Champagne & Baseball

Wins & Water

Sunday held another win for the Falcons, the strong opening weekend we were all after. Coach's after game speech held more warnings than congratulations. Emphasizing to everyone not to let an early win go to their heads. He warned them not to get comfortable, not to stop fighting for each and every win.

While he spoke, I jotted down some of the better lines form his speech. I couldn't help but think his way with words was the main reason he made a great coach. He was inspiring without coddling. If he had chosen a different field of work, he would've made a great politician. One I would vote for.

I closed my notebook when the team gathered for their huddle. Their hands all reached in the center, they said "Falcons" in a sharp tone all at once.

I let myself out of the locker room knowing that shirts were about to come off. I knew that I wouldn't mind but they might mind my drooling. In the hall, I tried fixing my hair checking my reflection in the window. Assistant Coach Jamie had sprayed the champagne today and he had definitely held it over me too long. My hair was sticky and frizzy, utterly untamable.

Brady popped his head out and cleared his throat. I turned around pulling my hands on my side embarrassed that I was so obsessed with the way I looked. He gave me a smile, his bare chest peeking out from behind the door.

I traced the muscles on his chest with my eyes. I blinked myself out of it, cheeks reddening. There was a split second of silence, I prayed he didn't notice.

His smile told me he did. "Do you want to go to the river?" Brady asked me, I tilted my head in question. "Brett's host family has a boat and he invited all of us to go out. Enjoy the weather."

"And enjoy the win." I smiled. "That sounds great! When do you want to go?" The game ended early today, I checked my watch, it was only 2.

"Right now." I started to shake my head. "Brett says he has swimsuits and towels for everyone."

I chewed on the inside of my bottom lip. Was I comfortable in somebody else's swimsuit? I thought it over. Worst case scenario, I could just stay on the boat in my work clothes and forgo the swimming.

"Okay. We can pick up some beers on the way." I told him, I never arrived to a party empty handed.

Brett had invited the usual crew, Garrett, Brady, Jaden along with some of his infielder friends Brandon and Dylan. They all emerged together a minute after Brady did. They decided to skip their showers since they were going to get in the water anyways.

I offered to give rides to anyone who would fit and we all squished into my sedan.

I immediately wished they had showered. I rolled down every window in the car unable to take the smell. It wasn't a long drive to the river and by the time we pulled up, the others had already arrived. They helped Brett pull his insanely large boat off the trailer, easing it gently into the water.

Brett supervised, his hand on the back of his truck. He shouted directions to the boys as it slid from the trailer, telling them how to start up once it was floating. I approached him and gave a smile along with the six pack we snagged at the gas station.

"Thanks." He said giving me a light hug.

I made the mistake of inhaling. A cough shot out of my throat. I pushed out of his grasp, nostrils burning.

"You need to get in the water," I told him with a smile.

"You first." His eyes danced with playfulness. He held up a finger, "Speaking of which - " he went to the front of his truck and pulled a bag out, tossing it to me. "Linda, my host mom, gave me a bunch of swimsuits for you and the boys, you'll all have to fight over who gets what."

"Tell her I said thank you and that the boys looked great in bikinis."

He smiled and pointed me to a small building on the bank of the river. "There are the bathrooms, I'm gonna park the truck. I'll meet you on the dock."

I turned away from him, searching through the contents of the bag. I grabbed a few pairs of swim shorts and tossed them randomly to the boys. They accompanied me to the bathroom to change.

There were two swimsuits in the bag for me. A one piece, no doubt from Linda herself, complete with skirt and double padding. While I appreciated the coverage, I couldn't wear it without looking like a mom of four. As if I already didn't next to all these kids.

I examined the other swimsuit, a red bikini. It was simple with full coverage, if it had been a different color I would've picked it out in the store myself. I slipped off my dress and heels, and poured myself in the small bikini, checking that the straps were all as tight as they could go.

I cursed at myself looking at my dress. I wasn't going to put my dress on back over this bikini. It was nice, and I didn't really want to get wet. I folded it up with my underwear and bra tucked away inside and then just left the bathroom in my bikini and bare feet. Brady tapped his foot, waiting for me. The other boys nearly to the dock by now.

I moved towards him and let out a loud curse. The black asphalt burned my feet, I jumped back into the bathroom door. Brady laughed.

"Yea, it's pretty hot."

"Thanks for the warning." I snapped. I didn't want to do it, but I slipped my heels on. I felt like a prostitute as I strolled across the parking lot in only a bikini and heels. Brady offered me his shoes twice, but then his feet would just burn instead of mine. A horrible solution.

We were nearly to the dock when I heard them, whistling and clapping. I looked around, wondering what the commotion was about. Brady put his face in his hands then held up his middle finger in the direction of the dock.

The crowd on Brett's boat were cheering in our direction. My face turned red, a red so deep it nearly matched my swimsuit. They were making fun of me. I was so stupid to come here. I stopped and tried to think of an excuse to leave.

