……………………….. School the next day was long Mom and Dad were getting home in time to be at our final game tonight Skye was so quiet having been and filled out a report on her mom hitting her with the M.P.’s. She was tying my laces for me in the locker room.
“The other team is already out on the field” Debbie said putting her head round the door.”Promise us one thing Tess” she grinned.
“What” I said pulling the captains’ armband up my arm.
“Keep that cast to yourself” I flicked her the finger laughing Skye got up and pulled on her shirt.
‘You want to be out there today” I said as we walked out of the locker room and up to the field.
“I need something to distract me” she smiled “The M.P’s were escorting her off the base at 4 pm and they have only let her take all her clothes and personal things till Dad gets back”.
“You okay with that” I asked putting my bag and water bottle down.
‘No not really but I’m not going to let her destroy Dad” I hugged her.
“Okay so I’m not going to get burnt again” Debbie said nudging me
“Your extremely hot Dad is here I thought he had a body but who the hell is the tank sitting next to him” I looked towards the bleachers and shielded my eyes from the sun grinning.
“That happens to be the one of the Line backers for the Green Bay Packers” I said nodding and the blonde next to him is his wife.
‘Ahhh trophy wife blonde thin and pretty out for money” Debbie nodded.
“Really, do you just stereo type everyone” I smiled.
“Pretty much yeah” Debbie laughed “Come on rich football player dumb blonde”.
“Okay they have been together since freshman year at high school” I smirked “so easily 23 years the got engaged at my Mom and Dad’s rehearsal dinner”.
“Okay I’m just going to stop saying anything where your family is concerned” Debbie moaned. We ran out on to the field the team we were playing against was the only team to have beaten us this season so we had a point to prove and a professional sportsman sitting on the bleachers, I knew Ben was at practice and wouldn’t be at the game till after half time so I could breathe easy that Dad was behaving himself.
The game started with us managing to score twice in the first 20 minutes I’d helped with one of the goal sending a sweet pass through the legs of one of the opposition players for Debbie to fire the ball in to the back of the net five minutes before half time they managed to pull one back, we walked off the field hot and sweaty.
“Okay girls we have to step it up to keep the lead in the second half” Coach said “They think they can come on to our field and walk over the Devil Pups” he looked round “We’re not going to let that happen are we”.
“No coach” everyone yelled.
“Okay rehydrate while I go grab and autograph” he winked pulling out the team roster and his pen.
“Coach is it okay if I go see someone for 5 minutes” I asked.
“Yeah Tess sure” he started to walk to the bleachers I ran past him as Dad and Rylan walked down the steps Dad was smiling from ear to ear as Rylan stood his ground as I jumped on him.
“Hey Tess, Jeez girl your good” he said swinging me round.
“Hey Put the girl down I want to see how my god daughter is doing” Dawn said from behind Rylan he put me down Dawn as always had her camera in her hand she wrapped her arms round me and hugged me “You look so much like your Mom”.
“I take that as a compliment” I smiled as Mom walked over.
“Have a good trip” I asked as Dad came up behind me and put his arm round my shoulder.
“Awesome” Mom nodded.
“Okay I have one thing to say” Dad said turning me to face him and holding my Shoulders “Does Ben know I want to talk to him and is that why he’s not here” he winked I groaned.
“Yes Ben knows you want to talk to him and he’s at practice till now he’ll be here after he’s showered” I sighed. “I’m going back to the team see you guys later and Mom don’t let him do a grandpa”.
‘He won’t Tess the whiskey is locked up she nodded” I turned round Coach was standing there watching us with his mouth open I took the pen and paper from him.
“Oh Rylan my coach wants your autograph” I handed Rylan the paper and pen and walked back to the team…………….
……………….. Just as the second half began I saw Ben and Justin walking from the parking lot to the bleachers and Dad get up before they had reached them, oh well I suppose I just have to get on with the game and find out what’s happened later. Justin nudged Ben.
“Oh I think I’ll leave you to it” he said nodding to where Dad was walking towards them, Ben groaned “Oh Sweet we have an NFL player on the bleachers here” Justin ran past Dad. Ben stopped walking.
‘So Tess tells me you’re more than friends” Dad said pushing his hands into the pockets of his Jeans and looking Ben in the eyes.
‘Yes Sir” Ben nodded.
“You’re not just moving onto her after dumping the other girl are you”?
“No Sir I swear, like I said to Tess I’ve been fighting with the idea for months that…” Ben took a deep breath “That I was falling in love with her” Dad raised his eyebrows.
“That’s a big thing to say if at some point soon you’ll let her down” Dad shrugged “I know you’ve been friends for years and probably know each other better than most people but I’m not going to let anyone and I mean anyone screw with her head or heart”.
“I understand but with alldue respect if this had been 18 months fromnow and I was out of boot camp would you still be having this conversation with me Gunny” Ben said holding out his hands.
“Yes I would” Dad smirked “Marine or not at the end of the day she is still my little girl and I will give a hard time to any guy who wants to get serious with her”.
“I know she’s your little girl and I know why she’s as protected as she is” Ben smiled looking towards the field “But I know I love her and I know I’d do anything to make sure she’s okay” Dad nodded.
“Okay then one more thing. I’ve heard around that you and Lilly slept together” Ben turned beet red breaking his eye contact for the first time with Dad “well I think that just confirmed it, Look I was young once and chasing a girl that I loved, parents aren’t dumb” Ben looked back at him “I expect” Dad closed his eyes and shook his head. “Okay this is killing me to say but I expect that you and Tess at some point will go that extra step just don’t sneak around trying to deny it’s happening, I’ve been around okay, all I ask is you respect Tess. I find you sleep with her and the next day she becomes the many topic in the locker room I will personal come and make sure that you never ever even want to sleep with anyone again do we understand each other”.
