Page 79 of Until Nalia
“How was Cooper’s game? Did you guys win?” Sophie asks, leaning into her husband’s side.
“It was good, but we lost today.”
“Darn,” she whispers, shaking her head.
“Was Cooper okay?” Nalia asks, leaning into me.
“He was a little bummed but fine.” I wrap my arm around her waist and turn my attention to the field when a whistle is blown.
As the girls run out and line up to kick off, Zuri looks in our direction and waves with a smile. Then, Zuri wipes the smile off her face and turns to face the opposing team.
“Shit, she’s not playing around,” Bax mutters, coming to stand on the opposite side of me with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Has she played before?” I ask Nalia as Zuri juggles the ball down the field avoiding the girls attempting to take the ball from her.
“In PE at school, but besides that no.”
“She’s a natural,” I mumble and hear Nico hum his agreement when she jukes another player, making them believes she’s going to go one way then sending the ball to another player who’s able to get it in the goal.
“Shit, she is really good,” Sage says as the parents on the side start to cheer and the girls on the field high-five and hug each other. By the time the second half is coming to an end, the girls are all slowing down. It’s hot, and they have all been running hard for the last hour, with only a fifteen-minute break between rounds. And with only ten girls on the team and seven required to be on the field, it hasn’t given some of them much of a break. When the final whistle is blown, Zuri’s team celebrates their win by all collapsing into the grass out of exhaustion.
Smiling, I listen to Nalia laugh.
“She’s going to sleep good tonight.”
“Alright,” Sophie says, gaining everyone’s attention as the girls all get up and run over to their coaches to tell the other team good game. “So, we’ll all head to lunch, then follow you home so that Zuri can pack her bag for tonight.”
“Or we can go to the house, Zuri can change and pack, then we can go to lunch,” Nalia says, then looks up at me. “Do you want to join us? I was telling everyone about Olive and Oregano and thought that we could have lunch there.”
“That works for me.”
“Perfect.” She smiles, then looks between her parents. “Do you guys want to come over to the house or just meet us at the restaurant?”
“We can meet you at the restaurant and get a table,” Nico says as Zuri runs up to us carrying a juice pouch and a bag of snacks.
“You did amazing.” Nalia lets me go and wraps her arms around Zuri, hugging her tight and kissing her forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.” She smiles at her, then falls against my side, and I wrap an arm around her.
“You did good, kid.”
“Did Coop win his game?” she asks, looking up at me.
“Not today.”
“Aww, that sucks.”
“It’s okay, he’ll be happy when you tell him you won yours.” I give her a squeeze before I let her go.
“Are you starving?” Sophie asks her as she opens her bag of chips after giving her, Nico and Bax a hug and not even hesitating to give Sage one too.
“Yes.”
“We’ll get you fed, but first we are going to go to the house so you can change and pack to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s,” Nalia tells her as she wraps her arm around her shoulder and starts walking towards the parking lot. “Do you want to come with us to the house and we can all ride together to the restaurant?” she asks looking up at me as I rest my hand on her lower back.
“Yeah, that works.” I make sure the girls are in their car, then head for my Jeep and follow them out of the soccer complex. When we get to Nalia’s house, I stay in my car while they head inside. A few minutes later, they come back out, with Zuri changed and carrying a bag. I get out and meet them so I can put her bag in the trunk and open the doors.
“Do you think that Coop will be able to play ROBLOX with me?” Zuri asks me, climbing into the back seat.
