Match Pointe

by Amélie S. Duncan

  “You know,” she said. Her voice squeaked and I laughed. “We should have gone to the manager and asked to move into one of their two bedrooms together.”

  “I’m sleeping with your brother.” I managed to say it without blushing—though sleeping wasn’t what we did, or what I hoped we’d do once we started seeing each other again. Even if I hadn’t been with him, my feelings hadn’t changed. I was still in love with him.

  Zoey pumped the horn before taking the exit to the highway. “I suppose I could learn to live with it, if he makes you happy.”

  “He does,” I assured.

  “I’m beginning to understand that.” She blew out her breath. “Why else would you both get in all that trouble?”

  “True,” I admitted. “I love him.”

  She spoke again once we were stopped by a traffic light. “I want our friendship back. I’ve missed you.”

  I smiled. “I’ve missed you too…but what would make everything better is if you and Tyler were friendly again. You both have been close for, well, forever. Tyler and I made our choices together. If you’re talking to me, you should be talking to him too.”

  “I love him, you know. We’ve always had each other’s backs,” she said. “I was just upset about how he’d been fucking up lately when he told everyone he was straightening up to advance his career. Then he was suspended, missed games, and got kicked out of the program. He brought trouble for you, but I understand you both did that together. I’ve gotten crazy heat at the company these past couple weeks, and he’s in for a dose of tough love. He needs to get his shit together.”

  I understood that, but we both knew there was a lot more to every one of those points. He wasn’t just a fuckup. He was working his butt off. He’d just ended up with me, and she needed to get past it. “And?” I drawled out.

  “And I’ll see him later this week. Okay?” she grumbled.

  I grinned. It was a start.

  The closer we got to the Bronx, the more my pulse pounded. I wasn’t as certain of my welcome with the company. On top of that, I was concerned about seeing Tyler again. Was it right to keep pushing him away when I had already taken steps to change my life? Would he continue to wait for me?

  I jittered with anticipation once we were inside the stadium. We went down the tunnel to the seats near the home team’s sideline. While Zoey was waved ahead to sit in the seats reserved for the participants in the joint program, the side glances and cupped hand whispers started, and several eyeballs on me had me taking the seat farthest back just as the jumbotron zeroed in on our section and the announcer boomed, “Welcome New York Ballet.”

  I joined in the wave while looking around the sidelines to find Tyler, but to my disappointment, I didn’t see him.

  Zoey, Yasmine, and Claudette left with Christophe down the side tunnel. When they reappeared, they had on matching blue leotards and tulle skirts. They grouped onto the field where they were met by Coach Frost, Javier, Lance, and Erik in their uniforms on a raised platform that was set up on the pitch. After the national anthem, a dark-haired male around our age with striking looks and a fashion-forward suit strolled onto the stage amidst catcalls and stopped at the microphone that was now set up there.

  “I’m Paul Crane from the Crane Arts Foundation and the Salomé Love Legacy program,” he announced. “The program raises funds for arts programs throughout the world and I’m proud to be a part of the joint program, bringing together athletes and the creative arts. This fall, we are hosting the ballet Le Parc.”

  He moved to the side, and the sound of DJ Khaled and Rhianna’s “Wild Thoughts” started to play.

  Javier and Yasmine stepped forward and did a pas de deux. Critically, Javier was stiff, his arm jerky, but at least he followed steps—unlike Yasmine, who improvised a grip on his buttocks. It turned out to be a crowd pleaser, so what did I know?

  Javier added a spontaneous kiss down her neck, bringing them further off script. Both appeared more focused on showing off—all what Christophe would have called cheap thrills, and not the heart of the sensuality and passion of the ballet. I could see from the set of his shoulders, he was less than impressed. I was sure Tyler would have provided a better showing. I did another search for Tyler and finally found him. He had his back to the crowd and he was in uniform, but like me, alone.

