Zarek suggested that instead of givingallproceeds away to the winners, we make a department fundraising account we can start depositing money into and keep it earmarked for a rainy day when our specific funds dry up and we have a need. Or we can use it for department celebrations or whatever.
I liked that. Every one of these sports had something very expensive about them. My rink, for example. If something damaged our arena, we’d have a very big debt to cover to rebuild it. Lemon’s field and stands and posts. All the other sports fields.
A rainy day fund sounded good.
Alka took an anonymous poll (via email so Lemon obviously knew nothing about it, since I’m pretty sure he’s allergic to email) asking the athletes a series of questions along the lines of why they’re interested in these department fundraisers.
I was surprised to read that the results were not overwhelmingly monetary prizes. They cared more when themoney was earmarked for their teams rather than individually. I’m not naïve enough to think that at least half of them aren’t starving college kids. But the biggest reason they want to win is for bragging rights. They like the good-natured taunt of being the best over the other teams.
Keeping this in mind, we decided to alter the prizes so the winners always get bragging rights in the form of a large, loud trophy they can display in the front of the athletic building. Quin’s department built us a case for these specific trophies—separate from any team championship awards.
The buzz among our students being excited to fill it was contagious. I heard the women’s hockey coach, Morris, giving Denis a hard time that his girls were going to kick ass at the barbeque. Then the women’s soccer coach, Juliette, got on board and told Morris that her girls were going to drown Morris’ players in barbeque sauce.
I love the laughter that now fills our halls. The new friendships among the teams—players and coaches. It feels more like a home and community within the bigger one than it had when I arrived. It’s humbling to think maybe I had a part in creating it.
“Ready?” Alka asks. I turn in time for him to shove the big blue cooler into my arms.
“Yep. You have some recipes and shit?”
He chuckles. “Yep.”
I joined forces with Alka, Declan, and Roux. We’re in matching aprons and hats; thankfully we apparently have a whole big plan in place, complete with assignments and timing and shit. All thanks to Daddy Quin—Declan’s words, not mine.
Setting the cooler on the ground toward the front table, I look up and grin. Imayhave made sure that Lemon’s team was close by. Just so I can see him throughout the long day. Currently, he’s standing back and watching his boys with amusement. WhenI told him Declan and Alka asked me to join their team, his immediate response was jealousy.
I kissed him until he forgot he was jealous, then encouraged him to participate. To show his team that he’s on board with the entire department.
While I know now that his refusal to get involved is self-preservation of his feelings, I’m really proud that he worked through that and agreed. I could actually see the struggle to convince himself to join in the fundraiser when we were talking about it.
I rewarded him for his bravery by giving him a very well-deserved, intense orgasm that left him boneless across my body for almost an hour after. Good thing we were in a hotel room. Have I been dragging him to games with me? More than I should. But my team has decided having Lemon along is luck. Win or lose, Lemon is luck.
Lemon joined three of his kids and he’s currently watching them with amusement as they press their heads together and look at something that I can’t see. His gaze flickers up and touches mine. I love the way his smile changes. Sweet. Happy. All for me.
“Stop making dopey faces and get your head in the game,” Declan orders. “Honestly.”
Alka shoves at him. “You have exactly zero room to talk. I still get nauseous around you and Zarek.”
Declan smirks, shrugs, and turns away. “He’s getting irritated that other departments aren’t allowed to get involved, you know.”
“Maybe he ought to do something about it,” I tease. “Math and science department fundraising wars. Humanities fundraising wars. Trade fundraising wars. This could be a movement.”
All three of them look at me and then each other. “I swear, you’re trying to redesign the way this school runs from the ground up,” Alka says.
I laugh. “Okay, you three good for a minute while I check in with the others?”
“Yeah, but you best not be running away throughout this thing,” Declan warns me. “That’s not how you play a team sport.”
“Says the guy with no loyalty who bounces between sports,” Alka mutters.
“Hey! That’s my job!”
Roux rolls his eyes, glancing at me for a minute. I have a feeling these two bicker somewhat frequently if Roux’s reaction is anything to go on. I leave him with a grin and seek out Denis. Because I joined a team, I needed someone else to run around and be the coordinator. Putting out fires and getting things that were forgotten.
Denis volunteered, so he and several others—a mix of coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, and players—are really the ones running the show. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel the compulsion to check in with them. After all, this was kind of my and Alka’s brain child.
“Everything is fine,” Denis says when he sees me approach. “Go back to your team, Hansley.”
I laugh and stop at his side. “The judges are here?”
