He's The Goal

by Faith M Troyer

  “I’m all sweaty, baby. Are you sure about this?”

  “It’s never stopped us before, has it?”

  Vada’s arms wrap around my trim waist, resting her head against the left side of my chest. My heart rate is astronomical from the workout and continues to speed up as she stands next to me. My arms close around her, and I rest my cheek on the flat of her head.

  We stand there for a second in second in stark silence before she leans her head back to look at me. Man, I love this woman. I can’t even begin to explain how much. She understands me without even having to say a thing.

  “Is it the psycho again?”

  Mashing my mouth into a hard line, I nod my head in reply.

  Vada’s phone chirps a few times, but she ignores it. I nod my head, giving her the okay to check her notifications. Without leaving my embrace, she takes her phone from her pocket, scrolling through her social media account, and finds a post she’s been tagged in linked to Bianca’s account.

  Vada’s eyes suddenly widen in horror as she backs up, but I try to bring in closer for comfort, but she pushes me away.

  Woah. What the fuck is going on here?

  She swallows hard with emotion. Her eyes are watery with tears as they run down her cheeks in rivers.

  “What the hell, Vada? Tell me what’s going on, baby. Please.”

  She sucks in a breath and hands me her phone before walking away. I take in a deep breath myself before reading the post.

  The fat skank who took my man is Vada Finley. She’s the ugly bitch that stole my boyfriend from me, Maxwell Vahn, the Miami Leopards goalie. He was the love of my life before he decided to kick me to the curb for fatty. Let me rephrase this; He’s the chubby chasing, bed-hopping slut who broke my heart. I hope you two are happy together, and she doesn’t die from heart disease.

  I try my best not to crack Vada’s phone in my bare hand as I read the message for the second time. She can say whatever the fuck she wants about me, but this bitch is going way too far, bringing up my girlfriend in such a hateful, disgusting manner, and on the internet?! Bianca has no right whatsoever even to be dragging Vada into this shit in the first place. It’s me she’s angry with, not Vada. Bianca is a petty individual and will hit below the belt if necessary to get what she wants.

  Slipping Vada’s phone in my back pocket, I take a couple of slow, deep breaths before heading up the stairs, two at a time, to the bedroom so I can find Vada, but she’s not there. I pop my head into the bathroom, checking the shower and tub; no trace. I open the French doors and finally find her, sitting next to the pool.

  Vada’s arms hug around her legs, her head laying on her knees as she looks out sadly at the water, and I’m not sure how to approach this subject without making her feel worse.

  I love her, and I need to try.

  I pad on to the deck, tiptoeing to her side and leaning down next to her. Vada takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. The colorful LED lights from the pool shimmer across the water like a rainbow, casting soft shadows against Vada’s cheeks. I sit down next to her, hoping she doesn’t shoo me away, and my heartbeat relaxes again as her fingers lace with mine.

  “It’s never going to stop, is it?”

  I gently pull Vada into my arms, kissing her cheek.

  “I’m calling the police in the morning and get that restraining order,” I calmly reassure her. “Bianca does not have the power here.”

  Vada makes a choking sound and rolls her eyes. She sits up, her hazel eyes looking so red and puffy as she tries to control her tears. They hang from the thick fringe of her dark lashes and plop lazily over her cheeks. She tries to blink them away, but I get there first and wipe them clean with the pad of my thumb.

  “What do you see in me, Maxwell? Honestly. I’m a regular girl who lives with her brother. I’m a nursing student, and I’m a part-time bartender. I don’t live a glamorous life. I don’t have loads of money or come from money the way Bianca does. I’m up to my eyeballs in student debt and quite possibly won’t be able to pay my loans off for many years after I become an RN. And that’s if I don’t die of heart disease first.”

  Anger and sadness tugs at my gut when Vada says heart disease. Shaking my head, I take her hands in mine and bring them up to my mouth, kissing each one of her fingers.

