The Athlete

by Elin Peer

  Hunter’s hands ran through his hair. “All right, if you really must know, I pride myself on being a loyal person. And smart.”

  “Smart and loyal.” I smiled with amusement.

  “What? You disagree?”

  “I can’t really say about the loyalty; I’m not sure how you define smart either.”

  He sighed. “You think I’m just a dumb soccer player who can’t read or think.”

  “Why would I think that? I’m a soccer player and I certainly don’t consider myself dumb.”

  His shoulders eased a bit. “I have a friend who’s a genius. Shelly is a Motlander, so you might know her.”

  “Do you mean Shelly Summers?”

  I nodded.

  “I only know her from the media. Is she really your friend?”

  “Yes. For a short time, she was an assistant teacher at the school I went to.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. She’s coming to see our first game.”

  “Oh, I had no idea that she likes soccer.”

  “She doesn’t, but her husband Marco does.”

  My eyebrows drew together. “Shelly Summers got married?”

  “Yeah, we went to a reunion party at the old school in the beginning of August and she and Marco ended up getting married. It was a spontaneous thing but still a beautiful wedding. Lord Khan was there to perform the ceremony and we partied all night long.”

  “Huh.” I gave a look of surprise that made Hunter lean his head to one side.

  “I should have known you’d be one of those people.”

  “What people?”

  “The ones who don’t believe in marriage and who think people who marry aren’t right in their heads. That’s why it surprised you that a genius would do it.”

  “Maybe. But it’s not my business to judge.”

  “That’s right.” Hunter finally picked up his plate and began eating.

  “Do you plan on marrying?”

  His shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “Yes, when I find the right woman. I have time. I’m still young.”

  “You’re twenty-two, right?”

  “Almost twenty-three.”

  “Yeah, that would be young to make a commitment like that.”

  Hunter swallowed his food. “I mean I could marry if I wanted to. My sister is marrying soon.”

  He didn’t sound excited about it and that piqued my curiosity. “What’s it like – a wedding, I mean?”

  He thought about it. “I’ve witnessed a few and they were all different. The traditional way is for a man to win his bride in a tournament, but now most couples marry for love.”

  “Is your sister marrying for love?”

  “It’s complicated.” It was clear he did not wish to speak about it and I didn’t want to press too much.

  “What age do you think is the right one to marry?”

  “I don’t know. When you’ve got your shit together, I guess.” He twisted his fork into the zucchini spaghetti. “Would you marry?”

  I thought about it. “It’s not as uncommon to see couples as it used to be. Sometimes I see them holding hands in the streets and I wonder what it must be like to be close like that.” There was a moment of silence between us before I added, “I’ve read about it, you know.”

  He waited for me to elaborate.

  “About being in love, and I know about the sex part too.”

  “Because of your family’s sex club?”

  I was reaching for a bubble of water but froze with my hand midway. “Who told you about that?”

  “Someone from the team. Can’t remember who. Do you ever go there to have sex?”

  “No.” I snatched the water bubble, put it in my mouth, and swallowed. “But it’s fascinating to watch.”

  From the way Hunter moved to the edge of his seat, it was clear that I had his full attention. “People let you watch them have sex?”

  “There are private rooms, but yeah, some do it out in open spaces.”

  “Can I come?”

  “You’re an adult, I don’t see how I could stop you.”

  “Are you messing with me?”

  “No.”

  Hunter pushed his plate away. “Are you saying that I can go to a club and have sex without any commitment?”

  “Yes. And you can even do it with more than one woman, or man if that’s your preference.”

  His eyes widened and he made a sound of pure disbelief when he leaned back. “That’s fucking surreal!”

  “I don’t know how people will react to you being from the north, but since you’re already a celebrity here, and you’re a novelty among the naturephiles, I can imagine that you will be a very popular sex partner.”

  Both Hunter’s hands were in his hair now. “This opens up a whole new world for me.”

  “If you want, I can ask Cole to take you. Jonah doesn’t go since it’s still looked a bit down upon and he doesn’t want it to influence potential voters.”

  “How often does Cole go?”

  “I don’t know. It’s part of the family business and he likes to be involved in everything. I’m sure I can talk him into bringing you with him; after all, you promised to take Jonah to meet Pearl when you go back to the Northlands, so it would be a way for our family to return the favor.”

  A smiled tipped the corner of his mouth. “Who would’ve thought that Pearl would get me laid?”

  My tone was dry when I answered, “I’m sure it will please her to no end, if you ever tell her.”

  Hunter’s smile grew. “Hey, did you just use irony?”

  “So? You use it all the time.”

  Hunter got up with his plate in one hand, and as he moved past me, he tousled my hair while still grinning. “You’re not like the other Motlanders, that’s for sure.”

  We stayed up late that first night, neither of us looking forward to sharing a bed. When I yawned for the fifth time, Hunter sighed. “We should hit the mattress. I’m tired too.”

  “So, how do you want to do this?” I asked when we were both in the bedroom.

  “Ehhh… Maybe if we sleep on the side, back to back.”

  “Okay.”

