EPILOGUE

Aspen was ready to hear her country’s national anthem play when she got to the top of the podium and had a gold medal around her neck, standing up there next to DJ, her partner who had stuck by her through everything since they’d first met and began marching toward this one goal. One match now stood between Aspen and that goal, and it was, of course, with the Brazilian team that had been giving them difficult matches for the past few years. Aspen and DJ had automatically qualified for their spot, but Brazil’s number one team was never really in doubt to join them here, at the Olympic Games, so once Aspen had seen the brackets, she figured that, with Brazil being on the other side of theirs, they’d be facing off here in the end.

Aspen and DJ had won all of their group-stage matches in two sets, which had given them confidence, but they’d also been placed in the easiest group to get through, statistically speaking. In the group of eight, they’d won in three sets after DJ had tweaked her shoulder a bit on a serve at the end of the second set. She’d gotten treatment and had been fine by the semifinal, which Aspen was grateful for, and they’d won that match in two sets against the other US team that had played for the bronze medal today and had won, so, no matter what, America was going home with two beach volleyball medals. Aspen wanted to ensure that hers was gold, though.

It had been an interesting several months, to say the least. She and DJ had both focused on finding a coach who could help them get here and bring that medal home, but they’d also wanted to make sure that they stayed healthy and went uninjured, so that meant taking some precautions by skipping a couple of tournaments to rest up when they both felt exhausted or had something that didn’t feel quite right. They’d agreed that this was the one competition they cared about, so others would wait until next season.

DJ and Mark were still together, and Aspen could see that he made her friend very happy. Kendra and Aspen were still together, too, and after they’d done the whole meet-the-parents thing, all the moms and dads started asking when they’d take the other steps that couples do. Since Kendra was older than Aspen, she got the bulk of the questions directed at her by her parents, so they’d assured their families that they’d do things in their own time, which was their main plan right now. Kendra knew that Aspen was one hundred percent in their relationship and wanted all those things, but she also understood that Aspen needed to focus on this first – this tournament, this match, this medal for her and DJ – and that meant that those things would have to wait until after. Now, it was about to be after, and while Aspen was completely focused on the match ahead, she also couldn’t wait for the rest of her life to start.

Kendra had started a new job, too. After giving a long notice to the network, she’d stepped into the world of beach volleyball coaching. A pair just out of college, who could actually afford a coach, had decided to give Kendra a chance, and Kendra was loving it. But since it wasn’t exactly the same amount of money as what she was making with the network, she’d also picked up an assistant coach job at a local college to make ends meet. That school had just started in the beach world after growing their indoor game, and, at first, it had been hard for her because Kendra had had to give all of that up herself back when she’d been in school, but she was really enjoying it now and seemed to think this was the career she’d have for a long time.

Aspen and DJ hadn’t played Kendra’s team yet in a tournament, but Aspen knew it would be interesting when they did. Whenever Kendra wasn’t rooting for her own team to win, she was rooting for Aspen, and vice versa, so if they ever came up against each other, which was likely, it would be an experience. They’d all be professionals, of course, but she was sure the media who covered beach volleyball would make a big deal out of it. She and Kendra had even joked about the kinds of questions Kendra’s replacement on tour would ask them.

“Kendra, what’s it like coaching against your girlfriend’s team?”

“It’s strange. I’m used to sitting in the stands, cheering her on, and I’m always cheering her on, of course, but I also want my team to win, so I kind of just sit there and don’t cheer for anyone,” Kendra would say.

“And, Aspen, what is it like knowing that Kendra has given the other team a strategy to help them beat you out there?”

“I trust Kendra not to reveal anything to them that she’s learned from being my girlfriend, so, really, it’s not any different than going up against any other coach or team,” Aspen would say.

Kendra was happy to no longer be asking the same questions over and over, and Aspen was happy seeing her happy, so it had all worked out up until this point. Now, this match would decide if Aspen and DJ would have gold medals around their necks or silver ones, so Aspen shifted her focus back to the present, lined up behind the service line, tried to remember everything they’d worked on, waited for the whistle, and served the ball.

