CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
ORLANDO
We’re in Washington DC, facing off against San Diego in the US Open Finals, and the game is relentless. Every second of play is on the knife’s edge, control of the ball always up for grabs. San Diego is bringing their very best game, and we’re right there with them, fighting like hell.
The audience roars, fans of both teams losing their shit.
Kevyn steals and makes quick work of getting it to our midfielders. I dance the edge of going off-sides, but ride the line perfectly. Once I’ve got the ball, my footwork gets me by their defense, and I quickly set Syed up.
He tears across the field and scores our second goal, bringing us to a tie right before halftime.
I jog to meet up with the team, my muscles burning and sweat dripping down my chest. I feel incredible. What Troy said about taking my talent seriously has stuck with me. I’m starting to understand what it means to truly be resolute, principled.
Confident because I know I’ve given it my best, not cocky. My instincts get me so far, but it’s up to my training and my team to get me where I really need to be.
I’ve never played this good.
I just wish Troy could be here to see it in person. We’ve only met up in the hotel twice sent I slept at his house, and I haven’t seen him otherwise. It’s good because I don’t have time for mischief. If we’re going to CONCACAF, the team needs to land one of these cups, and that means total and complete focus.
But damn if I don’t miss the guy. I end up thinking about him every day, wondering how he’s doing. We text some, but mainly just about sports, and it doesn’t scratch the itch of needing to be with him in person.
It only makes everything more difficult that I know he’s working himself too hard.
Totally ridiculous that I want to take care of him. But those couple hours we spend in the hotel are like an anchor in my week. Just seeing Troy does something to me that I can’t explain, and I want to offer him the same.
The team gathers together in the locker room. Most everyone has their shirts off and some kind of ice pack on. I drink water and stretch while the coaches talk, pulling my thoughts away from Troy and back to the game where they belong.
“This cup is ours to win,” Zeke says as he steps forward, as serious as I’ve ever seen him. “Defense, I want you holding steady. But offense, don’t be afraid to push when the time is right. Not too hard, but enough to keep them on their back feet.” He lock his eyes on me and then on Syed. “Got it?”
I look at my teammate, and I feel our connection. “Definitely,” he says, and it’s clear from my nod that he’s answering for both of us.
“Good,” Zeke says, and our coaches step forward again.
When we take a quick breather, I get a second with Kevyn.
He’s really starting to feel like a brother to me, the way I always imagined teammates should feel. Our connection is deeper than the bounds I was forming when I went out clubbing with him and some of the other guys last year.
I asked Stace if I could try to set her up with him. Her exact words weredon’t you dare try to Orlando my sex life. But once I promised not to interfere, she did acknowledge being curious and suggested she might say something to him herself.
Kevyn rubs my shoulder. “Looking good out there, man.”
“You, too.”
“I think we’re going to win our first cup,” he says.
I grin. The team has won a cup before, but not since he and I joined last season. “First of many,” I tell him.
“It’s wild, Orlando. But I can feel it in my bones. It’s time for us to win.”
“Hell yeah,” I agree. “Me, too.”
And as we jog back onto the field, I am ready.
The game starts, and I feel strong. Powerful. In total control. My feet fly as I cross the field, throwing myself into every second of play.
I get the ball and see an opening, and I break through, sprinting with everything I have. There are a couple of defensive players in my way, but I don’t slow down. I remember what Zeke said about pushing, and I think about Troy watching me at home, and how fucking proud he’ll be when he sees what I can deliver.
I outmaneuver the first guy, but the second comes out of nowhere, and our bodies smack together.
