Empty Nest: Chapter 115

Over the next forty five minutes Cap runs the practice at a less physically grueling pace as we focus on technique, running plays and getting the rookie up to speed on the finer points of the game. For that latter cause he pairs me with ‘Spider’ Dave who he has follow me like my own shadow. While I find Dave to be a bit of an asshole he is a decent enough teacher and his almost preternatural marking skills really force me to up my game.

Whenever I could spare a moment I would glance over toward my ladies to see how they were getting along. What I see is always them looking back at me. Watching me, especially me, almost as if the rest of the team were just training dummies. Just as they’d hung onto every sweet note from Mia’s song earlier that morning they watched closely and quietly encouraged my every juke, pass, run and catch. And when I did ever score a goal they openly cheered the achievement despite it only being practice. Needless to say all of their attention humbled, flattered and spurred me on to try harder on every play.

As time passes I note that the friendly mingling they’d done during the break begins to peter out. Without their ‘safe man’ to return to they naturally fell back into each other’s company to escape the temptation of unattached males and the repulsion of regular females. My sympathies went out to them, especially Mia and Lily whose daily life forced them into constant contact with a lot of outside people. I knew the attraction and repulsion was manageable but to have to live with it for extended periods every single day would wear on anybody after awhile. It was no wonder they enjoyed each other’s company so much. Despite the usual bickering and whatnot this family had a bond deeper than most. Safely within their clan they could relax, be themselves, and not worry about revealing secrets. I felt blessed to be a part of it.

As things progressed I kept a special eye on the newcomer Briana. At first it was evident that Bri was far closer to the younger trio than she was to Heather. Lily and her in particular clearly had a strong friendship. Early on when I would look over there was distance between Bri and Heather. Their interactions weren’t quite frosty but neither were they warm. Heather being Heather that was notable in itself. I recalled that she had shown some reluctance in involving Briana in my Princely sharing as she was not of the clan. But as the minutes ticked by Heather’s Mama instincts just could not be denied. Before long she had taken a special interest in Briana and had the young woman sit directly beside her as they got to know each other. The coolness thawed then warmed to genuine amiability and by the end you would have sworn that Bri was another of Heather’s daughters…or another son if you only glanced quickly.

Bri was unique in that she had this intangible androgynous quality that was both mysterious and strangely alluring. The moment your eyes settled on her you knew she was a she, and a darned attractive one at that, but if you didn’t focus so intently it was easy to mistake her for a very good looking young man. Maybe it was her clothes, the way she wore her hair, the way she moved and gestured, or maybe it just something about her aura but Briana defied easy categories. She lived in the space between and did so at ease with who she was. I thought that was kinda cool. It was hard not to admire somebody so comfortable inside their own skin.

For her part Bri was having a grand time. She soaked in the good vibes, the maternal warmth and the feeling of belonging among my ladies. Soon her hat and shoes were off and her vest open as she kicked back and enjoyed the camaraderie. Though we’d barely met she too was caught up in the family support of their new Prince and was rooting me on with the best of them. There was something different about that bright blue gaze of hers, a piercing intensity as she watched me go through my paces, that occasionally had me checking myself out to make sure there I wasn’t having a wardrobe malfunction. Briana didn’t simply watch she fixated and scrutinized so intently I wondered if she were a superfan of the sport.

At long last Cap calls practice to an end and not a moment too soon. The honey boost I’d been given was wearing off and my performance was once again flagging. Even worse, all of the aches and pains build up over the past couple of hours were returning with a vengeance.

“You did great, Family Man.” Cap says with a fist bump as we walk off the field. “I thought you were done but you came back after the break with a vengeance.”

“Fam’s got some of that intestinal fortitude.” Coop brags me up.

“Thanks guys.” I say, gingerly rubbing a sore elbow.

“Our next game is Thursday night, Doryu Field. Game starts at 7:30 pm but don’t be any later than 7.”

“Oh! Uh…that soon?”

“Like I said, you’ll probably be on the bench most of the game but I’m sure we can get you some real minutes here and there.” Then, raising his voice, he addresses the team as a whole. “Or more if we have the same turnout as last time!”

There’s a murmur from the guys, most of them saying some version of ‘I’ll be there, Cap.’

Thursday night. That was the night before Liam was due to arrive home. I knew it was a great cause of stress for Heather, myself and the whole dang clan. I hated to miss my first game but I just wasn’t sure where we’d all be at by then.

“I’ll do my best to be there, Cap.” I say.

“You better be there, rookie!”

“Yeah, I’ll, um, I’ll do my best.”