Ten points later, the US was up by one point. Aspen and DJ were tired. They’d run around the whole court at least ten times. It was as if Brazil had decided to hit every inch of the sand with their kills and serves. Aspen looked up into the stands at their coach, who wasn’t actually allowed to coach them during the match, and then over at her girlfriend, who was sitting right next to her. Kendra made that same motion with her hands that she’d made back in Berlin, and Aspen remembered. She took a deep breath, found DJ in the middle of the court, and reminded her, too.

Brazil served the ball hard and fast, but Aspen got it and passed it up to DJ, giving her a high ball. DJ set Aspen high, which was something they’d had to work on specifically for today since Aspen had preferred a low set before, and Aspen wound up, spiking the ball and hitting sand. They slowed things down after that, not rushing their serves, which initially, they’d done out of nervousness and against their game plan, and took all three touches before getting it to the other side of the net.

At the end of the first set, which went to twenty-three because they couldn’t get a two-point win at twenty-one, DJ served and ran to the net, giving Aspen the sign that she was going to block the angle. Aspen moved to the line and waited for the ball to come over, but it didn’t. DJ’s block sent it up and into the backcourt on the Brazil side of the net, giving them the win in the first set. A set win on a massive block was the best kind of motivation, and Aspen hugged DJ in the middle of the court, telling her how amazing she was and letting her know, as if DJ didn’t know already, that they only needed one more set to win the whole thing.

On their bench, they wiped off their sweat and the sand and drank from their water bottles without many words between them. They’d wanted everyone, including the other team, to see them as calm, cool, and collected, not needing to change their strategy or play at all because they were confident in what they’d done and what they would do. Then, back on the court after the break, they readied themselves for the serve.

“She’s going to you,” DJ said.

“I know. I’m ready,” Aspen replied.

When the serve came, it was hard and nearly went off Aspen’s arms, but she’d managed to tilt them just in time to get the pass up well enough for DJ to set. DJ did, and Aspen swung, but it was into the block. DJ was there to dig it out, though, so Aspen’s pass set it up into the air for her and let DJ take it from there, which she did. They earned the point and the serve.

Several points later, Aspen was back at the line, serving, and she decided to really go for it. She hammered one down the middle, but the other team had been ready for that one and got it back over the net. DJ passed it up after backing off the block, and Aspen set her high, giving her time to get into position to hit. DJ hit it over and found the back line. They were up by four. Brazil called a timeout.

“It’s right before the TV timeout,” DJ noted once they were at their bench. “Why not wait and save theirs?” DJ asked about the Brazilians’ strategy.

“My guess is that they can’t. They look very unhappy right now.” Aspen didn’t point or nod over to the other bench, but DJ took a quick look. “They’ve had two service errors and can’t get around your block. I think they needed to talk things over now and at the TV timeout. Plus, they know as well as we do that once we get a good lead, it’s hard to take it back.”

“Damn right, it is,” DJ said and stood up. “So, let’s keep it and win this thing already.”

Aspen joined her, and she stood on the court, waiting for the other team for what felt like forever. The ref had to whistle for Brazil to join them twice before they got up and joined them, and Aspen knew it then. Their opponents were flustered. The nerves had gotten to them. Just like Aspen and DJ, they were used to winning. They’d won several international tournaments and just about everything domestically, so this was a rare spot for them to be in. Aspen understood that because she’d been on that side of things, too. She wouldn’t be today, though.

As Aspen looked around the stadium – seeing the greens, yellows, and blues of the Brazilian supporters mixed in with reds, whites, and blues of the US supporters and the more neutral colors of people who had either bought tickets hoping their country would make it here or just loved beach volleyball and wanted to see the teams compete – she knew it now. They were going to win. She and DJ seldom, if ever, got flustered. It was one of their many strengths, as well as the fact that they didn’t fight on or off court. While they still had some communication issues here and there, they were always able to work them out by talking through them instead of holding everything in and letting it affect their play. And, God, Aspen was grateful for the woman standing next to her on the sand right now.

