toronto for a conference. By the time she returned to her place Saturday evening, she was exhausted.
The good thing about her crazy busy week was that she had hardly had to interact with the players at all. Ironically, the most pleasant conversation she had with one of the guys was with Ryan. He'd been much cooler since his apology in the river.
Sunday morning, Zanna was sitting on her patio drinking coffee when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Zanna! It's Jordan from the Hillsboro Hops. How are ya?"
"I'm great! How are you?"
"Awesome! Hey, we're having a big team party after the All Star game next Saturday. My call to you is for two reasons… One, I wondered if you'd like to come. It's gonna be tons of fun and the guys will love you! Two, if you can come, could you bring your camera? We wanna get shots of the guys before the game, in uniform then after the game at the party. Candid shots and stuff. You down?"
"Yeah, absolutely! That sounds so fun!" Zanna and her old college friend talked for a while, catching up and making plans for the following weekend. Jordan was the head marketing director for the Hillsboro Hops, a short-season baseball affiliate to the Arizona Diamondbacks just a 25 minute drive from Zanna's apartment. After a weekend of boring conferences and a ton of travel, she was very much looking forward to next weekend's fun.
Throughout this week, Zanna was, again, able to keep a low profile as far as dealing with the guys. Thursday, she worked in her office on an article for the goalie issue of The Hockey News. She finished with Braden, the backup goalie, then he sent the starter in for his turn.
"Hey Tuukka!"
"Morning, Zee!"
"Come on in. Have a seat." She talked to the tall, thin, curly-haired Finnish net minder for almost two hours. She had all she needed for the article but he was fun to talk to. The interview turned into just chatting about where they grew up, the places they'd lived and how they ended up in Portland. It was actually beneficial for her to get to know the guys intimately so when she had to do any sort of publications about them, she'd know what she was talking about.
"Okay. You ready for a few shots?" she held up the camera and smiled.
"Yep. Tell me where you want me." He was very easy to work with and she had the photos she needed within minutes. "Thanks Zee. I'll see you later."
"Bye Tuukks." He left her office and Ryan walked up to her door.
"Hey Zee."
"Hey Ryan. What's up?"
"Some of the guys are hitting the pool at my buddy Zach's place on Sunday. Supposed to be super-hot this weekend. Thought it'd be cool if you go too."
"Are Marshy or Artemi going?"
"Nope. Me, Frankie, Pasta, maybe Patrick… Nick and Tyler maybe?"
"Where's it at?"
"Up in Washington, like 30 minutes past Vancouver."
"Um sure. Maybe I'll catch a ride with Nick or someone."
"Me, Frankie and Pasta are driving up together. You should come with us. It'll be fun."
"Okay. Sounds good. Thanks Ryan."
Saturday morning, Zanna met Jordan for coffee before she set up to do shots of the baseball players. Most of these guys were between the ages of 17 and 20 and they were really cool guys. Several of them flirted with Zanna which Jordan had warned her would be the case but she didn't mind. It was a little ego boost and that was welcome at this point.
Zanna and Brad had hardly said two words to each other over the past several days. The words that they did exchange recently were purely business as well. He felt terrible that he, for now, was choosing to stay with Katrina and Zanna was pissed at him for stringing her along. So having a bunch of cute guys looking her over was a great distraction. It was also a nice reminder that she was attractive and worthy of the attention. The last player she photographed that morning, Eric Hosmer, lingered around her as long as possible.
"So Zanna, you're coming to the party tonight, right?"
"Yeah. Looking forward to it."
"Will you have a drink with me tonight? Maybe dance with me?"
"Are you old enough to drink?" she chuckled nervously.
"As of yesterday, I am." This was the most confident barely-21-year-old she'd ever met. He was also very good looking. Hello lips!
"Well… then yes. I will have a drink with you."
"And you'll dance with me?"
"If there is dancing? Yes."
"There will be dancing." He winked at her then left the room. Wow, she thought to herself. She packed up her camera, backdrop and other equipment and thought about the hot guy that totally just made a pass at her. No chance of a future there but damn, that might be fun!
