by Lark Maren
I giggled and shrugged, waving her off like it didn’t matter. I was over it. I could tell I had earned their respect; I knew I had Tonya’s, too. We could put cupcake to bed once and for all.
“I guess our main focus for the short term should be hyping up the ‘relaunch’ of the team before your opening game. I have been playing around with some community outreach ideas, ways to bring attention from the community to our causes, but I don’t want to do anything without talking to you guys first.”
“You don’t know how much this means to me,” Savannah said, and I was surprised to see a tear roll down her face. “My goal in life has always been to support women athletes, give them whatever they need to succeed, even if it’s the shirt off my back. It’s nice to think that maybe we can take that vision beyond the team.” Lindsay reached for her hand and squeezed it. “There’s so much I want to do before it’s time for me to retire, and I finally feel like everything is starting to click.”
I pulled my notebook out of my briefcase and grabbed a fountain pen from the desktop, feeling more inspired than ever. “Tell me what you want,” I said. “Tell me everything.”
She chuckled through her tears. “It’s a lot. It’s been thirty-five years in the making.”
“Good,” I said. I really wished Tonya was here for this. As community outreach liaison, I wanted her to hear this stuff firsthand. I knew she would be just as excited about it as the three of us. “I have a feeling everyone on the team will be more than happy to do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true.”
Lindsay giggled, then slapped her hand over her mouth as Savannah shot her a glare of death.
“Is there something we need to talk about?” I asked.
They both blinked back at me, wiggling in their seats, looking like they were both trying to figure out how to bust out of this office without me noticing. I hadn’t exactly been discreet about my affinity for Tonya, and I’m sure everyone saw her car parked at the gym overnight.
“Is this supposed to be awkward?” I asked, shooting them a million-dollar smile. “I can’t help it Tonya and I hit it off. Turns out we have a lot in common. I promise we will keep things professional.”
“Ella, I’ve known Tonya since she was a kid. You two have about as much in common as ducks and potatoes,” Savannah said. “And if she fights with you like she does with the rest of her teammates I’m sure there’s going to come a time when things aren’t exactly professional. That being said, I don’t hate it. I think you might be a good example on her. But it’s none of our business.”
“Do you care if I bring her into management?” I asked. “I want her to be our community outreach liaison. I don’t want you to think I’m doing her a favor because of how I feel about her. I just think she’d be a great candidate for the job, and I’d rather hire from within the team than bring anyone new in. Unless you think there’s someone more qualified or better suited… I don’t want to ruffle any feathers.” Apparently she was the duck. And I was the potato.
“I think it’s just the break she needs,” Lindsay said. “She’s so smart, and she is a fighter when it comes down to anything she’s passionate about. If she’s on board, I’m totally fine with that.”
“Same,” Savannah said.
“Should I call her up and tell her? Put her on speakerphone?” I picked up the receiver, excited to make my first executive move. A surge of pride flowed through me, a surge of excitement for the future of the team, the future of us, as I began to dial her number.
“I’m sorry, ladies,” Ivan, my father’s advisor, said as he swung open the glass door to the office. “We’re going to need in here.” He was followed behind by our family lawyer and two men who I’d never seen before dressed in expensive black suits. They swarmed the office before I could even set the phone down.
“We were just finishing up,” I said as the men began opening filing cabinets and pulling out folders, flinging them onto the desk without any regard to our meeting. “My father said I could use his office as long as I needed it.”
“I’m sorry. Direct orders,” he said. “You can come back tomorrow. You can use the office at the end of the hall. I don’t know what to tell you. You just need to get out.”
The three of us gathered our belongings and started for the door. “We need to get our own place as soon as possible,” I muttered. “I don’t know what that was all about, but that was completely rude.”
“It’s okay,” Savannah said, squeezing my arm. “We can tell her in person. At practice tonight. We can always use the gym to meet if we need to. Or my house. Whatever it takes.”
I was so flustered by Ivan’s rude interruption I had barely noticed the commotion going on around me. Everyone was filing out of the office hurriedly, laptops and computers in hand, boxes of paperwork in their arms, nobody saying a word. It all seemed so urgent. Like they were running out of a burning building.
“Is it a holiday or something?” I asked, as we jammed into the elevator with at least six other people. I laughed nervously when nobody responded.
“Is this normal?” Lindsay asked, her hand covering her mouth. I’d never seen anything like it before, but I also never spent much time at my father’s office except to bring him lunch or drop by to ask him for something. I wondered if he knew what kind of chaos was going on when he wasn’t around. I’d call him as soon as I got out of this elevator.
“I’ll see you guys tonight,” I said, as they headed off to the parking garage. I tried to call my father. Straight to voicemail. Tried my mom as well, and the same thing happened. They were probably out on an excursion, probably swimming with the dolphins or scuba diving off the coast of San Cristobal. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something off was going down in the office, couldn’t shake the strange conversation I had with them this morning, but I figured it was nothing a little retail therapy couldn’t fix.
My favorite boutique was a short walk away. The September air was crisp, and the way the leaves were starting to turn, getting ready for their annual purge, the smell of change in the air, I found myself humming with excitement, knowing change was in the air for me, too. Changes that involved a life with Tonya at the forefront, a team, and a mission.
