Chapter 15

Zora

The moment that I had been dreading was hours away and my stomach was in tight knots which cause a nauseous feeling. I knew the media would be there to watch every single move. Hell, they’d been to every game so far and the semi-pro league never got as much coverage before. However, the coming of two Philadelphia rivals, the Lady Vikings vs. the Lady Warriors was a game no one would miss.

Harvey and I had been in the news circuit after our red-carpet experience. But, especially after he didn’t write a letter of support and I knelt with my team. The collective media lost their ever-loving minds. The topic of interracial relationships came up because of it. How people are coping with the injustice in various ways. What is the real state of Mr. Harvey Black and Coach Zora McCoy. One headline read, “Are they together?”

We never commented, but between our appearances at the fundraiser and in New York, no one could really tell. We were professional in public. Well, probably more than friendly but that’s what happens when two people love each other.

Nervous energy was in the air, even when I walked into the locker room for our pre-game talk. My team knew of the relationship but that was about it. I reminded them what we came here for.

“Vikings, when we get on that court,” I pointed toward the arena. “It doesn’t matter if you’re family or foe, it’s game on. Understand? The Warriors are a team that was hit hard in the beginning of the season. They’re a team in transition. However, don’t sleep on them. They’ve bounced back harder than most and they have something to prove. The difference between us is we have something to show. Let them try to get proof because we already have the facts. We’re ten and two in our league. You know as well as I do the two games we lost were not games we should have lost. Neither was a better team, and that’s something we know. Now, I tell you this. Despite the history between Mr. Black and me, when we hit that court. Friend, family or foe. It’s…”

I let it hang, so they could finish.

“Game on,” they roared.

“That’s what I’m talking about. Now, let do what the fuck we came here to do.”

The ladies started playing their music, pumping themselves up and within one hour, we were on the court, lining up for the national anthem. I was searching for Harvey, but I didn’t see him. He was probably in the owner’s box with his colleagues.

A gasp went through the crowd but I did not catch what was happening. A high school kid from the local public school blew the National Anthem out of the water and everyone cheered. Then there was another gasp through the crowd. My eyes searched the stadium to see what they were looking at but everyone was looking at the other team.

Holy shit.

At the end of their bench, right next to the coaches, Harvey was on one knee with his team and coaches, even when the anthem was over. Then the announcer’s voice came over the loudspeaker and said, “Excuse me fans, but Mr. Harvey Black, owner for the Warriors, has a brief announcement.”

We were all standing by then but he and his team remained kneeling, except he was on a mini stage rolled out to the middle of the court. When the two guys stopped pulling it, Harvey waved to everyone and I swear to you, they all cheered.

The man was still kneeling.

He picked up a microphone and said, “Sorry, this won’t take long. When this whole ‘take a knee’ thing started, I called it a fad. I’m a veteran and come from a long line of vets, who have fought hard for this country. Many of my friends have died and given up their lives so we can live in the land of the free and home of the brave. That was why I did not write a letter of support. I’m pretty unconventional, and I am not the person to let others pressure me into making a move I don’t believe in.”

Some boos went through the crowd, but Harvey held up his hand to calm them.

“This stance also cost me one relationship I had come to depend on. While many of you may not know me, I’m not the relationship type of guy.” He chuckled. “She,” Harvey looked toward me and said, “Come here, Sweetheart.”

Holy shit.

Holy shit.

“Girl, you better go.” Justine nudged me.

“Zora, come here, please,” Harvey repeated.

Oh fuck.

“Zora, go. He’s calling you,” Sasha whispered.

I must have been in a daze because one quick push jolted me, causing me to move toward him to meet him at half court. My heart was pounding out of my chest, my jacket felt too tight, the lights were making me hot and I hoped I didn’t have toilet tissue stuck to my boot.

An ‘ahhhh’ went through the crowd, including cheers and claps of triumph as I climbed the mini stage to join him.

Harvey continued, “This woman here, Coach Zora McCoy, stood firm and told me how she felt about the ‘take a knee’ stance and she couldn’t reconcile my stance with her beliefs.” He smiled at me. “That’s the type of woman she is. Strong, determined, loyal, dedicated and a trailblazer. You don’t need me to read her resume because this woman right here is first class and my life has been better ever since she entered it.”