While the guys played their game and got ready for the party afterwards, Zanna took most of her equipment back to the Moda Center. She put together the camera, lens and memory card that would be best for the evening's low lighting and headed home for a while. At the mere possibility that she and Eric could end up dancing close to each other that night… and maybe more… she got a shower and freshened up her shave job.
Playing Paula Cole in the background, she stood at her bathroom mirror and put on her makeup. She looked her reflection over and smiled but it quickly faded. This is not a date. Likely nothing will happen. Do not make an ass of yourself!
Zanna continued her self-talk all the way to the party. She didn't want to get her hopes up just to get let down. But as soon as she walked in to the ballroom, Eric saw her and smiled from across the room. He excused himself from the teammate he was talking to and approached her.
"Hey, you made it." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
"I did!" she smiled back. "You look really, really great."
"Thanks. You too. So… do you have to work first then you get to chill? Or are you 'working' all night?"
"Jordan just said he wants to make sure to get shots of all of you guys and your guests. He didn't specify anything else. It's probably easiest to get all the shots then put the camera away so I can hang out."
"Anything I can do to help you get the work done faster?" She smiled, realizing that he just wanted to hurry up and spend time with her.
"Well, since you know everyone, maybe you can help me make sure I get everyone on this list?" He took the list from her and helped her get to work. It took almost 90 minutes but she got multiple shots of everyone on the list. She would go through them on Monday but for now, she could pack the camera away and enjoy getting to know Eric a little bit. She finally sat down at the table he was sharing with a couple of teammates, one of their girlfriends and one of the groundskeepers.
"Glad you're done now," Eric smiled at her with those gorgeous lips and she couldn't help but gaze at them for just a moment. He caught her looking and winked at her as he'd done earlier.
"I'm glad too." He took a sip of his wine then handed it to her.
"Bottoms up. The dance floor is calling." His caramel brown eyes burned into her as she finished his drink. He held out his hand to her and she grasped it. They danced to songs by Snoop Dogg, Outkast, and Pharell. They had a couple more drinks between songs and they got very comfortable being in each other's personal space. "Zanna, can we go somewhere a little more adult?"
"Like where?"
"Must be a decent dance club around here somewhere. Some place without under aged guys around watching our every move? Maybe we can get a little anonymity? Are you down?" She nodded and smiled at him with her eyes. She drove them 15 minutes away to a dance club called The Underground. After each of them did a shot and shared a beer chaser, he pulled her onto the dancefloor. "Get Busy" by Sean Paul, a song that Zanna loved, came over the speakers. She slipped her arms around his waist and moved seductively against him. Seeing the look in her eyes, he knew she wanted him in every sense of the word. Leaning in, she closed her eyes and almost kissed him but she stopped. The anticipation was driving him wild. "Why are you torturing me?" he whispered in her ear. The universe came in to play and the next song started. She sang a couple of lines at him and he couldn't help but smile at her.
"I know you want me. You know I want ya. I know you want me. You know I want ya." He pulled her into a deep kiss, taking her breath away.
"Can we go to your place?" Zanna had obviously never taken a random guy home to sleep with before and wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not. But looking at those eyes and those lips, she had to say yes. She drove them to her apartment and took him inside. He locked the door behind them and started undressing her right in the entryway. "You are so damn sexy, Zanna." Eric spoke between kisses and little bites on her neck.
"Likewise." She pulled off his shirt and gently scraped her fingernails down his back while sucking on his nipples.
"Goddamn," he exhaled as she nipped at his flesh. "Where's your room?"
"Down the hall on the left." In one swift motion, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder caveman-style before taking her to her bedroom and having his way with her.
**** Sunday 7/11 ****
Sunday morning, after another roll in the hay, Zanna dropped Eric off at his host family's house. He asked to see her again but didn't pressure her to answer him now. They exchanged numbers and left it at that. Zanna then returned home to get ready for Ryan, Pasta and Frankie to pick her up. She wore short jean shorts and a low-cut maroon top with her bikini underneath.
"Damn," Pasta noted when she slid into the backseat beside him. "You look smokin' hot, Zanna."
"Thanks." She smiled at him and slipped her shades on. "I brought a 12 pack of Bud Light Platinum. Can we stop and get ice?"