I was greeted in the forefront of the boutique by the owner, Michelle. She was in her late sixties and a real stunner. Everything she wore flattered her body, her complexion, and her white hair was always swept up in a tight bun. Her make-up didn’t hide her wrinkles, but instead articulated her high cheekbones and plump lips. I’d never seen the woman frown in the fifteen years I’d known her, and it made her that much more gorgeous and alluring.
“I was hoping you’d be stopping in soon,” she said, placing her hand on my shoulder. “I have been dying to show you something.” I followed her into the back room, and she spun open the giant wall-mounted safe. “I don’t know if I’m quite ready to part with it, but I know if I was, you’d be the girl I’d want to have it.”
She pulled out the Hermes dust bag and handed it to me, and I slid the blue alligator purse out and gasped. “Is this a Kelly?” I asked. This purse had been on my bucket list for years now, and even holding it in my hands made my legs tremble. “Where did you find it?”
“At an estate sale over the weekend,” she explained. “Looks like it’s never been used.” I opened the bag and looked inside at the pristine leather. Felt the bottom for wear and tear. It looked brand-new. My dad told me not to hold back, but I knew what these things went for: upwards in the range of $75K.
I knew I could talk him into it. He might be mad for a few days, but he knew how important this purse was to me. I even had pictures of it on my vision board.
“How much do you want for it?” I asked.
“I know how much you want this purse,” she said.
“Which means you’re not going to cut me a deal,” I said with a giggle.
“You know me too well. If you think you can do fifty thousand, though, we have a deal. Today.”
I chewed my lip, holding the bag in my quaking hands. $50K was a steal for this bag. If I framed it that way, I knew my father wouldn’t be upset. My collection would be nearly complete.
I handed it back to her with a sigh. “I can’t do it,” I said, cringing as the words came out of my mouth. “It’s not right.” Maybe that money was a drop in the bucket to my family, but to the team, to my business, to Tonya, that money would be life changing. Even when I wasn’t near her, she changed me. I didn’t need a status symbol in the form of blue crocodile leather. I needed a new office building for the business. I needed a reliable workout facility for the team. I needed to set up scholarship funds, buy uniforms, plan events, get out in the community and make a difference. I needed to deliver on the jobs I was promising these women.
Michelle looked shocked. “Not right? Are you alright? Do you need to sit down for a minute? Can I get you some water?”
“You should keep it for yourself. You earned it.” She put it back in the safe and my heart felt like it was sinking into my stomach, but I knew I was doing the right thing. Birkins didn’t matter anymore. Tonya didn’t care how many I had. The team didn’t benefit from my closet full of handbags. I wasn’t planning on parting with any of them anytime soon, but the next purse I bought was going to be with my own money. I would earn it for myself. “I am in the market for some business casual dresses, though.”
“Well, I suppose I can help you out there.” She didn’t exactly look thrilled as she walked me back out onto the floor room of her shop.
“Don’t worry. I might want some jewelry, too,” I said, squeezing her hand. “I need a perfect gift.”
“Kelly bags make excellent gifts,” she said with a wink.
“We’re not quite there yet.” I laughed. If Tonya wanted that purse, I’d buy it for her in a heartbeat, but I knew she had about as much interest in it as I had in putting on pads and getting out on the football field. I’d get her something sparkly instead. Something subtle, but uniquely her. I started running my fingers through racks of clothes, picking out stuff for me and stuff for her, growing more and more excited by the minute about the idea of bringing her back to my house to play dress-up tonight. How thrilled she was going to be that I knew her taste. How tomorrow we could hit the streets and start getting the team in order officially.
Her and I together, we were going to make a name for the Lady Cats once and for all.
Chapter Eighteen
Tonya:
“Well what the fuck is this all about?” Lucy said with a whistle as I pulled into the parking lot of the practice field. I had the windows rolled down, sunroof open, my favorite R&B station blaring through the speakers. There was a reason why they called these things luxury cars. I wanted to live in this buttery leather filled sedan. “You boost that or something?”
“Borrowed it from a friend,” I said, rolling up the window in her face.
“A friend, huh?” she muttered as I stepped out and stretched my legs. “And what do you give this friend in return?”
“Mind your own,” I said, opening the trunk and slinging my duffel bag over my shoulder.
“This is Cupcake’s car,” she said, matter-of-factly, like she was telling me something I didn’t know.
“Thought we weren’t supposed to call her that anymore. Wasn’t it you jumping down my throat the other night telling me I needed to be nice to her? I took your advice, Lucy. I’ve been nice to her. Real nice.” I stuck out my tongue garishly, chuckling as she cringed. She didn’t need to know what Ella and I had going on was more than that. We had a football season coming up. Training to do. Games to win. I didn’t need her causing drama or getting herself all whipped up.
