CHAPTER 4
Keisha slowly made her way along the YMCA bleachers while lugging a cooler brought from home.
She handed a bottle of Gatorade to each member of the Pride Girls Community Soccer Team, choosing a strategic path that would end when she reached Hope.
The journey was the destination, as the old saying went, because she genuinely liked these people.
She had no qualms about ingratiating herself to them in this manner.
Keisha often brought snacks and drinks to practice sessions, even though she wasn’t an official member of the team.
She had already memorized everyone’s names and knew them well enough that banter came easily.
Nobody seemed puzzled by her presence anymore.
She felt like one of the gang. In more than one way, because Keisha was getting distinct lesbian vibes from some of the girls.
If only she’d made soccer her extracurricular focus instead of theater.
Both were heavy on the gay, just not in the same way.
Although she likely would have ended up with the same result. Of all the beautiful women on the team, none turned her head like Hope did. Keisha set aside the cooler and plopped down next to her.
“I saved your favorite for you,” she said, handing her a bottle. “Red. Whatever flavor that is.”
“I don’t even know,” Hope admitted with a titter. “I just like the color.”
“It does look good on you,” Keisha said after Hope had taken a sip. She leaned forward, as if to kiss the moisture off her lips.
Hope reacted as she always did, withdrawing with a hint of concern, but that was okay.
Keisha enjoyed the chase. Especially since she managed to catch her on occasion.
Such as New Year’s Eve, when this little scheme had been hatched.
Hope was okay with having a relationship, if they could do so out from under the watchful eye of her domineering twin sister.
“Maybe I’m jumping the gun,” Keisha said, not bothering to lower her voice, “but Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Have any exciting plans? I imagine that Faith will be preoccupied with a date of her own. Whatever will you do with yourself?”
Hope rolled forward on her petite little butt to peer down the row of bleachers, but she’d made sure to sit far enough away from the others that they weren’t likely to be overheard.
Especially with so much happy chatter in the air.
After ensuring they were in the clear, inquisitive eyes sought hers.
“What do you have in mind?”
“I thought we could let our hair down,” Keisha said, her attention darting to Hope’s cute bob. “Have a night out.”
“What if we run into my sister?”
“I don’t mean here in Pride. Something tells me Troy isn’t cultured enough to take your sister to Kansas City. We can paint the town red, seeing as how you’re so fond of the color.”
Hope put on her poker face, like she often did when faced with such decisions.
Keisha had learned to wait patiently while the gears whirred.
No doubt she was pitting the risks against her inherent desires, weighing each.
To tip the scales in her favor, Keisha stretched out casually, her breasts pressing against the tank top she wore.
“Okay,” Hope said.
“I’ll pick you up?”
“We should probably meet somewhere.”
“A block away from your house. That should be safe.”
Hope shook her head. “What if Troy sees you?”
“I’ll flip him the bird.”
“And if Faith is with him?”
Keisha was tempted to point out that she had two middle fingers, until she reminded herself that Hope loved her sister.
If she didn’t, the situation would be much easier.
“How about this? Find out what time they intend to leave. Invent some errand you need to run an hour earlier. Your sister will be too busy getting ready to follow. I’ll pick you up wherever you choose to park.
Not only will that avert suspicion, but it’ll give us a head start. That means more time together.”
Hope considered her. “You’re really good at this!”
“I have experience.”
“The older woman you dated?”
Keisha nodded. “That’s when I learned all my best tricks, since I had to scheme twice over.
I was still in the closet with my family and friends, and the woman didn’t realize I was in high school.
I used to have her pick me up from a college dorm.
I’d often wave at someone as we drove away, even though they had no idea who I was.
Most people waved back. When they didn’t, I’d make up a story about why they were such a bitch. ”
Hope laughed. “You make it fun to sneak around.”
“I do enjoy my work.” Keisha shifted closer to press her leg against one that was still warm from exertion.
Hope didn’t pull away. Not until the break came to an end. With technical exercises out of the way, the girls divided into smaller teams and ran different skirmishes. Keisha was on the sidelines, helping wherever she could, even if that meant clapping and shouting words of encouragement.
