The Odd Ballerz (12 page)

“Okay, Memphis,” she said, although her tone indicated something completely different. “You and I both know the real reason she’s there, right?” She took a breath and continued on, apparently not needing a response. “She’s interested in Z, like so many women before her. I know you know this. No way is she there for you or if she is, you’re not the main reason. Should we tell her about the rule prohibiting coaches and players from dating each other? Or should we can watch her try and fail,” Alex asked, tilting her head right and then left as if this was a serious dilemma. “There is fun in being a spectator, don’t you think?” Alex said.

“There’s a rule against dating players? Not that I’m interested in dating any of the coaches,” Memphis asked.

“I thought I told you. My bad. There is no romantic mixing of players and coaches or the coach has to hit the road. One of the players and a coach’s romance turned ugly last year.”

“Oh,” Memphis said.

“So Z’s off limits for the both of you.”

Memphis waved her hand, brushing her sister’s comments aside. “I’m not interested, I told you that. So he doesn’t date team members, but what about others?”

“Why? If you’re not interested, it doesn’t matter,” Alex said.

“These questions are for Aubrey’s benefit. She’s the one with the interest.”

“I’m not going to put much thought into Aubrey.”

“So is that a yes, then? He dates a lot?”

“I wouldn’t call what he does dating.”

“How do you know so much about him?”

“He’s my coach first, but we are also good friends. He is one of my few, one that takes my desire to be a coach one day seriously. You know me and men, or the old me with men. We train together, or he trains me. I also play flag football with him and a few of his other buddies once a month. I’ve made a lot of contacts through him. So trust me and take my word that I know what I know, and I know you or she will only wind up hurt if you do anything with Z that does not involve playing football.”

“Again, not me, but I got it,” Memphis said.

“You’ve been assigned to the skilled players’ group?” Alex asked, changing the subject, tired of talking about Aubrey.

“Yes.”

“What positions are in that group, do you think?”

“Why?” Memphis asked, looking askance at her sister.

“Just answer the question,” Alex said.

“So what am I in school or something?”

“Yes, you are. I’m trying to further your football education, so don’t be difficult. Now, what position would you like to play… to learn next week?” Alex asked.

“Let’s see,” Memphis said, taking a sip of her wine, pretending to give the question thoughtful consideration, letting go of her Z questions—yes, on Aubrey’s behalf, but also a little bit of hers too. Her sister’s answers mostly confirmed what she’d thought, and maybe that would be enough to put a damper on her preoccupation with him. She was willing to use anything to cut back her interest that was growing by the camp. “Running backs run the ball and quarterbacks throw it? It’s a no for me getting hit, so that eliminates the running back position, and since you’re the quarterback we can exclude that one too. How about the kicker? Is she exempt from getting hit?” Memphis asked.

“Football is a contact sport, Memphis. No one, not even the kicker, is exempt. Do you want to be a kicker? Can you kick a football?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then there’s no use discussing it. What other positions are you familiar with?”

“The guy that passes the ball through his legs to the quarterback?”

“She’s the center, and she’s a part of the line. She has to block and she’s not in your group.”

“Okay then, moving on. Aubrey mentioned being a receiver. So they must be in my group. Can I be one of those?”

“Yes, they are in your group. Maybe. You do have natural speed, a prerequisite for that position. How are you at catching?” Alex asked.

“I know you know the answer to that. I’m sure someone has told you that I can’t catch a cold, so that’s a problem.”

“Yeah, that’s a problem, but don’t get discouraged. Auntie Alex is here to help,” she said, sliding the
Football for Dummies
book over to Memphis. “There are other positions beside the running back, quarterback and receivers that are lumped into the skill players.”

“Okay, like what?”

“Cornerbacks and safeties,” Alex said.

“Safety sounds good. I’m all for playing things safe.”

“Ha ha. The position is called a safety because it is the last line of defense to stop whatever’s run by the offense.”

“Oh, that sounds like tackling, so no, count me out for that one.”