We walked to the field together, and for the first time I realized what Lucy and I had was never anything more than a lust fueled attraction. Sure, she was hot. Fooling around with her was fun, but I always felt so guilty that she wanted more and I did not. I always felt terrible that I couldn’t just force myself to be into her, force myself to want more than just a booty call. I had always been upfront about my intentions, but it tore me up inside that she was willing to waste her time pining over me. It wasn’t fair to either one of us. The only reason why I knew this? Because, in this moment, I had no interest in hooking up with her again. I had no interest in having any sort of relationship besides teammates. She didn’t make me feel the way Ella did. If it was Ella walking next to me, I’d be fighting my urge to take her hand in mine. I’d be holding back my desire to just skip practice and go home and cuddle with her. I’d be all nervous and tongue-tied and worried that what I said might not come out right.
“So what’s your deal?” she asked. “What have you been up to? I know you left your car at the gym last night.”
“Just chilling. Working. Trying to get Areal into a charter school. Why do you care where I left my car last night? I wasn’t feeling great after work. You knew that. I shouldn’t have been driving.” I knew everyone on the team probably knew by now I had left my car at the gym. Little things like that were always read into as much much bigger things. Of course, this thing between Ella and I was huge.
“I offered to drive you home,” she said.
“You did?” I asked, scratching my head. “I don’t remember. I was dizzy. I wasn’t feeling well.”
“You seem fine now,” she mumbled.
“What is your problem, Lucy? You’ve been down my throat for days now. You’re acting weird.”
“I just can’t believe you of all people would be sucked in by that bullshit. I’m your teammate. I’ve been your friend for how long? You were the one who told us not to trust her, and now you’re driving her car? What’s that even all about?” She was kicking gravel down the parking lot, walking faster with each step, and I struggled to keep up with her, not that I really even wanted to have this conversation. “You’re a traitor.”
“Well, you’re an ignorant tool. One breath you’re sucking up to Ella so hard I’m surprised you can even breath, and the next you’re telling me to stay away from her. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were jealous.”
She stopped dead in her tracks. “You’re scum, Tonya. I will never be jealous of your ghetto ass. Can’t keep a job, can’t keep a girlfriend, can’t even keep your sister out of a cop car. I’m too good for you.” Her lip trembled and I could tell she was fighting back a tear. In a previous life, this would be when I’d grab her and start making out with her. Shut her up with my lips and get her back on the same page as me. Her words didn’t hurt me; they were all true. So was the fact that this whole fighting and fucking thing was way too much work. Why go through all this just to get some?
“At least you’re starting to make sense,” I said, walking ahead of her now, ready to join my team on the field for warm-ups. “I’ve told you all along you’re too good for me. Now go out there and find someone worth your time.”
I sprinted off, only looking over my shoulder once. She was crying. I never wanted to make anybody cry unless it was an opponent, but I also didn’t want to hang back and console her. We needed to end this right now. If she thought I was a heartless bitch, so be it. Our relationship needed to be strictly professional from here on out.
“If I’m too good for you, she’s WAY too good for you, Tonya,” she bellowed. “You know you’re going to fuck it up.” I just shrugged and jogged over to Savannah, who was standing on the sidelines with her whiteboard, drawing up some new plays. Maybe I would fuck it up, but for the first time in my life I wasn’t scared of failing. The journey with Ella was worth just as much as the destination, whatever that may be.
“You feeling better?” Savannah asked, eyeing me up from head to toe.
“Much,” I assured her. “Got a good night’s sleep, I’m hydrated and fed, I’m ready to tear some faces off.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” she said, patting me on the back. “Go out there and get warmed up.” I jogged my mandatory five laps around the field, my warm-up mile, my
legs feeling stronger than they had in a long time. I joined my teammates in the center of the field for dynamic drills: walking lunges, side shuffles, glute kickers, and high knee runs back and forth. We all gathered around in a circle and jumped rope, waiting for Savannah’s whistle so we could drop down and do our static stretching. She was currently in the process of consoling Lucy, or something to that effect, and my teammates were starting to grumble as our legs were turning to jello.
“What’d you do now?” Laurie said out of the side of her mouth, obviously irritated by the interruption.
“Why do you think it’s my fault?” I asked, a big fake smile on my face. I sucked wind in and out of my mouth, jumping faster and faster, trying to pretend like I didn’t notice the stares of the twelve other girls on the field with me.
Lucy took off to start her mandatory mile, and Savannah finally blew her whistle as we all collapsed to the ground.
“If you ladies want to keep on jumping until Lucy’s done running, make one more snide comment,” she shouted. “Wasting my time with this nonsense.” She looked pissed. Not at me, but just in general. I didn’t know if I should be flattered or worried. I assumed whatever Lucy told her was going to get me in trouble, but it looked like we were all in trouble now. “Most of you have been acting like damn fools for the last week, and it shows in your warm-up. Now start your stretches.”
“Ooh, she’s mad,” Hilary said as she folded herself in half, resting her head on her shin. She gritted her teeth and stared at me. Everyone was staring at me, especially Lucy, who I swear was giving me a middle finger every time she ran in my view. Maybe this was partially my fault. I was the one who started a fight at the bar the other night. I was the one who cocked off at Ella the first day she came around, and I was the one who’d been so busy with my personal life and work lately that football took a serious backseat. I was thankful I played defense because if we were going to scrimmage today I’m sure there were a few people who wouldn’t mind tackling me to the ground.