This didn’t go unnoticed. As the girls were filing out of the gym, their team captain, Sheila, pulled Keisha aside.
“Can I talk to you a minute?” She sounded like she meant business.
Keisha kept her response upbeat. “Sure!”
Hope made eye contact with her as she passed, her face revealing a hint of concern that was swiftly hidden away.
Sheila waited until they were alone before speaking. “You’ve been at every practice session this month, despite not being on the team. People have been asking me why.”
Uh-oh. “I just love the game. And I like being useful.”
“You’re certainly that,” Sheila replied. “When we talked on New Year’s, you said you wanted to join the team, but I’m not sure that’s true.”
Keisha’s mouth started to go dry. She should have saved one of those Gatorades for herself!
Sheila continued to peer at her. “Most girls who try out insist on taking the field so they can prove their stuff.”
“I figure I’ll get my chance if I ever have to fill in for someone.” That, and she’d been meaning to practice, so she’d have actual skills worthy of showing off.
“We already have enough girls on the team,” Sheila said, “so you might be waiting a long time.”
It sounded like she was being uninvited. Which would ruin everything. Faith never showed up here, or at the games. If that ever changed, Keisha being on the team would have justified them being together.
“I don’t mind waiting my turn,” Keisha said, starting to panic. “I’ll simply keep myself busy until then. Need a towel boy? I’m your gal!”
Sheila shook her head. “What we need is a coach. I’ve already got too much riding on my shoulders to focus on the role.
And honestly, I’m not great at the logistical stuff.
Other teams always have to reach out to us when they want to play.
I’m too disorganized. Even the little things you do, like bringing drinks to keep everyone hydrated, really helps.
All that stuff you said about electrolytes… ”
Which she had read in a magazine ad while in her dentist’s waiting room.
“I know firsthand that it’s a lot of responsibility,” Sheila continued. “But I feel like you’d be better at it than me.”
Keisha was too surprised to respond.
“Everyone likes you,” Sheila prompted.
That was flattering. And made the prospect more tempting. Even if the promise of love hadn’t been a fringe benefit.
“You want me to be the coach?” she managed at last.
Sheila nodded. “Unless you really have your heart set on playing. To be honest, I’m hoping you don’t.”
“Like I said, I love the game. No matter what that entails.” Keisha grinned. “I accept. This is so exciting!”
“I think so too,” Sheila said. “Let’s go tell the others. They’re probably getting out of the showers by now.”
Keisha wondered momentarily if she had died and gone to Heaven.
Then she remembered her theater group obligations, where she was already a stage manager, and the secret relationship she would have to juggle in addition to being a soccer coach.
Not to mention the demands of growing up on a farm, which included growing and harvesting an illegal crop.
But she would make it all work. Somehow.
— — —
The snow had melted, the frigid puddles draining away.
Weather that would have made Anthony shiver earlier in the season now felt temperate by comparison.
Spring wasn’t here yet, but the first hints were in the air.
He pulled up to his boyfriend’s house, like he did five days a week to pick him up for school, but this morning was different.
Cameron noticed as soon as they drove away, heading east instead of west. “Aren’t we going to pick up Omar?”
Anthony shook his head. “He wanted to try skating.”
Cameron glanced outside in surprise. “In this weather?”
“Yup! He’ll show up to school with the legs of his jeans soaking wet. That’s why I’ve got an extra pair for him in the backseat. This happens every year.”
Cameron studied him. “You just happened to have an old pair of his jeans on hand?”
Anthony began to squirm. “He left them at my house over the summer.”
“And walked home in his underwear?”
“Not exactly. We’d gone to the pool and it was hot out, so he kept his swim trunks on instead.”
“And you held on to his jeans.”
Anthony was struggling to find an explanation that didn’t sound creepy when Cameron laughed.
“It’s fine,” his boyfriend said. “I get it. Personally, I think a T-shirt makes more sense, but hey, maybe his jeans are covered in come stains.”
Anthony laughed. “I’m not that depraved.
A crusty pair of his underwear, on the other hand…
” He glanced over at Cameron while grinning, wanting him to see that it was only a joke.
And to make sure that he was really okay with this, because not long ago, Anthony’s attraction to Omar had almost destroyed their relationship.