Array
(
[text] =>
TRAINING YESTERDAY WAS WEIRD AS FUCK. And honestly, that’s the only way to describe it.
Even Felix could tell. Hell, not just him—Jack, Carson, and Hassan too.
Coach Castro wasn’t exactly yelling in my face, but did he make me run more laps than everyone else? Yes. And why? Because I was talking to Hassan. Just talking. But did he make Hassan run? Of course not. Because that wasn’t the real reason.
The real reason? He saw me with his daughter.
I didn’t say anything about it. Didn’t talk back. Not when he made me run until my legs felt like they’d fall off, not when he talked to everyone but me, and definitely not when he looked through me like I wasn’t even there.
The only reason I’m starting today’s game is because I kept my mouth shut, so in the end it was worth it.
We’re warming up on the pitch now, just a few minutes before the game starts. Coach gave his usual speech, which was tight, sharp, and motivational. Then Felix stepped in, did his usual hype-up. “Let’s not suck ass” or something like that. Classic.
“Why’s he still pissed at you?” Carson asks, passing the ball perfectly to my feet.
I just shrug, taking the shot at Hassan who’s in goal. It’s a clean hit, top left, and Hassan just barely manages to save it.
“Good one,” I call out.
He throws the ball in the air and catches it with one hand, sending me a wink.
“Seriously, mate,” Jack pipes up, breathless. “You think we haven’t put two and two together? We’re just waiting for your dramatic confession.”
“Confess what?” I scoff as Hassan tosses the ball back.
“Never mind,” Jack mutters, his voice quieter. His sudden change in mood makes me glance over, and that’s when I see Felix jogging toward us.
Oh. That’s why.
“Don’t stop the conversation ’cause of me, Jacky boy,” Felix says casually, stretching his arms.
Jack gives him a tight smile. “What conversation?” He tries to play innocent, like always, but no one’s buying it.
“The one about why your dad’s got it out for Connie here,” Hassan says carelessly while adjusting his gloves.
Felix’s eyes meet mine and he chuckles. “Oh, yeah?”
These dickheads.
“Come on, man,” Carson says. “Everyone’s clocked it. Don’t act like you can’t tell.”
I stop juggling the ball, letting it drop to the grass. “Why are all of you so fucking nosy lately?”
“Lately?” Jack says, raising his eyebrows. “I’ve been nosy. Don’t act like you don’t know this shit.”
Fair point.
“Alright, Sherlock fucking Holmes,” I mutter. “What ‘two and two’ have you put together then?”
“You really wanna know?” Hassan says, walking over to join us.
I nod.
“You sure?” Carson adds, eyes flickering between Felix and I.
“What the fuck is wrong with you lot?” I groan, nearly yelling.
Felix laughs while Jack raises his hands in surrender.
“Alright, fine,” he huffs. “When Carmen left, we all saw how you defended her. That wasn’t just team loyalty, bro. And before that? Every time you played like shit, you had the same look. We put it together. Carmen’s the girl who’s been on your mind. And now Coach knows. That’s why you’re running suicides while Hassan gets off scot-free.”
He trails off with a shrug, shooting Felix a wary look.
“Oh, I know,” Felix says, completely unfazed.
Everyone freezes. “What?” they all say at the same time.
“You haven’t even… like, punched him?” Jack mutters, genuinely confused.
“Were you expecting me to get punched?” I ask, turning to him.
“I mean,” he shrugs, “wouldn’t be the first time a bloke’s gotten battered for liking someone’s sister.”
Felix snorts. “If Carmen’s gonna fancy someone on the team, I’m just glad it’s Connie and not the rest of you muppets.”
“Didn’t you hate the guy like two months ago?” Hassan asks, taking the words right out of my mouth. I don’t say anything, but damn—I’ll take the win.
Before anyone can fire off more questions, the ref blows his whistle. The game is about to start.
As we walk to our positions, I glance up at the stands, just a reflex now, and instantly, I find them. Those big, brown eyes.