“Yes Gunny” Ben nodded swallowing hard
“Good” Dad nodded, he put his arm round Ben’s shoulders “Then I’m glad you finally got the balls to ask her out. Amber was writing to me for months telling me that you were looking at Tess like I used to look at her” Ben’s mouth fell open “Now let’s go see our girl play soccer”……………………………………..
…………………… The other team managed to score an equalizer which had couch shouting instructions twice as loud as before, 5 minutes before the end of the game one of the other team slid into me not even trying to go for the ball, Rylan was on his feet yelling for a penalty as I was fouled right in front of the referee Mom and Dawn were laughing Dad leaned into Justin and Ben.
“Yes he’s like this whatever the sport”. The Referee gave us the penalty I placed the all on the spot Skye looked at me.
“You’re the best for this” she smiled; I took a deep breath and nodded as the other team made the wall.
“She knows what she’s doing” Ben said looking at Dad biting his nails not taking his eyes from the field “I watched her last week its incredible the way she does it she won’t even look at the goal or the keeper”. They watched as I stepped back from the ball looking at it all the time I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before running up to the ball firing it in to the top left corner as the goal keeper went to the right I was pounced on by every member of the team hugging me I looked to the bleachers they were all on their feet yelling and cheering, we managed to keep the ball away from the other team until the ref blew for full time. Needless to say it was like a party in the locker room even Skye kicked back as we all started singing, I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder.
“Oh Tess come on you have to party with us” Debbie yelled as I opened the locker room door.
“I will this weekend at the dance” I laughed walking out with Skye. “You want to come back to mine” I asked.
“No thanks, I just want to go try to find out if I can contact Dad” she shrugged “he needs the heads up before he comes home especially if he tries calling because no one will be at the house”
“Okay you know where I am if you need me” She nodded as Justin came over and high fived me.
“Nice goal Tess” he grinned putting his arm round Skye.
‘Thank you, I’ll see you both tomorrow” I walked to where everyone else was waiting in the parking lot Ben grabbed me and swung me round.
“You are amazing” he grinned kissing me. I started to laugh he nodded to where Skye was getting into Justin’s car. “How’s she doing” I shook my head.
“Hey Tess” Mom hugged me “good game honey”.
“Thank you” Dad took my bag.
“Skye didn’t look happy” Mom said.
“This weekend has been long” I sighed “Her Mom was going to up and move out taking Skye before her Dad gets back from South America”.
“That’s wrong Dad said putting his hands on his hips “That’s Evil”.
“We know Skye confronted her Mom and told her she wasn’t going and was joining the Corps next year, and then found out her Mom has been having an affair with a guy at work forth e past two years” I shrugged.
“So things got heated to say the least and Skye mom hit her leaving a huge bruise on her face” Ben said putting his arm round my shoulders.
“Did Skye go to the police” Dawn asked looking at us we both nodded.
“The M.P.’s escorted her mom of base today because she told them everything” I said.
“So what’s happening with Skye now” Dad said his face full of concern.
“Justin’s Mom has said she can stay with them till he Dad gets home” I nodded “Can we get off this subject it’s depressing, How come you guys wanted to come back”.
‘Oh come on Tess new baby” Dawn grinned “first girl in the group for 17 years pictures need to be taken”.
“Yeah that we know of” Dad laughed we all looked at him “What I’m only saying we all know what Adams been like god knows how many little Adam’s or Adamette’s are out there” he got swatted be Me, Mom and Dawn. “Hey no fair”.
“We’re going back to the hospital” Mom said laughing as Dad cracked her across the butt “Ben are you staying for dinner”.
“No Ma’am I have to help Dad with some stuff at home” he smiled.
“Okay let your Mom know we’re having a cook out again this weekend after you guys go to the dance so they are more than welcome” she smiled climbing into Dad’s truck with Dawn.
“I will” Ben nodded.
“Nice to meet you dude” Rylan said shaking Bens hand “and I’m sure I’ll see you in the next week”.
“They have a pre season game on Thursday” I grinned Ben looked at me.
‘Awesome I’ll see you at the game on Thursday” Rylan climbed in to the truck, Dad kissed my cheek.
“See you at home baby girl” I nodded he got in and they pulled away.
“Oh no pressure with him coming to watch” Ben groaned.
“Hey he’s watched me take a penalty today and I didn’t crack” I teased.
“Yeah but do you see another one of those guys that’s been there all your life or a big NFL star” Ben asked putting his hands on my waist.
“Okay I see Rylan” I nodded.
“Exactly, I’ve watched that guy on T.V.” he laughed. “Now they’ve gone I can do this properly” he bent and kissed me making my knees want to turn to Jell-O.
“I saw Dad talking to you” I sighed as he hugged me to him.
‘Yeah and I must say I’m glad that’s done with and we’re all good” Ben smiled I looked at him.
“SO what did he say”
“Just what I expected the stuff about not hurting you or they’d come down on me” he shrugged “And that when we do sleep together I’d better not use it as bragging rights in the locker room or I’d end up talking like Mickey Mouse” my mouth fell open.
“I’ll kill him” I groaned. Ben shook his head
“Its’ all good Tess don’t worry, I need to baby, I’ll call you later” he kissed me again before we both got into our own cars and drove away…………………………….
Email this Novel
| 
Add to reading list