When the score showed nineteen to fourteen, everyone in the stadium seemed to realize it, too, what was about to happen. Chants of ‘USA!’ could be heard all over the city, most likely, and people were already on their feet, despite it not being match point. Aspen understood why. They’d put on a clinic today, as was the expression most used. They’d used Brazil’s strengths against them. They’d minimized their own errors, had blocked well, earning points off them four times, had served well, earning a few aces so far, had found their hitting spots, and their passes and sets had been solid, too. Their game had flowed today, and it had made for great volleyball to watch. Brazil hadn’t collapsed or anything; they’d just been outplayed. But they’d provided a great match for spectators and a tough one for Aspen and DJ several times as well.

When Aspen served the twentieth point, it was a floater that Brazil returned. The rally lasted forever, in Aspen’s mind, before finally, the USA put it away, and DJ knelt in the sand because she needed a minute to recover from running all over the court. Aspen hurried over and pulled her up, though.

“One more point. We’ve got this. Stand at the net and catch your breath. Don’t let them see that you’re tired.”

“Yeah, got it,” DJ said and stood up. “One more.”

They shared a high-five with a small smile, not allowing the big one to hit their faces until it was actually over.

Aspen went back to the service line and thought about what to do. With a massive lead, she could risk a harder serve, but it might look bad to spectators and the media that she’d done that when she hadn’t needed to.

“Oh, well,” she muttered to herself. “I want this done.”

She’d only had two service errors in the match, and those had both been on floaters that the wind had carried, so this was the best chance by percentages for her to get the win here. Aspen spun the ball in her hands, tossed, jumped, and swung hard. Then, she wasn’t sure what happened next because she was on her back in the sand, with DJ on top of her.

“We did it,” DJ said in her ear. “We fucking did it. You did it, Aspen.”

“We did it?” Aspen asked.

That whole moment, post hitting the ball, had been a blur, but when she watched it back on the big screen, after DJ had finally gotten off of her, Aspen could see what had happened. She’d served an ace right down the middle and had left the other team on their knees in the sand in disappointment. The match had ended, though, so Aspen and DJ went to center court and shook hands before they walked over to the refs to do the same. After that, Aspen walked back to the Brazilians and hugged each of them, telling them how great they were and that they were the toughest team they’d faced in the world.

Then, Aspen looked up in the stands, finding her instantly. DJ did the same with Mark, and they hurried over to their families. Aspen jumped up as high as she could get, standing on a railing of some kind, and pulled Kendra down for a kiss.

“You did it! I’m so proud of you,” Kendra told her as they embraced.

“We did it,” Aspen said, knowing what a huge part her girlfriend had played in this win. “I’ll be right back.”

She hugged her mom and dad and moved over to DJ’s parents and Mark when DJ hugged hers and Kendra as well. Then, she returned to Kendra.

“I have to go run around the court now, but I want to ask you something.”

“What?” Kendra asked, looking concerned.

“Not that. I know Wyatt did that with Everly, and they talked about that when we all had dinner, but I also know you don’t want a public proposal because I know you better than anyone. And I know you live right next door, so I’m not sure if it matters, but I want us to live together, Kendra. Officially. Will you move in with me? Or, can I move in with you? I don’t care which; I just want us to have one place that’s ours.”

Kendra wiped tears off her cheeks and said, “Yes. We’ll figure that part out later, but yes, babe. I would love for us to have that.”

“Best day of my life, then,” Aspen replied.

“Just now? It’s the best day of your life just now?” Kendra chuckled.

“Yup.” Aspen kissed her and climbed down.

Then, she was handed a flag, as was DJ, and they jogged around the court to cheers as they tried their best to take it all in, knowing they never could.