Page 48 of Playing to Win
Chapter 16
Kyle was in a pickle. Callie’s birthday was in four days and he had no idea what to do. What was worse was the team was headed to Los Angeles tonight for the second game in the series and wouldn’t be back until Wednesday late, meaning he had one day when he returned to have something great planned for Thursday. And if his empty brain was any indication of how the party was going to end, it was going to be a big, fat failure.
“Man, your head looks like it’s about to explode. Want to talk?” Trevin came up behind him and plopped down on the bench next to Kyle.
Kyle looked at his friend. Unlike Jamal, Trevin was usually pretty good at listening without making fun of him. Of course, Kyle had never talked to Jamal about women before Callie, so he really hadn’t given him a shot. Still, after his griping about how Kyle had his head too much in thinking about Callie and not enough about the game, he decided to use Trevin as a sounding board, instead.
“It’s Callie. Her birthday is in two days. Her roommate called me, wanting me to help plan it because Callie told them she didn’t want to do anything.”
“And you decided to plan one anyway? You’re either extremely brave or extremely stupid.”
“Cassie, her roommate, just told me that they had screwed up her parties in the past and I just wanted her to have a good one.”
“Man, you really do have it bad for this chick.”
Kyle looked at his friend. “I really do. She’s gotten under my skin. So I want this to be something she’ll always remember as a good thing. Suggestions?”
Trevin thought for a minute. Then a minute more. Kyle was just about to give up on his friend ever suggesting anything worthwhile when he smiled.
“What is it?” Kyle asked warily.
“I have something perfect.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
“Chuck E. Cheese.”
“As in the kid’s pizza place?”
“Yeah, man. Think about it. You could call the one off I-240 and see if they’ll let you rent the whole place. You know they will. You’re Kyle Kelly. The legend. The champion of OKC.”
“Hardly.”
“Whatever. Not the point. My point is, she will love it.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because one, she’ll get to eat pizza. Who doesn’t love pizza? Two, it’s not too serious, so there won’t be any awkward making sure everyone is having a good time. Three, there’s all sorts of games you can play and win tickets to win a tiny eraser or piece of candy for like, a thousand tickets. Totally overrated but fun just the same. She’ll get to be a kid again. And four, there’s a dancing mouse. Who doesn’t love a dancing mouse?”
Kyle thought about the plan. “You know, that just might work. You’re a genius, man.”
“I know. It was either rocket science or basketball. I chose the latter.”
Kyle looked at his friend, trying to decide if he was joking or not.
“Nah, man. Just kidding. I had a tutor all through college just so I could keep my GPA up so I could play ball. But I had you going for a minute, didn’t I?”
Kyle laughed. “Sure did, Trevin.”
“Pinocchio ain’t got nothin’ on me. I can lie with the best of ’em.”
“Not sure that’s a good thing, Trev.”
“It is when you’re telling a girl she’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen,” Trevin said with a waggle of his eyebrows.
“One day you’ll find Ms. Right and it will all fall into place. Trust me, my friend.”
“Until then, I gotta live a little. Fame can be a good thing when trying to snag a lady.”
