Empty Chairs

46

Keegan's POV

"You ready to go Keegs?" Hope asks.

"Yeah." I say as I finish putting my clothes on. "Are the kids with your Mom or Alex's parents?"

"My Mom." Hope says then I feel arms wrap around me. "So all you have to do tonight is cheer your butt off for your sisters."

Tonight my sisters play in the Gold medal match of the Beach volleyball competition and they play the American duo of April Ross and Alix Klineman.

Myself, Hope, Alex, Julie, Abby, The whole national team, Abby's family, Julie's family, and Christen's family are all going to watch the match and we get to sit in the friends and family section.

"I really want them to win." I mumble.

"They will." Hope says.

"How do you know?"

"I just feel it." Hope says as Alex comes out of the bathroom.

"Ready?" Alex asks.

Hope and I nod then we grab our phones, wallets and keys before we head downstairs to the meeting point for the team. Once everyone arrives at the meeting place we head outside our hotel then we get on the bus and head to the Beach Volleyball stadium.

"Fuck" I mumble when Alex sits on my lap.

"What's wrong?" Alex asks.

"You sat on my dick." I say.

"Sorry." Alex says as I adjust.

"You're fine." I say.

"Did you guys see they announced the other two expansion teams for next year?" Lindsey asks as Alex leans her head on mine.

"Where are they?" Ali asks.

"Besides Louisville they're putting one in Boston and one in Los Angeles."

"Where is the Boston team gonna play?" Kelley asks.

"Apparently their building a soccer specific stadium for the NWSL Team and possibly the New England Revolution."

"So three expansions teams in one year?" I question.

"Sounds like it." Alex says.

"I didn't think they'd put a team up in Boston after what happened to the Breakers." Sam says.

"Better ownership I guess." Rose says as we pull up to the stadium.

Once the bus stops we all get off then we meet up with Abby's family, Julie's family, and Christen's family and head to the will call thingy.

"How can I help you?" The ticket booth attendant asks.

"We're the friends and family of Aurora and Sofija Ibishi." I say then I hand the ticket lady my ID. "I'm their sister."

"How many of you are there?"

"30." I say.

"Alright." The ticket lady says then she hands me our passes and my ID. "Enter over there."

I look to where the attendant points then I grab the passes and my ID before I head back to the large group of people.

"Alright people." I say as I grab passes for me and my girls. "Take a pass then follow me."

I hand the passes off to Julie then I hand Alex and Hope their passes before I put my pass on.

Once everyone has a pass we head inside the stadium then we head to the friends and family section.

"How long's it been since you've seen them play?" Hope asks as we sit down.

"Well we were supposed to see them after the Sweden game, but that stupid storm ruined that." I say as I grab Hopes hand and intertwine our fingers. "So probably the last time was July of 2018 at the Vienna Major tournament."

"Wow." Alex says as she holds my hand then she intertwines our fingers.

I'm sitting in-between my soulmates on the front row.

"Hi babygirl." I hear Sofija say causing me to turn my head and see my sisters kissing their wife's.

"I see who the favorites are." I say after my sisters break their kiss with their individual wife.

Sofija and Aurora then come over to me, lean over the rail, then they blow raspberries on my cheeks.

"Touché." I say as my sisters wipe the raspberries away.

"See you in a minute." Aurora says then my sisters hop down and head to their bench.

We wait a few minutes then the PA announcer introduces the two US ladies before he moves on to my sisters.

"WEARING NUMBER ONE, FROM THE NATION OF KOSOVO, GIVE IT UP FOR SOFIJA IBISHI." The PA dude says then all thirty of us cheer.

Once the PA dude announces my sister she gets off the bench, waves to the crowd, then she walks onto the Kosovo side of the sand court.

"WEARING NUMBER TWO, FROM THE NATION OF KOSOVO, GIVE IT UP FOR AURORA IBISHI." The PA dude says then all thirty of us cheer.

Once the PA dude announces my other sister, she gets off the bench, waves to the crowd, then she walks onto the Kosovo side of the sand court.

A minute after my sister's are introduced the game begins so I do my best to keep my nerves in check during the first set.

"Your sisters are amazing." Hope says at the end of the first set.

My sisters won the set 21-14.

"I wonder how bad it hurts to get hit by a volleyball from your sisters." Emily says.

"It sucks." Abby says.

"Seriously." Julie says as my sisters walk on to the court for the second set. "The bruises stay for days."

Once my sisters are on court I squeeze my soulmates hands then I watch the second set.

"Come on Aurora." I whisper right before Aurora serves for match point. "You got this."

The referee blows her whistle then she motions for Aurora to serve so my sister does.

The serve goes easily over the net then three hits later it returns to my sisters.

Once the ball is on my sisters side, Sofija digs it to Aurora then she kills the ball into the ground after Aurora sets it to her.

"YES." I shout when I realize my sisters won gold.

When my sisters realize they won gold they both collapse to their knees and hug each other.

After my sisters celebrate with each other, they run over to me, hop into the stands then they hug me.

"Jam shumë krenar për ju dy." I say then I kiss my sister's heads. "Mami dhe Babi janë krenarë për ju, Gjyshja dhe Gjyshi janë krenarë për ju, dhe të gjithë njerëzit tanë janë krenarë për ju." (I'm so proud of you two...Mom and Dad are proud of you, Grandma and Grandpa are proud of you, and all of our people are proud of you.)

Sofija and Aurora are a bit too emotional to say anything so I kiss their heads one more time before they head to their wives.

As I watch we my sisters hug their individual wife's I feel two sets of arms wrap around me.

"What are you thinking about Keegy?" Alex asks.

"I wish my Parents could see this." I say.

"They're watching." Hope says.

"I know." I say then I sigh. "i just wish they were here."