Chapter 276 - Makai – Celebrating Part 1

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Makai

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Today was quite a good day. Not only did someone other than me or Ocean put Trent in his place, but our school had also dominated the competition. We had done something that no one had ever thought was possible. Not even I thought that it was a possibility that we would all win. That was just beyond believable, but it had happened.

Now that the tournament is over though, we would all want to celebrate. I knew that the team would want to celebrate together, that we would all want to be there for each other, but I also wanted to celebrate with just Ocean. I wanted to prove to him how proud I was of him. 

And it wasn't just winning that tournament that had made me proud of him. No, I was also proud of the fact that he had remained calm during the confrontation with Trent. I thought for sure that he was going to lose his temper and hit him again. That was something that I didn't want to let happen. Trent was my problem, and if he reared his ugly head again, I would make sure that I was the one to settle that problem.

I think that on Friday, when we were first confronted against Trent, I was just in a state of shock. I hadn't ever wanted to see him again. I wasn't actually afraid of him or anything, but he brought up a lot of bad memories. He made me feel like I was that weak little guy again. He made me feel like I did back when we were together, and he used to control me. I don't know why, but that was just what had come over me that day. Now though, I was doing fine. I was able to think about it all and settle myself down quite a bit more. 

To be honest, I do believe that it was because of Ocean that I was able to settle myself down. I was calmer around him in general, that was a solid fact. However, after that incident on Friday, I sat and talked with Ocean about my past. I told him things that I had never told anyone. My parents didn't even know what I had gotten up to as a younger man that was flourishing into the man that I am today. No one, except for Ocean now, knew about all of the things that I had gone through. And he would be the only one that knew about that part of my life.

I wanted to plan an evening with my man. It would be for after we had celebrated with everyone else of course, but I think that Ocean needed to have that extra special time that celebrated him and his accomplishments. And, of course, it would celebrate us as well.

Following the tournament, Ocean, Ben, Ryan and I went to the locker room to get cleaned up. We wanted to head straight to dinner from here. And I had to admit, I was pretty damn hungry. Then again, I was pretty damn thirsty too. I needed more than one thing to satisfy my appetite.

Freshly showered and dressed in clean clothes, the entire team and Coach Dickson hopped onto the bus. We drove to the most expensive restaurant in town and were trying to get a table. Of course, this wouldn't be an easy feat. We didn't have a reservation or anything.

"I am sorry, Sir, but we simply do not have the room for you." The man that met us at the door tried to send us on our way.

"Come on, please. I know that you have tables set aside for important clients. I have the money to pay and we're here to celebrate. I would appreciate it if you could get us a table." I was trying to talk my way into the restaurant, but it clearly wasn't going very well. If only I had thought ahead or had my parents call them or something. But I had less influence here since I had been gone and I hadn't tried to throw my money around before I left Florida.

"I am sorry, we simply cannot seat you. I can take your name down and if we have a cancellation then you may get a table then, but for now there is nothing at all that can be done." I felt bad. I felt like I was letting down my fiancé as well as my whole team.

"They can sit with me." I heard a voice from behind me and spun to see who it was. "It's the least that I can do. And I do not like to eat alone." Standing right there was Mr. Reece Gray. He was offering to help us get into the restaurant, but I had a feeling that it wouldn't work any better than it had for me.

"O..oh, M..M..M..Mr. Gray." The man seemed more shocked than I expected at the sight of the man behind us.

"Yes Pete, it's me. How are you doing? It's been a while."

"I..I'm fine, Sir." OK, this man was very well known, and very influential. How was it that this man was acting afraid of him?

"That's good. Now, I would like a table for fourteen. These young men and women have just walked out of my tournament with all the top spots. They are going to be my special guests for the evening. So, if you wouldn't mind, I would like a private room to celebrate with all of them. And please do hurry up. They are most likely very hungry from their long day."

"Yes, Mr. Gray, right away, Sir." The man ran away from us and into the back of the restaurant faster than I would have expected.

"Huh. I didn't even know they had private rooms. That was a nice call." I grinned and looked at him. "Thank you so much, Mr. Gray. And I will of course be paying for our meal. I am not looking for anything above and beyond that. You have done so much for us already." I wanted to make sure that he knew that I was not going to just expect him to pay for everything because we were sitting with him.

"You're a good kid, you know that. Sorry. I know that you're not a kid really, but I can't help it." He laughed about that and then looked at me with kind eyes. "Why do you think that I host the tournaments that I do, Mr. Rivers?" I didn't know how to answer that. I was still just at a loss for words at the fact that he actually remembered my name. He had only briefly met me earlier today after all.

"W..well, I would say that it was because you are a kind and generous man." I answered with the first thing that came to my mind.

"Ha ha. Are you trying to flatter me?" He didn't look like he was mad or anything so I just laughed it off with him. "But you're not wrong. I am generous, and I love helping people. Even more so since I met my wife and got married. Trinity is the best thing to have ever happened to me, and I recently became a father too. Those little babies of mine are the biggest gift in the world. I know what money can buy, and I know what love can give you. What I truly believe is that when you are rich with love and money, you need to give a lot of them both back into the world. And that is exactly what I do. I want people to have a chance at a fulfilling future without needing to worry about the bill that comes with it."

"That's easy to say when you're the richest man in the world." Coach joked as he walked up. "But I will say that I do appreciate it. These kids have worked hard and they have definitely proven that to us all."

"That they have. And Mr. Dickson, you are right, I am the richest person in the world. I have the love of my family and friend's, I have my own successful company, and I have kindness in my heart."

"That's beautiful." Faith smiled at the man as she ogled him.

"You're so nice." Jenell added with a smile similar to hers.

"Your private room is ready, Mr. Gray." The man came running back to us, slightly out of breath.

"Then let's go. Oh, and Mr. Rivers, dinner is on me."

For some reason, I knew that was coming. That was fine. If he wanted to do that I would let him. If I tried to refuse him, he would probably lecture me again. And I could see that there was a lot that I needed to learn from this man. He was a really good guy.

I noticed that, as we went to sit down, Ocean was once again in a state of shock. He was sitting at a table with his idol. He was going to be having dinner with him as well. This was something major for him and I was happy that this was happening.

It hadn't actually been planned, but this was the best gift that I had been able to give my Ocean. If I hadn't insisted on us coming to this restaurant, then we never would have had this opportunity. We never would have had this life altering experience. And I would never have been able to see this look on Ocean's face. It was nice, seeing that sort of awe that he had in his eyes.. Even if it was for another man, it was nice.