Venus Vs Mars Pt.II

Chapter 26

Massy's hair had reeked of chlorine, her skin was a reddish tint from being touched from the sun, that would eventually go away and turn a deep gold. She looked up from her phone as she walked through the main hallway of her California condo. She stopped at the entrench to the kitchen, knowing the strong presence all to well.

"How'd you get in here?" She dropped her pool bag and walked around the marble island Odell sat at. "What are you doing here? I guess I should ask."

"Josh let me in." Odell said calmly.

"Odell. You have got to stop bribing him with autographed merchandise and hundred dollar bills!" She protested at him with her arms up at her sides.

Odell looked confused, his thick eyebrows creased. "Well, how else am I supposed to get in your condo without a key!?" He asked as if there was nothing wrong with his bribes.

"He's. A. Doorman. He's meant to keep people that don't belong out. He watches the front. Duh." Massy said with wide eyes.

"Then y'all should probably get a new door man. Cuz he really don't care for the 49ers or the Raiders." Odell said back nonchalantly. "I told him I could get him some Raiders tickets, and he WAS. Not. Havin it."

Pressing her thumb and index finger to the brim of her nose Massy sighed and closed her eyes. "I give up." She said throwing her hands up and walking to the refrigerator. Odell stood up and walked the short length of the counter and stood directly behind Massy.

His right hand went on her hip and his left hand dug down in his pocket. "You forgot something." He whispered in her ear. His large hand appeared in front of her, holding her engagement ring. She looked down at it for a moment and chewed the inside of her cheek. The size of his palm made the ring look tiny as it sat in the middle of it shinning against the kitchen lights. Odell wrapped his right hand around her tighter pulling her back to his chest and burrowing his face in the crook of her neck. Massy was seconds away from melting in his arms, it wasn't until his arms were wrapped around her and the smell of his cologne and soap mixed together did she miss him so much. "I'm sorry. I overreacted and I shouldn't of asked you that. I know you wouldn't cheat on me, I know you got more sense than that and I know you're not that type of woman."

Massy sighed at how deep Odell's voice was, yet again something else she missed terribly. He lifted his right hand from her waist and and reached around grabbing her left wrist. She opened her hand and allowed him to slip the ring back on her ring finger, her hand compared to Odell's made the ring look larger. "I'm sorry too." Massy quietly said. Odell arched an eyebrow in surprise. "I should of said something to you before I went ahead and put the offer on the table. I just didn't see it as something that big."

Odell began turning Massy's body around. She closed the refrigerator and pressed her back against its door. His large hands rested on her toned hips. "It's going to be stories about us and there's nothing we can do about it. Wether we like it or not... Wether I like it or not. Your dad told me you were in my care now you are my responsibility and I just don't want anyone hurting you or even getting close enough to you. Sometimes my ego blinds me, I know how great of a woman you are, my own mother reminds me everyday of how blessed I am."

"I don't want anybody but you." Massy rested her hands on his muscular biceps.

Odell smiled and pressed his forehead to hers. "And I don't want nobody else but you." Massy smiled and puckered up her lips. Odell slowly pressed his to hers and kissed them multiple times.

"What?" She asked with a frown c*****g her head to the side with a frown. He had fallen into one of his lost in translation moments of just staring at her.

"Nothing. I love you." He said pressing his lips to hers again.

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"Lawyers for the United States women's national soccer team Players Association are said to be spearheading an effort to allay serious concern that the players have about the Zika virus.

In addition, the U.S. women are concerned that soccer venues for the Summer Games in Brazil might mean the women could play matches near the rainforest which may expose them to mosquitoes who carry this alarming virus. "I don't know if it was our attorney that was bringing that up? But it is a little worrisome,'' said U.S. team captain Carli Lloyd adding: "The Olympics always seem to have something that comes up. In Beijing it was the smog and London the attacks but this is a little more serious and concerning.''

The players have a list of questions and concerns on several issues related to their health and safety, said U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo. The 34-year-old veteran player is among five U.S. team members who are leaders of the players union, Solo doubled down on comments she made earlier this week about her willingness to take the risk of playing in a country that is ground zero for the virus that has been linked to birth defects and microcephaly.

"If I had to decide today, I would not go,'' Solo said. "Unfortunately, the Olympics are now two months away, and a lot of athletes are backing out at the last minute in fear, so I believe that we still have time to get some of our doubts and questions answered. We're working closely with doctors, with U.S. Soccer and the Olympic Committee and hopefully there are things that can be done in a short amount of time. But we do take it seriously, I take my health seriously, we all do and it needs to be addressed and we need to feel safe when we go to Brazil." Solo said to the media during a press conference before they played Sweden.

The U.S. has officially qualified for the Brazil Summer Games, and the team definitely showed why it is the No. 1-ranked team in the world, beating Costa Rica 5-0 in the first match of the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship at Toyota Field. Afterwards, Solo and U.S. team captain Carli Lloyd said the mosquito-borne virus is a very serious concern for the U.S. women's team."

Odell slid his hand into the waist band of her underwear, resting his fingers on her hipbone. He frowned while watching the Sports anchor speak about the up and coming Olympic Games, realizing he just had a conversation about keeping her safe now she would be going to another country that was currently under attack and being called "ground zero" for a deadly disease was something he wasn't too fond of and his concern only grew when he heard Massy's teammate say she had no problem with backing out.

"Being an Olympian that import to you?" Odell asked her while still focused on the tv. Massy was silent, also focused on the current situation. She knew this was a situation that would involve a very serious conversation with her future husband, father, and her sports agent. Massy was very aware of the issues involving Brazil and she had pushed them off long enough it was only a matter of time before Odell found out just how serious the situation was.

Massy sighed. "I don't know... Two of the games are in stadiums that are right next to the rain forest where the mosquitoes are. That puts us at risk not once but twice... The stadium is outside."

Massy went silent. Odell's arm wrapped tighter around her waist as she laid in between his legs. "You already know what I'm going to say." She arched her eyebrow, knowing very well what he was going to say next. "I don't want you going." He spoke before she could say something. This was more than excuse for him to use. Sure he didn't want to be away from her for a month but even he knew she had a job to do and he would never keep her from it, but if it meant risking her health, Odell had no problem with putting his foot down.

"I know." She simply said. Odell frowned at the tv, then looked down at Massy for a moment matching her arched eyebrow. He clinched his jaw adding a serious undertone to his already tight face, then turned back to the tv. He knew Massy's headstrong attitude would challenge him and he was ready for the fight.