"I told you to borrow my shoes." Beady murmured. I took a step back ready for a full retreat at this embarrassing moment. Brady reached out for me grabbing onto my fingers "Come on, don't go. You're already this far."

I could almost feel tears in my eyes. It felt like high school again. Getting made fun of by Delilah's suitors. Being the unwanted sister only good for teasing.

"How about a compromise," Brady said. With a jerk of his hand, he pulled me into him. His arm snaked beneath my knees and behind my back. He swung me up into his chest. I held onto him tightly, my hands shooting around his neck.

"Take them off or they'll keep hollering." He said nodding towards my heels. I leaned forward in his arms, sliding them off. He had been right, the boys quieted. I let the heels dangle in my hand, my clothes resting on my lap. Brady kept me tight against his chest as he walked, a small smile on his lips.

I tried to wiggle free once we were at the dock. He tightened his grip

"Just relax." He looked down at me, his eyes wandering across my chest and landing on my eyes, he licked his lips slowly. I stopped squirming. Being carried wasn't so bad.

Jaden took my hand helping me out of Brady's arm and into the boat. I gripped it tightly, needing the support while I adjusted to the floating sensation.

"Falcon red," he said "I like it" I blushed as his eyes went over my body. I removed my hand from his.

All these eyes on me. "Go Falcons!" I cheered to break the tension. The boat erupted with laughs and claps. I sat on a bench across the back of the boat, Brady moving next to me. Brett revved the engine and we were off, cruising down the river.

The six pack I brought was gone in the first 10 minutes. Luckily the other boys had thought to bring drinks too. I opened my second beer, eyeing Garret's drink.

"It's soda." He told me with a pout.

It was a hot day and the sun beat down on us hard. Brett killed the engine in the middle of the river. Everyone but he and I jumped into the water to cool off.

"You can go in if you'd like. I can watch the boat" I wasn't ready to get my hair wet and look like a wet dog for the rest the trip.

He shrugged, sitting back in the captain's chair. "Can't swim." He told me.

"I can teach you. I was a lifeguard in high school."

"I'd like that," he said, and I smiled into my beer. Brett was a special guy, sweet with a good head on his shoulders.

"Come here." he waved for me to go by his side. He moved to the center of the speedboat and lifted a panel on the floor that led to storage. He pulled out a deflated tube and then a pump for it, handing them off to me. It was an electric pump and in less than a minute I had a fully functioning tube. He pulled another deflated one out and I filled it too with air.

"You up for it?" He asked as we threw them in the water, hands tight on their ropes. They were flat with assorted handles throughout. They looked made for two people, three if you really pushed it.

"Definitely" I smiled. I finished my beer and helped Brett tie the ropes to the back of the boat. He called the boys to get back on the boat. Dripping with water they all found the way back to their seats.

"Who wants in?" He asked, holding up lifejackets. He handed me one before I could volunteer my name. Brady reached for one at the same time Brandon did. A moment later Jaden caught the last one out of Brett's hands.

We buckled up and jumped into the chilly water. We hadn't discussed who would go on which tube, but it was obvious, Brady was with me.

It took me an agonizing five minutes to pull myself up on the tube and then, thanks to an ill-timed wave I tumbled back into the water. Laughter filled my ears when I popped back up to the surface. Brady reached for me, pulling me up in one swift movement.

Brett drove us like a maniac, whipping our tubes around. We smacked into each other and he took us over any wave he spotted. I couldn't stop smiling, it was so much fun. I could tell he went easy on me. I was on the inside between the two tubes protected from being shot off on the turns, Brett drove so that I didn't have too big of waves. I tried to look appreciative every time he spared me.

Brady grabbed onto my handle as we went around, whipping outside the wake. His hand closed tightly over mine and I knew that even if I let go, his hand would keep mine rooted to the spot. Our bodies shifted as we sped up, our legs shooting to the edge of the tube.

I let out a happy shriek. Brady's hand tightened on mine. I looked forward and saw what he saw. We were sideways to the boat and about to hit a group of waves. I wondered if it would be better for me to hit the waves and fall or just let go now and be called a baby.

We were going too fast, we hit the waves before I had made my mind up. One minute I was screaming and the next we were airborne. Our bodies out of contact with the tube, only our hands touching them.

Brady's hand slipped off mine and moved around my torso desperate to hold on. I reached back for him, the tube slammed into the water and the handles ripped out of my grasp. We both went tumbling across the top of the water, bodies hitting each other.

We settled in the water, our life jackets yanking us to the surface. Brady had a big smile on his face and I matched it.

"Wicked." I said feeling my cheeks burn from the water whipping against it. Brady waved to Brett, signaling we were fine. Brett swung around the boat to come get us. I started swimming towards Brady when I felt that the cool air on my chest. I reached around checking myself over.

"Brady" I said my voice shallow and shaky.

He swam over to me, "Are you okay?" He held my face in his hands and searched it for any sign of pain.

"Uhm, my top's gone."