by Xyla Turner
The crowd goes wild. They are screaming and yelling their congratulations and drowning out my thumping heart. My eyes had been bugging out my head, but there was no mistaking the smile that made my cheeks hurt. Tears poured down my face as my hand move toward my tight chest. His eyes were on mine and they were steady and determined. This was not a fad or a moment in time. It was more.
It was everything.
“Yes, Harvey,” I said, but I might as well of mouthed it, at the noise level of the insane stadium. “I’ll marry you.”
He pulled the ring from the velvet box, slid in on my ring finger, stood to his feet and lifted me so I was plastered to him. His mouth hit mine in a deep, too sexy for ESPN kiss and the crowd could no longer be heard. It was me and Harvey that existed in that moment and no one else, even a sold-out stadium, bright lights and reporters. Once my feet reached the stage again, he let me go and everybody came back into focus.
“I can’t believe you,” I yelled to him over the noise.
He smiled that smile, tapped my hip and said, “Good luck tonight.”
“You’re the one that’s going to need the luck.” I patted his chest. “See you after the game.”
“Fuck yeah.” he nodded as I left the stage.
Harvey held up the microphone and said, “That was a yes! Let’s play ball.”
The commentator congratulated us and before the team went out, we huddled on the sideline.
My mind was still whirling and Joyce asked, “Remember Coach, friend, family, foe or fiancé. On the court, it’s game on.”
We all burst out laughing, because that shit was funny. More tears ran down my eyes but I managed to say, “We play hard.”
“We work harder,” the team yelled.
Then I said, “Now kick their asses.”
Which we did. The Lady Vikings beat the Warriors by twenty points and at the end, their new coach gave me a hug and congratulated me. That was a nice gesture, which I wouldn’t forget. Afterward, there was a press conference, that I’m almost certain Harvey orchestrated. The players were able to talk about the game, expectations for the season and even their thoughts on our union.
When I was up at the podium, the first question they asked me was, “Did you know Mr. Black would propose?”
“Oh God no.” I laughed. “Not even the slightest hint.”
“Were you two separated?” The reporter followed up quickly.
“Yes, we were,” I answered.
“Because of the Take a Knee stance?” Another reporter added.
“Yes,” I replied, then held up my hand to stop the rapid-fire questions. “As Harvey said, we didn’t agree on each other’s position about the matter. He’s a veteran and has put his life on the line so that we can be free. I have witnessed and seen the people that are supposed to be free, in a different kind of slavery. Including those that have public massacres just for being different. That’s not free and as Harvey said, that’s not brave. That’s not what he fought for and veterans all over have agreed, this is not the America we want to preserve. So we continue to fight for the right, America. One, we can be proud of. So until that time, we aren’t disrespecting veterans. If anything, we’re enforcing what they sacrificed their lives for.” I turned my head to the other side of reporters. “Any questions about the game?”
“What did your team say after Mr. Black proposed?” one reporter shouted out.
“The team captain reminded me of words I had told them moments ago. Whether its friends, family, foe or fiancé, when we’re on the court. It’s game on,” I shared.
The press room started laughing. I nodded, indicating I was through with questioning. Harvey was at the door, waiting for me and I wanted to get to him. As I left, Pete took the stage, but I didn’t hear what he had to say because my focus was on my new fiancé.
Harvey’s smile widened as I strode to him, wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Cameras went off, but he quickly put us through the door with his arms wrapped around my middle section.
“I missed you, sweetheart.” He kissed my lips after he backed up.
“Missed you too.” I smiled at him.
“Come on, my parents are waiting to see you.” He pulled me down the narrow hall.
“They’re here,” I asked, not hiding my shock.
“Oh yeah,” he laughed. “This is why they were weird at dinner. They knew what I had planned, so—”
“Oh my gosh.” I laughed. “I thought they were senile or something.”
Mrs. Black had tears in her eyes as she ran to me and gripped me tight, whispering, “Congratulations.”
“Thanks so much, Mrs. Black,” I answered.
“Call me Amanda, please.” She was gazing into my eyes like I hung the moon.
“Get over here,” Mr. Black boomed as he pulled me from his wife. “Welcome to the family.”
The big man pulled me into a hug which reminded me of his son. There wasn’t much talking, just telling, moving and putting you where they wanted you. At least, he got it honest.
“Hansel sends his congratulations too,” Harvey’s father said. “He’s in Virginia with Beth and they’re on winter break.”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” I responded.
“We’ll set up a dinner, so everyone can meet, including your dad,” Harvey shared. “Zora has to go to the locker room, but afterward, we’re going out to celebrate.”
I turned to meet his eyes. Once again, he was making plans for me.
“That so?” I countered.
“Yeah.” he stepped closer. “Get a move on. I’m hungry.”
Shit, I knew what that meant. He was hungry but not entirely for food. He wanted his mouth on other parts.
Parts I’d happily have his mouth touch.
The team was in the locker room celebrating when I walked inside. They cut down the music to let me speak.
