The Family

21

Talia's POV

"Hey Talia." Becky says and kisses my cheek.

"Hi Becky." I say as she sets down the dish she brought.

Tomorrow we play Sky Blue so tonight the team decided to have a team meal and Kelley volunteered our apartment to host it.

"How's everything coming?" Becky asks.

"Just need to finish the queso." I say while stirring the dip.

We decided on Mexican Pile on.

"Good...Hey Christiane." Becky says.

"Hey Becky...Hi Talia." Christiane says as she sets the empanadas she made down on the bar.

"Hey." I say then smile at the Chilean. "Damn that smells good."

"Hopefully you like it." Christiane says.

"If it taste half as good as it smells then we'll definitely like it." Becky says.

"So did you guys hear the news about UEFA?" I ask as I remove the queso from the stove.

"No." Christiane says. "What happened?"

"For future Olympics they'll be having a tournament with the teams that qualified for the world cup to see who gets the three slots in the Olympics."

"It's about time." Becky says. "The old way was very stupid."

"Yes it was." I say as I turn off the stove. "DINNER'S READY."

The whole team come rushing into the kitchen and start grabbing plates.

"CHILDREN." Becky shouts and everyone stops. "We're letting Talia, Christen, and Christiane go first since they cooked...Understand?"

"Yes Becky." The team mumble.

Christen, Christiane, and myself get our food and drinks before we head into the living room and sit on the couch then we put our stuff on the TV trays in front of us.

"What game is on?" Christiane asks.

"Portland's playing Orlando." Christen says.

"Uh oh." Corsie says and sits in the chair next to Christen. "Battle of the soulmates."

"I'm confused." Christiane whispers.

"Christen's soulmate plays for the Thorns while Kelley's plays for the Pride." I say.

"Ah." Christiane says as Jessie sits in the chair next to her.

Eventually the rest of the team join us in the living room so we eat and watch the game.

"Well that escalated quickly." Desiree says when Marta and Lindsey get into a screaming match.

"Deja vu." Kelley mumbles.

"Shush." Amy says and nudges Kelley.

"I still don't think I've ever seen you that angry." Corsie says.

"Even I could feel the anger radiating off you and I was in the box's." Kelley says.

"GO ON." Christen yells as Tobin bears down on goal then she shoots and scores. "YES."

"Dammit." Kelley mumbles.

"Orlando needs some defense." I say.

"So true." Kelley says as a graphic of what each team involved in the Vero trade received is shown.

"How does the player rights thing work?" Christiane asks.

"Like the players we got in the Vero trade?" Becky asks and Christiane nods. "Well if Hailie and Emily decide to come play in the NWSL then they will join our team."

"Oh." Christiane says.

"Do you think they'll come back?" Gunny asks.

"Yeah." I say and everyone looks at me. "I've been texting them and they said they'll most likely see out their contracts then come back."

"When do their contracts run out?" Katie asks.

"End of next season."

"Do you know them?" Katie asks.

"Yeah we met at my one and only U-20 national team camp and the three of us were roommates." I say. "We've kept in contact since then."

"Aww." Kelley says as she looks at her phone.

"What?" Christen asks.

"Look at young Talia." Kelley says and passes Christen her phone so I look at what's on the picture.

Kelley found a picture of me at Florida State.

"Kelley that was a year and a half ago." I say as Becky and Amy are passed the phone.

"You were still cute." Kelley says.

"Have you always worn red boots?" Amy asks.

"Ever since I started playing I have." I say as the phone continues to get passed around.

"Why?" Makenzy asks.

"Just part of my pre-game ritual." I say.

"You have a pre-game ritual?" Gunny asks and I nod. "What is it?"

"On the way to the stadium I listen to the same playlist then once in the locker room I put my warmup shirt on then my shorts. After that I put my right sock on, my left sock on, my right red boot on, and lastly my left red boot on. Once all that's done I'll go sit in between Amy's legs and she'll do my hair then I'll head outside for warm ups."

"Is there a reason for red boots?" Jessie asks.

"Red's my favorite color." I say.

"Oh."

"SHE WAS WIDE OPEN." Kelley yells as one of the Orlando girls misplay a pass to Alex. "HOW DO YOU MISS THAT?"

"Do you think Orlando hired the right coach?" I ask.

"Yes." Corsie says. "But he needs to realize his system just won't work in the NWSL."

"THAT'S A FOUL." Christen yells after Tobin is brought down by Alanna Kennedy.

"Is it always like this?" Christiane whispers.

"Yeah." I say and laugh. "I usually sit in-between them."

"So what's Carli doing right now?" Amy asks.

"She and Sky Blue have a tactics meeting then they're having a team meal." Becky says.

"Is Carli staying with you?" Gunny asks.

"She is." Becky says with a smile.

"Dammit Alex." Kelley mumbles when Alex misses a sitter.

We watch the rest of the game and talk about random stuff while eating our food.

"Christiane you made these?" Desi asks and points to the empanadas.

"Yeah." Christiane says. "Well me and my wife made them."

"Who's your wife?" Kelley asks.

"Maya Varela...well Maya Endler now" Christiane says with a smile. "She's my childhood best friend and we turned out to be soulmates."

"Does she come to the games?" Katie asks.

"Usually she does, but she's been busy with work and making our apartment feel more homey."

"What's she do for work?" Jessie asks.

"She's an Audiologist."

"Well maybe you can bring her to the next one of these we do." Corsie says.

"I'll talk to her about it." Christiane says.

"Holy shit." Becky says as she looks at her phone.

"What?" Amy asks.

"I just got a text from Carli."

"What's it say?" Christen asks.

"Vero Boquete has been waived by Sky Blue, her visa has been revoked, and she's been deported back to Spain."