The Last Defender, page 2
“You’d think you’d learn by now, Jacobson,” she teased. Tessa rolled her eyes.
“Tessa, get me a beer!” August called over her shoulder as she started setting up the pool balls. Tessa sighed and Max patted her on the back good naturedly.
“She’s your best friend!” She said, before she wandered towards one of the tables, where Gemma was having an animated argument with a Chicago midfielder. Tessa walked up to the bar, ordered August a Corona and herself a coke. The bartender was short, with freckles on her nose and a tightly coiled afro, and Tessa gave her a lopsided grin.
“You’re not drinking?” The bartender asked, popping open August’s bottle and balancing a slice of lime on the edge.
“Designated driver,” Tessa said with a smirk. That wasn’t strictly true; she would probably end up driving August home, but only because she wanted to sleep on August’s couch. Valerie’s couch smelled of smoke and was always vaguely dusty. Tessa just preferred to take the “dry season” rule literally, though she made sure not to mention that around Valerie. Mentioning you were trying to stay sober around a Spaniard was never a good idea.
“Everything’s ready!” August announced, handing Tessa her pool cue in return for the beer. “I’m going to start.” She positioned the white ball, and made to aim at the triangle containing the balls on the table. She leaned forward on the table, closing one eye and sticking her tongue out in concentration as she tried to align the perfect shot. Tessa watched her, smirking. Callahan laughed quietly next to Tessa. Tessa bit her lip; she hadn’t noticed Belinda and the last couple Chicago players entering the bar, but she couldn’t suppress her delighted grin that she was here.
“Isn’t someone going to tell her that she’s got to take the plastic triangle off the balls?” Belinda asked Tessa quietly. Tessa leaned in conspiratorially.
“I was waiting to see how many attempts to break it that it would take,” she admitted.
“You’re so cruel,” Callahan said with a smirk. Tessa grinned. She glanced over at August, who was carefully removing the plastic triangle, as if she had always planned to let the set up drag on like this.
“Do you play pool?” Tessa asked. Belinda shook her head.
“I mean, I know the basics. But I’m sure I won’t be any match against August.” In that exact moment, August chose to hit the white ball, breaking the triangle of the balls with a loud satisfying clack. Two colored balls fell into two separate holes, making Tessa stripes by default. August whooped.
“I’m not bad,” Tessa said with a shrug, “but I’ll challenge you to a play.”
“You will?” Belinda asked.
“Someone with your skill with the ball should not be underestimated.”
Belinda laughed. “Oh, you’re smooth,” she teased. Tessa’s smiled widened, and she winked as she sauntered up to the table and started mapping out her first shot.
August was good at pool; she wasn’t a champion, but she was good enough to beat a slightly distracted Tessa. It really wasn’t Tessa’s fault, but Belinda’s gentle, slightly teasing commentary, combined with her close attention meant she went for flashy plays, missing most of them. But Belinda was delighted when Tessa sunk a difficult ball, so she really didn’t care. August didn’t notice; she was too focused on the game. When it came time for her to call where she was going to shoot the black eight ball, Tessa still had three stripes on the board. August sunk the black eight ball right where she predicted it the first try. Tessa rolled her eyes and made a big huff out of being a bad loser, partially because that always made August happy, and partially because it made Belinda Callahan laugh.
August gathered up the balls cheerfully and brought the back to the bar with a small skip. Tessa rolled her eyes and was about to make some comment to Belinda about a certain dramatic winner when Valerie joined them.
“Belinda!” Valerie called, slinging her arm around Belinda’s back. “We need to celebrate your goals properly!” Belinda laughed.
“Oh no, Valerie -” She began. But Valerie pouted.
“Please!” She called. Tessa narrowed her eyes.
“What does she mean by ‘properly’?” She asked. Belinda rolled her eyes.
“She means with tequila.” She clarified.
“Valerie!” Tessa said, scandalized.
“You too, Tess!” She decided.
“No, no, no, Valerie - who’s going to drive August home?” Tessa said quickly, trying to back out of this situation. Valerie grinned wickedly.
“August is driving herself home,” she said happily.