"Yeah," Ryan spoke from the driver's seat. "I gotta stop at the gas station anyway."
"Cool."
"Zee, where'd you get that from?" Pasta touched the side of her neck with his fingertips.
"From a baseball player," she smiled, fondly remembering their night (and morning) together.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yep."
"Lucky guy." She looked at him and he smiled over at her. She had no idea that he'd ever looked at her that way. Another nice little ego boost!
After filling the SUV's gas tank and topping off all the coolers with ice, Ryan pulled on to Interstate 5 and headed northbound. He cranked the satellite radio and they listened and sang along to bands like Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots. Stopping at a rest stop, the foursome got out to stretch their legs and empty their bladders. Thirty minutes later, they arrived at their destination.
Ryan introduced Zanna to his friend and the pool party's host, Zach and his wife Melanie. She met the other people she didn't know then spotted a couple of faces that she did recognize. Patrick and Tyler were there as well.
"Hey Zanna!" Tyler hugged her then Patrick did the same.
"Hi guys!"
"Looking good, Zee."
"Thanks Patrick."
"Where's your man?"
"Who would that be?"
"Aren't you and Marshy an item?"
"He's with Katrina."
"Oh. Sorry. Just curious."
"It's okay," she smiled. Pasta walked up to her and slung his arm around her shoulders. He handed her a beer and she happily accepted. "Thanks Pasta!"
"You're welcome. You wanna hit the pool with me? Or sunbathe for a while?"
"Yes! See you guys at the pool!" She and her new admirer walked away. They grabbed a couple of lounge chairs and set them up facing the sun.
"You wanna lay out until you get hot then hit the water?"
"Sounds perfect! Hey, do you mind putting some suntan oil on my back, Pasta?"
"Love to." She stripped down to her teal colored bikini and stood before him. He squirted a handful of coconut scented oil into his palm and began rubbing it into her skin. Hanging her head down with her chin to her chest, she moaned lightly.
"God that feels so good."
"Yeah?" He continued massaging her back and shoulders. "Turn around." She turned to face him and he rubbed some oil into her upper arms. Looking into her eyes, his hand swept across her chest and over the exposed parts of her breasts. He continued on to her abdomen, his fingertips brushing along the waistband of her bikini bottom. "Want me to do your legs?" She nodded and he sunk down to one knee before her. "Put your foot up here." Steadying herself with her hand on his shoulder, she rested her right foot on his leg. He slathered the oil up her leg slowly… all the way up. Parting her lips, she exhaled as his fingers slipped along the lines of the bikini bottom, between her legs. Standing back up with her, he spread the oil up the sides of her neck and across her throat.
"Pasta…"
"Tell me, Zee..."
"Kiss me." He happily did so. Ryan saw them and smiled to himself. She was clearly loosening up and there may be very good times to come tonight. He plopped down into a pool chair several yards away from them and just watched them. Pasta's hands slipped down over her ass and he squeezed as he continued kissing her deeply. He rubbed himself against her and she had to fight to keep from wrapping her legs around him in that moment.
"You're not so shy anymore," he smiled devilishly at her.
"No I am not."
"Come with me." He took her hand and grabbed his gym bag before leading her into the house. She followed him to a bathroom upstairs. He took her inside and locked the door behind them. "I don't know if you want me like I want you right now…" She pulled him close and kissed him again. They stripped each other of their swimsuits and he grabbed a condom out of his gym back. He laid a towel out onto the counter and lifted her onto it. He kissed and sucked on her neck as she rolled a condom onto his throbbing erection. Shoving himself into her, he wrapped one arm around her and steadied himself with his other hand on the counter. Moving within her deeply and deliberately, he held her tight against him. "Goddamn, you feel good," he panted against her ear.
"You too, Pasta." He pulled back and slowed his pace, watching his cock slide in and out of her. She watched him watching them as she was much more interested in his face than their genitalia.
"Touch yourself," he urged and she did as asked of her. "That is so fucking sexy, Zanna."
"I'm so close," she exhaled. He was too so he picked up his pace again and soon forced her to climax. He didn't last much longer than her.
