“Vale,” Julieta says.
But for the rest of the training, I’m acutely aware of how the girls study me, Carla, and our interactions together.
The surreptitious glances, the whispering behind cupped hands, the lighthearted laughter. They talk amongst themselves, dissecting our relationship with the intensity of a playoff game. They’re smart girls, extremely perceptive.
And, as we line up for our friendly, Carmen flashes me a thumbs-up, accompanied by Julieta’s curt nod, and I realize I’ve gotten their seal of approval.
The realization puffs me up with pride. It shouldn’t matter as much as it does, but I want their acceptance. Knowing how much they look up to Carla, it’s important that they think I’m worthy of her.
“What’s going on with you?” Carla whispers, her eyes amused, as she tosses an arm around Julieta’s shoulders.
“Nothing,” Anna replies, glancing at her boots.
Carla shakes her head. Her eyes meet mine and I grin. She smiles back.
Two of her players sigh.
Understanding dawns on Carla’s face and she chuckles to herself.
And I can’t tear my eyes away.
Under the pitch lights, on a random weekday evening, in sweaty clothes, with the scent of sweet grass and approaching summer, the truth slams into me.
With a certainty that steals my breath.
I’m falling in love with Carla.
21
Carla
The friendly game we play at the stadium is the most fun I’ve had in ages. It transports me to my high school days, when I would meet up with El Tanque, Risitas, and Guapo. Oh, we would play well into the night hours, our teasing, quick and witty, our energy, boundless. And our love for the game, deep and true. It was the thread that bound us together and created memories that I treasure.
They flood the forefront of my mind now. And I note the same is true for Luca, Ale, and Andrés. The three of them met at a fútbol academy when they were tweens. They grew into the players, the men, that they are today, together. They came up through the ranks leaning on each other. And now, they play with a familiarity that most never achieve in their careers. Tonight, they play with sweet nostalgia.
As we remember our youth, we watch the girls come together in a moment that they’ll recall for the rest of their lives.
Skills are developed on the field but so are friendships.
Tonight, the joy of the moment, the excitement of playing in League Valencia’s stadium, kicking the ball around with professional players they’ve admired for years, binds the girls together. It strengthens team spirit, heightens their camaraderie and belonging to the squad, and hypes them up for their first playoff game.
When our game ends, with Ale’s team winning, of course, the girls cheer and high-five each other and the guys.
“This was the best night of my life,” Anna breathes out.
Ale laughs as Andrés grips her shoulder and gives it a little shake. “We’ve got one more surprise for you girls,” Andrés admits, grinning at Luca.
“What?” Julieta asks.
“Well, Luca was the one who set tonight up,” Ale says slowly.
“And we thought it only fair to thank him in true League Valencia style,” Andrés continues.
Luca shakes his head. “No, no, that’s not necessary.”
Ale nods. “It is.” He points to a bench along the sideline that has four large orange water coolers on it. “Get him, girls.”
The girls’ eyes widen before they take off at a run, struggling to lift the coolers. They chase Luca around the pitch until they corner him. Then, they dump liter after liter of water on him as he hollers and laughs, contorting his body to avoid the water.