With hand claps and fist bumps I say my goodbyes and return to the smiling faces of my new chosen family. They already everything packed up and ready to go.

“Let me see.” Lily steps forward to meet me first. Taking my arm in her hands she begins to feel around at the elbow she’d seen me rubbing.

Except for Heather who hung back the others all move in to have a touch or a sniff. Again they praise me. Again I feel humbled by it.

“You guys really didn’t have to stay to the end.” I say. “It was only practice.”

“You kidding?” Julie says. “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Game on Thursday, huh?”

“Uh, yeah. Evidently.”

“Well there’s my Thursday sorted.” Julie says with a clap of my shoulder. “They sell hot dogs and shit there?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’ll figure it out. Ya comin, Bri?”

“I’ll need to move some things around, but yeah.” She says with a crooked grin.

“You really don’t have to change your schedule for me.”

“Pish!” She says. “This was good fun.”

“That elbow’s okay.” Lily pats my arm. “Just go easy on it for a couple of days.”

“Easier said than done.” I say, thinking about the work I had in the morning. “But I’ll try.”

“Let me know if it’s bothering you.” She says. “Hey, I gotta split. I’m pulling the graveyard tonight.”

“Oh, damn. Sorry to keep you out so late.”

“It’s cool.” She says. “Like Bri said, it was good fun.” With an impish glimmer in her eyes she leans in and says. “Maybe, uh, pop by my place this week? You promised me a night.” In front of the others she doesn’t spell out ‘girl’s night’ but I received the message loud and clear. “If your in the mood for a different kind of fun.”

“Ha hahhh!” Julie slaps my shoulder again. “The ol’ honey hole is…”

“Ahem!” Heather clears her throat.

“Ha! Sorry, Cuz.”

The bags and such are collected. As we start to move I gravitate through the others to offer Heather my arm. As proud as could be she slips her arm through mine and the whole group of us begin the stroll back through the park toward our place.

As the others chat I feel a light tug at my free hand.

“May I come watch your game, Sir?” Mia asks politely.

With a sigh I give up trying to convince them not to make a fuss over me. A fuss was going to be made and that was that. Taking her hand and holding it I say. “I’d love to see you there, Mia. I know I’ll play extra good if you’re watching.” With a big smile her cheeks darken. Ignoring any nosy teammates or neighbors that still might be watching I pause to step in and give her a hug and a kiss to her head. She hugs me back with all of her strength, laying her head on my chest as she does. At a whisper I say. “You’re a good girl, Princess. That song you made touched my heart. Your Prince loves you very much.”

“Mmmm.” She hugs me even tighter, eyes squeezed shut.

All around us are soft sighs and ‘awwws’ from the others.

“And on that lovely note…” Lily says. “…I need to whisk our Princess back to her ivory tower.”

Mia sighs as she reluctantly lets me go. Looking up at me she smiles and whispers. “I love you too, Sir.”

With a soft pat of her cheek I say. “I’ll call later to say good night.” Leaning in to kiss her cheek I whisper. “And to give you your instructions.”

“Oh!” She peeps then giggles as she whispers back. “Y-Yes, Sir. I look forward to that.”

Lily looks to Briana. “You coming?”

“I’ll stick around a bit if’n the Matriarch and her boy doesn’t mind?”

“I don’t mind.” Heather says.

“Uh, yeah. Cool.” I say.

“Cool.” She grins.

When we reach Lily’s car the group says their warm goodbyes to her and Mia, full of hugs and kisses of course, then we stand, still on the park side of the street, and watch the pair of them drive away.

Julie pats my arm as we start across the street. “Massage?”

“I’d love to, Julie, but I’m just too tired.”

“Ha! This kid! Not me, cutie. You. Do YOU want a massage?”

“From you!? No way!”

“Aw, come on.”

“You’ll probably dislocate my shoulder or something.”

“I won’t!”

“Julie. I am beat. If you’re fucking with me…”

“Nah, cutie.” She says. “You worked your ass off out there today. You deserve a good rub down.”

Honestly, right now, I just wanted Heather. I wanted to curl up into a little ball and be her ‘soft’ boy and let her wrap me up in her gentle love. But as we start up the walk and I read the fact that it looked like Julie and Briana would be sticking around for a while I decide that a good rub down sounded absolutely wonderful. As Heather steps forward to unlock the door I turn to Julie.

“You know what?” I sigh. “I’d freakin love a massage.”

“That’s our boy!” She clamps her arm around my shoulders and pats my chest. “One freaky massage coming up.”

“Freakin, I said. Freakin!”

Chapter 116