“Cornerback might actually work for you.” Alex said, ignoring Memphis. “You’ll have to work on catching the ball. It’s not the major thing you have to do, but you do have to be able to do it ’cause cornerbacks and safeties can and do make interceptions. I’ll be there Monday. This is the point in the camp when Z brings a few of the players from the Ballerz to help with the drills. It’s another coaching opportunity for me.”

Memphis smiled. “Did I tell you how proud I am of you?”

“All the time,” Alex said, smiling too. “So how about we turn your book to chapter one.” Alex would not allow her sister to change the subject.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be as into this as you are or as you want me to be,” Memphis said, taking a sip from her glass.

“I know,” Alex said, but Memphis listened as Alex began.

# # #

Monday

“Where do you want these?” Aubrey asked, walking up to Z. He and the other coaches were in the middle of the field, setting up for today’s session of camp. She was here early today, helping too; partly the result of change in circumstances—her appointment had canceled on her—and partly calculated.

“Near the end zone,” he said, and smiled.

“Thanks,” she said, moving away from him, hands filled with ladders to use for the drill later. Such a good idea, she thought, this coming over early to help out. All part of a much larger plan she had in mind for him and her, becoming
a them
. She’d felt a connection with him from the first introduction, really, on the phone when she’d called him inquiring about the Ballerz. She wasn’t sure if it was mutual, but she was determined to find out.

He was a good catch. He had this property, didn’t mind working, really all he was missing was a woman with goals and dreams, someone to help steer him in the right direction. She’d done her homework, consulted with a few contacts within the art world that knew of his work and its potential—an artist on the rise. She could live with that, she thought, smiling. She could do worse.

“She’s early again,” Aubrey heard Coach D say. He was walking towards Z, wearing this huge grin. Aubrey stopped, searching out the
she
of Coach D’s comment. She was standing behind them, so they apparently weren’t talking about her. So who then? She and Memphis were the only two women participating in camp that she was aware of and no way it could be Memphis, whose Xterra had just driven past on its way to the back parking area. Not late again today was her friend, and good for her at escaping her final strike, Aubrey thought. She looked over at the men again, who were staring in the direction of the parking lot. Could it be in fact, Memphis they were discussing? she wondered, a niggling thought knocking at the door of her brain. “No way,” she said, aloud, totally flummoxed by that line of thinking.

She decided to stay put and observe the men for answers, stealthily of course. Coach Harris and Coach Beryl had joined Z and Damian now. A group of four men, with their heads turned in the direction of the parking lot. There was silence as they stood, watching as the Xterra came to a full stop. And yes, it was in fact Memphis who had captured everyone’s attention. What the hell was this, Aubrey thought, followed by who should she watch, as this… whatever this was, unfolded before her. She settled on the men, on one man in particular. He wore those shades of his, and she had a better understanding of why now. They were more than protection from the sun.

“I think you should go over and talk to her again, give her more of that positive reinforcement. Two times in a row she’s on time. That deserves something,” Coach D said, chuckling.

“I would if I was in charge,” Coach Beryl said.

“You can never give too much praise or encouragement,” Coach Harris said, smiling.

Z didn’t say a word in response, letting all their sly comments roll over him. He continued to look his fill of Jones today, who was currently bent over, removing her bag from the back seat of her car.

“Better hurry or you’ll miss her,” Coach D said, giving Z a small shove.

“Yep,” Coach Harris said as the three of them stood there along with Aubrey watching Z make his way over to Jones. The men eventually moved out of Aubrey’s hearing range, but Aubrey stayed put, and in between setting up the ladders, she continued to watch Z and her friend. It was Z’s reaction that surprised her; not worried her, no, only surprised.

She understood the allure of Jones, knew that some men were enamored of things that were different, or maybe it was something as simple as he liked that body style, maybe even was curious about it. She understood many of her kind were—curious only in passing is what she’d heard—and nothing to worry about, although Memphis as a threat was new; hadn’t happened before outside of the insurance business. That was the only thing Memphis did better than her. Anyway, it was good to know. It was always better to know who was a threat and who was not.