  My stomach muscles twisted with guilt. If I hadn’t been with Tyler, he would’ve performed and provided a better presentation of the performance.

  The rest of the group did a twirl and back dip to end the short ensemble, and though the dance could have gone better, the crowd cheered all the same. Photographers came up and took photos then soon after, the game started. Would the performance provide enough buzz to make the program a success? Even with Tyler’s reputation, he was a bigger star on the team, and the press would be more interested in putting him on the front page or across social media.

  The group returned and Yasmine’s eyes looked glossy while Christophe’s face was pensive, leaving no doubt that he’d let them all know his displeasure in their performance. The quiet in our section thickened the air, and he didn’t need to say another word. We all needed to work to do better. I vowed to do my part and help in any way I could from there on out.

  The set was cleared away and the game started. To my relief, the energy shifted to the New York F.C. and New York Red Bulls running out on the field. The Red Bulls won the toss and had the ball down near Ace at the New York F.C. goal. My heart pounded as I got caught up in the energy of the crowd and play. The Bulls dominated the ball, and when New York F.C. had it, they couldn’t get around the defense to score.

  Tyler stood up by the sidelines, clapping and yelling out to his team members.

  “Javier out, Wilson in,” a group chanted in the stands. He didn’t respond, and neither did Coach Frost.

  Halftime came, and the team went to the sidelines. The players went to Coach Frost and then off to the locker rooms. They didn’t have much interaction with Tyler, and I agonized for him.

  Tyler was having a hard time too, and the words I had spoken earlier to Zoey came back to haunt me. He needed me.

  I TOOK OUT MY PHONE and texted him.

  Scarlet.Ricci: I’m here. I’ll meet you after the game xox

  The rest of the game didn’t go any better. They tied, and from the grumbles of the crowd, that was bad news for the team. A text message from Tyler came in shortly after.

  Tyler.Wilson: Meet me at the parking lot. I’ll let the attendant know to let you in.

  After saying goodbye to Zoey, I went to where Tyler had organized for me to meet up with him in the parking area. There I found him leaning against his car. His black eye was gone and his face was just as handsome as always, and that tingling sensation went through me, the one I always had in his presence.

  I called his name and his head turned toward where I stood. Once I could see his eyes, I could see his misery. I went over to wrap my arms around him, but he stepped back and unlocked his car. “We should get going.”

  Glancing around, I caught sight of the long faces of his teammates staring back at me. Tyler couldn’t do his part, and they all suffered for it. Seeing us together was like slicing open a wound; it was better that we left. Still, once we were on the road, I decided to give Tyler a chance to talk about it.

  “It was hard for you today at the game,” I broached.

  “I’m on the bench, and Lance smiled at me, I think, but that’s it. No one wants to catch shit from Coach Frost. I know they’re upset that I’m not playing. We all want to win. We’ve dropped to number three in the league,” he replied, his tone hard to discern. “I hate it, but I’m doing whatever I can. I got some public stuff set up with an agent, a friend of mine, to continue to turn around my image and hopefully get in better with my club.”

  “That’s great,” I said, and I meant it. “I’m sorry about your team.”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Well, at least me on the bench isn’t making the club or the c
rowd happy, especially since they don’t really know the reason Coach Frost hasn’t put me back in.”

  “That’s the one thing working for us.” I sighed. “No one knows and our suspensions are over. Zoey’s doing well,” I said for a slight change in subject.

  “Yes.” He smiled proudly. “Mom told me she might get soloist. She and Dad are still talking to me, and Zoey is too now. She came up to me at the game, asked me to call her.”

  I smiled. “Good. I never wanted to affect your relationship.”

  “Yeah, but now she knows I’m not giving you up,” he said. “I miss you.”

  We rode in silence until we reached Midtown. There he pulled over and leaned across the car, and I shivered as he ran his hand down the side of my face. “Thank you for seeing me.”

  I leaned into his hand, my eyes darting over him. He had a shadow around his eyes. “You look tired. We can try another night.”

