Venus Vs Mars Pt.II

Chapter 8

M_ACE_ARIAS: Send'em to Death Valley.

A early morning tweet was only tweet Massy sent out, from that point on she turn it into a ritual. As soon as people seen the four words they knew what time it was. The only time she said the infamous LSU coach Less Miles quote was on game day, then she'd disappear from social media all together until the next day.

"A late equalizer in the 85th minute from team captain Carli Lloyd ensured the United States women's national team stayed unbeaten during its Road To Rio tour with a 1-1 draw against Brazil on Wednesday night in Seattle. The Brazilians were by far the toughest challenge for the United States on this tour after their World Cup win. The USA played the first four games of their tour against Costa Rica and Haiti, winning all four quite handily. It was the first time that the United States trailed in a match since April. But if a draw isn't satisfactory for some United States fans, the squad has another chance in a few days to take down Brazil again when the two face off this Sunday in New York."

Odell rolled over to an empty bed, Massy had set to return from Seattle and when she did he knew he wouldn't see her until that night. They were living the life of two professional athletes in the prime of their career, it wasn't just practices, games, then go home. It was practices, games, events, signings. Being in two places at once was an understatement.

As the first week OTA's were scheduled to begin the next morning. Though OTA's were voluntary and were avoided by some members of the roster, it did make you look good when you showed up. Even Eli Manning, who was twelve years deep in a NFL career and still showed up for them, so there was no excuse for Odell not to be there. The benefits to them was it is strictly non-contact. Hitting was not allowed to insure the protection of the players. OTA practice were simple on field workout sessions and run until the actual mini camps started in mid June. It was something to keep the players bodies warmed up and ready.

"I mean, you could run it like a regular route but the way his body is positioned it's going to put him behind you, and that's extra work you gotta do to get past him."

"I sometimes be too far out." Rookie Sterling Shepard said overlooking the continued activities.

"If you too fare out, run it like corner post, you still gone step outside of your defender. You can tell if you can run it like a 7-pump as soon as you see how high up E throw the ball." Odell added onto the advice, he was no longer the wide eyed rookie wide out for the Giants. Just two years ago he was standing in Sterling's shoes, soaking up every bit of information he could. Now he was the one teaching.

The New York Giants hadn't made the playoffs since their 2011 Super Bowl-winning season, and the New Orleans  natives Eli and Odell only had one thing on their minds. To change that drought pronto. Eli asking Odell to step up was nothing to Odell, he made a mental note of it and put forth the energy. A 6-10 record was unexceptionable. Training camp was weeks away, and the only thing important was winning.

Massy pushed open the door to her New Jersey home she shared with Odell. Koba and Dre wasted no time in barking in excitement as they heard Massy's voice calling for them. The large kennel on the first floor held all three of them while Odell and Massy was away for short periods of time. It was only when both of them left the state they would go to Mari's or Massy's parents to be taken care of. She frowned noticing Tzar remain lying down on his large fluffy doggy bed. 

"Tzar, papa bear!" She called out for the oldest of the dogs. He raised his head and waved his tail back and forth. It pounded against the hardwood floor. His paws remained crossed, but he just didn't have the strength to get up and greet her. "What's wrong big boy!?" Her voice turned baby like, a sadness filled the words he tried standing on his paws but was unsuccessful. She sat Indian style next to him, he placed his large head in her lap beginning for attention, she took no time in giving it to him. She pressed her forehead to his, his nose was dry and his eyes remained low as if his eyelids were five pound weights. Massy pulled her phone out and called Odell, only to get his voice mail. 

"Hey babe, I just got back to the house. I think something is wrong with Tzar he's not being himself. Call me as soon as you get this. Love you." 

Massy ended the call them scrolled her contacts for Odell's mother. Three rings hit her ears before Heather's voice finally filled them. 

"Hey gorgeous! What's up?" Heather asked happy to hear from her further daughter-in-law. 

"Hey mom, I'm sorry to call you this late, but I think something is wrong with Tzar. He's awake but it's like he can't get up, when I walked in the kennel he just laid there, he tried to get up but his legs gave out and he couldn't." Massy's voice began to shake. 

"Oh god. He's not getting up at all!? Not even for a second!?" 

"Nothing, he can't." Massy began to slightly panic. Knowing how close he was with all the dogs she knew he'd also go into a panic finding out something was wrong with Tzar. 

"Odell is going to freak out..." 

"I just left him a voicemail. I think he's still at Quest." 

"Ok, I'm going to get a flight right now. I've got to get up there. Let me call you back when I get everything together." 

