Miami Hoops — Aven Ellis

The time I picked up an NBA superstar while looking like a swamp thing in a hair salon . . . You see, I'm starting a new job on Monday at a sports TV network, and I was treating myself to a way too expensive cut at one of Miami's chicest hair salons in preparation when he walked in. By he, I mean, a tall, inked, European, and breathtakingly hot NBA superstar named Antoni Nowak. And Antoni happens to be interested in me—despite seeing me in that awful salon lighting, with wet hair, and draped in a smock. Me. I refuse to believe him at first. Antoni isn't deterred. Rather, he's even more intrigued when I fly my weird flag at full staff. But when I go viral due to a most humiliating situation, I wonder how long it will be until Antoni realizes this is who I truly am and the novelty of dating me wears off. Add in a coworker who feels I'm not just unworthy of a man like Antoni, but also an embarrassment to the network, and I suddenly find myself questioning my career, too. If this were a game of basketball, I'm about to make a pressured shot from the three-point line to win the game. Or will I find confidence in myself to sink the winning shot and keep not only Antoni but my job?