  “I’m all right.” He caressed my cheek and dropped his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

  My lips spread into a smile. I was thinking the same thing.

  “Where would you like to go for dinner?” he asked.

  “How about you come to my place?” I said, surprising myself. “I can make something or we can order takeout. There’s a Japanese restaurant that delivers.”

  “I’d love that.” He didn’t need directions since Zoey lived in the same building. After we parked, a rush of nervous energy filled me at the possibility of us being alone together in my place. The simple press of his hand low on my back caused a tightening in my body. When I didn’t move away, his hands journeyed lower on my hips when the elevator closed. If we were already touching each other there, it would go even further when we were completely alone. It would have been fine, but what if I was pregnant?

  I stiffened in his arms and Tyler dropped his hands.

  “We’ll do whatever you want. I came to spend time with you. We don’t have to have sex.”

  “It’s not that,” I said then went quiet until we were standing inside my place. I dropped my head. “I have something I need to tell you.”

  He lifted my chin up to look at him, his eyes as kind as ever. “You can always tell me anything, sweetheart.”

  “My…period’s late,” I said softly. “I’m on the pill as we discussed, and it has been late before. It could be stress, but now that I’ve had sex, I’ve got to consider every possibility.”

  “Then we get a test,” he said simply. “There’s a pharmacy at the corner of this building.”

  I peered at him through my lashes. “That’s it? I mean, aren’t we both supposed to freak?”

  He lifted his broad shoulders. “Why freak about something we don’t know to freak about yet.”

  I laughed a little. He made sense. Still, it could be a life-changing day for us.

  He put his arm around my shoulder. “Want me to go get them?”

  I shook my head. The last thing I needed was for him to run into Zoey or someone recognize him. Besides, I wanted to handle it myself. “No, I’ll do it. I’ll be right back.”

  My hands trembled as I went through my bag for my purse, my mind rushing ahead to all the things that could happen if I was pregnant. The one that hurt the most was that a baby now could cause the end of my dance career, just like it had for my mother. I swallowed hard against the sob that rose in my throat.

  His hands covered mine. “You’re not alone. I’m right here, whatever we decide together—a baby now, later, surrogate, or never.”

  “You may feel that way now…” I stammered.

  “I hope you learn to trust me in time.” He hugged me to him. “I have forever to show you.”

  My heart and eyes filled. If he hadn’t already had my heart, I would’ve given it to him then. “I’ll be right back.” A thought came into my head: I’d just brought him to my place for the first time, and I hadn’t even showed him around. “Do you want something to drink?”

  “Don’t worry about me.” He walked over and sat down on the couch then turned on the television like he’d lived there his whole life.

  “I’ll be right here. I’ll order dinner.” He winked. “It will be fine.”

  I thanked him and left, anxious to find out the test results. I went down to the pharmacy and found the test along the aisle. There were quite a few to choose from—emoticons, plus minus? I wasn’t sure, so I grabbed a few along with some miscellaneous items to hide my purchase. I paid, quickly put them in my bag, and rushed back up to my apartment.

  When I entered, Tyler called me over to sit with him on the couch. “I know this is hard for your career as a dancer.”

  I dipped my chin. “Yes. I know for my mom, it was the end of her career. She said she doesn’t resent us, but I know she wanted to be a ballerina. I do too, even more so after the suspension. I found all I could think about was getting back to dancing, and you,” I added and our gazes locked.

  Tyler brushed his lips lightly against mine.

  “I understand that, and truthfully, it does freak me out a bit,” he admitted. “But only because we’ve been apart and I’d like for us to spend more time together, but with our schedules it’s not easy. Our family starts with the two of us. That’s what I care about. What I don’t want is to be without you anymore. Now that I’ve found happiness, I don’t want to lose it. I don’t want to lose you. I love you.”

  My heart leapt. He loves me. I went into his arms in an emotional embrace. I didn’t want to be without him either, but we were now waiting for a result that could change everything for us forever.

