“No, but you’ll still be on dishes duty after dinner.” Dani narrowed her eyes as she tried to fight a smile.
“Fair enough,” April chuckled as she selected the movie and sat beside Dani on the couch.
As the movie progressed, they talked about the fashion of the 1970s as they ate and watched. April voiced her relief at the improvement over the tennis rackets they now used versus the wooden equivalents back then.
When the scene where Billie Jean King meets Marilyn Barnett, April felt her heart race. This was the first time she’d watched anything sapphic since her night with Jade. She tried her best not to move on the couch in guilt at not being honest with her best friend, but she felt an almost unbearable need to squirm. But what if Dani noticed and asked why she was being so weird?
Then there was the scene where the two women finally kissed. She allowed her eyes to flutter shut for only a moment, and she was back in Jade’s arms, her lips kissing Jade’s. She caught herself a split second before a sigh escaped her. She quickly glanced at Dani, whose eyes were luckily still on the TV. Slowly she exhaled in relief, but couldn’t help wondering quite how Dani would react to her news about Jade.
Once the movie was over, April carried the bowls through to the kitchen, and Dani followed with their glasses.
“So, what did you think of the movie?” April asked as she filled the sink with soapy water.
“I liked it, I can’t believe we’re still fighting for the same thing all these years later though,” Dani started. “I mean, let’s stick with tennis, and ask why every tournament ends with the men’s final and never the women’s final?”
“Urgh, don’t even get me started,” April groaned. “Then there’s the lack of late-night women’s matches throughout entire tournaments. It’s so frustrating!”
“Not just in tennis either, it’s across the board. I try to get my clients the best terms possible, but no matter how popular theyare in their sport it’s always less than what I’d be able to get for any male clients, if I chose to take those on.” Dani sighed.
April finished washing the dishes and dried them, while Dani put them away. The credits had finished for the movie, and its poster was still displayed on the screen as they returned to relax on the couch.
She decided to test the waters with Dani and see what her view would be toward an out player as a sports manager, not just as her friend. She knew Dani would be fine with her coming out?deep down she did?but the nerves were still there on the slim chance it didn’t go well for their friendship. She was worried about her career, though. That was the part that was the largest ‘unknown’ she was dealing with.
“Do you think it would be any different now, for a female athlete to come out? I mean, some sports seem to be more accepting than others, you know? I can’t really think of many openly out tennis players though. Current ones, BJK from the movie doesn’t count because she's as out as Elton.” April said, staring straight ahead at the screen.
“Well, I agree, some sports are more inclusive than others. Some are also more accepting of openly out women than they are towards out men. It shouldn’t make a difference, but unfortunately in our culture it still does. Most of the sports are run by men, and that includes their women’s associations. There’s the old guard view of women being 1950s housewives, so having them in a sport that focuses on power and strength, they have to be traditionally ultra-girly outside of the sport. Meaning, unfortunately, straight.” Dani turned the TV off and looked at April. “It sucks, but it’s reality. I think it could change though, if the right person came out, but that’s a lot for one person’s shoulders.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” April said, distantly.
“April, when will you ever learn? I’m always right!” Dani grinned.
April lay in bed that night trying desperately to get to sleep knowing her 6 a.m. alarm was set for an early morning gym session. But the conversation with Dani kept swirling in her head.
She understood what her friend had said about the views of many of those in charge of various sports. Hers in particular. It wasn’t news either what ‘letting’ women compete meant, but it came with certain unwritten rules and expectations on those women’s part. Be it behavior or, as the contract so bluntly put it, “Lifestyle”. As if it were a choice.
For all the years April had been competing, and there had been many, she honestly couldn’t count that many openly queer players. Male or female. She remembered that the last Summer Olympics had highlighted the increase in openly queer competitors from the previous one. While she hadn’t been able to participate in them herself, she remembered the slightest weight in her heart ease knowing that it may just be possible for her to live like that, one day.
So many things had to happen before she could eventhinkof coming out though. Telling her family would be at the top of that long list, quickly followed by Dani. Well, it may pan out in reverse, but those would be the people who’d need to know before anything else could happen.
She leaned towards the small table beside her bed and reached for her phone and earbuds. She hoped some relaxing beach sounds might help her finally fall asleep.
April considered how she thought her family would react to her coming out. She knew her brother, Connor, would be fine. His girlfriend’s best friend was gay, and Connor was going to their wedding. So, she figured he’d be accepting. Her Mom would probably cry, but as long as there was a possibility of either her or Connor ensuring she would become a grandmotherat some point, she’d probably be ok too. It might just take her a minute to get over the shock. Her Dad, though? He’s a wild card.
Roland knew the sport. He knew thepoliticsof the sport. He’d lived deep in those trenches himself for years. But she had to remind herself that while he was her manager, he was also her dad. Surely, he just wanted to see her happy? And if she had any say in the matter, she’d somehow find her way to Jade, the one person on this earth who was meant to make her happy.
Chapter 15
Jade
Jade and Will each had received a request from their boss to meet her in her office after their last morning patients that day. Jade sat in the small office taking in the room she’d only been called to a handful of times. So far, none of them had been negative experiences.
The floor-to-ceiling windows, the same as in her own treatment room and Will’s, illuminated the room with natural light. The desk was simple and tidy with a laptop taking center stage. Pippa, their boss, wasn’t a fan of clutter. The wall to the left had a bookcase filled with a collection of medical textbooks, a handful of local business achievement awards, and a single trophy on the top shelf. Pippa’s own sportingcareer was impressive before she retrained and opened her own practice after retiring from women’s golf nine years ago. Her qualification certificates were proudly displayed in frames which hung on the wall to the right.
Pippa sat at her desk, typing quickly on her laptop. Her long dark hair peppered with silver was pulled back in a high ponytail and hung like water down her back. She wore the same black leggings with sneakers like Jade did, but while the staff wore white polo shirts with the practice's logo in black embroidered on their right chest, Pippa’s was the reverse color scheme to ensure everyone knew at a glance, that she was the one in charge.
She wasn’t a bad boss, not by a long shot. She could be a little cold and brisk in her interactions with her staff at times. Jade just figured that was due to the many years of being a solo athlete and having a primary focus that didn’t involve other people for a long time.
Jade turned to catch Will’s eye and pulled her face in a way that she hoped would convey her thoughts of ‘why are we here?’It must have worked, because he gave the smallest headshake and shrug he could. Knowing Will’s enthusiastic tendencies as well as she did, she knew he really was trying to be subtle. She appreciated it, but he failed.