“What?” Tessa asked, turning towards August incredulously. “It’s the fourth, August!”
“I have a Skype date with Luca tonight!” August protested. Tessa frowned.
“You do?” She asked, annoyed.
“Yeah, in like 20 minutes. So I’m going home.”
“August!” Tessa cried, frustrated. “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”
“What?” August rolled her eyes. “You’ll be fine without me, Tessa.” Tessa pouted.
“What if we have fun without you?” She demanded, raising an eyebrow confrontationally.
“You’re not going to have fun without me.” Valerie snorted. August narrowed her eyes. “Well, Tessa won’t have fun without me,” she decided.
“I don’t know,” Tessa said, frowning. “This is a fun crowd. Callahan could help me have fun. Right Callahan?” Callahan grinned, all too aware that they were collectively toying with August. August crossed her arms and huffed.
“I know what kind of game you’re playing, and I won’t fall for it. I’m going to go home, let my boyfriend tell me I’m wonderful, and sleep. And I’ll see you all at practice.”
“You’re such a killjoy!” Tessa mock-whined, dramatically poking August’s arm. August swatted her away.
“You’re just mad because you have to sleep on Valerie’s couch,” she retorted. Tessa made a face.
“It’s true,” she agreed, turning towards Valerie; “your couch is disgusting.”
“Wow, I’m sorry, my homeless friend, that I am not providing a better place for your homeless ass to crash,” Valerie responded dramatically, finished her beer with a large gulp.
“Whatever I’m leaving!” August called.
“Bye August!” Demetria and Kiara and some of the other girls shouted from the other side of the bar, waving at her.
“I hate you August!” Tessa called over their voices; Belinda chuckled at her elbow.
“You’re gonna miss an amazing party,” Valerie shouted at August’s retreating back. August just gave the Valerie the middle finger and grabbed Callahan’s shoulder. She looked her in the eye. “Look out for Tessa, okay?” She warned. Callahan bit her lip and gave August a nervous smile before she nodded vigorously. “Good. Bye bye kiddies.” She patted Callahan on the head, and then left.
“Now that August is gone,” Valerie said cheerfully, bringing over a triad of shots, “it’s alcohol time.” Tessa grimaced. Valerie grinned.
“You gotta!” she chirped, seeing Tessa’s face. “I’m getting salt and lemon!”
“Valerie - please -” Tessa began.
“No you have to!” Valerie decided loudly. “It’s America’s birthday, we have no practice until late tomorrow, and Bells is awesome. And Bells wants you to do it, right?!”
“Valerie!”
“Bells! You did so well. Let us celebrate you! Right Tessie? We just want to celebrate Callahan?” Tessa made a face and turned to Callahan.
“You did play insanely well,” she pointed out.
“There we go!” Valerie clapped her hands and ran to the bar. Tessa gave Belinda a sheepish look, and Belinda blushed in response.
“Don’t worry, once we have two, Valerie will stop paying attention to us, and we can go back to being normal human beings,” Belinda whispered hoarsely to Tessa. Her breath ghosted over Tessa’s skin, and Tessa suppressed a shiver, turning around to smirk at her instead..
“Okay,” she whispered back. Their faces were incredibly close all of a sudden; Tessa couldn’t help but inhale the scent of Callahan’s shampoo, and note the glowing warmth of her skin. A small blush was creeping up her neck.
“I have nine shots!” Valerie called happily, interrupting the moment. Belinda stepped back ever so slightly, and then frowned at Valerie’s approaching figure.
“Well, perhaps it’s three,” Belinda admitted, pulling a face. “Either way, not so bad?” She glanced at Tessa, unsure.
“What are you two whispering about?!” Valerie demanded, putting down their shots on the table with a loud clap. The liquid spilled out of several of the shot glasses. “I want to know.”
“We’re discussing how to best drink these,” Tessa replied smoothly. Valerie rolled her eyes.
“You drink them quickly, Tess.”
“Valerie, come here!” Max shouted across the bar. Valerie looked between her shot glasses and Belinda and Tessa. She licked the spot on her hand above her knuckle, put salt on it, and grinned. She licked the salt, downed all three separate shots in record time, and bit into the lemon.
