Chapter Nine
Season’s End
“Late again!” Nigel yelled the moment Giselle shuffled into the auto dealership on Wednesday morning.
“Are you serious?” she fired back while struggling through the glass doors. “You do see I’m on crutches, right? I can’t exactly sprint across the parking lot after finding a space a mile away. My temporary disabled placard hasn’t arrived yet.”
“That sounds like a you problem,” Nigel responded, his face turning purple. “You just had a couple days off, and now you’re taking advantage of my leniency by waltzing in here past the appropriate start time.”
Where’s my soccer ball? I want to launch it at his face! “Thank you for having mercy on me and allowing some rightful time off that I earned through company policy. Should I start work now, or do you wish to keep talking in the showroom lobby?”
It appeared Nigel would faint from lack of air as his face turned even darker. “Get to work, Giselle. I’ll have additional words for you later.” He turned and stormed into his office.
“What an ass-hat!” Ralph uttered in a low voice as he stepped out of his office. “I heard every word. I have your back, Giselle. I’ll make sure to witness all your exchanges with him. It will be our memorandum for record on that bonehead.”
Giselle patted Ralph on the shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. You’re the only person keeping me sane around here.”
“Same,” he replied. “Nigel is just a power-hungry jerk. I think he gets off on hiring people, treating them bad, then firing them just so he can start over and get high again. The turnover here is insane.” He shook his head. “Anyway, lunch is on me today.” He waved and trudged back to his office.
Over the next couple days, Giselle grew accustomed to her new lifestyle on one leg.
Thankfully, her driving foot remained intact as she continued traveling to work and running errands around town.
She kept her trips short, ensured easy access to her destination and tasks, and most of all, remained careful about overdoing things to avoid further injury.
The only bright spot to a rough week back at work had been the developing relationship with Tony.
Ever since their disastrous make-out session, they had exchanged a combination of flirty texts and serious phone calls.
Unfortunately, the few extra minutes on her phone each day had led to her falling into a Nigel trap.
One afternoon, he caught her staring at her device. Naturally, he accused her of wasting several hours when she had only taken two minutes for a text exchange. A memorandum for record later, and Giselle had to resort to messaging or speaking to Tony while in the restroom or during lunch.
On Friday, she breathed a sigh of relief after making it through the week.
She had only started on Wednesday after her leave, but Nigel’s continued aggression made her time at the office seem like a month.
She brightened when a text from Tony buzzed her phone: I’m picking you up tomorrow and taking you to the game.
Giselle smiled. Tony’s statement lacked preemptive questions, and it reminded her of Janice’s candid approach to life.
It felt refreshing, friendly, and not intrusive or subjective at all.
Aside from gladly accepting help, she had planned to attend the finals between the Bolts and the Lancers.
Tony would be present to ref the match, so it worked out for both to travel together.
On Saturday morning, Giselle grew excited upon waking.
She looked forward to the game and cheering for Janice.
However, the thought of her and Tony growing closer provided the biggest thrill.
They hadn’t seen each other since he bought her groceries, but it felt sweet the way he always contacted her to ensure she remained all right.
The game—and hopefully the weekend—would offer plenty of opportunities to be together.
She asked Tony to come early so she could cook him breakfast. After he arrived, Giselle had to push him back into his chair at least twice when he insisted on helping her prepare the food.
She proved perfectly capable of limping around her own kitchen.
Sitting at the tiny dining room table, the pair consumed a hearty meal and headed for the game.
At Stone Bluff Sports Park, rabid fans packed both sides of the field to watch the finals in the River Rush County League.
Multiple cities and teams had been eliminated after an exciting season.
In the bleachers, not a single space remained.
Fans also crammed the open grass areas in beach chairs or sat on coolers and blankets.
All around, team colors flashed proudly on clothes and waved on banners.
Chants boomed. Hands cupped around mouths and hollered.
People laughed during exchanges of friendly banter.
Nachos, hotdogs, popcorn, sweet treats, and soft drinks stuffed hands and sat across laps in cardboard trays.
After Tony escorted Giselle safely to her seat, he trotted out to midfield to converse with the head referee.