  “Vada, all I want is you. I’ve never cared about who you live with or how much wealth you have or come from,” I protest as gently as I can. “You were there for me when my mom passed. I couldn’t have made it through without your support. And most importantly, it’s because of you that I found my old self again!”

  Her bottom lip quivers as she soaks in the depth of my words.

  “You're beautiful and phenomenal, and I love you, Vada Finley.”

  “Are you sure that all of this isn’t too much? You can tap out now, Maxwell, and save me the grief. Bianca is a terror. She’s trying to tear us apart in hopes of getting you back.”

  “I never want what we have to end. I want what I have with you to last forever, and I truly mean that.”

  Vada swallows hard as her head slowly falls to the right. Her warm hands cup my face, her fingers splayed on either side of my jaw. The gold and brown flecks flicker inside of her irises, which only make my heart beat faster.

  “So you mean to tell me that you might want to be Chester’s daddy someday, for real?” She says, her tone low and sweet.

  I nuzzle my nose against her cheek.

  “Only if he'll have me.”

  Vada nods her head, taking another deep breath as she leans into my chest.

  “Bianca bullies other women’s physical appearance all the time, and I'll tell you why.”

  Vada remains quiet, but her breaths have evened out a little as I run my hand up her bare thigh, filling my hands with the luscious curve of her hip and skating my lips down the length of her neck. I smile when I hear a small purring sound escaping from her throat, followed by a low moan of pleasure.

  “She’s a jealous idiot, envying what she can’t have naturally,” I point out. “Unlike your natural curves, she pays for hers. And they’re not even that good. Lumpy if you ask me.”

  Vada breaks out into laughter as she holds on to my shoulders.

  I can’t help but to dip her backward and nibble at her neck as more sweet laughter pours from her beautiful smile.

  Vada

  Max and I just arrived home, with Chester in tow. He’s been itching to escape from his cat carrier to give us both kisses and hugs. Monica reported that her furry nephew was on his best behavior the entire time and even slept with her at night. I told her he probably would, as he’s never slept alone since I took him home at eight weeks old.

  Max has gone back to the car to grab our luggage, and I set the carrier down on the bed, unzipping the left-hand side. Chester shoots out like an orange furry flame, zooming around the bedroom for a few minutes. I laugh and lay back on the soft sheets. As much as I loved being in The Keys, I missed sleeping in my bed.

  To quote my favorite film, “I never realize how much I like being home unless I’ve been somewhere really different for a while.”

  Max has never seen Juno, and I was shocked, so we rented the DVD last night before stopping at the store to buy another half gallon of mint chocolate chip ice-cream because the one I purchased melted; we all know why. I roll my eyes, not wanting even to go there. Chester meows sweetly as he jumps up on the bed beside me, chirping and trilling adorably. Max shows up a few minutes later and stands in the doorway, leaning up against the door frame. I look up and smile, loving the way his eyes look, like a man in love.

  I know Max loves me; he’s told me every day since we’ve both declared our feelings for one another. Still, it’s how he shows me the way he feels about me is that makes me fall deeper in love with him. His ocean blues flit to the cute little critter beside me, who’s purring his head off.

  “Chester, daddy’s home,” Max playfully remarks as he lays next to us, with ou
r cat sandwiched in the middle.

  Wrapping my leg around his, I lay my head on Max’s muscular bicep and look to the ceiling. Before coming home this morning, Max called the Miami police department and inquired about getting a restraining order against Bianca.

  However, since she’s hasn’t become physically aggressive and I haven't reported her behavior to the police previously, there is nothing they can do. Still, Max has assured me that he’ll do whatever he can to help keep me and our relationship safe from the evil witch.

  “Do you have to go to practice today?” I ask, turning to face the man I love, giving him my best puppy dog eyes, but knowing damn well that he does.

  Chester pops up from between us, bumping Max’s shoulder with his head before hopping off the bed. He finds an opportunity to pull me on top of him, and that’s where I feel truly at home. Breathing in deeply, I melt into his arms, my safe harbor.

  “I do, baby. I wish I didn’t have to, but we have two back to back games this week, and the second one is going to be in Jacksonville on Friday night.”

