Epilogue - Laney （Two Years Later）
Barrier Breakers
“Don’t pout.” I tell Miguel’s face on my phone screen as I finish applying my lipstick in the mirror.
When the Athlala sponsorship came through, he and Dee insisted I buy a new phone and, holy shit, being able to see the apps and text on your screen without screenshotting and zooming in and out is a game changer.
“I’m not pouting, but I still don’t love that you’re taking Dee as your date tonight.”
“Maybe Dee needed to be in a room of female athletes more than you Mr. Man-bun.” Dee supplies from just outside the bathroom door where she’s putting in her earrings.
I give Miguel a knowing look and he just laughs. “Alright, you girls have fun.”
“Oh I will.” Dee says.
“I might need to get another room tonight.” I whisper.
“As long as you don’t sleep in your car I’m fine with that.” Miguel says. “Love you Princess.”
“Love you too Coach.”
I disconnect the call and turn to Dee. She looks incredible in her navy blue gown. My yellow one makes me feel like sunshine.
And the engagement ring on my finger glistens in the bathroom lights adding to the effect.
Miguel proposed with an emerald cut diamond set in a titanium band last summer before a Garcia family beachside BBQ.
When we made our way to the group gathered at Montrose Beach I saw my mom, and next to her Dee was holding a sign saying Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint.
“Listen,” Dee says as she fills her clutch with her lipstick and a pack of mints.
“I know you could have brought your sexy fiancé to this event and had a glamorous night out and then spent it in bed doing whatever freaky things you two get into,” I roll my eyes.
“But, I’m really excited. I’ve got a good feeling about tonight. ”
“About what?” I ask her and she shimmies.
“That I’m going to find a sexy, fit as fuck, athlete to get with too!”
I laugh and slide the hotel key into my purse and we head out together.
Athlala’s annual awards dinner is tonight. It’s an event gathering all their athletes into one room and celebrating outstanding achievements.
I still can’t quite believe I’m here. And I get to present an award to Lucy Bausch, the first woman to pitch in a World Series game with the Seattle Seamen.
The irony of their team name was not lost on anyone.
Dee and I make our way into the hotel’s ballroom.
Another opportunity for an ironic joke for a room full of strong women.
“Holy cow.” Dee says and I nod.
The room is dimly lit but uplighting along the wall highlights the award recipients. They’re featured on baseball card style posters.
Last year I received the award for most notable breakout athlete for my TP World Championship win. That race was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and when I crossed the finish line I couldn’t stop laughing.
The tension, the relief, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment had me giddy. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that my dad was there with me. Clapping me on the shoulder and grinning from ear to ear.
This past year I’ve focused on keeping my top rank among the world’s elite TP racers. The World Championship race is in two months and I’m hoping for a repeat.
“Do we get to sit with Lucy?” Dee asks. “She’s gotta be the highest paid athlete here. And, I think she’s single.”
“And into women?”
“A girl can only hope.” Dee says as she pulls a glass of champagne from a passing tray. She takes a sip as she continues to scan the room. “Ohmygods, all my heroines are here.”
“We knew they would be, Dee.” I tell her, trying to tamper my excitement about being in this room too.
We both turn our heads when we hear a girl exclaim “are you serious?” behind us.
It’s Jo Hamilton, World Cup Champion, and her boyfriend, Stanley Cup winner, Bryson Svoboda. And from the looks of it Bryson is wearing the same dress as Jo.
I snicker through my nose as Dee’s eyes grow wide.
We watch as Jo pulls him by the hand to the wall behind us. “This is why you wouldn’t meet me beforehand? You’re an idiot.”
“C’mon this is hilarious.” Bryson pleads his case.
“Oh, yeah, it’s going to be.” Jo says.
“What do you mean?” We watch his eyes grow wide as Jo whispers in his ear. He swallows and then guides his hands down in front of his crotch.
Jo leans back, smiling smugly, and kisses him on the cheek before wiping away her lip gloss from his skin.
“How am I supposed to hide a boner in a dress?” Bryson calls after her as she strides confidently away.
“I’d say that backfired on him.” Dee says with a giggle as we turn back to the room.
“I’d say!” We make our way to get some appetizers from a waiter weaving through the tables.
My phone buzzes in my bag and I pull it out.
Dee sent me a picture of you in that dress. I’m biting my fist and using the other wishing it was you Princess.
Heat flushes my cheeks and I seriously regret bringing my bestie to this event and not my man.
Send me a video. I’ll watch it later.
The three little dots appear and then disappear. I run my tongue over my teeth and roll my hips to move some of the tension around. He’s back home in Chicago and we’re in L.A. but just one text has me caving to him and wanting to be the recipient of his praise.