  “I’ll tell you the results when I’m done,” I said, heading over to the bathroom, but Tyler followed me inside and shut the door.

  I read the instructions and blushed. Some mysteries were better left in place. “I think I can do the first part on my own.”

  His face softened. “Okay, but call out when you’re done.”

  I took the test and we both waited for the longest ten minutes of my life. What would we do if it was positive? I didn’t know. It was like our lives were on top of a tidal wave that just wouldn’t stop crashing.

  My heart hammered hard against my ribcage. Line…oh God.

  “Does that look like a plus?” I shrieked.

  “No, that one was supposed to have a happy face,” he said. “It’s frowning. See the curve of the mouth? It’s negative.”

  My hands trembled as I looked at the other result: negative.

  I sighed heavily in relief.

  He hugged me tight and kissed the top of my head. “You’ve been under a lot of stress, like you said.” He took my waist. “You can make an appointment, though, if you feel worried. I’ll go with you.”

  He was so…wonderful. “You’re just so…good.”

  I arched against his jeans and found that he was semi-hard. He put me down and took out his wallet and a condom.

  I giggled and he raised a brow. “I always thought the condom in the wallet was a myth.”

  “No myth,” he said without humor. “We can do other things. I can follow wherever and whatever you want me to do to you.”

  “Back to the lessons,” I half-joked. In all honesty, they’d never felt like lessons. He treated me like a good friend and lover. He never made me feel lacking in my inexperience, yet another reason I loved him. His gaze was possessive as it moved over me like he had already stripped me naked, and I wanted all that look promised.

  Without my telling him, he understood and didn’t hesitate to carry me to my bedroom.

  His eyes never left mine as he laid me down, freeing me of my clothes and placing my hands over my head before I could take his off. Desire flooded my body under his gaze. I wrapped my legs around his hips and writhed against his hard length as it grazed my clitoris through his tight pants. The fabric against my sensitive flesh unexpectedly made me hotter, and I let out a low moan.

  “Damn, that was hot. Do that again.” He rolled his hips to increase the friction and kissed me deeply, his
tongue stroking erotically until I was moaning against his lips as an orgasm took me.

  Taking my hand, he moved it over his sculpted bare flesh, intensifying our connection and fueling the desire in me once more. I was more than ready when he produced the condom and handed it to me.

  His hands closed around mine. “Lick up my shaft and suck on the head, then put on the condom.”

  I knelt between his long muscular legs. Okay, I can do this. I dragged my tongue up and down and groaned as I sucked the thick salty liquid that was his pre-cum off the head. With every shudder and moan, I grew in confidence. Running my tongue over the velvety length of him, I teased the head of his cock until he stopped me and showed me how to guide the thin latex down over his thick erection.

  “Open your legs,” he said, helping me gap them open. “God, you’re so beautiful.”

  He reached between my thighs and pushed his finger inside my depths, enticing me till I moved against his hand. He then slid himself beneath my hips, with my legs on either side of his thighs. My hands positioned his cock at my entrance.

  His body tensed. “Ease down,” he said softly.

  Slowly I lowered myself until I took in the full length of him.

  His hands closed on my hips and he guided me on how to move in a way that had us both crying out in pleasure as we worked together into a climax, losing ourselves in each other.

  “Let me see you,” he said. Our eyes tangled together in pleasure as our orgasms found us.

  My heart was full of love and peace in his arms. Now that I had him again, there was no way I’d ever let go. “What are you thinking?” he whispered.

  How much I love you. My heart became too full and tears lifted to my eyes. I lowered my eyelids. He brushed his lips against them as I said, “I love you.”

  He said it in return, and I dived into the warmth of the words and feelings.

  We stayed joined, our hearts beating wildly, neither one of us wanting to break away. Still, a lot was on my mind, most of all, where we were going. We hadn’t even had a real chance to get started.