Page 71 of Playing to Win
“The talk of the town has been your donation of the Sedona to Tanner and his mom. Have you seen them since?”
“I actually went with the whole team and visited them the day after I won the MVP award. I found out that Stephanie, that’s Tucker’s mom, didn’t have medical insurance. After I told the guys, they insisted on going with me to the hospital. Coach Grant talked to the hospital CEO and set up a fund for Tanner. All the players and coaches put money into the account and the hospital will deduct all his medical bills from that fund. Then we all went up and took pictures with Tanner and all the other kids on his floor. So I don’t really consider myself a sole MVP. The whole team is.”
Callie nodded to the cameraman. All of a sudden, the crimson wall behind them was filled with pictures of the Thunder visiting the kids on the hospital wing. Kyle had thought it was a real wall, but it was actually a green screen for a news station, able to display whatever image it wanted.
The screen was currently filled with Trevin holding a little girl with no hair holding a small stuffed version of their mascot, Rumble the Bison, her arms wrapped around Trevin’s neck and a huge smile on his face. It then switched to Jamal shooting trashcan hoops with a small boy with a tiny frame and even tinier arms, his head thrown back in a laugh. Finally, a picture of Kyle in the driver’s seat of the Kia Sedona with Tanner, who was wearing a Kyle Kelly jersey and a Thunder cap. He was sitting on Kyle’s lap and holding the wheel, his tongue sticking out in concentration.
“Now, you’re not really letting him drive that car, are you, Kyle? Because celebrity or not, letting a minor drive in Oklahoma is against the law and might be punishable by a fine or time in jail.”
“I don’t think the great police officers in Oklahoma would throw me in jail right now. At least not until the series is over, Ms. Thompson,” Kyle said, throwing a wink her way. Damn, his girl was nailing it.
“Well, they might if they were Knicks fans,” she countered back. The professors laughed again. “But I imagine most Oklahomans are too intelligent and loyal for that sort of behavior, so you are probably safe. For now. But really, Kyle, that was an amazing thing you and the Thunder did. And one of the reasons our great state is so loyal to our team.”
“I hope I never get traded to another one. I love my home state of North Carolina but Oklahoma has become my home. And the Thunder is my family.”
“Well, I think it is safe to say that if the fans have anything to do with it, you won’t get to quit playing for the Thunder until you’re old and decrepit. Then they might run you out of town.”
Kyle laughed. “I’ll quit before then and spare them the misery of watching an old man attempt to play.”
“So what do you feel are your chances in the championship series? You already have game one under your belt, are up one nothing, and you have had a fairly easy run throughout the playoffs this season. Do you think that will continue?”
“Well, Callie,” Kyle said, loving the way her name sounded on his lips, “It might have looked like all the other series in the playoffs were easy for us, but trust me when I say they weren’t. We fought hard for every win and were up against really strong competition. In the NBA, you never know who is going to pull out the W. Everyone is so talented. It’s whoever is on their A-game. We’ve been lucky to be on our A-game a lot lately. I hope that continues until we have that championship title under our belt.”
Callie gave him a beautiful smile. “Well, Kyle, it has been such a pleasure talking to you. On the behalf of OU and all its students, I want to say thank you for coming out and talking to me, to us, today and sharing your thoughts and knowledge.”
“I don’t know about knowledge, but I guess it’s good that people still like to hear my Southern twang,” he responded, eliciting yet another laugh from Callie’s professors. If their behavior was any indication, Callie was on her way to acing her senior project.
“Well, if all the polls of the girls on campus are correct, your Southern twang isn’t the only thing keeping fans…well, at least the women, coming back for more, Mr. Kelly,” she responded with a wink. “But truly, it has been a pleasure.”
