The Wait Is Over

Come Into My Office

At Disney's Wide World of Sports, all eight teams have started their afternoon training ahead of tomorrow's first set of group matches. Once Yael and Julie get the Breakers' players stretched and ready to begin rondos, Yael asks John if she can go see Adam for a bit. He gives her the OK and she walks over to where he has set up shop, inside one of the concession stands.

Yael: Adam?

Adam: Yes.

Yael: I'm Yael Averbuch, assistant coach of the Boston Breakers. Your talk this morning hit me somewhat hard and I wanted to talk about where I am right now and get some perspective on how to handle my current situation.

Adam: OK. What's going on?

Yael: I have been married for 3 1/2 years to a wonderful guy. We have been trying very hard for the past 18 months or so to conceive with no success. It is getting to the point where I'm not really interested in having sex with him because it's become all about trying to get pregnant. It has affected the way I view myself as a woman and how I think about my life at this time. I'm 35 and know that my time to have a child without help is running out. Anyway, the Breakers picked up a player via a trade with the Spirit that is my age and with whom I am developing a strong friendship, I think. On Wednesday night, we went out for dinner after shopping for some clothing that might bring a little more spice to my relationship with Aaron. We both had a little more to drink than we probably should have, and it led to some inappropriate activities in our room afterwards. Deep down, I knew what I was doing and wanted what happened to happen, because having her around has done wonders for my sagging self-esteem, but I don't know what this does to my relationship with Aaron or with her inside the team dynamic.

Adam: Let me ask you something. Did the two of you have sex?

Yael: I honestly don't know how you would define that. It was my first time doing anything like that with a woman. There was no penetration, but we both orgasmed at least once and she did do oral on me.

Adam: I will take that description as a yes. Was it solely physical for you, or was there some emotional connection for you with her?

Yael: I had been feeling something for her before we fell into one another, but that night seemed to stir up an additional layer of emotions. She is coming out of a long-term relationship and said she doesn't want me to be a rebound for her or to be her "friend with benefits" because she said I was worth more to her than that.

Adam: Then you have a bit of a dilemma. It sounds like she provides you with something that your husband doesn't, and you're conflicted about how to deal with it.

Yael: You're right. I feel so much better about myself after being around her that, were we not at this stage of our lives where certain other things are taking priority over how we might feel about each other, there could be a chance for us.

Adam: You know that you're going to have to talk to her and make sure the two of you are on the same wavelength. The ethical issues of a coach dating a player notwithstanding, in order to know if you have anything together, you have to be honest about how this person could factor into your life and you into hers. You said that you both have "certain other things" that are taking priority right now. I know yours would seem to be the chase to have a child. What is hers?

Yael: The same thing, plus keeping her place on her National Team heading into the Women's World Cup next year and the Olympics the year after.

Adam: I hate to say it, but it looks like the two of you have big hurdles in the way that will block your ability to develop a relationship at this time. If those get cleared, either by resolving the issues that are standing in your way or by changing your view of what is most important to you, a relationship could work out between you and her.