by Xyla Turner
“Nice game, Coach,” I commented.
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.” She smiled. “Looking forward to having to play against you on our court.”
“The Vikings don’t—” I started to answer her.
“Not with the Vikings, Coach.” She laughed. “You’re far above a Vikings coach.”
She patted my back and went to her team’s locker room. A few reporters, which was odd, came up to me after the game and asked, “How does it feel to win against a Pro team for your season opener?”
The light, camera and microphone were in my face, almost blinding me.
“I can’t lie, it feels great. The Liberty played hard and I know they’ll have a great season. Tonight, the Lady Vikings came together like we’ve been working on and pulled a win. I’m proud of them. It feels great.”
He started to ask some more questions, but I said, “I have to go congratulate my team. They played their tails off, but I can talk more after that.”
“Okay, Coach.” The reporter smiled, before he turned back to the camera. “You’ve heard it here first, directly from Coach Zora McCoy, a proud coach waiting to get to her team and congratulate them for their unanticipated win.”
I walked into the locker room and all the ladies were still jumping up and down, throwing water on each other and smacking Shawn on the butt for the clutch points.
“Ladies,” I yelled over top of them until they quieted down and listened. “Y’all played with heart today. You played with dignity. Fuck the ‘semi’ in front of our leagues name, you played like professionals. You should be proud of yourself and this is only the opener. This will now put everyone on notice. We’re coming to play and taking names. Meaning, they’ll be prepared for us. So, we can’t stop now.” I smiled at them. “Shawn, way to shoot out there today. All of y’all. I’m so proud of you, I can’t even tell you how much. Nobody expected us to win, but we knew.”
I give Joyce the nod and she yells at the top of her lungs, “We play hard!”
Then everybody yells, including me, “We worker harder!”
They started yelling again, but we were hushed again, when Pete knocked on the doo. He asked, “Everybody decent?”
The ladies started laughing but none of them were shy that was for sure.
“Decent,” we called.
“Hey guys.” He was all smiles. “Shit, y’all just told this whole damn league don’t sleep on a lady Viking.”
We all started laughing.
“Coach, great job out there.” He looked at me; his eyes genuine. “Ladies, man, y’all keep playing like that, we may need to get another stadium. Keep up the good work. I just wanted to congratulate you.”
“Thanks Pete,” they called back in unison.
“Zora,” he said in a low voice. “You got a minute?”
“Yeah,” I answered and followed him outside.
“A few reporters are here and they want to speak to you. I’m not sure where the media coverage came from but it’s a great opportunity. I’ve talked to some but they’re waiting on the lady of the hour.”
I nodded.
“Okay,” I answered and started walking toward the arena.
“Zora,” Pete called.
“Yeah,” I turned back around.
“Are we good?” he asked. We really hadn’t talked after his apology.
“Yeah.” I gave him a nod. “Japan has eased my angst.”
He laughed out loud and shook his head. I really did not like to hold grudges, but I would never forget. That was for sure.
When I walked out to the arena, reporters were talking with the one and only Harvey Black. This halted my steps a bit but when a few heads swung my way, he turned to me and smiled before announcing, “There she is.”
“Coach, coach,” some of them called.
I walked toward them and said, “One at a time, please. You.”
I pointed to the first one on my right and I repeated this after answering each of their questions until they thought they had everything. When they left, Harvey moved toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist before he kissed me on the lips and said, “Congratulations, Coach.”
“Thanks.” I hugged him back. “Were you here for the entire game? Are you scouting us now?”
He laughed and said, “Yup, I was here at tip-off and no, I’m not scouting. I’m here to see my lady coach her first game of the season. Katy, over there, is scouting.”
Harvey pointed to a woman who was smiling at both of us in the second row. However, below that row was a camera pointed toward us with a reporter chatting. I also saw my father waving as he left, he never liked to stay at the end due to the parking lot frenzy but I would talk to him later.
Oh boy.
“Y’all are on the road tomorrow, right?” Harvey pulled my gaze back to him.
“Yeah, we play in Dallas on Tuesday and we need a day not to be jet lagged,” I answered.
He nodded but said, “Okay, let’s go and celebrate and after that, we coordinate our schedules. So we’re both on the same page.”
This was Harvey, not asking but telling me and honestly, I didn’t mind, unless it was unreasonable. I was glad he was working with me and not just assuming, any days I had off I was spending with him. Sometimes, a woman just needed space and time.
“Okay, Harvey,” I conceded. “Let me grab my things and I’ll meet you out here.”
“Sounds good.” He patted my hip and let me go.
We went to a nice steak house where the portion size did not match the price but the food was damn good. Afterward, Harvey took me to his place, since it was closer. As we watched the news, the information about Colin Kaepernick being ousted from the National Football League was on the screen. Teams around the country were taking a knee and even politicians were chiming in and fueling the fire.
Harvey turned the television off while I was watching the coverage and said, “Let’s go to bed.”
“I was watching that.” I tried to grab for the remote.
