Venus Vs Mars Pt.II

Chapter 11

Massy didn't move her body once. Odell pushed himself under the covers and attached himself to her waist, her legs rested over his, his arm tossed over her stomach refusing to let her go anywhere. He hadn't said a word since leaving the vet, it was going on 4am and Odell's body had finally shut down, though Massy laid comfortably she still remained up, looking down at him, scanning over the perfectly crafted tattoos that did their best to cover the large sculpted muscles in his arm. His shoulders were broad and easily covered her body. Every so often his fingers would spasm or a muscle would twitch. 

She interlocked her fingers with his, his hand was twice as big as hers, Massy caught glimpses of her ring in between his fingers, she didn't think she'd ever get use to seeing it, around this time last year she was trying to prevent a relationship with Odell. Trying to keep herself from falling for his charm and that smile. She laughed to herself realizing that was the only thing she failed at. 

She ran her free hand in his hair, picking at his blonde curls and rubbing the shaved sides of his head. He groaned and turned his head, Massy immediately stopped doing her best not to wake him. 

"Don't stop." His deep sleepy voice demanded. 

Massy smiled then continued rubbing his head. "You ok?" She whispered. 

Odell was quiet, he was so quiet for so long she figured he went back to sleep. Massy looked back up at the ceiling. "I don't know?" 

Massy chewed the inside of her cheek, he was short and wasn't in the mood to talk. "You going to OTA's tomorrow?" 

"No." He simply said already making his mind up, he wasn't in the mood for anything. 

"Do you want me to stay home with you?" Massy offered, she didn't want to crowd him, she knew how much Tzar meant to him, but she also couldn't stand to leave him alone. 

"No, I don't want you missing practice" Massy sighed, but didn't dare to argue with him. His voice was filled with authority, he had a little bit of a Bo moment, refusing to allow her to miss practice for anything, not even to cater to his current somber mood. Odell began to feel bad for his tone of voice. "Thank you." He said changing the subject. "For what you did, your prayer... I didn't know you had that in you." 

Massy frowned then laughed. Odell completely changed his position causing her to stop rubbing his head. He pushed off her stomach and crawled up to a pillow and laid his head down on looking at her. 

"I mean. I'm not the most religious, but I have my moments... That was a time for me when it was called for."  She said still looking up at the ceiling. 

Odell cupped his right hand around the left side of her face, and moved in closer to her, his large arms rested along her collarbone, shoving his face in the side of her neck he gave her a kiss. "I love you. Thank you." 

Massy slightly tilted her down and kissed his bicep. "I love you too." She said laying her head against his.

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Odell wasn't the only one to be resigning his contract. By FIFA rules Massy wouldn't be able to leave the Western New York Flash unless she was traded, but she could not call for her own trade. It had to be a staff decision, because she was still in her rookie year. Unlike the NFL Massy would have control of her career in her second year. But Massy seemed to be doing quite well for herself, her popularity had skyrocketed since her senior year in college playing for USA in the U-20 league and so did her salary. 

Within a year she came in at number 9 as the highest paid female soccer player in the world. After the retirement of team captain Abby Wambach and Shannon Box, Massy came in at number 4 as the highest paid female soccer player in America. Pulling in a salary of $100,000 and that was without adding on her many endorsements. But this was merely pocket change in comparison to what the men were taking home. 

It was no secret that women were paid considerably less for the same job in almost all aspects of society yet their responsibilities remain as their male co-workers. To sum it up. As the reigning World Cup Winners and History makers the U.S. women's soccer team generated almost $20 million more in revenue than their male counterparts. That success, however, is not reflected of female players' paychecks. They take home nearly four times less than players on the men's team, according to the complaint filed despite the fact that the women's team makes more money for the sport, female players are compensated far less than the men. 

"The numbers speak for themselves," Massy wrote in the complaint. "We are the best in the world ... and the USMNT get paid more to just show up than we get paid to win major championships."

Aside from the women's strong performance, soccer was lagging behind in terms of progress on the issue of equal pay. The salary cap of $265,000 for the National Women's Soccer League was about 11 times less than the men's Major League Soccer. These were teams that simple played for states. Not the whole country. 

"How's Odell?" Alex asked watching Massy eagerly tie up her new cleats.

"Quieter than usually... For obvious reasons." She said back looking down at what she was doing.

"And you?" Alex could tell Massy was also quieter than usual, her jokes were short to minimal and half the physical training test she spent it zoned out.

"I'm good. Life happens he just needs some time." Massy stood up and began walking to the center of the field.

"So no wedding anytime soon?" Alex asked following behind her.

Massy rolled her eyes at the thought of a wedding. "With everything going on, I don't even know where to begin. I figured I'd just wait after the Olympics."

Alex was quiet for a moment the sound of plastic turf crunching under their spiked cleats and muffled conversation from teammates could be heard. "Maybe helping you plan a wedding is a way to get his mind off of Tzar." Alex said eyeing Massy. She chewed the inside of her cheek, taking longer to think. Maybe Alex and her sister were right, maybe she underestimated Odell and his interests, she knew she needed to give him time to grieve, but she also didn't want him to fall into depression.