Pasta and Zanna walked back out to the pool hand in hand a short while later. Ryan saw them and approached, handing them each a beer.
"I wondered where you went but now I have a guess."
"Yeah we, uh… wanted to talk," Pasta replied before winking at Zanna. He opened each of them a beer before she covered his skin with suntan oil.
An hour and two drinks later, they jumped into the pool together. They splashed around with their friends and threw a Nerf football around for a while. She threw the ball to the guys at the other end and Pasta grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.
"Well hello," she purred as he kissed her neck and shoulders.
"Hello." She wrapped her legs around him and kissed him deeply. They heard more people arriving and greeting everyone but they were busy and didn't bother looking to see who the newest arrivals were. "You would never know," he spoke into her ear, "that you were an innocent virgin not so long ago."
"Now I know what I was missing." They continued making out in the corner of the pool, not realizing that they were being unintentionally watched.
"I hope you like me for more than my dick," he laughed.
"Of course I do!" she giggled then kissed him again.
"Marshy!" she heard Frankie call out. She turned to look and noticed Brad standing there looking at her sadly. Then Katrina walked out and slipped her hand into Brad's drawing his attention away from Zanna.
"You okay?" Pasta asked her.
"Yeah. I'll be back, okay?" She left him and climbed out of the pool. "Ryan, can I talk to you for a sec?" She grabbed his wrist and pulled him away from everyone else.
"What's up, beautiful?"
"You said he wasn't gonna be here."
"Well, would you have come with us if you'd known he'd be here?"
"No."
"That's the point, Zee."
"So you don't care about how horribly awkward this is for me?"
"You'll be fine. You got Pasta and Marshy's got Katrina. You also got me, if you want me," he winked at her.
"No chance in hell," she glared at him then walked away.
"Zanna!" Brad called as he trotted up to her.
"Hi Marshy." She couldn't look him in the eye; she was mortified that he'd seen her kissing Pasta. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from him.
"This has gotta as hard for you as it is for me."
"How is it hard for you?" She finally looked at him. "You made me believe I had a chance with you. You allowed me to feel like there was something between us… Then you left while I was asleep and decided to stay with Katrina and have hardly spoken to me since."
"Look, I know I fucked up, Zee. I wanted to have something with you, I really really did… I still want that," he admitted sadly. "But I felt like I owed it to Katrina to try one more time. I am so sorry. You have no idea how bad I wanna kiss you right now. When I see you, being with you is all I can think about… just looking into your eyes and holding you and talking to you… laughing with you…" The look in her eyes was killing him. He really did want nothing more than to be with her right now. Before he could say another word, Katrina walked up and slipped her hand into his.
"Hi Zanna!" Oh thank god, Zanna thought. She doesn't know it was me in those pictures Looch took.
"Hey Katrina."
"I didn't know you and Pasta were together! That's great!"
"Yeah. He's pretty cool."
"You wanna go in the pool, Brad?" Zanna excused herself while Katrina tried to coerce him into the water. Pasta climbed out of the water and walked up to Zanna.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry," he smiled at her, taking her hands in his. "I'll keep you occupied."
"Thanks Pasta." She smiled and kissed him in gratitude.
Zanna and Brad spent most of the afternoon sneaking glances at each other. He wanted nothing more than to be able to be alone with her but that was just not in the cards. When 8 o'clock rolled around and everyone got ready to part ways, Brad and Katrina climbed into his car.
"Shit, I forgot to tell Pasta to bring the play book tomorrow. Be right back."
"Kay," she said buckling her seatbelt and pulling her phone out of her purse. He ran into the house and found Zanna saying goodbye to Zach, the host.
"Zanna!" Brad grabbed her hand and pulled her into the half-bathroom in the hallway. Before she could get a word out, he took her mouth with his. He held her against him and kissed his feelings into her for nearly two minutes. "I will figure this out, Zanna. I promise." He opened the bathroom door and left her. Pasta looked in and saw her standing there with her fingertips over her lips.
"You ready to go?" he spoke softly. She nodded and followed him to Ryan's car.