  I raise my head to look at him, and I won’t admit my heart is breaking at the thought of having him so far away. It’s only a five-hour drive, but I don’t feel much like sharing right now. I lay my head back down, cuddling closer.

  “I have to work Friday night, or I’d come to see you.”

  “Why don’t you just quit?” Max says quickly, and I almost fall off the bed.

  Woah. If I quit my job, I won’t have a place to live. What the hell is he thinking?!

  Then I come back to earth and realize what he’s offering. If I give up my job, that means more time to study, and lots more time with my boyfriend. But what if we break up? What then? Does Max want me to depend on him for money?

  He clears his throat, and I can feel his fingers graze the underside of my chin.

  “I see the cogs turning inside of that pretty head of yours, Vada. Let’s talk about it.”

  I blush at Max’s comment; he knows me way too well. We both sit up, sitting opposite each other on the bed.

  “We’ve only been together a short time, Maxwell. What if we decide that we don’t want this. What then?” You’d swear I just took a knife and stabbed him with it, and I want to take my words back immediately.

  Stupid! Stupid! I quickly shake my head, searching for the words to say.

  Max is exceptional, and he realizes that’s not what I meant. The color in Max’s face returns, and now I feel like a jerk for making him feel as if I want to go our separate ways.

  “I’m sorry, baby. That’s not what I meant. I’m trying to say is that I don’t want you to have to pay my way. If we’re going to do this right, I want to help as much as I can, and for me, that means help footing the bill.”

  Max inhales deeply through his nostrils, giving that sexy low lidded gaze that shows off his thick eyelashes. He places a hand on my chest and slowly lays me back on the bed. My hair is loose and messy around my head, not having a chance to brush it before we left this morning. Max hovers over top of me, his big body lowering slowly over mine before his soft lips brush against mine.

  “I’m happy with whatever you decide. Just promise that you won’t leave when we just started this journey together. I need you, Vada.” Max skates his fingers across the bare flesh of my stomach, quickly replacing his fingertips with his lips.

  I sigh softly, reveling in his touch. We hold each other for a little while longer, enjoying being in each other’s company when I realize the time.

  “I have to be in my chem lab in an hour, and I still have to eat something,” I say, looking up to Max’s closed eyelids. He opens one slowly, looking sleepy and so cute, it hurts. Smiling, I lean up and kiss his forehead.

  “Okay, babe. I can make you some lunch before you leave,” he offers.

  I shake my head. I know he’s tired from driving back from the Keys early this morning. Max is going to need the rest before practice this afternoon. I give him another kiss on each cheek and feel those same butterflies in the pit of my belly as he smiles sleepily in return. Monica also has a class in the same part of the building as I do, so we’ll most likely meet up after and grab some lunch.

  I leave Max asleep on the bed, and cover him up with a throw blanket from the couch, and kiss his cheek one more time. I leave early enough so that I can go through a drive-through and eat on the way.

  Once I arrive for class and before we break up for practice skills, my professor lectures about BMP, known as metabolic panels, lab values, results, and interpretations.

  Labs aren’t usually my favorite, only because they last the longest, and today, I’m feeling the pain. My mind is still on the Key West vacation. Before Max and I left, we decided to christen the pool once and the hot tub twice. I can’t help but smile as I think about him naked, dripping wet. My cheeks explode with heat as I return to reality and see that everyone is packing up to leave. I clean up my area, taking my backpack from my seat where I left it. Monica is waiting for me out by my car, and I smile, waving a hand over my head.

  “Tell me everything!” she says aloud, cupping her hands around her mouth.

  I roll my eyes, knowing this has been on her mind ever since this morning when we came to pick up Chester. She refrained from asking at that time because Max was there. But now we’re alone, and she’s demanding for every horny, hairy detail, and I’m going to tell her each one.

  “Oh my god, Vada. He fucked you in the pool?” Monica breathes dreamily.

  I nod, fighting back a naughty smile as we cruise through the midday traffic of downtown Miami. Monica lets out a low whistle, leaning her head back on the seat, laughing at me.

