The Wait Is Over

Crowded Intersection

Travel Day for the US and Canadian National Teams started off with loading their buses and taking some grab-and-go breakfast food from the hotel. The players from the Vancouver Legacy left earlier as their flight would depart Cleveland at 8:40am, around the time when the rest of the players would make it to the airport.

Once everyone had made it through ticketing, the players going onto Hamilton for the second match and the staffs of both national teams headed to Concourse C and their gate for the one-hour flight to Toronto, which would be followed a bus ride to Hamilton. As none of the other players had flights leaving any early than 11:40am, they scattered about the main terminal and Concourse C in small groups.

Alyssa and Julie stopped at Pacuigo Gelato and Caffe right across from their gates, while Lindsey, Emily, and Moe spent the time at The Pub in the main terminal. The Rampones and Markgrafs met up for an early meal at Bar Symon before their flights would take off for Newark and Chicago, respectively, with Morgan and Patrick celebrating their five-month anniversary (well, a day late) at the Great Lakes Brewing Co.

***

Rose: What happened last night?

Mal: Well, after you fell asleep on me, I decided to turn out the lights and join you. At some point, you woke up and went to change, and I guess I turned over onto my side at that time. When you came back, your started sucking on my neck and running your hands over me. For a minute, I thought you were Jessie and ground back into your front side. All I remember after that was waking up pretty wet.

Rose: Your boo-tay must have had a mind of its own, because you got me fairly worked-up with it rubbing over the right places. Only thing missing was a little bit of finger action.

Mal: Which is what I think you did to me while that was happening..

Rose: Does this change things between us, Mal Pal?

Mal: I don't know. We've been friends for a good while as we came up the system, but never in a sexual kind of way. The snit I'm in over Jessie, I'm sure she expects me to get over it, but I think I kind of like hanging onto it. Provides a bit extra motivation to beat them on Tuesday night and then at the Gold Cup. What are you thinking?

Rose: This year has been a trying one. I started crushing on one of my teammates, and I thought she liked me back, but ever since we came to play you guys at the end of April, nothing has happened. Then, my two housemates started getting more pub for their on-field performances, leaving me to ask "Hey, what about me?!". I'm in a bit of a bad place right now. Maybe I need to think about finding a new team for next year, because with the direction the Breakers are going, I'm not the player there I could be elsewhere. I'm also not succeeding in finding someone to love me.

Mal placed her hand on top of Rose's. "You'll find that person, I'm sure of it. If the teammate you're referring to is the one I'm thinking of, she is so screwed-up in the head that it's probably a blessing that nothing happened. I don't know how anyone can handle her when she's in a funk. It's like everyone else but her is to blame for it."

Rose: We've got a couple more days together. Let's not waste it bitching about other women.

Rose lifted the armrest between them and leaned her head on Mal's shoulder, curling up into her neck.

***

The flights to Newark, Boston, and Chicago were beginning the boarding process, requiring everyone to say their farewells to their loved ones who were on different flights. Alyssa and Julie took hands and made plans for the final/wedding weekend before Julie kissed Alyssa just in front of her ear and said to her, "I love you. Thank you for last night. I don't remember the last time I was turned-on like that." Alyssa blushed and said to Julie, "I love you more, Jules, and there will be more where that came from after we beat you on the 15th." Julie thwaped Alyssa before stealing a kiss from her on the way to her gate.

Morgan and Patrick said their goodbyes to Rylie, Reece, Keegan, and their parents before following Julie onto their flight. Before she left with her sister and dad for their flight back to Newark, Rylie pulled Keegan off to the side.

Rylie: Thank you for the past few days. It has done me a world of good to be away from home and to be with you and your cousin and Morgan. Don't go looking for anything back in Milwaukee, because I want you to be mine and mine only. Got that, bub?

Keegan chuckled at Rylie's tough-girl act. "Believe me, I have no intention of letting someone else have that space that you occupy." Keegan looked down for a second before continuing. "Friday when we try this, it ended up being pretty awkward. I vote we give it another shot before you leave." Rylie got the hint and the pair moved their heads forward to capture one another's lips briefly.

Reece: Ewwwwwwwwww! Keegan and Rylie, sitting in a tree.....

Chris Rampone: Stuff it, Reece. You'll be doing that with Madden soon enough, I reckon.

Reece: Double ewwwwwwwww! He's my friend. Why would I want to do that to him?

Kate: Where do you think you and Rylie came from?! That's sort of how it starts.

The teenagers came back and hugs were passed all around before the Rampones walked to their gate to board their flight and the Markgrafs joined Alyssa, Gabby Carle, and Sarah Stratigakis in line for theirs.

***

Lindsey and Emily took a few minutes in private to wrap up their week together in Cleveland.

Lindsey: Can't believe the season is almost over. I thought being away from you for all that time would be hard, but between national team camps and being reasonably close to each other, we've made it through. One more week until we can be together full-time, hopefully for good.

Emily: You're so cute when you try to speak from the heart. I think I can't love you any more than I do and then you say something to make me love you more. Six months from today, we'll be married. I love you with all my heart, Lindsey Michelle Sonnett.

Lindsey scooped up her fiancee and placed a passionate kiss on her lips. Moe got a picture of it and posted it to Instagram with the caption: "T-6 months until they say I do. #horett". She then told Emily that she should let Lindsey get to her flight and that they should join Janine Beckie and Danelle Lindo by their gate. Moe hugged Lindsey before she left and reminded her that the Storm were going to win on Saturday, getting a stuck-out tongue directed at her.