**** Monday 7/12 ****
Monday afternoon, Zanna gave a presentation to the guys of some of the new advertisements the team was thinking of. She asked for feedback and the guys had some great ideas. She could feel Brad's stare burning into her so she avoided making eye contact with him. As she wrapped up the meeting, her cell phone buzzed on the podium. She glanced down at it and smiled.
"Who ya texting?" Brad asked, looking over her shoulder at the phone. She quickly stuffed it into her pocket.
"A friend of mine."
"Do you have plans tonight?"
"Are you still with Katrina?"
"Yeah," he sighed.
"Then, yes. I have plans tonight." Gathering her things into her arms, she walked away from him and he followed.
"Zanna wait." Ignoring him, she walked into her office with him right behind her. He closed the door behind him and they were finally alone for a minute.
"Marshy, I have a date tonight… You can't keep stalking me like this, I can't handle it. Can you please stop?"
"Zee, please don't go on that date tonight. Please."
"Why?"
"Because…" Pasta knocked on the door, interrupting him mid explanation. He sighed in defeat. She opened the door and smiled at her new "friend."
"Hey Pasta!" She turned back to Brad. "I have some work to do here… We'll talk later, okay?" Brad nodded sadly and left the office. Pasta shut the door once they were alone. "Hello," she grinned and he kissed her hello. He wanted much more privacy in his relationship with her than Brad had ever wanted. He knew that mixing pleasure with business could be a dangerous thing to do.
"Hey. Did I hear you say you have a date tonight?"
"Yeah… just to get Marshy to chill."
"Do you wanna have a date tonight?" he grinned.
"Yeah! Sounds good. What are you thinking?"
"I could come over… bring some take out or something?"
"Perfect. I'll text you the address."
"I'll grab Chinese food, is that cool?"
"Sounds great."
"Cool. See you in a bit." He kissed her once more then headed toward the exit. He wanted to get to her place as soon after her as possible. He wanted to have as much time alone with her that night as he could.
**** Tuesday 7/13 ****
Pasta went to Zanna's house Tuesday after work as well. They were lying in bed naked that evening when the doorbell rang.
"You expecting someone?"
"No," she responded as she pulled on some shorts and a tank top. "Be right back." She went to the living room and was shocked when she looked through the peephole. She opened the door and Brad stood before her. "What are you doing here?!"
"I need to talk to you." He walked in without an invite and she reluctantly shut the door behind him.
"This isn't really a great time." She said just as Pasta walked out in his underwear.
"Oh hey, Marshy."
"Hey Pasta. What are you doing here?"
"I'm almost naked," he chuckled. "What do you think?" Brad turned his attention back to Zanna who stood with her arms crossed over her chest and an irritated look on her face.
"Zee," Brad began. "I know you want me to stop pursuing you but I can't. I won't." Pasta went into the kitchen to get himself a drink and listen to their conversation from afar.
"Why not?"
"Come here." He took her hand and led her to the couch. She sat down beside him and braced herself for whatever he was about to say. "Zanna, I know I have done this all wrong… and I didn't know it was gonna go this way… the confusing, drawn out, fucked up way…"
"Marshy, just spill it."
"Listen, I can tell why you are into Pasta. He's tall, good looking, a cool single guy… I know I'm not exactly that guy and, again, I have done things all out of order here." He took a deep breath trying to find his words. "What I am trying to say is I like you… Not only do I really, genuinely like you as a human being, but I love you."
"What?!"
"I love you, Zanna. I knew there was something between us the first time I kissed you. I knew after a night together that I cared about you and it didn't take me much longer than that to know it was more than just caring about you. I love you."
"But what about Katrina?"
"I broke up with her last night. She spent today getting the rest of her stuff out of the apartment. She said she knew that things had changed… When she came back, she knew I had changed. She knew it was you that had changed me. When we saw you at the pool yesterday, she already knew it was you. I think she thought that since you were with Pasta that I'd have to move on too… but I can't. I don't wanna move on." He paused to take a breath. "Is it serious with him?"
"Marshy, I don't know," she whispered. Pasta listened in but wasn't sure what to do. His feelings for Zanna were nowhere near as strong as Brad's apparently were but he did like her. He knew that the right thing to do would be to bow out of her personal life but did she want that? He wasn't sure yet.