“Lady Vikings, you guys have done it again. I know that big surprise could have distracted us, but you’ve done what we came to do. One game at a time, one team at a time. Now, we must keep scraping and fighting because even though we’re number one in the league right now, that just makes us a target. However, we know something, nobody else knows. We were made for this, right here. It’s our time and we’re going to show them. Celebrate, be smart and I’ll see you on Monday for practice. We’re halfway through the season, so let’s continue to give it our all.”
They clapped, hooted and hollered.
“Coach,” Joyce yelled. “Congratulations. You’re the one person I know who may be tough as nails but you deserve that shit. Deserve a man like him. I’m happy for you.” She looked around. “We’re all happy for you.”
I smiled at them as they made kissy noises.
“Thanks,” I nodded to Joyce. “However, more importantly. Thanks for kicking their ass.”
The room roared with laughter and they seconded that motion. I called my dad to tell him about the proposal and found it funny he already knew. Harvey had called to get his blessing. How the hell did he manage that? He congratulated me and told me Harvey was one of a kind and since I was one of a kind, he was willing to take a chance and I should too.
That was my father for you. Tough but just. He saw things in black and white, with not much area for grey. I told him, we had to have dinner with Harvey’s family, which he consented. Then I met up with the Black family and went to an Italian restaurant where we enjoyed each other’s company and the good food.
Harvey brought me home, where he took me against the wall, over the sofa and while I held my ankles, so he could fuck me and finger my ass.
By my fifth orgasm, I think I blacked out. I don’t remember much after that. When I woke the next morning, Harvey was in the kitchen sipping on his infamous tea with an empty plate in front of him.
“Morning, sweetness,” he called.
“Morning,” I growled.
“Sexy,” he laughed.
“Shut up.”
“Come.” Harvey tou
ched the stool next to his. “Let’s get you fed.”
I looked at the big ass ring on my left hand, the man sitting at my counter and the food he had prepared for me. If someone had told me a year ago, I would be here, I would have called them a charlatan. I had given up on men and all they represented. It seemed like a fairy tale but it was real.
He opened his mouth to say something, but I said, “This is real.”
“Damn right, sweetheart.” He placed his teacup on the saucer. “With everything that’s in me. It’s real.”
That was good enough for me.
Epilogue
Three months later
Harvey:
“Babe,” Zora yelled. “Harvey?”
I was in the living room, waiting for her to arrive so I could tell her the good news. My woman had taken the semi-pro and professional league by storm. They ended with a twenty-two and two record and even played the New York Liberty again, and beat them by an even wider margin. What Zora did not know was this was her audition, which had nothing to do with the playoffs.
The Lady Vikings, not only swept through the playoffs but won the championship. Pete was one happy damn owner and even came up to me afterward and thanked me for reminding him to pull his head out of his ass. Like I always knew, the owners for the professional teams were biting at the bit to sign not only Zora, but her whole damn team. The chemistry she built, whether she was sick with the flu or not, was nothing but pure magic.
Zora had not signed anything yet, but they were wooing her from almost every city and state. Whatever decision she made, might have taken her from Philadelphia but we’d work it out. I’d buy a jet, so time and place would not be our problem. I told Zora that but she didn’t seem to buy it.
“In the living room,” I called back.
“Babe, you will not believe the offer that came through today?” Her eyes were wide, all of those pretty teeth were showing and she had a glow.
If I didn’t know any better, I would have assumed she was pregnant, but she faithfully got the injection every few months.
“What offer?” I stood to meet her.
“The Philadelphia Rage,” she exclaimed. “They have rebranded, and they are looking for a new head coach, coaching staff and players.”
Damn.
“Are you shitting me?” I picked her up and turned her around.
She screamed and yelled, “I am not shitting you. They are pulling out all the stops for this to happen. Every damn thing. Whatever I want, Harvey. Can you believe this shit?”
Goddamn.
“No, but that’s the best offer of them all,” I exclaimed.
“Yes. I haven’t heard back from Liberty yet but this is it.” Zora was looking at me with pleading eyes.
“The New York Liberty called today.” I told her. “They were willing to match anything you were offered.”
“Stop,” Zora gasped. “Are you shitting me?”
“No, sweetheart. No shit.” I kissed her lips. “I told you, this is your time.”
“Oh my God.” She laughed.
“Yeah, so let’s talk about all the options, draw up a plan and you make a decision.” I run my hands down her arms. “This is the big leagues, Sweetheart.”
“Yesss,” she squeals. “I cannot believe it.”
One Month Later
Zora
My final decision was based on many things and one of those included my need to stay in Philadelphia. I also wanted to be a part of a growing franchise where I could grow as well and have autonomy. It also allowed me to bring my whole coaching staff and eight of my players with me. A good majority of the rest of them were recruited to play for other professional teams and that was our goal. The other reason, was I wanted to be close to home. Which included Harvey.
He knew it but kept telling me if I wanted the Liberty to take them as well. New York was great, but I liked the fact Philadelphia was not as fast and I had more ties here in the city. Therefore, starting the next season, I was the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Rage and Sasha and Justine were by my side. Joyce, Shaw, Christy, Monique, Hightower and Shawn were signed, and we began to build and grow from our humble beginnings.
