Radi and Pele chuckled and nodded, all of them having commiserated about dating attorneys in the past.
“Yeah, they’re like pit bulls,” added Radi. “Once they’ve got you by the balls, there is no letting go, even if you cry uncle!” They all laughed in delight at this visual.
“Yah, I think you gotta give her a chance, at least until you’ve gone on a date or maybe at least had an argument,” teased Pele. Cole so rarely admitted to being intrigued by a woman, Pele thought there might be something to this one.
Cole slugged him. “At least I asked her out!”
Radi shaking his head at both of them. “At the rate you two are going, I might be married and retired before either of you even have sex!”
“Maybe. But at least we’ll be really good at beating your ass in Patron Polo!” retorted Pele, emphasizing the game name with his announcer voice.
Radi responded, “Oh, you watch. I’ll take you both down in this next round!” They laughed and returned to the game.
Chapter 7
Pele rushed to his polo lesson the next morning, late because he overslept after sparring with his friends in VR polo into the wee hours of the morning. At least he had soundly beaten Radi. He chuckled a bit, remembering his last winning goal. It was a great nearside back shot that grazed the goal post for the win. Pure luck, but he would never admit that to Radi, who almost threw his VR stick at him after he scored. Pele would definitely gloat about that victory for a while. He only wished he played half as well on a real pony!
He raced into practice in a cloud of dust. Fortunately, Luca’s groom helpers had his pony ready, so he could simply jump on and go.
As he rode into the arena, he saw Cole, bright and chipper as always.
Almost on cue, “Good mornin’ Doctor,” chimed Cole. Morning people really can be annoying thought Pele.
“Right back at you, Doctor. How’s Magic this fine morning?” replied Pele.
Magic was Cole’s favorite horse. He was known for being slow and steady, perfect for a beginner rider.
Cole, giving Magic a little pat on the neck, “Oh, he’s fired up and ready to rock.”
Pele rolled his eyes at Cole’s exuberance and almost growled, “Well then, I hope we’re on the same team.”
There was no more time for chatter as Luca separated the riders into teams and the game began. They scuffled for the ball. All had mastered the trot and a rare canter by now, but the ball still often got caught up as they tried to hit or steal it from each other. These scuffles were occasionally broken up by one of them making a good hit, but more often, by Luca calling a foul, and using it as a teaching moment.
Pele noticed Keece and the other girls had shown up early, as usual, to watch part of the beginner’s session before they helped ready their own mounts. She looked fresh and beautiful. Fortunately, he tore his eyes away in time to see the ball bounce off a pony’s leg in front of him, giving him the chance for a breakaway. He managed to get a good hit off—he hoped she had seen that—and then was on his way in hot pursuit to hit it again towards goal. He managed to get Angela out of a fast trot, into a slow canter, but just as he was about to take his next swing, the ball took a bad bounce. He reached out for it, determined to make the shot while Keece was watching. Suddenly he realized he was too far out and sliding off his horse. Fortunately, Angela slowed quickly so he could slide gently down instead of landing in a complete thud on the ground.
“Woohoo!” cheered the girls from the sidelines. “Nice dismount!”
“Make that a case of Sculpin!” yelled Cole from the other end of the arena.
Pele brushed himself off and retorted back, “You could have at least picked up the ball and scored for us.” Everyone laughed.
“On that note, let’s call it a day,” said Luca.
At brunch that morning, in between the jabs about his dismounting skills, Pele managed to slip in the suggestion that they all go to the concert in Del Mar’s Powerhouse Park the following Tuesday. The concerts were typically once a month during the summer, starting around sunset. Usually, a local cover band played. This week was the Motown Magnets. The park lawn offered a stunning ocean view as the waves curled and crashed onto the gold, soft-baked sand directly in front. People staked claims early with a kaleidoscope of chairs and blankets for the evening affair. The locals mingled to the sounds of familiar tunes, visiting with friends like hummingbirds to different flowers, as they shared stories, tasty fare and wine. A small group always enthusiastically dancing near the stage, gyrating to the rhythms, more joining as the wine flowed and the sun slipped behind the horizon.
The polo group eagerly agreed to the idea, especially since it did not interfere with their evening polo lessons. Cole lived nearby and often ran by the park on his morning jog, so he was nominated to “reserve a spot” for them with a few well-placed blankets. Others volunteered to bring an assortment of picnic items. Pele offered to bring beverages, including a case of beer, of course.
Layla was quick to mention, “You know this does not exonerate you from bringing a case of beer to the Crash and Burn party at the end of the season.” This was the annual party that all the players attended. Those who had made unexpected dismounts during the season contributed the beer.
Pele, “Well, in that case, forget it. I’ll save my case for the party.” His reply immediately raised a multitude of boos and “cheapskate” responses.
“Okay, okay,” he laughed with his hands up in surrender, “I’ll bring beer too…but maybe just Heineken instead of Sculpin.”