Carmen’s smile is soft, the kind of smile that melts through the coldest parts of me. My good luck charm. Every time she smiles like that, I play better. Every time.
Then she mouths something. “Score for me.”
I don’t say anything back. Just wink. It’s enough and she knows.
Then I notice Valeria and Alyssa turning to gape at her, mouths hanging open in pure shock, and I can’t stop myself from laughing.
But just as quickly, my eyes shift to the sideline.
Coach Castro, glaring with arms crossed. When he follows my previous line of sight and sees I was looking at her, his eyes narrow like daggers. If looks could kill, I’d be dead within an instant.
He wants me to stay away from her, that’s hard enough as it is. But he also doesn’t want me looking at her now?
What’s next, breathing in her direction? He has no idea how impossible that is. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And that’s a bloody understatement.
But not to mention, she’s my beautiful girl. Mine.
There’s around five minutes left in the match. It’s 2-2. Felix scored one, and then one of their defenders accidentally knocked the ball into his own net. Funniest shit I’ve seen in a while, his coach shouted across the pitch and subbed him off on the spot. Brutal.
But we can’t end this in a tie. No one wants that. Both sides are pushing hard, burning the last of their energy, desperate for the winning goal.
Right now, their striker’s got the ball, sprinting down the pitch towards our goal. Jack, being the absolute maniac that he is, slides in with a tackle. It’s clean, no foul thankfully, and he boots the ball up the pitch like his life depends on it. It soars into the air, and I track it, running forward.
As it drops, I leap up and header it past the defender behind me. Sprinting around him, I catch the ball on the bounce and glance up. Felix is right there, but two players are on him. It’s too risky.
My only other option is the net right in front of me.
I dig my right foot into the ground and swing with my left. The ball rockets forward, smashes the crossbar, bounces off the ground, and smacks the back of the net.
And then it all hits at once’s. The roar. Cheering. Clapping. Shouting. Carson jumps on my back, yelling something in my ear, and the rest of the team crowds around me.
“What a fucking shot,” Felix says, shaking his head like he can’t believe it.
I grin, a laugh slipping out. Feels good. Feels like everything I’ve been holding inside just let go for a second.
The ref blows the whistle, calling everyone back into position. As I jog to my side of the pitch, I glance at the stands.
I find her instantly.
Carmen’s eyes meet mine, and I know she knows, that goal was for her. Just like she asked. Her fingers reach for her necklace, fidgeting with the rose pendant, a soft smile playing on her lips.
The ref holds up two fingers, two minutes left. One final whistle. Game on.
Their striker kicks the ball back and it comes one of the midfielders. They start passing between each other, racing against time. Liam Hollis intercepts one, but before he can do anything with it, the sharp sound of the whistle cuts through everything.
The game has ended.
I throw my arm over Felix’s shoulder, ruffling his blonde curls. “Another win.”
He responds with a smug smirk and a shrug of his shoulders, as if he’s saying this is the usual. And it is.
Jack and Carson jog over, wide grins on their faces. “If it isn’t the goal scorers,” Carson muses, slowly clapping his hands.
“Don’t forget that defender,” Jack laughs, pointing at the poor lad who scored the own goal.
“He’s gonna cry himself to sleep tonight,” Hassan mutters as he catches up to us, chuckling.
“Line up!” Coach Castro calls, and we all get into position.
I shake hands with most of the other team, some ignore me, which is fair, they’re gutted. I wouldn’t know the feeling though.
When I reach their coach, he places a hand on my shoulder. “Beautiful shot, number 10.”
I give him a small nod and a tight smile before walking off.
Carmen’s waiting near the edge of the pitch with her arms crossed, standing beside Valeria and Alyssa, who’s obviously here for Carson.
She gestures for me to come over, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Coach Castro deep in conversation with a parent. One look in our direction and he’s gonna lose it.
But before I can decide what to do, Carmen makes the choice for me. She runs straight onto the pitch and jumps into my arms.
I laugh in shock and catch her easily, spinning her once before setting her down gently.
“You played so good!” she beams, pride shining all over her face. She’s proud. Of me.