The crowd cheered louder at his words.

Then he kept going.

“So, I researched what Colin Kaepernick started and why. I read the statistics and began to realize why black lives matter too. I heard what she said, saw how she doesn’t just kneel but gives her time, money and heart to the local schools, camps and urban youth. It’s a travesty, and that’s not why my comrades lost their lives. It’s not brave to start a war on our own citizens. It’s damn sure not the land of the free for us to sit back and watch it and do nothing. So, now I take a knee. I did write a letter of support for the Lady Warriors and we’ll do more than take a knee. We will start to make some real change.”

The crowd stands in solidarity of Harvey’s words and the overwhelming joy I feel has bubbled over and tears are rolling down my cheeks. He looks at me, then give me that arrogant, I got you, smile. Which makes me realize, he’s not done.

“Today, I also take a knee because I wanted to ask that fearless, courageous woman, who challenged me, gave me a chance before, if she’d give me a chance again.” Harvey swiveled around so he was facing me on one knee. “I’m on one knee asking if you, Zora McCoy, would do me the great honor of marrying me, be my wife and letting me love you until my dying day?”

The crowd goes wild.  They are screaming and yelling their congratulations and drowning out my thumping heart. My eyes had been bugging out my head, but there was no mistaking the smile that made my cheeks hurt. Tears poured down my face as my hand move toward my tight chest. His eyes were on mine and they were steady and determined. This was not a fad or a moment in time. It was more.

It was everything.

“Yes, Harvey,” I said, but I might as well of mouthed it, at the noise level of the insane stadium. “I’ll marry you.”

He pulled the ring from the velvet box, slid in on my ring finger, stood to his feet and lifted me so I was plastered to him. His mouth hit mine in a deep, too sexy for ESPN kiss and the crowd could no longer be heard. It was me and Harvey that existed in that moment and no one else, even a sold-out stadium, bright lights and reporters. Once my feet reached the stage again, he let me go and everybody came back into focus.

“I can’t believe you,” I yelled to him over the noise.

He smiled that smile, tapped my hip and said, “Good luck tonight.”

“You’re the one that’s going to need the luck.” I patted his chest. “See you after the game.”

“Fuck yeah.” he nodded as I left the stage.

Harvey held up the microphone and said, “That was a yes! Let’s play ball.” 

The commentator congratulated us and before the team went out, we huddled on the sideline.

My mind was still whirling and Joyce asked, “Remember Coach, friend, family, foe or fiancé. On the court, it’s game on.”

We all burst out laughing, because that shit was funny. More tears ran down my eyes but I managed to say, “We play hard.”

“We work harder,” the team yelled.

Then I said, “Now kick their asses.”

Which we did. The Lady Vikings beat the Warriors by twenty points and at the end, their new coach gave me a hug and congratulated me. That was a nice gesture, which I wouldn’t forget. Afterward, there was a press conference, that I’m almost certain Harvey orchestrated. The players were able to talk about the game, expectations for the season and even their thoughts on our union.

When I was up at the podium, the first question they asked me was, “Did you know Mr. Black would propose?”

“Oh God no.” I laughed. “Not even the slightest hint.”

“Were you two separated?” The reporter followed up quickly.

“Yes, we were,” I answered.

“Because of the Take a Knee stance?” Another reporter added.

“Yes,” I replied, then held up my hand to stop the rapid-fire questions. “As Harvey said, we didn’t agree on each other’s position about the matter. He’s a veteran and has put his life on the line so that we can be free. I have witnessed and seen the people that are supposed to be free, in a different kind of slavery. Including those that have public massacres just for being different. That’s not free and as Harvey said, that’s not brave. That’s not what he fought for and veterans all over have agreed, this is not the America we want to preserve. So we continue to fight for the right, America. One, we can be proud of. So until that time, we aren’t disrespecting veterans. If anything, we’re enforcing what they sacrificed their lives for.” I turned my head to the other side of reporters. “Any questions about the game?”

“What did your team say after Mr. Black proposed?” one reporter shouted out.

“The team captain reminded me of words I had told them moments ago. Whether its friends, family, foe or fiancé, when we’re on the court. It’s game on,” I shared.