“Sweetheart, I want to get in bed, so I can take you on your knees, not watch a bunch of men on their knees.” He gave me that cocky smile of his.
“Who says I want to get on my knees?” I countered. “Maybe I want to stand and grab my ankles.”
“Fuck,” he growled. “Don’t tempt me, sweetheart. Fucking or spanking your ass before you get on a long bus trip is not going to be comfortable for you.”
“Mmm,” I moaned as I stood up and began shedding my clothes while making my way to his bedroom. “Good point. Well, a finger or two never hurt anyone.”
By then I was at the top of the steps and Harvey was sprinting toward me, taking the steps three at a time. I barely made it into the bathroom before he had me bent over the dresser.
“You know what naughty girls get?” Harvey growled low in my ear.
His firm hand came down on my bare ass and I let out a loud moan.
“They get their asses tanned,” he breathed before another smack to my left cheek had me poking my ass out for more.
“Fuck, you love this.” The man bit my neck and began to suck. “Love when I spank your naughty ass, don’t you? Fuck you until you pass out. Make you cum until your voice is hoarse. Go crazy for you because you know I’d do fucking anything to be with you.”
He was talking too much and hitting too close to home.
“Fuck me,” I whispered as my hips circled into his crotch.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about that.” He bit her ear. “I will do just that.”
I heard zippers and a rustling of clothes hitting the floor. Then, I felt pressure on my back as Harvey pushed me down on the dresser, so my ass was in the air. His fingers slid over my tightest hole, until he reached my drenched pussy and inserted two fingers. He placed those same fingers at the entranced of my tight asshole and pressed. The groaned that escaped my mouth contained need and desire. Prior to this, Harvey had placed a finger or two in there while fucking me, but I wan
ted more.
“Do it,” I urged him.
One push and he was inside, fucking my tight asshole with his fingers while my nipples were rubbing up against the dresser. My entire body was ready to explode from overstimulation. Once Harvey’s cock joined the party and entered my wet heat, I came right away.
“Goddamn.” I held onto the dresser as he fucked both holes in a coordinated in and out motion between his dick and fingers.
“Zora,” he cried out as he was getting close. “You’re so fucking tight.”
He was about to come and I knew it was going to be hard by the strain in his voice. I also knew, he was about to mark me again and I couldn’t fucking wait.
“Yes, Harvey,” I sang. “It’s yours baby.”
That did it.
His griped me around my neck, pulling me up to meet his erect body and biting down on my shoulder while his other hand squeezed my breast to the point of discomfort that morphed into absolute possession. The shudder through his whole body had me coming hard right along with him.
“Sweet Jesus,” Harvey muttered as he pulled out of me. “I’m not sure I can move.”
“You?” I joked in a hoarse voice.
Eventually, we shuffled to the shower where he cleaned me and dried me off before we laid down for bed.
“Sweetheart,” he said in my ear as I settled back into his chest.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Tomorrow is going to be the start of a long season and I know we’re going to hit some rough patches with the distance and time. However, before all of that shit starts, I want you to know where I’m planning to go,” Harvey said, causing me to turn around and face him.
“Okay,” I said with some hesitancy.
“I’m planning to go all the way. In my career, with this industry and in my relationship with you. I want a partner, Zora. You,” he says with pleading eyes. “Falling in love with you every fucking day and you just keep getting better. I ain’t saying it needs to be now, but we’re going all the way, okay. This is not a thrill, or phase. This is real. The same with my career and I know you’re doing the same with yours. I’m telling you now, no matter what, these are my plans. We clear?”
“Harvey, that’s a lot to process,” I say as I hope my heart rate is not visible. I feel like a sauna was just turned on in the room, and I was sweating profusely.
“I know but you’ll process it. Maybe not tonight, but you will. I just want to make sure you know.” He kissed me on the forehead and turned me back around. “Get some rest. You’re going to need it.”
The nerve of this man. How the hell was I supposed to get any sleep after that statement. My chest was beating faster than normal and my head hurt as I thought about our first encounter and everyone after that. How he wiggled his way into my life, made me a priority and openly claimed me so everybody knew. He was not shy about us and gave no fucks about what anyone thought. The man even introduced me to his parents, and we had a dinner scheduled with them next Thursday.
Earlier, when we went over our calendars, Harvey had already had the Viking games on his calendar. He was not playing around. In his unorthodox way, he was showing me just how much he cared.
What I did not expect was how his unorthodox ways would be the end of us.
Chapter 12
Harvey
I was in the owner’s box on Monday when I saw my whole team get on their knee for their second game of the season.
What in the fuck?
The coaches all remained standing but not holding their hands to their chest to pledge allegiance to the flag during the National Anthem.
When the singing of the anthem was over, they stood up and the tip off began. My phone starting going off like crazy and that only meant one thing, we were about to enter another shit storm. Owners from all over the league were emailing one another talking about writing a letter in support of the players taking a knee during the anthem. One quoted that that NFL did not have a mandatory statute, like the NBA, but the semi-pro league also did not have one. Therefore, it was best to support the players or fear the backlash.