“Now you,” she said, before turning gracefully on her toe and jogging towards Max.
“What do you need me for Kiara?!” She asked, sliding onto Max’s lap. Max laughed, and turned back to the board game the Chicago defenders were playing.
“I guess we have to do that now,” Tessa said with a sigh, staring at the small shot glasses. She looked over at Callahan shyly, who was still watching Valerie. Her eyes snapped back to Tessa and she grinned.
“Gotta do what Valerie says, Tess,” she teased. Tessa narrowed her eyes.
“I hate that nickname so much,” Tessa groaned. Belinda chuckled and divided the shots between them.
“That makes it even more fun,” she decided, licking her palm. Tessa was momentarily distracted by the flash of pink tongue, and then Belinda offered her the salt shaker, and Tessa blinked and forced her mind back in gear. She accepted it, and licked the top of her own hand too.
“Are we doing this Valerie style?” Belinda asked, looking at all the drinks. Tessa nodded.
“I think that’s probably the least painful alternative.” They looked at each other, held their gazes, and then did the shots in a quick succession. Belinda made a sound and Tessa made a face.
“I fucking hate tequila,” she hissed.
“The things we do for Valerie,” Belinda agreed with another small disgusted sound. “I love her a bunch but she’s the worst.”
“It’s true,” Tessa agreed.
Britta wandered over to them, frowning at the shot glasses. She pursed her lips, clearly about to ask what they drank, and then decided not to, instead asking them: “Want to play hearts? We need one more player.” Tessa glanced at Belinda.
“Can we play as a team?” She asked.
“No,” Hana said, appearing at Britta’s shoulder, though she was grinning, clearly teasing them.
“Please!” Belinda whined.
“Lily, what do you think?” Lily raised an eyebrow at the two of them.
“I think they need the mutual support right now,” she decided, indicating the single chair. Tessa huffed loudly, sat down, and indicated that Belinda should sit on her lap.
“Rude,” she said. Belinda chuckled, and settled herself carefully on Tessa’s lap. As Britta quickly counted the cards to make sure they had a full deck, Belinda leaned back.
“Do you even know the rules of Hearts?” She whispered.
“Of course I do!” Tessa replied, her mouth right by Belinda’s ear. “I have three siblings! It’s the best conflict free game!” Belinda giggled.
“Well, good,” she admitted, “because I don’t.”
“Basically, you don’t want to have the queen of spades.” Belinda raised an eyebrow at Tessa. Tessa raised her hands in a motion of innocence. “My computer in college had a free hearts game on it, and it was a good thing to play in lectures,” she explained.
“Tessa!” Belinda exclaimed, aghast.
“What? I studied communications!” Tessa said in exasperation, tugging lightly at Belinda’s ponytail and then swinging it over her shoulder. “Do you really think I was given any crucial knowledge?” Belinda scrunched up her face.
“You could have at least pretended,” she decided. Tessa laughed.
“Stop arguing you two and settle down,” Britta commanded, dealing the cards. “This game requires concentration and focus.” Belinda and Tessa immediately started giggling. Lily quirked her eyebrow at them, and picked up her cards.
Sometime during the first round, Hana decided that she needed to get them a pitcher of beer. It was a fun, strange craft beer, because that’s what Hana loved about Portland, and it tasted vaguely of honey, and Tessa liked it. She buried her nose in Belinda’s shoulder as she made Belinda hold the cards and direct their movements.
After half an hour, Tessa’s legs were going numb, so Belinda grabbed herself a chair, but casually swung her legs over Tessa’s bar legs in a movement of such effortless intimacy that it made Tessa’s heart skip a beat. The feel of Belinda’s warm skin against her own was sending tiny electric shivers down Tessa’s skin. She bit her lip, and tried to concentrate on the game, but it was very difficult. Perhaps that’s why they lost?
Honestly, when Tessa volunteered them for this game, she had forgotten what a lengthy venture Hearts was. Two hours later of shouting, three pitchers of beer and some very loud arguing, and Belinda and Tessa hit the 100 point benchmark first. “You’re cheating!” Tessa protested, pointing her cards at Lily as, for the fourth time Lily dumped Tessa with the dreaded Queen of Spades. “She’s cheating, right, Belinda?”