  The atmosphere between us was quiet and nervous as we got ready for bed. Lying on my side, I could hear his quiet breathing and wondered what he was thinking.

  My thoughts had gone back to the day when I’d first met Hunter. I had been excited to meet a soccer player from the Northlands. For years I’d been curious about them, and I wasn’t the typical Motlander who looked down on masculinity. Maybe it was my rare upbringing in the Cervicci family unit where my two fathers and older brothers had all been obsessed with the creation of the Nostalgia Park. The endless days of role-playing as characters from the past had rubbed off on all of us and made me appreciate how much men had to offer. They challenged me, and I’d always been rougher than most women.

  When Amy first told me Hunter was joining our team, I’d welcomed it. That was before I walked out in the foyer to greet his grumpy ass. He had refused to take my hands in a formal greeting, yet he’d allowed Donna to hug him. My family had always told me I was too proud for my own good, but Hunter’s rude behavior had made me feel rejected and humiliated. Jonah would tell me to let my resentment go and be forgiving, but I was lousy at that sort of thing.

  “Hey, captain.”

  I turned my head. “What is it?”

  “Do you mind if we open a window? It’s hot in here, and I’m not used to sleeping with this much clothing on.”

  “I know, me neither.” I got up to open the window.

  After two minutes back in bed, Hunter spoke again. “What do you usually sleep in?”

  “Probably the same as you.”

  “You have boxer shorts?”

  “No. Never mind, I just thought you slept naked.”

  A deep groan sounded from Hunter.

  “What are you moaning about? Is the thought of me naked so disgusting to you or are you ashamed again?”

  �
��Ashamed?”

  “Today when I hugged and you got hard, you said that you were ashamed of your reaction to me.” I was trying to sound nonchalant about it and not reveal how his comment had hurt my stupid pride.

  “Oh, yeah, right.”

  He was quiet for a while, but the question was still burning inside me. “Well, so is it?”

  “Is it what?”

  “Is the thought of me naked so disgusting that you have to make those deep groans of pain?”

  “Why do you care what I think? It’s not like you find me attractive, is it?”

  “Of course not. But I don’t find you disgusting either.”

  “When did you ever hear me say that I find you disgusting? I never said that.”

  “And yet the idea of me sleeping naked had you groaning.”

  Hunter lifted both hands to his hair. “Fucking hell, why did I agree to this? I don’t want to think about your naked body.”

  “Stop being so dramatic. You’ve slept next to other people before, haven’t you?”

  “Yeah, about six weeks ago, I slept next to Marco in a tent, but we were both drunk.”

  “Are you a mean drunk or a fun drunk?”

  “Depends on the mood I’m in before drinking.”

  I yawned. “I think Donna would be proud of how much we have shared about ourselves tonight.”

  “Yeah, I now know that you sleep naked.” His tone was sarcastic.

  “How many times do I have to tell you that nudity is not a big deal? You have to stop sexualizing the human body. It’s just a body, everyone has one, and it’s not that interesting, to be honest.”

  Hunter clicked his tongue in disagreement and turned his body around to face me. “Are you saying that if I slept naked, you wouldn’t care?”

  I turned around as well. “Why would I care?”

  Even with the subdued light in the room, I could see the frown on his face. “Don’t you ever get aroused?”

  “Of course.”

  “And?”

  “And it’s just a physical need that I take care of.”

  “How?”

  I scratched my shoulder. “The same way everyone takes care of their physical needs, I assume.”

  He was holding his breath. “Tell me.”

  “Masturbation, of course. Isn’t that what you do?”

  “Yes. But I wasn’t sure that women…”

  “That women masturbate?”

  “Uh-huh. I know you have sex bots.”

  “Yeah, but not at home, and sometimes it’s easier to sleep if you masturbate first. Don’t you agree?”

  Hunter exhaled and closed his eyes. “I can’t believe we are having this conversation.”

  “Are you surprised that men and women are so much alike?”

  “I’m surprised that it’s so easy for you to talk about.”

  “And I’m surprised that it’s so hard for you.”

  “But this is personal.”

  “How can it be personal when everybody does it? I don’t understand how your thinking is so backward. Everyone showers, everyone sleeps, everyone masturbates. They are just regular physical needs that we all have. None of it makes you special.”

  “So nothing is personal to you?”

  “Opinions are personal. Talents are personal. Spiritual beliefs are personal. Those are the unique things about an individual, and whether or not you want to share it is up to you. It’s just funny to me how you feel uncomfortable doing boring stuff that’s nothing but a mundane part of being human.”

  “You’re calling masturbating mundane?”

  “What would you call it?”

  “I don’t know, I just know it’s fucking private. I’m not doing it with you in the room.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  He was quiet.

  “But, Hunter…”

  “Yeah, what?”

  “You should consider showering with the team. You are already an outsider because you come from the north. If it’s too big a step to shower with everyone, then take small steps and start by showering with me.”

  He lifted his head. “Are you serious right now?”

