Two minute warning

I don’t have a penny to my name. Nor a nickel, dime, or even a quarter for that matter. What I have is integrity, or at least that‘s what I tell myself. But integrity doesn’t pay the bills or buy a fancy dinner with a girl. Which is the problem. Me trying to enjoy a meal with Anita while worrying about a bill that I will not be able to pay. Plus, she just ordered her third, fifteen-dollar glass of Robert Mondavi.

I’m royally fucked. However, watching those beautiful red full lips kiss the crystal while she sips on the Merlot is worth every penny I don’t have. My only hope is that the Bills beat the Chiefs by no Less than four points tonight. Turning my twenty dollars into a parlay worth twenty-three hundred bucks.

I listen to her with one ear while the game is playing in my other.

She talks, I nod and smile. “I’m done with him this time for sure.”

”Mmmm.”

That's the two-minute warning, Bills up by four. Don‘t go anywhere folks we got a doozy of a game.

Shit, all we need is to hold them off , don’t let them get in field goal range.

Setting her fork down Anita speaks. "I'm sorry, listen to me blab on and on about Tony, Seriously I'm not going back to him."

"What? No, you’re doing the right thing." I concur.

"I'm so happy to have you as a …friend, you're always there for me. Unlike Tony he always has things...."

Friend? Did I just hear the 'F' word?

"....I shouldn't feel guilty. I should be able to do what I want, right?"

Oh, my what an unbelievable catch Travis Kelce just made. Chiefs are in field goal range.

"NOOO." Shit, did I just scream that aloud?

"No?" Anita stares at me.

"I mean.. no, you shouldn't feel guilty."

"Oh, good I thought you were on his side for a moment. This lobster is delicious, you should really have more than just a soup.”

“It’s late,…I already ate.” Stale crackers hibernating under my couch.

“Thank you for asking me out, Tony only allows me to have salad."

"Yeah, sure no problem."

In truth I didn’t ask her out. Anita called me after another fight with golden boy Tony and asked if I wanted to meet her tonight. I thought she meant for a drink or a walk, not freak'n lobster.

Just then her phone starts to vibrate, Tony's face pops on the screen.

"Should I pick up?"

Second and ten, Mahomes is in trouble, he's scrambling, no where to go… they sack him well behind the line of scrimmage. That puts the chiefs out of field goal range. The Bills defense comes up big.

"YES, yes. Perfect."

"Really, you want me to answer?"

"No, don't answer. I was just thinking yes, let him wonder, where you are."

"You're right, who does he think he is. I'll talk when I am good and ready, and I am not good or ready." Then she gives me a wicked smile. "Well, I am good, and with a little more wine I'll be ready."

Good god, I quickly signal our waiter to bring another glass.

Ohh, Isiah Pacheco was stuffed for another three-yard loss, that was not a good call for third and long. I guess they were hoping to catch the Bills defense sleeping. This Brings up fourth and very long.

With a wink and giggle. " I'm feeling a little tipsy, you might have to take me home."

It looks like I'm coming into some money and coming into….

Her phone lights up again.

The Chiefs have no choice but to go for it, it's now or their season is over...

Forty-two seconds and I am rich, well richer than I am now. Plus, I won’t have to do a dine and dash.

Anita's phone continues to vibrate, this time I can see her hesitate. If she answers, it will be a lonely night for me. Lighter in an already empty pocket and nothing to show for it. I place my hand over the dancing device and give her my best smile.

"look, Anita, you and I have known each other for a long time, I think it's time I told you something…" Oh my God I am about to say it.

She reaches over, holds my hand and whispers. "I know what you’re going to say, and I want to stop you before you do. I like you, really, but…”

But?

Mahomes is in trouble again, he dodges one tackle, slips another, he's racing for the sideline. Slings a side arm throw down field...Xavier has it.. Xavier Worthy snatches the ball and keeps his feet in bounds and walks into the endzone. That is a highlight reel catch....Kansas has done it again, fourth and long no problem for the great Mahomes.

I sit there, mouth open, a groan escapes from deep within. I swear I taste the salty defeat of a tear rolling down my face.

"It’s not what you want me to say is it?" Her beautiful eyes burrow into my lost soul. "Tony and I fight, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t made for each other. You have been there for me, and I hope you always will...”

But... she is going to say another but. Yikes this is embarrassing.

Her phone startles us as it begins to bounce once more. Slowly she removes her hands from mine. I want to cry out no, keep them there, but my throat is tight.