“Most definitely,” Belinda agreed, nodding sagely, sipping on her beer in the cheap plastic cup.
“You’re just not paying attention!” Lily disagreed. “Hearts has a strategy, and you don’t seem to get it.”
“Whatever!” Tessa dramatically dropped the cards on the table. “I suppose I’ll pay the tab then.”
“You don’t have to,” Hana offered, giggling. “I can take it for you.”
“We lost, it’s our honor to buy you cheaters drinks,” Tessa decided. Belinda laughed and slid her legs off Tessa’s so they could get up. They walked over to the bar, still giggling. While they tried to wave the bartender down, a more difficult feat now that the bar had become crowded, Tessa pulled out her phone.
“Shit!” She exclaimed in surprise, which made Belinda look at her in concern.
“What?” She asked.
“August just texted me they’re doing fireworks down by the Saturday market!” Tessa explained, looking up at Belinda with wide excited eyes. “They start in like thirty minutes!”
“Oh! I love fireworks!” Belinda replied, grinning. Tessa tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at the address that August had thoughtfully included in the text.
“Do you want to go see them?” She asked. Belinda nodded adamantly. “Do you mind walking for like… thirty blocks?” She laughed, shaking her head.
“Not at all!” She giggled.
“Let’s go settle this tab and bounce then,” Tessa decided, firing off a quick text to August and then turning back to try and catch the bartender’s attention.
“Bounce?”
“It’s the hip thing to say, Belinda.”
“If you say so. I’ll tell Valerie we’re off.” Tessa glanced behind them, to where Valerie, Kiara and Gemma were having a very very animated game of Uno. She scrunched up her nose.
“Better not,” Tessa decided, sliding her arm through Belinda’s to stop her from moving over there. “She’ll just try and get us to stay.” Belinda glanced down at where Tessa’s arm was slung through hers, and she bit her lip. Tessa didn’t notice, she was too busy trying to pay their bill, a complicated procedure. “Anyway, you’ll see her in four days!” She said, glancing up at Belinda as the bartender took her credit card.
“That’s true,” Belinda admitted, leaning against Tessa. She watched absently as Tessa scribbled her signature on the receipt and then handed it back to the bartender.
“Wait, I owe you half of that,” Belinda realized, her brow furrowing. Tessa smirked.
“You can buy the next round,” she promised. “I mean, we are coming to Chicago next week.”
“Good point,” Belinda decided. Tessa flipped closed her wallet and slid it into her back pocket before releasing Belinda’s arm. For a second, Belinda felt a surge of disappointment at the lack of contact, and then Tessa slipped her hand into Belinda’s.
“Let’s go,” she decided. “We don’t want to get to the waterfront only for there to be no more fireworks, right?”
“True,” Belinda agreed. Tessa grinned at her; it was lopsided and bright and perfect, and pulled her out into the warm Portland night.
Tessa loved walking through Portland streets; she had spent so long travelling, getting lost in big cities and muddling through spaces, that Portland’s intuitive layout always made her feel welcome. Yeah, Portland had the normal grid structure of cities that Tessa loved, but more than that; the prefixes of each street were designed to help you to get where you were going. So she could easily point out places of interest to Belinda, explaining that that restaurant was one of August’s favorites, or if they walked down 12th street until they hit Flanders they would get to Gemma’s apartment.
“This area is so hipster,” Belinda pointed out in obvious delight as they passed their fourth craft beer bar. Tessa rolled her eyes and grinned.
“Portland’s famous for its little nerdy streets.”
“And it’s food carts,” Belinda pointed out, nodding towards the collection of food carts they passed. Tessa grinned.
“Heck yeah. Those are my favorite thing.”
“Really?”
“They always have amazing food.”
“Aren’t there usually scares about food carts? Like with diseases and stuff?”
“Not in Portland! I had the best vegan mac and cheese from one of those places recently.”
“What? That sounds - wrong?”
“Right?! It sounds like it should be awful, but it was to die for.”