"Ok, thank you!" Massy said before hanging up. Heather immediately booked the next flight. It took her a total of thirty minutes to text Massy her flight information. When it came to Odell, Heather Van Norman wasted no time in being next to her son. Heather would be late to her own funeral if it meant she had to get Odell together first. Heather was becoming another example of a women Massy wanted to mirror along with her own mother. Not yet realizing that Odell had fallen for her because of the similarities to his mother she already displayed.

Massy had been so overwhelmed with Tzar and making him as comfortable as she could without moving him too much that she failed to notice the adorable gesture Odell left her sitting on the kitchen counter. 

My Ace of Spades:

I'm sorry I couldn't be home to greet you. There's honestly nothing more I'd rather be doing right now than holding you, but you know how it goes. I can't begin to tell you how proud of you I am. I'm truly starting to realize how blessed I am to have you in my life and I honestly can't wait till the day I can begin calling you Miss. Beckham.

See you tonight.

I love you.

Massy poked her bottom lip out as she read the printed words on the small white piece of paper. Mari stepped behind her and snatched the note from her fingers and began reading it. Massy paid no mind to her sister's actions, her heart was too squishy too. She leaned over to smell the the large bouquet of 12 red roses and 12 white roses and smiled.

"You two are so cute, it's gross... Like I'm physically sick right now." Mari said handing the small card back to Massy and rolling her eyes as she walked from the kitchen into the open living room. She sat on the couch and curled her legs under her.

"He's so adorable. Like, I just can't some times." Massy said plopping down on the end of the couch.

"How's the wedding planning?"

Massy reached for the tv remote. "I haven't done anything, other than get an idea of what I want my dress to look like, and sending Odell to see what the tuxedo would look like."

Mari frowned and c****d her head forward. "So your just going to be engaged for the rest of your life!?"

Massy laid her head all the way on the back of the couch, she huffed out a heavy breath. "Well... There's lots of people the stay engaged for like three years before they finally marry." She sighed. "But, it's hard to plan anything when I'm so busy. I leave for the Olympics in like two months... Odell starts camp this month. I can't do this by myself."

"Have you asked Odell to help you!?" Mari was confused as to why Massy would think she had to plan a whole wedding by herself.

"No..."

Mari sat wide eyed. "Ummm... Hello! He's there to help you!"

Massy lifted her head up and looked at her sister. "I don't even know if he'd even want to help, I mean... It's a wedding... He's not into that stuff."

"You do know, he's getting married to you, just like you're getting married to him. I'm sure he'd help you if you asked him." Massy chewed the inside of her cheek knowing Mari was right. By her not saying anything to Odell he assumed she had everything under control, when actuality she hadn't even thought of colors, let alone an actual date. "Speaking of planning. You need to plan to redecorate."

She arched an eyebrow and frowned. She looked around the open living room and kitchen of Odell's three level home. "Why would I need to decorate..." She asked sounding more confused than ever.

Mari looked around. "Massy, you live in a your fiancé's bachelor pad, his man cave. There's a arcade basketball game in the corner of the living room." She pointed her index finger.

Massy turned. She poked her body lip out and thought for a moment. "I love that game... Granted, Odell is going to break that thing by how much he plays it..." She c****d her head to the side. "I'm surprised it can still keep score... Plus, he already bought me my dream home in Calabasas. I got to do whatever I wanted with the decorations. He can have his man cave... You show help me with planning."

She said smiling, Mari frowned then turned her head towards the tv. "Ion like you that much." She said with a stale face, her lip curled up and her eyes closed.

Massy's mouth dropped open in shock. "I can't stand you!" She hissed back through her laughter. She immediately stopped and frowned as Tzar brought her back to reality. She stood up and walked back down the steps of the kennel and sighed while looking down at him with her hands on her hips. She bent at the knees and forced her hands and arms under neath his warm body with all her strength she picked him up and slowly began pacing up the steps.

"Damn Tzar, you're heavier than you look! Jesus!" She said between breaths.

"What are you doing!?" Mari asked sitting up straight on the couch, as Massy reached the second floor carrying a dog who's head alone probably weighed half of Massy's weight.

"I'm taking him to our room, I can't leave him down stairs by himself, I want him laying next to me." She said feeling for the first step to the third floor. Mari stood up and placed her arms under his body taking some of his weight from her. Both of them paced up the stairs and finally laid him in the bed, his tail still slightly waging back and forth.

"Oh, so you can help me with him, but you can't help me plan for my wedding!?" Massy said out of breath.

Mari frowned then looked down at a clearly sick Tzar, she bent over and kissed the side of his face. "Yea, cuz I like him... Ok, I'm getting out of here. Call me! If anything happens!" Mari pointed down at Tzar. Massy shook her head in understanding following behind her down the steps from floor to floor.