“Oh,” moaned the crowd, a few throwing napkins at him, but everyone enjoying the banter.
The following Tuesday, Pele parked at Cole’s and walked with him down to the concert, laden with chairs, beverages and snacks. They caught up as they strolled along the crowded sidewalks.
Pele asked about Cole’s progress with the women he had mentioned last week. “How’s it going with the attorney? Any luck ending the case?”
Cole gave a heavy sigh. “Nah, I should just move on. She hardly gives me the time of day.”
“Hmmm?” Pele was surprised. “You sure she’s not just being a cautious lawyer type?”
“Yah,” replied Cole. “I’m just not feelin’ it. We've had a few of those eye-to-eye moments, but then nothin’. Bit of a bummer. Don’t tell Radi. I don’t know if she meets ‘the criteria’, but if she’s even close, you know he’ll be after me like a bloodhound to pursue it!” he added with a chuckle.
Pele frowned. He was still skeptical that the woman was not interested in Cole. More likely, she simply did not want to risk jeopardizing her case.
“I’m not sure I’d call that one yet, man. You dig her. I can tell. At least give it until the case is over,” he said.
Cole paused, digesting this for a minute, then responded, “Yah, I’ll think about it. Thanks.”
Then, always more comfortable talking about someone else than himself, Cole adeptly changed the subject, “How's the spy work? Have you saved the world yet?”
Pele paused as they passed a few people. Every walkway busy with eager concertgoers, equally loaded down with picnic packs, blankets, and chairs, jostling each other, all headed in the same direction. Some even tugging coolers or wagons, bursting with beverages and elaborate fare.
“Yup, still doing the spy work. It's actually gotten super interesting,” he continued.
“Anything you can talk about?” asked Cole.
“You know the drill,” said Pele.
Then both continued in unison, laughing, “If I told you, I'd have to kill you.”
Pele, as he looked over at Cole's well-defined physique. “And, for both our sakes, it's probably best I just keep quiet.”
Cole smirked. Both were athletic, and neither had any desire to find out who might come out ahead in a brawl, but Cole’s thick muscular structure made enough of an impression that a betting man would likely put his money on him.
Pele continued in a serious tone again. “
Working on it does make me more in tune with all the military stuff going on around the world. Have you heard about the recent scuffles in Argentina?”
“A little,” replied Cole. “They seem fairly innocent, but I’d rather they not be on our continent. Seems a little too close to home.”
Pele nodded in agreement. “I know. The group I’m working with seems legit worried about these battles. They pop up and then, poof, before its barely begun, it’s over. The opponents just disappear. No one can seem to figure out what’s really going on. But there are a lot of suspicions that it’s part of a larger plot.”
Cole furrowed his brow. “Weird. Didn’t Luca mention the one in Argentina at brunch? I think it's close to his family's farm. He seemed super worried. Mostly about his sisters.”
“Oh wow, that's not good,” replied Pele. “Especially since the opposition, ISEX, stands for Islamic State Extremists, or something like that, is known for being horrible to women. They still follow Sharia law, which basically treats women like a piece of property. I can’t imagine any woman putting up with that.”
Cole chuckled, “Yah, I can’t see the MeToo movement being too supportive of the I’m Property concept. Probably not something the ladies in our world would go for.”
Pele snickered and shook his head, “You got that right! Thank goodness! Any woman who would agree to that would definitely not be my kind of woman!”
“Right?!” agreed Cole adamantly.
The group was filtering in as they arrived. Keece, Sidney, and Jess came together.
“Where’s Luca?” asked Pele, a little hopeful that he might not make it.
“Preparing for the party,” said Keece, with a motion indicating he was getting high.
Pele with an understanding look, “Ah, the usual.”
“Yes, the very usual,” replied Keece with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. It was apparent this was not her favorite quality.
Sidney poked her. “Oh, the things you have to put up with for that hot bod.”
Keece laughed with a big grin. “Yes, the sacrifices we make.”
The smooth lawn was already crowded with all ages. Everyone in the community seemed to attend, from young families, their kids darting gleefully amongst chairs, to twenty-something pairs flirting hopefully with one another, all the way up to more senior partakers reminiscing to tunes dating back to their wilder days.
The band, musicians who had never made it big but survived by knowing how to entertain with classic cover tunes, prepared for the show on the temporary stage nestled in front. The polo group settled in, spreading their feast before them, a selection of specialty charcuterie items including delicacies from truffle gouda cheese, Italian prosciutto, Marcona almonds, duck pate, champagne grapes, Castelvetrano olives, crusty bread to specialty honey mustard. And, of course, a generous selection of fine wines, from sparkling whites to dark cabernets. All displayed on a low table in the center of a blanket, in the midst of a semi-circle of low beach chairs. They settled in, reveling in the fine warm night, good company, and savory treats.