  I shoot her a look that reads, ‘What the hell are you laughing at?’ However, I can’t help but laugh along, as her snort is beyond contagious.

  “Remember that day, a few months ago, when I said that Max wanted to fuck you?”

  I smile smugly, turning the corner. Oh boy, do I remember that day well, and I honestly wondered if Monica was right. Did I want to have sex with Maxwell before our relationship began to bloom into something meaningful? Hell yes, but was I going to admit that to my best friend? Even under Chinese water torture? Hell no. I turn my blinker off, remembering to ask Max to fix it as we pull into my parking space.

  “Yes, I remember that day very well, Monica, and no, I wouldn’t have admitted wanting to fuck him back then. Although, I had nightly fantasies about what he would do to me,” I say as we head up the stairs to the apartment.

  Monica sighs dramatically and fans herself off with her hand as I open the door.

  “At least you’re getting some, girl. I’m living through your sex stories, in hopes that I might get lucky and accidentally fall on the next, good looking, available, and employed dick that I see.”

  I chuckle, letting Monica go ahead of me before closing the door, removing my shoes. She finds a comfortable spot on the couch, patting the cushion with her open palm, and Chester comes to jump up next to her. I notice the air is on, and I didn’t leave it running this morning as there was no need to even have it on that early. Another weird thing, the remote to control the air is gone as well. Furrowing my brow, I place my hands on my hips and try to think about the last place I put it was.

  “Uh, oh! Momma has her thinking cap on, Chester!” Monica says in a mock-serious tone.

  I flip her the bird as I begin to look around the living room for the remote. My best friend joins me in the search, damn near tearing the entire fucking living room apart, trying to find the stupid remote.

  Now the entire apartment is beginning to get chilly, and I’m irritated. Maxwell wouldn't have turned the AC down to sixty-seven degrees and leave it like that before going to practice without shutting it off first. Monica begins to rub her arms and reaches for a throw blanket on the back of the chair, throwing it around her shoulders.

  “Just turn it off by the power button, Vada. We’ll find the dumb remote later,” Monica suggests, and I could have sl
apped myself for being so stupid.

  Duh! Why didn’t I think of that earlier? I press the small red button on the AC unit until the humming slowly dies down and ultimately stops.

  “Finally. It was colder than a witches tit in a brass bra, in here,” Monica complains and cuddles my cat closer to her chest, and for this, he has no complaints.

  Usually, when Mon and I get together, we always go out to eat. But at the moment, I’m still feeling tired and a bit worn out from the trip, and from the looks of it, poor Monica doesn't look like being social herself. I plop down next to her on the couch, letting out a loud sigh, followed by a yawn.

  “Do you want to go half on a pizza?” I ask her as I take my phone from my pocket and begin dialing the number to our go-to pizza place. She nods, and on the second ring, an employee picks up, and I rattle off our order: double cheese, pepperoni, and sausage. The pizza won’t be here for another thirty to forty-five minutes, so I get a head start on my homework. Monica yawns and stretches her arms above her head.

  “Can I take a nap in Jack’s room, or what I guess is the spare room now? Until the pizza comes? I’m whooped,” she says and yawns again.

  Lugging my school bag over to the couch, I drop it next to her, giving my best friend a sidelong glance.

  “Is this your lame attempt to try and get into my brother’s bed, Mon? Why don’t you wait until he comes back home to ravish him?” I teasingly inquire as I glance back and see that she’s blushing.

  “I knew it! You do want to pork my brother.” We both crack up, and Monica’s face heats a little more.

  Giving her a loving nudge with my shoulder as she kisses my cheek and heads down the hallway to Jack’s room. I had just put the tea kettle on not a few minutes ago, so I could enjoy some tea while going through the flashcards I have for an exam next week when my phone goes off. Thinking it’s the pizza place, I check the screen and see Max’s photo pop up on the screen. My heart makes a little cartwheel motion in my chest as I swipe right on the green button to answer.