Journey

77

Jucinara's POV

"Do you have to retire?" I ask as my wife and I walk into the Rose Bowl.

"Yeah Baby." My wife says. "It's time.

I pout at my wife causing her to chuckle then she kisses my pout away before we look at the line-up for tonight while walking to the locker room.

1-Emma Harris
11-Sarah Gorden
4-Jucinara
20-Alana Cook
22-Mal Pugh
10-Catarina Macario
19-Crystal Dunn
25-Midge Purce
23-Christen Press(C)
14-Talia Martin
9-Lynn Williams

For Christen's retirement game, Cairo let her pick the line-up and my wife went with the Melanin Magic line-up.

Christen's retirement game is taking place at the Rose Bowl and we're playing Finland.

When we get to the locker room everyone puts their stuff down in their respective lockers.

Once my stuff is in my locker, my teammates and I head outside for the pitch inspection.

After we've inspected the pitch, my teammates and I head back to the locker room.

When I get to my locker I take my AirPods out, I take out my nose ring, and I take off my necklaces and my rings, then I put my jewelry and AirPods in my bag.

Once I'm jewelry free I take off my tracksuit then I put on my warm up top and my game shorts.

I then sit down in my locker and put on my socks, my shin pads and my red boots.

After my boots are on I wait for Christen to do Talia's hair, then, once she's done with Talia's hair, I sit down on the floor in-between Christen's legs to let her do my hair for the final time

"Hi Nara." My favorite Tattoo'd forward says.

"Hi Chrissy." I say then I relax, face forward, and let Christen do her thing.

Christen runs her fingers through my hair for a little bit then she puts my hair into a pony tail just like I like it.

"Thanks." I say then I hug one of Christen's legs.

"No problem." Christen says then she tilts my head back and pecks my lips.

After our kiss, I stare up into my wife's eyes.

"I'm gonna miss that." I say.

"As will I princess." My wife says.

I sigh then I get up, walk out of the locker room, and head onto the field with the outfield players

When I get on the pitch I run through my warm ups with the starters for a while then we head back to the locker room.

Once in the locker room I change out of the training top and change into my white jersey while Cairo does her last minute talks.

When the last minute talks end, we are told to head to the tunnel so Nalu and I do as told.

Once in the tunnel, I line-up right behind Emma then I wait for us to be called out.

Right before we head onto the pitch, I step out of line, walk to the front then I stand in front of the captain and face her.

"Hey Nara." Christen says with a smile.

"Hi." I say then I hug my wife

Christen and I hug for a few seconds then I get back in line behind Emma.

Minutes later we are told to head out onto the field for the prematch stuff so I follow Christen and Christen out onto the field.

Once on the field we stand in line for the Finnish anthem then myself, most of the ladies in the starting XI, and most of the ladies on the bench kneel for our anthem.

Christens retirement ceremony is happening after the game.

When our anthem finishes, we stand up then we shake hands with the Finnish players.

After we shake hands, we take a starting XI picture, Christen does the coin toss, then I lead Nalu to the bench.

"Stay here." I say

Nalu yips and smiles at me so I scratch her head then jog to my position on the field.

"You ready?" Emma asks.

"No." I say as I try to control my emotions. "No I am not."

Emma sadly smiles at me then she heads to her goal.

Once everyone is in position, Finland kick off

For the entire 90 minutes of the match, I try my hardest to focus on the game and not let my emotions get the better of me.

"Fuck." I mumble when the ref blows for full time.

We won 5-0 thanks to two goals from Talia and a hat trick from my wife.

After the whistle blows, I wait around with my friends on the field while Christen waits in the locker room for her ceremony

"I'm taking these off." I mumble then I take off my boots, socks, and shin pads.

Once I'm barefoot, I put my boots near the bench then I feel little hands hugging my legs.

"Hi Mommy." The twins say

"Hi babies." I say as I run my hand through my kids' hair.

"We see Mommy?" Zoi asks.

"In a minute." I say. "Let's go wait for her with Auntie Emma and Auntie Talia."

My kids nod then they grab my hand before we head onto the field.

Once on the field, the twins are entertained by Emma and Talia until it's time for Christen's ceremony.

"FOR THE FINAL TIME." The stadium announcer shouts. "PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE FIELD, NUMBER 23, CHRISTEN PRESS."

I sniffle a bit at the fact I'll never play with my wife again then I watch the most beautiful women in the world walk back onto the pitch for her ceremony.

"This sucks." I mumble as I watch my wife walk onto the field.

"Yeah." Talia and Emma say as my wife waves to the fans.

After Christen waves to the fans, she stands by her framed jersey then I lead my kids and Nalu over to our favorite forward.

"Mama." João and Zoi say then they hug Christens legs.

"Hi babies." My wife says then she squats down and properly hugs the twins.

"You done playing football?" Zoi asks.

"Yeah sweetie." Christen says. "I'm done playing football."

Boo.

"Up we go." Christen says then she picks up our kids as her family walk onto the pitch.

I take the kids from Christen so she can hug her dad and sisters then the kids return back to their Mama for pictures.

After the pictures are over, all our family hug Christen then my wife hugs me.

"You're retired now." I say.

"Yeah Baby." Christen says as she plays with my curls. "I'm retired."