About mid-meal, Luca arrived, greeted Keece warmly, as always, and dropped down at her feet, next to her low beach chair. His arm draped across her leg, giving a casual but clear signal that she was his girl.
The band started in with a string of popular Motown tunes. A few songs in, Luca coaxed Keece up to dance. Cole and Pele quickly exchanged glances, both watching as she started to move to the beat of the music. Her moves were mesmerizing, smooth, graceful and rhythmic.
Cole leaned over to Pele. “Check.”
Pele was transfixed. “Yah, wow.”
Cole teased him. “Only problem is she’s dancing with the other guy.”
Pele couldn’t help but laugh at this jab, and with a heavy sigh, replied, “Yeah, that’s definitely an issue…He’s not even that good. Isn’t he Latin? What’s up with that?”
Cole laughed. “Just be thankful. There’s something he’s not great at!”
“Good point,” Pele replied with a slight grimace.
Later, Pele got a moment alone to chat with Keece, while Luca was dancing with the other girls. With a nod in Luca’s direction, he asked, “How’s it going? You two seem very chummy tonight.”
Keece, with a contemplative look, replied, “For the most part it’s good, but I always know it’s not a long-term thing. He’s just so much younger. He’s mature in many ways, but I’m pretty sure one of these days he, or we, will move on. Maybe that’s for the best. There are some basic differences.”
“You seem pretty open about how you feel. Does Luca know? I wonder how he’d feel about you talking about this with me?” Pele asked.
Keece contemplated this for a moment. She looked almost as if she was surprised herself that she had been so open. But she continued slowly, “that’s part of it. I’ve tried to talk with him about it, but he either goes into his Latin ‘I’m hurt drama’ or teases me about being too sensitive about my age. I don’t feel like I ever really have a good clear discussion about it. It frustrates me. On the other hand, sometimes I feel like why worry about it. Just enjoy the moment.”
“It’s always a balance, isn’t it?” replied Pele. “Enjoy the moment for what it is, but then plan for the future, so you end up where you want to go, or, in your case, with whom you want to be.”
Keece gave him a quick sideways glance, and then said, “Yah, that’s it.”
Before either could say more, Luca returned and reached for both their hands, “Come, we must dance. You both look much too serious,” and he twirled Keece as he tugged them both to the dance area. Pele turned to Sidney and started dancing with her, and then Jess. He looked up and caught Keece’s eye as she looked over at him and gave her a quick wink and a smile. He could not help himself. He felt even stronger feelings for her now. Her openness and willingness to share only added to his intrigue. He had never felt this way before. And the look she gave him back. It seemed almost as if she was flirting. Was there hope for him after all?
Chapter 8
A month or so later…
Pele, sitting at his desk in the lab where he did his work as a military contractor, a full set of his favorite fidget toys lined up like soldiers along the front, was examining a piece of equipment that looked essentially like a forearm and hand. The combat fighter would wear it over their arm, across the back of the hand and around the fingers. The goal was for the tool to enhance a person's natural movements. If the wearer punched someone, they could punch harder, if they threw something, they could throw farther, if they pulled something, they could pull with more force. If it worked, it would be a remarkable advancement, especially for hand-to-hand combat. Hand-to-hand combat had become more of a focus for the military recently because the enemy was so often hiding among innocent civilians, or in difficult to access terrain.
Another doctor approached, young, tall, and a little nerdy. Johann Dober, a neuroscientist, originally from Switzerland. He was Pele's partner on the project.
“Okay, I think I got the nerves for the hand and forearm set up for phase two,” said Johann.
“Great,” answered Pele, grabbing his slinky toy as he slid his chair back, stretching and un-stretching it mindlessly. “Did you mirror them for the left side?”
Johann looking a little surprised, he had clearly forgotten this step. “Oh, oh yah, let me get that done.” He turned to go back to his desk.
Pele marveled at how Johann was such a brilliant scientist, he could perfectly map every nerve in the body without so much as a glance at a diagram, yet often lacked basic common sense.
“No, it’s okay,” replied Pele. “It can wait ‘til tomorrow. I won’t get to it tonight anyhow.”
“You sure? It will only take me a couple of hours,” said Johann.
“No, tomorrow’s good,” answered Pele.
Johann, a true scientist who hated to leave a project incomplete, replied reluctantly, “Okay. I'll do it first thing. Have a good evening.”
“You t
oo Johann.”
As Pele started to collect his things to go, his phone rang. It was both Radi and Cole on the line. He clicked his small wristband to answer and listened in his earpiece.
“What's up?” answered Pele.
“Just checking to see if you're still slaving away on that mystery project,” responded Radi.
“Oh, you know me. The sacrifices I make for our country,” replied Pele. You could almost hear the sarcastic salute in his voice. He continued, “Somehow, I doubt that's the real reason for your call. To what do I owe the pleasure, gentlemen?”
“Well, I have some big news, and I wanted to share it with both of you as soon as possible,” said Radi.
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