“Laney Matteson?” I’m pulled from my dirty train of thought when tennis legends Maggie Taylor and Rowan Amory approach the table. “I thought that was you!”
“Maggie! Hi!” I set down my phone and give her a hug, breaking the little pinky finger hold she and Rowan had. They’re just freaking adorable. “This is my best friend Dee.”
“Hi! It’s so good to meet you!” Dee gushes. “Big fan.”
Maggie smiles and Rowan places his hand around her waist. “Thanks Dee, nice to meet you too.”
“So, you nervous to be presenting tonight?” Rowan asks.
“Nah, it was scarier to accept the award last year.”
“That’s true.” Blair Miller says as she joins us with her NFL player partner, Tyson Bishop. “But there’s nothing quite like being the first woman to do something only boys have done before. It brings attention you can’t even imagine.”
“Something tells me Lucy Bausch can hold her own in a locker room just like you,” Tyson says affectionately.
I smile at these power couples and I’m struck that we’ve all found fulfilling relationships with another athlete in the same sport.
I guess there’s something to be said for shared interests.
“I’m hoping Lucy likes chest balls.” Dee tells Tyson. “Sorry, I mean tits. I’m nervous. I’m hoping to use my friend as a wing-woman and shoot my shot with the hottie pitcher.”
“Good luck.” Tyson says as he reaches out a bear paw to shake Dee’s hand.
We catch up and admire the general splendor of the room before the four friends make their way to their table. I take my seat and am placing my napkin over my lap when the seat next to me is pulled back.
I look up to see none other than Isla Covington sliding her slight frame into the chair.
“You’re Isla Covington.” I say in disbelief.
“Hi,” she smiles. “You’re Laney Matteson.”
“You know who I am?”
“Hard not to,” her date says. “We couldn’t make this event last year but we still watched the clips. You’ve had an amazing few years. I’m Wes.”
“Hi Wes,” I say dazed as I lift my hand to shake his.
My attention snaps back when Dee throws a fist into my thigh and hisses, “Holy shit, she’s here.”
I turn my head to see Lucy sitting down next to Dee, alone.
“Be cool, be cool.” Dee instructs as she fiddles with her place setting.
“Tell yourself.” I whisper back and she shoots me a look full of fear and desperation.
I take pity on my friend. “Hi Lucy, I’m Laney.”
“Yes! Hello!” She pivots from sitting down and steps around Dee to pull me into a hug. “I’m so excited for tonight, I mean, nervous as hell, but excited.” She beams as she pulls back and then offers her hand to Dee. “Hi, I’m Lucy.”
“I know.” Dee says and then she recovers. “I mean, hi, I’m Dhanya-Sri Anand, Dee to my friends.”
“It’s lovely to meet you Dee.” Lucy says and I see my best friend preen under the attention. Gods I hope there’s something there for them.
Dinner is served and the din of conversation keeps us entertained before our places are cleared and the MC for the evening takes the stage.
Blair Miller is honored for the expansion of her gyms and how it’s bringing more women into athletics.
Maggie Taylor is honored for her mental health through sport foundation.
Isla Covington’s foundation to keep teen girls in sports when most of them drop is honored for doubling in size in the last year.
And then it’s my turn to get up and present the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year award.
My palms sweat and my heart races but it’s more excitement than fear.
“Good evening.” I start my quick opening speech.
“It is an absolute honor to be in this room and to be a part of the future of women’s sports.
I’m standing here as a testament to the power of having a support system but really, what I think we can all understand is how alone you can feel when you are devoted to pursuing your dreams.”
Murmurs fill the room and I inhale and exhale before continuing.
“Being at the top of your sport is one thing, but doing it as something different or from outside the established norms is daunting. It is easy to let fear and doubt filter in and cloud your vision. It is easy to let the noise of the outside world fill your head. But what makes every single woman in this room different, is that she doesn’t let that be the final word.
“Tonight, I get to present the award for Breakout Athlete of the Year to Lucy Bausch, who became the first woman to pitch in a World Series game. And while the Seamen didn’t win the series, the organization will go down in history because of this woman.
“But the award is misleading. There is nothing breakout about Lucy’s success, or any of ours. We devote our entire selves to our sport, many of us starting as kids, and the only thing that makes us break out is that the world finally started to pay attention.”
The room erupts into applause and I roll my shoulders back.
“So, I think Lucy would agree with me, tonight isn’t just about our most recent successes.
Tonight is about honoring each micro-achievement stacked upon another.
It’s the daily work, the unyielding commitment, the determination that breaks us through barriers previously thought to be insurmountable.
That everything we need to succeed is within us, all we have to do is believe it. ”