Saved By Carli

XIII

Sage's POV

Today the team is playing their first of two games against South Korea. The game is in the New Orleans Saints stadium. I'm headed down to breakfast and I brought my laptop and headphones so I have something to do and stay out of peoples way. Once down in the breakfast room I get my food and sit down next to Mom and give her a hug then start eating.

The room is relatively quiet but their are pockets of conversation around the room, but I stay silent unless spoken to while working on stuff on my computer. After I finish I put my trash in the bin and begin to walk out but Mal stops me and asks me to go on a walk with her which I agree to go with her.

On the walk we talk about a lot of things. Well I actually just listen to her talk for a while and study her face. She stops talking and looks at me after I didn't respond to a question because I was lost in her beauty.

"Hey you alright?" Mal asks.

"Yeah. Sorry I just got lost in your eyes." I say and she blushes.

"Aww. Hey I never asked you the other night, but where are we going for our date?"

"Well since you said yes." We both smile. "I'm taking you in the afternoon to a chocolate factory. And then we will come back to the hotel and change and then we will go eat at a fancy restaurant. And don't worry I think Ali and Christen are helping you with the outfit for the fancy dinner."

"Wow. I've never had someone do so much for me Sage." She says and kisses my cheek.

I grab her hand and intertwine our fingers. "Well you're a special girl Mal. I want to be able to treat you in the way you deserve."

Mal blushes and we continue our walk with our hands intertwined. Once we get back to the hotel to team has a meeting about tactics so I hang out in the room and take a test. Mom comes back in to the room with lunch for both of us and we sit and talk for a while then she takes a nap before the game. A couple hours later we head down to the bus and head to the stadium. When we get there I change into the coaches attire and sit in my usual spot and Mom sits next to me and Christen sits on the other side of her.

Mal started the game which I was excited about. The game started a little slow until Alex got a shot of in the 7th minute that was turned aside by the Korean keeper. Kelley got the crowd on their feet again with a hit from distance in the 12th minute but it was turned aside. Sam's outside the box effort was saved in the 18th minute. Julie scored off a corner with a diving header front post that went in-between the keepers legs in the 24th minute making it 1-0. Alex somehow got a goal in the 40th minute when Kelley crossed a ball to her and Alex fell back and hit it into the top of the goal making it 2-0. A South Korean player scored a long range effort in the last minute of the first half stoppage the to make it 2-1. Mal got subbed out before halftime which annoyed me, but hey I'm not the coach.

After halftime Pinoe drew a foul in the box and was awarded a penalty. And knowing our little deal everyone knew she was going to take the penalty. After she was awarded the penalty everyone on the bench looked at me and laughed a little.

Pinoe scored the penalty and as she was walking back to restart the game she smirked at me. I knew she would get a goal. I just didn't know it would be that easy.

I looked at Christen and Mom and said, "Well I guess I owe you guys dinner tonight."

They laughed and said, "Looks like you do."

Pinoe's penalty made the game 3-1. Christen went in for Alex in the 63rd minute and Mom went into for Sam in the 77th minute and she got a strong header on goal late in the game from a set piece, but it was saved and I kinda lost interest after that. After the game was over the team headed to the locker room to change and head to the bus.

Once everyone is on the bus Jill gets up to speak.

"Alright ladies good job tonight. We are heading back to the hotel where you guys need to shower and then meet in the meeting room so we can go to dinner that Sage has so graciously decided to pay for everyone. And since she is paying I do not want you to order more food than you can handle. And make sure to thank her for her generosity."

Back at the hotel the girls left to their rooms and I waited in the meeting room with Jane and Allie since they didn't dress for the game tonight. After around 45 minutes all the team was down in the meeting room and we went to some casual restaurant. Once we got in I sat in-between and Mal and Mom. Everyone ordered and talked about random things. I just sat there content with life and leaned on Mom's shoulder.

"You alright?" She asked while taking my hand.

"I'm great Mom. Just happy" I said looking at her with a smile.

"Good." She said smiling back.

Our food came out and everyone stopped talking and ate. After around an hour in the restaurant the check came and the girls listened to Jill and ordered their food responsibly. When we left we got back on the bus and I sat with Mom. When everyone came on the bus they stopped to tell me thanks for paying and I just nodded because I was comfortable in my embrace with Mom.

Once the bus got going and everyone was in their seats I looked up at mom, smiled and said, "Thank you Mom."

"For what Sage?" Mom said confused.

"Just for being you, loving me, Always being by my side even though I know its hard sometimes." I say and she smiles.

"Of course sweetheart. I'm always here for you. I love you."

"I love you too Momma." I say with a smile and cuddle back into her.