  “One hundred percent. Tell you what, now that I understand that your penis is the most rebellious part of you, I won’t hold it against you if it gets hard.” I raised my hand. “And I won’t scream thinking you’re going to rape me, since you so kindly explained that I’m not your type anyway.”

  Hunter scrunched his face. “Are you implying I would rape a woman if she was my type?”

  “Would you?”

  “Fuck no!”

  “Good. I didn’t think so. And I’ll make you a promise.”

  “What promise?”

  “If your penis is as deformed as I suspect it is, I won’t comment on it.”

  “Geez, how many times do I have to tell you that no part of my body is deformed? And stop calling my cock a penis. It’s sounds wrong.” Hunter rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling. “Sometimes I can’t wrap my head around the fact that we all came from the same people. Your culture is so fucked up and you can’t even see it.”

  I sighed. “I could say the same about you and your culture. Jonah made a speech where he said that maybe when it comes to culture it isn’t about right or wrong but simply about different ways of doing things.”

  “Nah, there’s definitely a right and wrong. We Nmen are right and you are wrong.”

  “You would say that. Jonah is always talking about not assuming and not judging.”

  “Your brother sounds like an ideologist. Not assuming and not judging is impossible.”

  I propped myself up on an elbow. “I know. I’m trying, but I always struggled in that area. In fact, I was so bad at it that I had to take extra EMA classes.”

  “EMA?”

  “Emotional Maturity and Awareness classes.”

  Hunter laughed. “Yeah, we had something similar at the experimental school. I wasn’t the best student in those classes either. The whole thing about turning your cheek is just against my nature. If someone fucks with me, I fuck them back.”

  I bit my lip. “You use that word a lot, and it seems to hold a different meaning for you depending on how you use it. You don’t actually mean that you would have sex with someone if they had sex with you, because that makes no sense.”

  Hunter rolled his eyes. “No, I mean that if someone messes with me, I’m coming back at them tenfold.”

  I let out another sigh. “You need an EMA class on grace and forgiveness.”

  “Says the woman who buried me in mud.”

  I looked away. “Yeah, as I said, I’m not the kindest Motlander you will ever meet.”

  When Hunter lifted his arm and brushed my shoulder, I held my breath for a second. “True, but you are definitely one of the more interesting ones.”

  I wanted to ask him to define interesting, but the tingling sensation in my stomach confused me, so I pulled back. “Thanks. But interesting or not, I’ll be grumpy tomorrow if I don’t sleep.”

  “Right. Sorry for keeping you awake.”

  “Good night, Hunter.”

  “Good night, Ema.”

  We were back to back again and he couldn’t see the smile on my face. He had just used my favorite nickname.

  CHAPTER 10

  Shelly and Marco

  Hunter

  During my first ten days as a roommate with Emanuela, we played our first two games in the league.

  The first was a win, but we lost the second.

  Emanuela had been right about the audience. They went crazy when the players took time to show off with the ball. It was a different kind of crazy from the Northlands, where men screamed profanities and stomped their feet when they got excited. Motlanders showed their appreciation by applauding, cheering, and projecting colors from their wristbands. It was surreal to see the entire stadium light up in beautiful colors when someone scored a goal or did an impressive solo with the ball.

  Working w
ith Emanuela and the other players on my team had made me less careful around women, but I still had a long way to go.

  The first game I hardly got any playing time because Amy didn’t think I was ready. And then at tonight’s game, Emanuela had scolded me during the game when I’d failed to block a female player from the other team. I had been mad at myself and lashed out at Emanuela when she got in my face about it. Unfortunately, one of the opponents heard me tell her to fuck off and he reported me to the referees for improper communication.

  My team was sanctioned and lost one of the goals we had made. At the team meeting after, there was a group discussion about the importance of being good role models. I didn’t say much and neither did Emanuela. We were both passionate and proud people who didn’t take criticism well. They discussed doing a love circle, but someone was smart enough to bring up that those had never worked on Emanuela in the past, and I made it clear that I detested love circles.

  I had made two of our team’s four goals, but according to the open group discussion we had lost because of the goal that was taken away from us as a penalty, and the other team’s display of better style.

  Although nobody said it to my face, it was clear that they considered my scruffy style of soccer to be a problem.

  Marco, Shelly, and Finn had all come to see my first game and we were supposed to go out for dinner after, but I wasn’t in the mood to be recognized in a restaurant after my disappointing first game for the Dolphins, so I opted for inviting them back home with me.

  “This isn’t the apartment you first got.” Finn was looking around.

  “No, the team decided that I had to have a roommate.”

  Finn’s eyebrows lifted. “Did they? And how’s that working out for you?”

  “Better than expected, I guess. Emanuela gets on my nerves when we play soccer, but as a roommate she’s pretty easy to navigate around.” I pointed to the kitchen. “As long as I don’t eat her food without permission or play my music too loud, she leaves me pretty much alone.”

  “You are lucky then.” Shelly set down her bag and joined Marco on the couch. “I’ve had roommates before and it was horrible. You have no idea how many nasty habits people have.”

  Marco tilted his head. “What about me? I hope you don’t include me as a horrible roommate.”