Praise the Lloyd

2

Carli
-

A couple days after all of that happened, Y/N was training with us when she went for the ball at the same time that Julie did, and Julie got her in the ribs. Which wouldn't have been concerning; I've seen my girl take a few knocks, but she's never made that face or that sound before, so everyone stops as she hits the ground crying. Of course, I'm by her side in an instant, setting a hand on her back to steady her as she writhes.

"It's okay, Y/N/N. You're okay, baby." I say, and she turns over on her back to look up at me. Tears running down her temples as she takes my hand and grips it. "Got the wind knocked out of you, didn't you?" I ask, and Y/N nods, so I help her up and to the bench where Julie was getting a drink of water while getting taped. When Y/N caught her breath again, Julie handed her the bottle, and Y/N thanked her. "You okay now?" I ask, and she nods.

"Yeah, it's just my ribs now." She says, and I sigh as I kiss her forehead. "Mom." She whines out, and I grin at her before turning to Julie.

"I am so sorry, Carli."

"Are you okay?" I ask, and she nods.

"Nothing a tape job can't fix." She says, and I nod.

"You two be careful next time. We can't have either of you broken." I say, and Y/N's brow furrows.

"Why does it matter if I'm injured?" She asks, but I don't say anything and just get back on the field as two of the new girls take JJ and Y/N's spots.

-
Y/N
-

"What did she mean by that?" I ask Julie, but look over at the trainer as he walks over to me, so I stand and lift my shirt to show my ribs.

"They're already bruising. She got you good, so, no getting back in with this bunch until next camp, if you're able to come." He says, and I nod.

"I'd really hope she'd be able to come to the next camp, I'd really like to see her train as part of the team and not as a guest." Jill says, walking over to us, and I stop to look at her.

"You're joking." I say, and Jill shrugs.

"I'm not." She says, and I laugh a little, but cringe at the pain that shoots through my side. "What do you say?" She asks, and I grin, shaking the hand she held out to me.

"I won't let you down." I say, and she nods.

"Okay, let's get you in the training room to tape you up." He says, and I sigh, but follow him anyway.

-

Once the KT Tape was applied to my ribs, I went to the locker room and changed into my street clothes before going and sitting on the bench, watching the team practice.

-

After the SheBelievesCup ended, with none other than the USWNT as the victors, mom and I stayed in Orlando an extra day, because Ashlyn asked, and during that day, while mom was off training publicly, she allowed me to go to practice with Ali and Ashlyn, and Ali introduced me to Tom, who warmly welcomed me. He even offered to let me practice with the team, but I had to decline, because of my ribs. While the team was practicing, the head trainer came over to me and asked if she could see my ribs, so I let her check them.

"Your KT Tape is coming off." She says, and I nod.

"Yeah, I was just going to take it off when I got back to the house with Ashlyn." I say, and she shakes her head.

"Nonsense. I'll change it for you." She says, so I let her, wincing as she uses the alcohol swabs to clean the old adhesive off of my skin, and once the rubbing alcohol had dried, she put new, purple, KT Tape on my ribs before giving me an ice bag, and I thanked her as she gently wrapped the bag to my side. By the time the girls were called in for water, I had to ask Alex for help getting the ice bag off, and she did help, I thanked her, and she smiled, hugging me.