Flagrant Foul (gxg)

Chapter 50

The people over at SportsRX hooked me up with a facemask of sorts to protect my nose in future games. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it didn't matter, I needed it to keep playing. There was no way I was going to be healthy before the start of the tournament, and if I didn't have the mask I could end up in a similar situation as the Louisville game. Even with the mask, I would feel pain, just not as much as it would spread any impacts out away from my nose.

We had a few easy games to start out the tournament, playing Montana State and Kansas State. Neither game was close, and we won by over 35 points in each game. Best of all, NC State had been given a number three seed, but Tegan had been suspended for the first game for the multiple flagrant fouls, as had Coach Austin for not controlling their players since the refs had warned her during our last game with them. Even better, with Tegan and Coach Austin out, they were embarrassed in a big upset by number fourteen seeded South Florida. I was kind of hoping to beat them once more, but I guess it was safer to not play Tegan again. Hopefully having a lot of time off before next season would calm her down. At least I could hope so!

Our next match was a slightly tougher game against fourth ranked Arizona, but we still won by fifteen. We knew we were playing the winner of the second ranked Texas Longhorns facing the third ranked Tennessee Volunteers. We could see that Texas was motivated, because they would be going home to Texas for the Final Four if they got there, so it would be like playing at home. Hell, that went for top seeded Baylor too, who were still playing for that right over in their own bracket.

Texas ended up winning, and then we absolutely crushed them. It was one of those fun games where everyone was in sync, and we all caught fire at the same time. To their credit, they were the first team in the tourney to score 70 points on us, but we had 107, as Leah, Imani, and I each scored over 20 points, Dayana and Brynn were their solid selves, and even Scarlett scored a dozen off the bench. When we played like that, there was no team in the country that could beat us.

There was a huge celebration in the field house after our win, almost like a high school pep rally. UNC hadn't been to a final four in over 15 years, and we knew we were two wins away from winning it all. Our first match was going to be against UConn, not a shock since they had yet another powerhouse squad, and then the winner of the Baylor and defending champ South Carolina squad if we were able to advance. All three were tough opponents, and we knew we'd have our hands full in both games.

But the good thing was, our team was going to travel well. I never knew this, but two girls on the women's soccer team, Frankie and Mckenna, were from Dallas. Frankie's family had a ranch there, and they were bringing a bunch of the soccer team and their significant others with them to cheer us on. I don't think I'd ever been more touched by support, and all of us on the basketball team vowed that we'd do the same for them next year. It might not be as easy for us, since the end of their season overlapped the beginning of course, but we would do a lot more cheering than we did this year!

"How is it going?" I asked Skye the next day, as we flew at 30,000 feet in the air on our way to Texas. She was hunched over a pair of legal books, trying to get in as much studying as possible any time she could. She was going to take the bar exam once the tournament was over so that we would have her results before the summer. Were there plans for us to get married now if she passed? Not exactly. But we may have discussed it, and loosely agreed to it. We both wanted it, but we never set dates or locations. If she passed, then she could practice law on her own terms, which meant opening her own firm, and then start finding her own clients instead of being assigned ones that her boss gave her.

She was already bemoaning the fact that she knew her boss took on a woman who was suing a local coffee shop. Evidently the coffee order wasn't made to her liking, and she threw the scalding liquid at the barista, who then pushed her away to keep from being attacked. The woman was suing the barista for assault and the coffee shop as an additional defendant. I couldn't believe her boss even took on the case, nor that the judge didn't throw it out and arrest the woman for assault instead. Skye was in a similar position and was hoping to pass the bar on the first try so she could go represent the barista for free, because she didn't want any part of representing that Karen!

I couldn't blame her. It seemed ridiculous that a lawsuit like that was even allowed. It gave me a warm feeling that my fiancé was going to try helping people like that barista. Yeah, maybe she wouldn't make money like those high end lawyers, but they always ended up defending shady businesses and politicians that were obviously guilty and trying to hide it. I'd rather she come home at night with a clear conscience, and we live happy, than have her regret taking dirty clients while we roll in money. Besides, we were both going to contribute to this marriage, it wouldn't all be on her.

Oh shit, there I go again, fantasizing about being married to her again.

"It's going okay. I think I'll be fine when we get back. I saved Contract Law for the end, since I hate it and want it to be fresh, and I think I get it now." She closed the books, stretching delightfully and letting me lean in to give her a soft kiss. "I can't wait until this is all done, and I can relax!"

"Yeah, but then you'll be my bigshot lawyer fiancé and working your butt off at the office!"

"And you'll be my all star basketball playing fiancé who is going to come home and snuggle with me."

"Well, you could be my wife by then," I pointed out.

"I will be." She took my hand in hers, running her fingers over my ring and then intertwining our hands so the two rings were together again. "We'll need to find some matching bands."

"Yeah, and soon. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure I don't want to wait." I ran my fingers through her hair, letting her lean into my shoulder. "What do you think about getting married late in the summer? Maybe we can take a little honeymoon afterwards over a long weekend."

"What about a dual wedding with your mom and Ray?" she wondered.

I thought about that, and I couldn't see it. Maybe we could all renew vows together, but I wanted mom and Ray to have their day to shine, and then Skye and I could have ours. "Nah, they need their own day, and we should have ours. Besides, it gives us more excuses to have your moms visit!"

"I bet they'd like that," she murmured as she sighed against me. "I really want to marry you too. I don't want to wait."

"Then it's all settled. Maybe right before Labor Day we get married, then go away for the weekend. I'm not worried about a super long honeymoon, because I know we'll have more of those in the future."

"Perfect! We could drive out to the Outer Banks, maybe hit the beach, or drive west to the mountains, whatever we're in the mood for!"

I kissed the top of her head, happy about this plan. I had never thought about getting married before meeting Skye, and now I couldn't imagine anything else. It was amazing what could happen when you met the right person. "As long as you say I do, then we could go anywhere, and I'd be happy."

"I do!" she giggled, kissing my neck. "I do, I do, I do."

"And I do too, Skye. You know I feel like we're already married. Other than an extra ring, I don't think anything will change between us."

She nodded into my chest. "You're right. It isn't like you have to move in, since you're already there. I guess we'll have to deal with some issues like insurance and bank accounts, but you're right. We're pretty much already married in all but name."

"Should I take your name?" I wondered.

"No chance!" she shook her head rapidly. "The only person with that name is Jack! Even my mom took Becca's name so she wouldn't be associated with it. I'm taking yours. Skye Rivers sounds much better to me!"

As soon as she said that I smiled. She was right, it really did sound great, and I couldn't wait to call her that! "Skye Rivers, I really like that!"

"Well, win that championship and I'll let you call me that all night as a sneak preview!"

Yeah, with that motivation, our opponents were fucked.