I nearly chuckled at that part. My name is Harvey Black and nobody would goad me to do a fucking thing. The next day, I was home watching Zora’s team play in Texas and her players along with some of the players from the other team, knelt down during the anthem. The craziest thing was Zora, and her entire coaching staff, knelt too.
God fucking dammit.
She was black, there was no getting around that, but did she have to kneel?
Fuck.
We hadn’t really talked, but texted the past two days, which grated my nerves. I wanted to see her, wanted to be with her. But, her season had started and that would be a recurring issue for the next four months.
Her team won that game, handedly. The other team seems like college students compared to the Lady Vikings. I called her to wish her well, a couple hours after the game was over but only got her voicemail. She was probably still celebrating with the team.
After watching the news scour me for being the only semi-pro owner who didn’t write either a letter of support, and then showing Zora kneeling in solidarity, people began to speculate about what this all meant. Around eleven o’clock, my phone rang.
“Black here,” I answered using my Bluetooth earpiece since I was on my treadmill running off the bullshit from the day.
“Harvey,” Zora’s voice called.
“Hey, sweetheart. Congrats on the win.” I slowed the speed down to a brisk power walk.
“Thanks,” her voice was distant. “Congrats to the Warriors too. I know I text but still. It was a good game.”
“Yeah, what’s wrong?” I asked her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just tired I guess,” she said and then she asked, “You didn’t write a letter…Why?”
Fuck.
“I’m a vet, sweetheart.” I tried to sooth her with my answer. “My father’s a vet and so is my great grand-father.”
“Okay,” she said. “What does that have to do with why you didn’t support this movement. This has nothing to do with veterans.”
Of all the fucking things that could cause a rift, it had to be this one.
“Zora, men have bled and died, so people can be free in this country. They have given their lives, better men than me. They’ll never get the chance to see their children grow old, or have someone to carry their name. So, to have people disrespect what we’ve fought and devoted our lives to preserving, I won’t ever support that.” I cleared my throat. “But let’s talk about when you’re coming back home.”
“Harvey, I need to go,” Zora murmured in a small voice.
Shit, it almost sounded like she was near tears.
“Wait, wait,” I pleaded. “Wait, one goddamn minute Zora. You’re not going to let this thing get in the way of what we’re building. This is a fad and it will pass away. Watch, by mid-season, no one will care who’s kneeling or not. Don’t do this.”
“Harvey, if you don’t understand what this movement is about and I mean, really understand it, then you’ll never understand me.” Her voice had steel in it, which is a tone she hadn’t taken with me since that day I barged in her office. “If you don’t understand there are brown and black people dying by those that are supposed to protect us in the streets, every fucking day. If you think we as a people are free, when we are still fighting the same battles we’ve been fighting for centuries, then you’re misguided. If you think this ‘fad’ is not more than that, then we really have nothing to discuss. Your entire team took a knee and you stand behind the fact you and your family were vets to miss the whole goddamn picture. Then you were fighting the wrong battles if this means freedom. You were fighting for the wrong side if the injustice of black and brown men in this country is okay by you. As I stated before, I need to go.”
The line went dead, but I was so in shock I could not even fathom all that she just said. The gist of what I got was that we’re over.
; No fucking way.
****
Tea couldn’t even help my mind at this point, I just went for the strong stuff. No tumblers, glasses or a goddamn cup, it was a straight from the bottle type of moment. I called her back six times but there was no answer. Looking up the schedule, she was due back in town tomorrow morning, where’d they would drop off everyone at the stadium. Therefore, that is where I would be.
The luxury coach rode up and once the team exited, all the coaches followed. They had a little huddle and went their separate ways. I watched this from my idling car in the parking lot, but also positioned near the front, where she usually had a car come to pick her up. As the coast cleared, I pulled up and rolled down the window, “I’ll drive you home.”
Zora looks tired and those red-brimmed eyes could have meant she was crying or just woke up from the long trip, but she gave me a look of disdain, which masked the hurt I saw clearly in her eyes. That shit, had me hopping out of the of the car.
“Zora, let me drive you home. We need to talk,” I said with my hand held out.
Fuck.
She was looking at it, and the internal war was clearly happening because she did not move just stared at me.
“Zora,” I warned.
“We’re done, Harvey,” she finally said, finding the words. “I can get my own ride.”
My feet were on the move as I was now in her space but yet to touch her.
“We’re not done,” I said through gritted teeth. “We have a difference of opinion. It’s going to happen in our lives. Fuck. I’m not a Nazi or racist, Zora.”
She turned her head in my direction as if to challenge the last statement. That move alone, was like a smack in the face which caused me to step back.
“That’s what you think of me?” I asked.
“I told you what I think. You don’t agree and this is not a topic we can agree to disagree. It’s important to me, important to you and that’s where we part ways,” she said with a cool tone.