AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Huh?” I stumble, unable to get my thoughts together quickly enough to answer coherently. I swear, this woman reduces me to a cliché at best.
“Earlier. When you got home from practice. You said that you’ve got some things to work on. From what I’m hearing through the mom-vine, you’re having an amazing start to the season. What are you working on?” She doesn’t miss a beat, and I welcome the easy conversation.
I’m so happy that she’s formed friendships with the other spouses. We’re not a big team, and this is college, which means that most of my teammates are still single. There’s only a small group of women here, and they don’t welcome newcomers into their circle easily.
Gia met most of them when she was still pregnant with Astria. They allowed her in without hesitation. She’s easy to love. Even when she insists, she’s better hiding behind a camera lens.
Tonight is real. This is our life. Discussing our day. Debriefing with each other. Talking about things that aren’t just parenting.
“Precision. Speed. Agility.” I think back to the things I discussed with Coach tonight. Our team looks good as a whole going into the season. We’re still a relatively new team, but we’re starting to drum up some chatter. Rumor is, we might even get some scouts from the big leagues this season.
I’m the goalie. The buck stops with me. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s the type of pressure I thrive off of. I need that pressure to drive me. As long as I’m working harder and smarter than my opponents, I’m winning. Losing isn’t an option.
She lifts her eyebrow slightly. “So, you’re aiming for perfection, then?”
“Something like that.” I shrug it off because she’s not wrong.
Perfection is what it takes to get called up to the next level. Even if I only get a few years. I should make enough with signing that we’ll have a comfortable life. I don’t want wealth and mansions. I want comfort and happiness.
I don’t want Gia to struggle if something happens to me. We did this together, we’re in it together. I want their future secured no matter what our future looks like.
“You know, I happen to know a little girl that’s going to grow up thinking you’re pretty great.” Gia smiles down at Astria and my heart melts into a puddle in my chest.
“Yeah?” My lip curls up at the corner as I watch them together.
“Mhmm.” She hums as she rocks slowly back and forth.
“And what do you think?” I tilt my head to the side and ask a question I have no business asking.
“Me? Doesn’t matter.” She answers honestly, but I can’t let it go that easily even though I should.
I run my hand absently over the stubble on my jawline. “You’re my best friend, Gia,” I admit openly.
“By default.” There’s that eyebrow lift again. “Your best friend was my brother. I’m basically him with a vagina.”
My eyes widen to the size of saucers. I choke on my own saliva. I sputter and cover my mouth with my hand before I speak too loudly and wake up our peaceful daughter.
“For the love of God. Never say that again.” I shout in a loud whisper.
I run my hand down my face, still not believing she’d say something so…so brash. And dammit, why am I now thinking about her vagina? My line of thought is completely fucked up.
Gia’s shoulders begin to shake. Her nose crinkles and her eyes close to near slits as she tries and fails to hold herself together. The more her body shakes with her laughter, the less skin her towel covers. Tears roll down her cheeks. She’s all but naked at this point. I’m dying a slow death.
Fucking.
Hell.
“What’s so funny? Get yourself under control, woman. You’re going to blind Astria with milk to the eyeball.” I focus on our daughter, and not my naked wife.
Astria somehow manages to continue eating her meal through an apparent dead sleep all the while her mother laughs at my attempt at an honest and open conversation, only proving what I already know, she sees our relationship as purely friendship.
She sucks in air and tugs the towel over her exposed thigh, which only pulls material from covering another piece of skin. I can’t win.
“Are you done?” I ask.
I’m annoyed with myself. I shouldn’t allow it to get to me, but it does. I begged for this. We’re in this situation because I put us in it. It’s no one’s fault but my own, and now I get to suffer the consequences.
She sighs, “Oh, God. The look on your face was priceless. Why am I never prepared with my camera when I need it the most? We could have framed that one for the living room.”