In the first row of bleachers, she sat next to Coach Jess, Vanessa, and several Rapids who had saved her a spot.
Giselle’s skin prickled from the electric atmosphere, the excitement and anticipation of a great match between the league’s best. She observed the Bolts warming up on the sidelines.
“Hey, Janice!” she hollered. “Have a great game. Kick ass out there!”
Janice turned and waved. She pointed to Tony, back to Giselle, then made a “blow job” gesture using her tongue to bulge out her cheek and bobbing a fist in front of her mouth.
Coach Jess and the Rapids exploded in laughter and cheers.
Mortified, Giselle’s face heated as she hid behind a sip of her drink.
The match began, and Giselle yelled and cheered every minute.
The action proved intense. Having a championship on the line, the players elevated their skill and ferocity to a new level.
Fouls and yellow cards flew. Beautiful plays, heart-pounding saves at the goal, and nail-biting turnovers dotted an exhilarating competition between the league’s stars.
Giselle shrieked in disappointment when the Lancers struck the first goal near the end of the first half.
An amazing cross-field pass and a rocket to the middle set up an unexpected fast break.
Caught by surprise, the Bolts defense scrambled too late to counter the opponents’ charge.
The Lancer right-wing chipped to the sprinting striker, and a blast from a strong right foot sent the ball past the Bolts’ diving keeper.
In the second half, the recuperated Bolts displayed incredible persistence by tying the match within nine minutes.
After a series of crisp passes and crafty maneuvering, a hard-charge at the goal resulted in a corner kick for the Bolts.
The winger launched the kick from the left post, and Janice used her height advantage in a thrilling header to deflect the spinning ball into the goal.
The crowd roared its approval. Giselle shouted and nearly spilled her drink.
Banners flapped in a frenzy beneath a crescendo of applause and shouts.
Excitement infected the fans and spurred both teams as the feverish play continued.
Precious minutes ticked by. During fierce exchanges, the head ref’s whistle blew in sharp control of the game.
Tony’s flag snapped in accurate calls as he moved up and down the field.
Eleven minutes remained, and the Bolts found an opening.
A clean defensive tackle deep in Bolts territory collapsed the Lancer’s punishing attack.
Janice sprinted downfield and crossed into the Lancer’s defensive zone.
The Bolts’ team captain dribbled through a knot of Lancers and shot the ball in an arc to the speeding Janice.
The Lancers defense smothered the penalty arc where she chested the ball.
A quick turn and punt launched the ball to a zooming number five, the Bolts’ sweeper who had charged in out of nowhere.
The sweep controlled the pass and fired the ball in one motion.
A fierce spin sailed the shot in a curve.
The beautiful arc remained true as the ball found the top corner of the goal and crashed into the net.
An explosion of cheers. The crowd leapt to its feet. The elated Bolts swarmed in a mass of tight hugs. Fists pumped. Giselle screamed and exchanged high-fives among her friends.
Soon the match resumed, and grim masks replaced smiles as the determined players regrouped for the kickoff.
Down a goal, the Lancers came out swinging and managed a few nerve-wracking maneuvers and attacks.
Their strikes missed the net or the brilliant keeper blocked the shots.
The Bolts countered and moved downfield for a pressure campaign in Lancers’ territory.
However, a solid defense prevented the Bolts from extending their lead.
The final whistle blew. The Bolts leapt into the air and crushed each other in a wild celebration.
Ecstatic fans reveled in the bleaches and sidelines.
Giselle waved her arms in triumph and hugged Coach Jess.
The jubilation didn’t only represent the Bolts’ victory, but also a huge success and win for the River Rush County League.
All city teams had worked incredibly hard and deserved triumph for providing such an enjoyable season for the players and fans.
After the trophy presentation at midfield, family and friends swarmed the grass to join the players.
Hugs, photos, and smiles passed all around the bustling activity.
Other people streamed down the bleachers on their way out.
Remaining in her seat, Giselle said goodbye to her friends as they departed one by one.
She saw Tony cut through the ruckus on the field. He jogged over, a goofy smile on his handsome face as he handed her the famous soccer ball they had battled over.