“No way. One more round, double or nothing.” I put my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrows to challenge him. “You sure you want to do this? I mean, we’re in public, and there are a lot of people here right now watching you.” I flick a glance towards the Barbie girl who is still watching him.
“Game. On.” He says in the most serious voice he can muster up. It sounds more joking than anything though since he’s still laughing at me.
Chapter Nine
It takes us almost twenty minutes to get out the door of the bar. I hadn’t noticed how much it filled up while we played pool, but the bar is packed by the time we leave. And I think everyone stops him for an autograph. Zack smiles and shakes hands with his fans while he signs napkins, shirts, grocery store receipts, and even some well-concealed body parts on a few women. I take a few steps away from him when it happens. I just don’t need to see other women’s chests and stomachs. I notice Zack doesn’t give those women a second look and it secretly thrills me. It also makes me nervous.
It’s the same feeling I had in my condo. Our lives are so completely different and once this tour is over – what will happen then?
I jump when Zack’s hand grabs mine once we’re outside. “You okay?”
“Yeah…that was just…a lot.” I nod my head back towards the bar. He looks worried. “Not bad. I just can’t imagine what it’s like to have that happen whenever you go out in public.”
Instead of saying anything, he pulls me to a stop on the sidewalk. Slowly, he puts both hands on my shoulders and spins me around in the opposite direction.
“This is your surprise.”
At first I’m confused because I don’t know what in the world I could be given in Chicago that would be a bigger surprise than spending an afternoon with Zack shopping and playing pool. It’s been perfect enough.
But then realize I’m surrounded by a sea of blue and orange, and I totally get why he told me to wear purple. Soldier Field is across the street.
I spin around, my eyes as wide as possible, and my mouth hanging wide open in excitement. “You’re kidding.”
Zack puts his hand up. “Nope.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re not kidding. You’re taking me to the game?” The Vikings are playing the Bears tonight at Soldier field. I’m completely amazed. I clap my hands excitedly and jump around a few times. “I can’t believe you did this for me!” Without even thinking about it, I fling myself into his arms. I squeeze him tighter when his arms wrap around mine.
“You like it?”
“Yes. I absolutely love it. I’m so excited.”
I laugh along with Zack. “Then let’s go inside. I have one more surprise left.”
I pull away from him slowly. I don’t think there is a single surprise better than the one he just gave me.
“Come on, I’ll show you.” He lets his arms drops from my waist, but grabs a hold of my hand. I bounce excitedly across the street following him happily.
***
My mouth drops, again, when we reach a door on the second floor. “You got us a suite? How?” It’s amazing. I have never been inside one but have always wondered what they looked like. There are two rows of leather seats along the open windows over-looking the field. Behind the seats is a row of bar height tables. My eyes dance around the six flat screen televisions mounted along the walls showing various sports channels and then to a kitchenette and huge bar along the back wall. A waiter stands behind the bar wiping down the counter with a towel. I get to watch the game being served by a waiter in a private suite?
Hell yes! I whip out my camera phone, shoot a few pictures and send them to Mia. She’s going to be so jealous.
“This is so exciting! I can’t believe you’d do this for me! How?”
“This suite belongs to some friends of mine. When you agreed to join the tour, I called them up begging and pleading them to let me steal their suite for the game. I didn’t know until I called that the Vikings were playing, but since I know you like them, I had to get it.”
I doubt Zack has to beg and plead to get anything, but regardless this is awesome.