Coach is on the field, which means you’re done boning, so get down to the suite immediately so we can watch our team make history tonight!
LUISA:
Yes please. Someone needs to drink these ciders Coach insisted we stock in here, so hurry along before I start offering them up to the fans below us to make room for the Presidente beer YOUR tio Javier somehow snuck in… even though we have our own *facepalm emoji*
I laugh to myself as she refers to her dad as my uncle, something he and the rest of the parents of the group have come to expect from Isa and me as well. Tiás and tíos, little cousins, and family friends. I marvel at the little family I’ve been able to find here within the Monarchs organization.
It makes the hurt of letting go of the family I thought I was supposed to have sting a little bit less, and makes it easier to leave them in the past, where they belong.
ME:
I’ll be right down. Let’s go cheer on our guys!
I pull the hoodie in closer, enveloping myself in Luke’s delicious scent once more before I grab my phone and headset and head out to enjoy the night with my real family.
fifty-one
“Where’s Daisy?”
The poor intern before me almost flies out of his shoes at my rough tone.
“Sh-she sent me down here to mic you guys up. Said she’d be supervising from one of the suites?” he rambles.
I nod, but before he tries to put his hand under my shirt, I take the microphone wire from him and set myself up quickly. It’s second nature by now. It’s usually Daisy’s hands skimming down my collar and back, but it seems like the little minx has gone into hiding after our little sexcapades. Smart girl.
I look above the dugout to the suite that belongs to Nick and Luisa and spot her immediately. Waving her dainty fingers my way with a secret smile. I narrow my eyes slightly, letting her know I would have preferred to have her down here setting me up. It was probably the right call, however, given how I can’tshake the visual of her spread over my desk and need to focus on the game.
Though I must say I’m shocked mostly by the person standing next to her, sipping on a beer.
My sister.
I never thought I’d see the day. I have too many questions I want to ask her, but the new guy before me seems to need my attention again.
“Channel one is Monarchs Live. The players are to switch to that one only if Daisy makes the call. They all know what channels to stay on in the meantime, and you’re channel seven.”
“And only Daisy has access to that channel, correct?”
He nods profusely. “Yes, sir. I mean Coach.”
I glance back up at Daisy with an unimpressed look, and I can’t tell from all the way down here, but I swear I see her mouth “be nice.”
I shake my head and say a quick thank you to the intern before sending him on his way.
I take a look out at the field. My guys are out there wrapping up their stretches, trying to contain that excited energy that comes along with games like this. We may be barely into the first half of the season, but it feels like a championship game given what’s on the line. A chance to make history.
The crowds are eager and ready for a good game, talking trash among their seat neighbors while eating supersized snacks.
The energy is tangible, and I allow myself a moment to close my eyes and thank the universe for allowing me to find my way back to the sport I’ve loved since I was a child. To be able to play and manage a team at this level is nothing short of a blessing. Just like the woman who keeps dancing along to the Aventura song while wearing my hoodie as if she wasn’t the one putting in requests to the DJ responsible for our game tunes.
Her hair flies around her, only keeping out of her face due to the headset placed over her wild curls, smile wide and hips shaking.
My Daisy is free, and I’m itching for our next batch of off days so I can take her back up to the cabin so we can continue what we started up there. And I can show her the ideas that have been taking root in my mind. I just hope it doesn’t scare her off.
“Big game today. Promised my wife if I get a shot of you smiling, I’ll retire early.” Our team photographer, Tom, comes to stand by me, wiggling his camera by his side.
I chuckle to myself. The guy never gives up hope.
Luisa and Daisy have mentioned wanting Valentina to join the Monarchs staff as our new photographer, but I never gave it any thought. Now seeing her here, standing in the stadium I swore I’d never see her in, has me thinking Tom’s days may be numbered.
