Game day for me was always my favorite of the weekend. I’m sure it is for Ellie as well. Tommy is finishing his workout, and Ellie is buzzing around the kitchen looking for breakfast.
“Slow down, Ellie. Save some of this energy for the game.”
“Don’t worry, Frankie. I’m ready. The Renegades won’t know what hit them today. This game is for the league regular season championship. It’s a must win.”
“I remember vividly being in the same position. It’s an amazing feeling to play and win as a team.”
“Morning. How are my girls doing today?” Tommy appears in the kitchen. He’s drying his face with his shirt. Pulling my tongue back in my mouth is harder than I anticipate. Sweet mercy! He’s gorgeous and mine.
“Good,” I reply.
“I’m crazy hyped. Is it too early to leave?”
Tommy laughs. “Yes, plus I’m not going out without a shower. Make sure you eat well, Ellie.”
“On it.” Ellie pulls out the ingredients for an egg and cheese burrito. “Want one?”
“Sure,” Tommy replies.
“Frankie?”
“Sounds good, thanks. I’ll be right back.” I join Tommy in the bathroom.
“Hey, do you think Ellie would be interested in going to a soccer game?” I’m working hard to avoid ogling him while he dresses.
His forehead wrinkles in confusion. “A professional soccer game? I’m sure she would, why?”
“I’m considering reaching out to Marco to see if he could get us tickets for a game, but I wanted to check first.”
“You’re full of surprises, Sunshine. Not only is your cousin a celebrity and sports chef, but your other cousin is the Marco Cappelli?”
I chuckle. “Yes, why?”
“He is Ellie’s favorite player.”
“My cool factor increased a 1000 percent with that tidbit, huh?”
Tommy laughs. “Yeah, if not more. I’m sure she would love it. Now go, so we don’t mess up Ellie’s breakfast.”
I steal a kiss and hurry out the bedroom door. Ellie is finishing up the food.
“Could you make coffee for you and Dad?”
“Sure, Ellie.” I make two cups for now and set it up for travel cups for the game.
She sets out the food as Tommy reenters the kitchen. We take our seats and dig in.
“Great job, Ellie!”
“This is tasty,” I state.
“Thanks. It was super easy.”
We take a bit too long enjoying Ellie’s breakfast and have to hurry out the door to get her to warm-ups on time. On the way, my phone is chiming incessantly. Once she hops out, I check my messages.
Lina: We’ll see you soon. Em is so excited.
Lily: Cool if I bring Leo?
Lia: Scarlett is coming too.
Willa: We’re on our way.
Mama: We’re leaving now.
I send off a quick reply to Lily.
Me: Leo is always welcome.
Lily: Thanks. Love you.
Tommy is also checking his phone.
“Your family too?”
“Yeah, Ellie’s cheering section is going to be enormous today.”
“Lily asked if she could bring her best friend, and Lia is bringing hers. It’s pretty awesome.”
We grab our chairs and move toward the field. Thankfully, we have enough time to secure space for Ellie’s cheering section.
Once we set up, Tommy’s family starts to arrive. This is probably Tim, the brother I haven’t met yet. He looks exactly like Tommy, just a bit shorter and less fit.
“Frankie, my brother Tim. Tim, my girlfriend Frankie.”
“Pleasure to meet you. Ellie and Tam have been talking about you constantly.”
“Good things, I hope.”
Tim smiles. “All good things.”
The next twenty minutes are a flurry of introductions and greetings. Kylie arrives with her mom. Toby arrives at the same time as Lia, Scarlett, Lina, and the kids. Tommy introduces me to his parents, Tommy and Gloria. His dad is an older version of Tommy. My Tommy seems to be more outgoing than his dad though. Gloria, on the other hand, seems to be a social butterfly chatting it up with everyone from my family as well. When she isn’t chatting, they’re as cute as my parents, holding hands and leaning into one another. I greet my family as well and introduce everyone around. I only have time for a quick side hug to Lily and Leo when the game starts.
The first half of the game is a defensive struggle. The Renegades clearly recall Ellie from their first meeting this season. They are clogging up the passing lanes around her. At the half, the game is scoreless.
Luca and Willa move beside me. “She might be better than you were, even Marco.”
“She might be. Ellie is doing everything she can. She trains hard and shows up every game and every practice, despite the upheaval in her life. How’s newlywed life?”
“Pretty awesome,” Luca chimes in.
“What he said.” Willa laughs. “Seriously, though I fought so long to avoid seeing he was perfect for me. In the end, giving Luca a chance was the best thing to ever happen for me, other than Dad adopting me.”
Luca kisses Willa’s temple while drawing her closer. Leo and Lily return after a trip to the restroom.