In a distant voice she says. "I don’t feel that way about you. Please…we live in different circles … I value our friendship. I hope you understand "

Folks, this game just got real... thirty-nine seconds on the clock. Chiefs up by three.... Bills need to receive the kick move into field goal range, to tie the game... with no timeouts. It's not over just yet.... Josh Allen and the Bills have a mountain to climb and not much time to do it. Here we go with the kick...

I see a look in her eyes, it’s the same one my mother, sister and aunt give me, pity.

Anita whispers. “I was hoping maybe you and I…”

It’s high and deep, dropping like the sun on the Bills season…

I give an involuntary groan which can easily be misconstrued as a nooo.

"Oh, I see."

The damn phone vibrates once again. “I won’t answer, maybe just text him.”

Bills take it on their twenty, Khalil is immediately swarmed by the chiefs...

I shake my head, it’s over.

“I should pick up the phone, Tony is probably wondering where I am. What do you think I should do?"

I want to say no, stay with me. How do I tell her I like her, want her, maybe love...

He escapes; how did he not get tackled?... Swinging wide he's got blockers, and a path, …fifteen seconds... he's down to the fifty...the forty... three Chiefs stand between him and the end zone...

"Oh god ...Yes ...yes..."

"You’re right, I should give him another chance?"

The thirty.... he's grabbed ....no he slips out….. Khalil’s like a pinball bouncing off tackles... he’s going…

"Go...go..."

"Now, you want me to go now?" Her voice is distant.

He's got room. …only the kicker is left.

"Yes...sweet Jesus go..." I yell.

He hurtles the tackle… stays in bounds...he's gone… ten...five...touch down...touchdown Bills…

“YES….yes.” I scream. My head falls to the table in exhaustion.

Buffalo has just pulled an upset, no time on the clock. The Bills win by four over the Chiefs….

I bang the table so hard her empty wine glass tips over, everyone in the restaurant stares at me. I can't believe it I won, I fucking won.

"Anita...Anita?"

Looking up I listen to her talking. “Oh, baby I shouldn’t have run out, I was just so angry when you said no….what? Oh, baby that’s great. We're going to have so much fun.” Giggling, she blows a kiss to the phone.

She smiles so wide I can literally see my reflection in her bleach white teeth. “He said we can go to Barbados, isn’t that great?”

“You stormed out of the house, because he said no to a trip?”

“I know isn’t that silly, he has the money he just doesn’t like spending it. I’m so happy. Let’s order a dessert.”

Carol is down on the field talking to the hero of the night… Carol?

Dessert?

Thanks Jim, I’m here with Khalil Shakir, tell me what you were thinking as the ball was coming towards you.

I sit there, mouth open seeing her for the first time, really seeing her.

“Oh, maybe no to the dessert, Tony won’t want to see a fatty in bikini.”

Honestly, I have to give praise to the lord and to my team, they gave me the blocks, and the opportunity, the rest was up to me …

“Did you call me to make him jealous?”

“What? God no, he isn’t jealous of you. I needed you tonight you always say the right thigs and make me feel better.”

…there was a wall of people that wanted to stop me from getting to my goal... I saw an opening on the opposite side and veered away…

I watch as she places her phone into her coach purse, shake her perfectly styled hair away from her long fake eyelashes and smile as if the world is once more hers.

Leaning in she winks. “We can sneak in one quick treat, Tony doesn’t need to know.”

They tried taking me down, but I said not today. I mean it wasn’t the play we designed, sometimes we need to adjust. What we had lined up wasn’t working so I cut loose…. all the way into the end zone. We worked too hard…we deserved to win...

Leaning back in my chair, staring at my glass of water and cold soup I open my sports App, then my bank account and smile.

“Anita, I'm glad you called me tonight.”

“Anytime hon.” Her beautiful arms wave down our waiter.

“I want to say three things. First, you and Tony deserve each other.”

With a shrug she says. “We really do.”

Yep, she doesn’t get sarcasm.

“Secondly, please take me off your friends list.”

Her head swivels on her perfect neck, a stunned expression frozen on her face, like her future Botox injections.

Khalil, let’s look one more time on that unexpected move you made… you were gone and never looked back…

“Third.” Glancing up towards our waiter. “Two separate bills please.”

....touchdown… go enjoy this moment, you deserve it….what a beautiful finish….good night folks.