Kyle grinned. When she told him her major, he figured she was good, but he didn’t realize how truly amazing she was. Callie was a natural in front of the camera. Her smile was sweet and the light caught the gold in her hair and the light in her eyes. Her questions were thoughtful and insightful and she delivered them and her responses with the perfect blend of charm and wit. He knew from personal experience she was more knowledgeable about sports than the majority of men who liked to think themselves experts. She had a big, bright future ahead of her in the world of sports broadcasting.
“The pleasure was all mine, Ms. Thompson. Thanks for having me.” Callie and Kyle shook hands and with a loud ‘Cut!’ from a cameraman, it was over. Immediately, the room erupted in applause.
“Callie, my girl, that was amazing!” A beautiful woman with coffee-colored skin and hair that could only be defined as a chocolate rainbow walked up and pulled Callie in for a hug. “I told you to come up with something brilliant, and as usual, you exceeded my expectations.”
“Kyle, this is Lillian, my advisor who gave me the brilliant idea to interview you. She also has an affinity for wigs of all shapes, sizes, and colors,” Callie said, pointing to Lillian’s head. The wig started as a dark chocolate. It was straight and fell to her shoulders, with the color getting lighter in tone until it reached a pale blonde at the tips. “Your head looks like a chocolate rainbow.”
“Girl, you don’t even know how much I paid for this wig, so I don’t want to hear it. Until you have black woman hair problems, you can’t say anything, got me?” Lillian’s eyes twinkled with laughter. “Oh, honey. You did amazing. And girl, when I said get an athlete or a coach, I meant some peon on campus. I didn’t even fathom you could get this hottie of a celebrity.”
Lillian pulled Kyle in for a big squeeze. Much like the ladies in his church growing up, Callie’s advisor was very well-endowed. Fortunately, she probably only stood five foot five on a good day, so Kyle had little worry about her squishing his face against her ample chest. Still, the hug she put on him took his breath away.
“I dance for the Thunder, and my choreographer, who knows the team manager, owed me a favor,” Callie said, her eyes begging Kyle to go along with her fib. She had told him she didn’t want anyone to know they were together. She felt that her project would hold no merit if they thought she got him here because of their romantic involvement.
“Must have been some favor,” Lillian replied. “Well, anyway, girl, gotta run. I’m so proud of you!”
“Well, well, well, Ms. Thompson. I must say, I am very surprised at how much you impressed me today.” A man in a crimson and cream plaid blazer, crimson bow tie, and cream pants walked toward them, his eyeglasses perched on his eagle-beak nose. His comb-over had blown up when the door behind him had opened, leaving a few wayward wisps of hair hanging on his forehead. “I didn’t think you had that in you, if I can be frank.”
This must be the douche canoe Professor Sikes, Kyle thought. He looked over at Callie. The brilliant smile she had sported a few seconds ago was now replaced with a look of sorrow and dread. There was no way this asshole was going to ruin her day.
“Well, I was amazed at how well she did," Kyle said, stepping between Callie and the professor. “She was way better than a lot of the reporters who have interviewed me throughout the years. If her professors fail her they’re idiots.” Kyle held out his hand. “You know me. And you are?”
Asshole’s eyes grew wide in shock at Kyle’s straight-forward words. “I am Professor Sikes, one of the people who will be grading Ms. Thompson’s senior project.”
“Well, it’s so nice to meet one of the people who are going to give Ms. Thompson the A she deserves,” Kyle said with a smile.
“Yes, well, the final decision won’t be made until a week from now, but I will say it was a job well done.” Douche canoe walked away and Kyle could see Callie’s shoulders relax. She turned to him, a big smile on her face.
“Thanks for defending me,” she said with a shy smile. “He always makes me nervous.”
“Callie, my girl, if that man convinces the others that you don’t deserve an A, I’ll go to the head of Gaylord myself and demand he watch the video and decide what grade to give you.”
Callie laughed. “Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Want to get out of here? I have a few freckles that are calling your name.”
Kyle grinned. “By all means, lead the way. And knowing your lead foot, I’ll even let you drive. It will get us to my apartment faster.”
