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“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.