# # #

Memphis was the same distance to the restroom as was Z. She looked in his direction, met his eyes, and smiled, maybe even slowed her pace a little. She liked him, he knew, and wanted more from him. He knew that too. His buddies thought it was all him wanting to see Jones up close, dressed today in the tight skirt and the buttoned-up-to-the-neck blouse that transferred her into the schoolteacher of his fantasies and yes, that was true. However, more than anything he wanted to apologize to her again, for not only thinking the worst of her, but giving voice to those thoughts. He was sure he’d hurt her feelings the other day, read it in her eyes and it had bothered him.

“It’s you again? I know, I know, you want to talk insurance with me for real today,” Memphis said, coming to a stop in front of the door. “I’m on time so I know it can’t be that.”

“No, it’s not that. I wanted to apologize to you,” he said. He was serious she thought.

“For…?” she asked. Puzzlement was the expression he read on her face.

“My comments to you the other day, about you wanting to get kicked out. I misread you. I don’t care for people who play games. That’s all it was. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“You didn’t hurt my feelings,” she said.

“I did.”

“Okay, fine, you did,” she said, chuckling softly.

“So, apology accepted?” he asked.

“I guess,” she said, and smiled.

He smiled and moved in closer, knew the exact moment she didn’t know what to do with him. “I also wanted to thank you for inviting your friend to join the team. Aubrey. She’s a good pick-up for the Ballerz.”

“Unlike me,” she said, smiling too. “And you’re welcome, although I can’t take credit for it. I didn’t really invite her, more just told her about the team.”

“It doesn’t matter really how she got here. We need her and don’t discount your attributes, Jones. You have plenty,” he said. “Anyway, you’d better get moving. It wouldn’t be good for me to be the reason you’re late.” Smiling, he walked away.

Memphis stood there for a bit, soaking in this Z, the one that had apologized and moved in close to her. This felt different, he felt different, sexy maybe. Was that what she read? No, that couldn’t be, could it? Was he flirting with her there at the end? She turned and headed inside to change, no clue to the answers to her questions, but feeling really good right then anyway.

# # #

It was about getting down to the nuts and bolts of learning the different skilled positions. That was what today’s camp was about, what this week was about. Alex had drilled that into her head during Saturday night’s study session, plus she’d called today to remind her, as if she’d forget. Memphis understood. This week was important.

The groups had separated immediately following the forty time trials, and now she and Aubrey stood beside each other, awaiting instructions from Coach Z. They along with twenty-five boys made up the skilled players’ group.

“I’d like to introduce you to three players from the Austin Ballerz, who will be helping out for the next few sessions,” Coach Z said, pointing to the three women standing beside him. “For those of you who don’t know, Austin has its very own women’s tackle football team. The Austin Ballerz is their name. What? Women play football? And yes, they do,” he said in response to the murmurs. “Of course, I don’t need to tell you to be respectful. They will let you know if you get out of line. Now on to the introductions,” he said, moving closer to her sister. “Coach Alex is the starting quarterback for the Ballerz, and this week she’ll be in charge of running the quarterback drills. For those of you interested in that position, take this opportunity to pick her brain. She’s excellent at what she does.

“Coach Emma…” he said, pointing to another African American woman, shorter than Alex and of a stockier build, “is in charge of teaching you the basics of running the ball, for those of you who are considering the running back position. She’s your woman.

“Addison,” he said, pointing to an Asian woman of average height, “is an excellent receiver for the Ballerz team and as I’m sure you’ve guessed, will be leading the receiver drills. Finally, Coach Damian, who is not an Austin Ballerz, nor a woman, but was an excellent cornerback in his day, will introduce you to the fundamentals of the cornerback and safety positions. Those two positions represent the defensive part of the skilled players’ group.

“Expect to learn plenty as you complete the drills and get acquainted with the positions, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. You only have a week, so take advantage of it. Any questions?” he asked, looking around the group. Seeing no hands raised, he continued.