The other teams did not take us seriously at first, since Rage was obsolete but when we started working harder on the court, they were forced to recognize and respect us. The old coach for the Liberty came to me after a game we lost to her new team and said, “Told you, we would see each other in a different arena.”
I laughed, and she gave me a big hug.
“Glad you made it.” She smiled.
“Don’t speak so soon. We plan to beat you the next time we meet.” I warned her.
“I’d expect nothing less.” She smiled, and we went to our prospective lockers.
Six Months Later
Harvey
“Sweetheart,” I whispered. “Don’t give a fuck how you marry me. Just walk down the goddamn aisle and say you’ll be mine forever.”
Zora slapped my chest, then pulled my beard to bring my mouth to hers.
“Shhh, and kiss me.” Zora breathed against my lips.
The night before our wedding day and we were supposed to go our separate ways to the bachelor and bachelorette parties. Neither of us were trying to go and wishing we could find a way out of it. Zora had just suggested we sneak out the back and go to Vegas. I honestly didn’t give a damn how we got married, I just wanted my partner to be by my side, forever.
“Come on you two.” Justine banged on the bathroom door. “Tomorrow you’ll have time to get nasty. Now, it’s time to have some fun.”
She kept banging on the door and I swear I growled.
“Come on,” Zora whined. “They’ll kill us if we don’t do this.”
Shit.
“No strippers. Don’t touch anyone’s dick or their bouncing pecs. No lap dances and the only lips that touch any part of your body is mine. Got it?” I told her.
Knowing damn well, Zora wouldn’t give me the same warning because she didn’t get jealous, like ever and she trusted me. I trusted her, but I also saw the dress she has on, so I trust no man.
“Got it, Harvey.” She kissed me one last time. “Let’s go.”
***
The next day, she agreed to love and cherish me until death did us part. We postponed our honeymoon because I received an offer of a lifetime. It was my next move. Zora, and I weighed the pros and cons, then I made the decision to be the owner of the Philadelphia Titans. A professional men’s basketball team in the National Basketball Association. My tenure and transformation of the Warriors caught some onlookers and even my dedication to developing well-rounded players, thanks to Zora’s leading, I was spotlighted and an offer was made, that we couldn’t refuse.
Zora was my partner, my mate and my friend. One snippy reporter asked me what about Zora attracted me to her?
I answered, “It’s her quiet confidence. She has nothing to prove. The woman has a code she explains to no one and doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. My ability to see the beauty that reaches, beyond how good she looks. But, to have it match the brain and heart of her. That’s a jackpot. I don’t need to be a genius to know that. I’m just glad I got there first and I’m never giving her up.”
She gave a wry smile and said, “You sound a little possessive.”
I nodded my head and said, “When you know what you’ve got, you know the time and hard work it took to get it. You tend to be possessive.”
That concluded my interview. If the interviewer didn’t have anyone being possessive over her, I could give fuck about her judgments.
Two Years Later
Harvey
I was sitting behind the Rage’s bench as Zora paced up and down the sidelines of the court holding her stomach.
“We’re not here to play with them, Shawn. We came to do something, now do it!” She was yelling and clutching her stomach.
Fuck this.
“Joyce, get your head in the goddamn game,” Zora yelled. �
��They need your leadership.”
I was right behind her, when I told her, “Call a timeout.”
“Harvey, what are you—”
“Call a damn timeout now,” I snapped and put my hand on my very pregnant wife’s stomach.
“Shit,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Timeout.”
Both of her hands went up to form a T.
“Justine,” I called. “Sasha.”
“Yeah?” Justine came to the huddle as the Rage players ran to the sideline.
“You’re coaching. Zora’s going to the hospital because she’s having contractions.” I told them as they all gasped.
“I can talk, Harvey,” Zora snapped back at me, then looked to the team. “Y’all need to keep your heads. You can win this game. They are not better than…” She winced. “You. Okay? Shawn, take charge. You too, Hightower and get their big people in foul trouble. Strategize.”
“Okay, Coach,” someone yelled.
I dipped to pick up Zora and put her in my arms.
“Good luck, y’all,” I said as I carried my wife to the ambulance waiting outside. “Let’s go, Honey.”
The crowd began to clap as I carried her off the court. Shit, then it turned into a standing ovation, before the commentator came over the speaker and said, “It appears Coach Zora Black is off to have a baby. Wishing you the best of luck. Rage has the ball, it’s ten minutes in the first half.”
Two hours later, little Miss Regina Black was born with a head full of curly hair, caramel complexion and her mother’s eyes. It was a high-risk pregnancy since Zora was in her late thirties but she was fine. Coaching through the playoffs while having contractions. I swear, she deserved a red ass for that shit.
The entire team showed up with gifts that filled the room. Rage had won that game, which put them in the championship game to be played the next week. Zora thought she would be able to make that game. When the team couldn’t convince her not to, I had to step in and tell her no. There wasn’t much fighting about it. She knew, even if she put the team before her health, I always put her before anything.