“Hey, Frankie. Ellie is pretty amazing,” Leo offers. He towers over me with his hulking frame. Once upon a time, Leo was an all-state defensive lineman and played at a division one university too. In college he switched to center. He was drafted and played a few years in the league at nose tackle.
“She is.” It isn’t until I turn completely to face them I notice Lily’s arm linked with Leo’s. I raise an eyebrow, and wordlessly she tells me we’ll talk about it later. Interesting. Lily truly should give him a chance.
As the players take the field for the second half, Ellie notices her huge fan contingent, and an even bigger smile breaks out on her face. I’m glad she’s still happy, even though Tess hasn’t shown up for her.
Ellie’s first time with the ball in the second half she dribbles forward from midfield, passes it to her striker, who then crosses it to the wing who pushed up. The wing shoots, and it hits the back of the net for the first goal of the game. In the next minute, Ellie takes the shot herself and buries it in the back of the net. Her entire family and mine erupt in applause and shout her name.
She may not realize it yet, but not only does Ellie have me in her corner now but my entire family too.
The Renegades make a few lineup changes and momentum shifts their way for some of the second half. Ellie’s team holds up well, and the goalie saves at least four good shots on goal. As the game nears the three-minutes-remaining mark, the Renegades score on a rebound off the goalie. The goalie hangs her head briefly.
Ellie shouts, “Forget it, Sarah. We’ve got this!” Ellie is an excellent leader on the field.
Sarah air fist-bumps Ellie and settles back into the game. For the remaining minutes, Ellie and her teammates effectively keep the ball on their half of the field. When the referee blows the final whistle, the entire sideline erupts in cheers.
Ellie runs across the field and leaps into Tommy’s arms once the team postgame chat ends.
“I’m so proud of you,” Tommy shouts.
Ellie pulls me in too.
“Thank you for working with me. The moves you taught me really helped.” Ellie smiles.
“You’re welcome.”
Tommy sets her down, and Emilia circles her arms around her waist.
“Ellie, you were awesome!” Sheer admiration shines on my niece’s face.
“Thanks, Em.” Ellie high-fives the rest of her massive cheering section. “Thank you all so much for coming to my game.” I see the slight flicker of disappointment pass through her mind. Everyone in her life is here except Tess. No matter how hard she tries to mask it, it hurts. My parents never once let me down so significantly and repeatedly, but I have plenty of life experience to equate to it.
Our family members each congratulate Ellie and head home.
“Dad, will you cook for us?”
“Absolutely, but we need groceries first,” Tommy offers.
“Deal. Can I sleepover at Kylie’s mom’s tonight?” Ellie asks.
“Sure. Get me all the details, and we can make it happen.”
An evening at home alone with Tommy? Yes, please. I squeeze his hand in mine, and we walk toward the car. After a whirlwind trip around the grocery store with Tommy and Ellie adding so many things into the cart I lose track and hope we got everything we need. The next thing I know, we’re putting it away at home.
“Why don’t you go clean up, Ellie? I’ll get started on lunch.”
“Okay.”
Once I hear her door close, I turn to Tommy. “What might we do tonight all alone?”
He grins. “I have no idea what you’re suggesting, Sunshine. I’m sure we can find something to do.”
I laugh and scroll through my texts.
Lina: You guys are so cute together.
Lia: Thank you for the invite. We had fun.
Lily: It isn’t what it looked like, not exactly.
I reply to Lina and Lia and then focus on Lily.
Me: It looked like you were arm in arm and leaning into Leo.
Lily: Okay, so maybe that’s accurate. It doesn’t mean anything. We’re just friends. He isn’t single.
Me: Do you want him to be single?
“Who are you texting with?” Tommy inquires.
“Lily.”
“Is she interested in Leo?”
“I’m not sure. They have been best friends since elementary school. As far as I know, nothing has ever happened between them.”
“Huh, they looked like more than friends this morning.”
“Exactly what I just said to her.”
Lily: Yes. No. Maybe. Yes.
Me: Oh, Lil. You should tell him how you feel.
Lily: Nope, I’m not going to break up his relationship. If they breakup, I’ll tell him, and not a moment sooner.
Me: Okay. Love you.
Lily: Love you more.
Ellie is ready to head off to Kylie’s the moment we finish our sandwiches. Once Tommy confirms the details, he drops Ellie off for the night.
“What shall we do?” Tommy asks as soon as he returns. He stalks toward me like a lion ready to pounce. “Will I find any lingerie beneath those clothes?”
My eyes widen as I reply, “You should come even closer and find out.”
Tommy spends the rest of the afternoon and into the evening exploring after he finds not a shred of lace or satin anywhere beneath my clothes.