The press room started laughing. I nodded, indicating I was through with questioning. Harvey was at the door, waiting for me and I wanted to get to him. As I left, Pete took the stage, but I didn’t hear what he had to say because my focus was on my new fiancé.

Harvey’s smile widened as I strode to him, wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Cameras went off, but he quickly put us through the door with his arms wrapped around my middle section.

“I missed you, sweetheart.” He kissed my lips after he backed up.

“Missed you too.” I smiled at him.

“Come on, my parents are waiting to see you.” He pulled me down the narrow hall.

“They’re here,” I asked, not hiding my shock.

“Oh yeah,” he laughed. “This is why they were weird at dinner. They knew what I had planned, so—”

“Oh my gosh.” I laughed. “I thought they were senile or something.”

Mrs. Black had tears in her eyes as she ran to me and gripped me tight, whispering, “Congratulations.”

“Thanks so much, Mrs. Black,” I answered.

“Call me Amanda, please.” She was gazing into my eyes like I hung the moon.

“Get over here,” Mr. Black boomed as he pulled me from his wife. “Welcome to the family.”

The big man pulled me into a hug which reminded me of his son. There wasn’t much talking, just telling, moving and putting you where they wanted you. At least, he got it honest.

“Hansel sends his congratulations too,” Harvey’s father said. “He’s in Virginia with Beth and they’re on winter break.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” I responded.

“We’ll set up a dinner, so everyone can meet, including your dad,” Harvey shared. “Zora has to go to the locker room, but afterward, we’re going out to celebrate.”

I turned to meet his eyes. Once again, he was making plans for me.

“That so?” I countered.

“Yeah.” he stepped closer. “Get a move on. I’m hungry.”

Shit, I knew what that meant. He was hungry but not entirely for food. He wanted his mouth on other parts.

Parts I’d happily have his mouth touch.

The team was in the locker room celebrating when I walked inside. They cut down the music to let me speak.

“Lady Vikings, you guys have done it again. I know that big surprise could have distracted us, but you’ve done what we came to do. One game at a time, one team at a time. Now, we must keep scraping and fighting because even though we’re number one in the league right now, that just makes us a target. However, we know something, nobody else knows. We were made for this, right here. It’s our time and we’re going to show them. Celebrate, be smart and I’ll see you on Monday for practice. We’re halfway through the season, so let’s continue to give it our all.”

They clapped, hooted and hollered.

“Coach,” Joyce yelled. “Congratulations. You’re the one person I know who may be tough as nails but you deserve that shit. Deserve a man like him. I’m happy for you.” She looked around. “We’re all happy for you.”

I smiled at them as they made kissy noises.

“Thanks,” I nodded to Joyce. “However, more importantly. Thanks for kicking their ass.”

The room roared with laughter and they seconded that motion. I called my dad to tell him about the proposal and found it funny he already knew. Harvey had called to get his blessing. How the hell did he manage that? He congratulated me and told me Harvey was one of a kind and since I was one of a kind, he was willing to take a chance and I should too.

That was my father for you. Tough but just. He saw things in black and white, with not much area for grey. I told him, we had to have dinner with Harvey’s family, which he consented. Then I met up with the Black family and went to an Italian restaurant where we enjoyed each other’s company and the good food.

Harvey brought me home, where he took me against the wall, over the sofa and while I held my ankles, so he could fuck me and finger my ass.

By my fifth orgasm, I think I blacked out. I don’t remember much after that. When I woke the next morning, Harvey was in the kitchen sipping on his infamous tea with an empty plate in front of him.

“Morning, sweetness,” he called.

“Morning,” I growled.

“Sexy,” he laughed.

“Shut up.”

“Come.” Harvey touched the stool next to his. “Let’s get you fed.”

I looked at the big ass ring on my left hand, the man sitting at my counter and the food he had prepared for me. If someone had told me a year ago, I would be here, I would have called them a charlatan. I had given up on men and all they represented. It seemed like a fairy tale but it was real.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I said, “This is real.”

“Damn right, sweetheart.” He placed his teacup on the saucer. “With everything that’s in me. It’s real.”

That was good enough for me.