Goals

"Really beautiful."

I would've spent my weekend at home doing absolutely nothing if Kelly hadn't decided she wanted to throw a sleepover. She adds the whole team into a group chat on Friday night and invites us, informing us that her parents are going to be out of town until Monday. Its already nine o'clock, but there's no way any of us are going to miss the chance to spend the night together at Kelly's. Within minutes the chat is full of carpool arrangements, lists of who's bringing what, and excuses we could tell our parents.

For a minute I consider not going, just because I don't want to have to lie to Mom. Then I remember that Kelly has a pool, and that Tobin is going to be there, and I know I can't miss this. No gay girl could resist the chance to see Tobin Heath in a swimsuit.

"Hey, Mom, can I go spend the night at Kelly's? I know it's late, but her parents won't be home for the night, and she doesn't want to be alone."

She looks up from the pot of pasta she's cooking, her glasses fogged and her hair frizzy from all the steam she's creating. Mom always has this slightly mad look, something that I had always loved about her. It showed how spontaneous and different she was from the rest of the world. She adjusts her hair with her hands and wipes her glasses on her sweater, already nodding her head.

"Yeah, sweetie, that's okay. Do you want to take some pasta?"

"I'd love to."

* * *

Kelly's dad is the CEO of a company that makes gear for professional athletes, a job that earns him millions of dollars a year. This allows him to own a three-story house with a pool and a jacuzzi in the backyard. When Kelly showed a passion for soccer in elementary school, he payed some guys to turn the left half of their front yard, which was huge, into a soccer field. The inside was even crazier, with a rec room with a pingpong table and a theatre with leather chairs. I remember how when I first went to Kelly's house in third grade, I thought her parents had to be famous to live in a place as nice as they did.

I get there a little late since I'm asked to pick up some supplies for smores. The whole team is already sitting in the living room when I head inside, watching the European Cup. They all groan as Ronaldo misses a penalty kick, having kicked it straight at the bar.

Rose is the first one to notice I've walked in, and her face lights up in admiration. "Alex!"

I set the smore supplies down on the coffee table and take a seat between Kelly and Tobin. "Hey, guys. What did I miss?"

Pinoe speaks up from across the room. "Just Ali and Ash flirting with each other."

Ash, who's sitting right next to Ali, whips around to face Pinoe. "Shut up."

Ali leans into Ash's shoulder, murmuring something about how it's not a big deal. I can't help but envy them as I watch how affectionate they are with each other, how much they show that they're in love. They've been dating since freshman year, and they still looked at each other like they were each other's sun. I would give anything to have a relationship like theirs with Tobin.

Kelly stands up, surveying the room. "It looks like we aren't missing anybody. So who's ready to head to the back?"

* * *

I'm slightly worried Kelly's neighbors are going to call the cops to complain about how much noise we're making. Ash and Pinoe are on the paito playing an unusually intense game of beer pong, and Christen and I can hear them screaming in frustration from the pool. A single speaker is blaring songs that I've never heard as loud as it can. Half of the team is sitting around the firepit, jackets on and marshmallows stretched out on metal sticks. When I look around to observe all of this, I notice that Tobin is completely out of sight.