Eleven women stood in a tight circle, gulping water and catching their breath.
"We should be beating these girls easily," commented one.
Shannon, you've missed two easy goals,
thought Alexandra.
Probably not your comment to make.
"We should," said Lucía, brown eyes flashing. "They're moving the ball too easily through midfield, so that's on me. They've got speed, but we're more skilled and organized. If we can clog the midfield, we'll counter-attack."
"Different formation?" If Lucía was the team's unchallenged leader, Kira was the vice-admiral.
"Yeah," said the smaller woman. "Let's go 1-3-1. Kira, start in the back. I'll take the middle. Alex, right wing. Kelly and Shannon, I want you to switch between forward and the other wing. Wingers, you'll need to track all the way back. I'll hold up the ball until you can get forward. We'll sub a lot, because this is a ton of running. Questions?"
No.
And there's some leadership.
Also, when I did go from New Girl to...Alex?
What happened to my actual name?
"Good. Let's go," said Lucía.
They went. The formation change produced three unanswered goals.
This is incredibly fun
.
I'm intercepting passes on one end and then getting assists at the other, sometimes ten seconds apart.
Alexandra realized as the fourth quarter opened that despite the rapid substitutions, neither she nor Lucía had been off the field.
"You good?" Kira's voice from the bench.
Alexandra nodded.
Not a lot of extra breath.
"Play indoor soccer," they said.
"It'll be fun," they said.
She laughed.
I haven't run this hard or this much since my last college game.
"Keep it together," said Lucía. "If we get up another goal, you can take the rest of the game off. You've been fantastic."
She kept it together, running neat passing triangles with Mette and Lucía.
Mette doesn't have Kira's strength or her skill,
thought Alexandra
, but she's so smart.
She reads attacks perfectly and always gets a foot on the ball, breaks everything apart until the rest of us get back.
They continued to hold a 2-goal lead.
Finally, one of their opponents' increasingly desperate attacks resulted in a perfect outlet pass from Mette to Lucía. With Shannon opposite, Alexandra charged forward. One defender remained against the onslaught. She stayed with the ball, forcing Lucía to pass. She chose Alexandra, putting a ball onto her right instep. The goalkeeper lunged.
Bingo,
thought Alexandra, pinging it across to Shannon, who finished into a wide-open net.
There.
That's enough.
Four assists for me?
Five?
Either way, if you've forgotten how many assists you have, that's good.
"Subs!" called Lucía. Alexandra met her girlfriend as she came onto the field. Instead of a quick fist-bump or one-arm hug, Kira surprised her: a bear hug and a kiss atop her head.
"That was a beautiful play, honey."
Whoa, she just kissed me and called me "honey" in front of everyone.
Well, guess that secret's out!
Alexandra felt her face redden --
impressive, given my level of exertion --
as she grabbed her water bottle and sat.
"Well, I think you're the only one who hasn't chosen the location of a victory party,
honey,
" said Meg, a grin covering her round face. "So that means -- assuming we hold this lead -- that you're picking where we get drinks tonight."
Can I just invite all of us to your place again, that rowhouse where you and your gorgeous wife get us all drunk and then Kira and I walk home in the snow and she tells me how much she loves me?
No?
Ah well, alternate plan.
A few minutes passed. Kira was playing midfield now, out of her usual position.
And doing it quite well
, Alexandra thought.
Her height's wasted there, but not her passing range.
They scored again, an absolute screamer from Lucía that put the result beyond doubt.
"Townhouse," Alexandra said to Meg and Mette, who had just exited the field. "It's a wine bar in the Loop, on Wacker. Maybe a block from the Sears Tower. Or whatever they call it now."
"Willis," said Meg.
"Whatever. Townhouse. Seven-thirty?"
"Seven-thirty. And good choice," said Mette. "We'll get the word around, including to your girlfriend.
Honey
."
Alexandra relaxed as the clock wound down.
So I've gone from New Girl to Alex to, apparently Honey.
At least I haven't had to whip out a Mean Girls quote tonight.
Yet.
"So, Townhouse." Kira unwound her bun, letting the long blonde hair drop. "I didn't realize you liked it that much."
"It was the only place that came to mind, and I thought they'd like it."
"So?" She smiled, wrapping her arm around Alexandra and kissing her cheek.
Mmmm.
Smell.
Love me some sweaty Kira.
"What do you mean 'so'?"
"I mean that it's your choice. If you want us drinking in some bro bar in Wrigleyville, they'll show up. That's how this team rolls."
"I'll keep that in mind. For tonight, Townhouse."
"And a good pick it is. It's Mette's favorite bar -- restaurant, whatever - in Chicago. She and Meg went there on their first date, and they go there every year on their anniversary." Kira paused. "Meg, of course, couldn't give a shit. As long as it's got Mette and wine, she's there."
"To be fair, that's kinda how I feel about you."
"Likewise, love." Another kiss, this time on the lips.
And in full view of everyone.
--
Hot water rinsed away the sweat from Alexandra's body. It had been a long day and was only getting longer.
Shit.
My hair appointment is in less than an hour.
Butterflies fluttered in Alexandra's stomach.
I'm really doing this.
Kira stepped in behind her. "Hey, sorry," she said. "I wanted to change the sheets. They got, um, a little sweaty earlier."
"You don't say? Can't imagine whose fault that was."
"Shhhh." Kira put her fingers to her girlfriend's lips. "I dare you to not make a single sound."
"Hm?"
The finger pressed harder. "No sound. Think you can cum silently for me?"
Water splattered on the tile, the sound of droplets filling Alexandra's ears.