“Only because you’re here,” I tell her.
She rolls her eyes, but I see the smile that follows. “Or maybe you’re just a good player?”
“Doesn’t matter what I am if you’re not with me,” I murmur, brushing a curl out of her face.
She looks up at me, something soft and warm flickering in her eyes.
“You know your dad is going to kill me for this,” I laugh quietly, tightening my arm around her waist. “But it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”
I can’t do it. Stay away from her. But I’m also not gonna go behind her father’s back, my Coach. So at some point, I’m going to talk to him. But it’s not going to be like last time, it won’t.
“Maybe he’ll see how happy I am and change his mind,” she whispers.
There’s hope in her voice, but also sadness. She wants this. Us. And she doesn’t want to hide it from her parents either.
“Gather up, you lot!” Coach’s voice booms across the pitch.
I look up, expecting fire in his eyes—but it’s not there. He’s staring straight at me. But not with rage. It’s something else. Something I can’t name.
“I’ll talk to you soon, yeah?” I say quickly.
“I’ll be waiting,” she says, narrowing her eyes like it’s a challenge.
I give her one last glance, a soft smile on my face that I only give her, before jogging back toward the team.
Coach starts his speech. “That was a good game, boys, but not our best. You’ve gotta aim for more, always. Don’t let a win fool you into thinking you guys are the best.”
We all nod, the usual mutters of “Yes, coach.”
“We are the best though,” Jack calls out, shrugging and causing all the guys to laugh.
Coach sends Jack a look but the smile forcing its way onto his face betrays him. “But that being said, great goals, Felix. Connie,” he continues. “But now, go on, lads. You can go celebrate.”
The boys cheer and scatter.
But then—
“Connie,” Coach calls out.
Shit. Am I getting benched? Suspended? Killed? Who knows.
I walk over, ready to defend myself and start my speech on how I love his daughter and want to stay with her no matter what he says. “Listen—”
He cuts me off. “What I said the other day… I was wrong. I realise that now. And I’m sorry.”
Wait. What?
That was not what I expected. Nothing like it at all.
He clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “With everything Carmen’s gone through… I just—” He doesn’t finish the sentence. Doesn’t need to. I get it. He’s scared. But he can’t say it out loud.
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Can I trust you?”
“You can,” I say without even thinking.
“You’ll be there for her?” His eyes narrow.
“I have been. That won’t change.” Ever.
He exhales, jaw tight. “Don’t hurt her. Got it?”
“Never would.”
He lets go, stepping back, nodding once. “Go on.”
Well… That went fucking great. I didn’t even have to plead my case. He saw it. He saw how Carmen is like around me and he knows that’s what she needs.
I turn and see her still standing by the edge of the pitch, watching us nervously.
“Thank you, Coach,” I say quietly.
He just shakes his head, a small smile on his lips.
I walk back to her, and she starts to speak, “What did he—”
I don’t let her finish. I kiss her. Soft, but sure. Maybe kind of stupid to do it now but you know what? I couldn’t give a fuck. Let everyone see. Let everyone know that she’s mine.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” I whisper.
She lets out a laugh, pulling back slightly. “So I’m guessing he took it all back?”
“Not in so many words but yeah, he did.””
Her grin grows, and then she jumps up, arms around my neck again, her happiness bubbling over. It does something to my chest—tightens it and warms it all at once. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her steady, not wanting to let her go just yet.
We stand like that for a moment—just us, in this chaotic, post-match mess of cheering and shouting and clapping—but it feels quiet between us. Like the noise fades out when she’s this close.
Then a voice calls out behind us, cracking the bubble.
“Oi, lovebirds!” Of course it’s Felix.
Carmen groans into my neck, and I laugh as her brother, Carson, Alyssa, and Valeria stroll over to us.
Carson gives me a smug look, nodding once like he’s saying well done, mate. I flip him off behind Carmen’s back, and he just smirks wider.
Valeria raises a brow. “Down to go to The Holloway?”
Felix turns to Jack and Hassan, who are arguing about something like always. “Those fatasses want burgers.”
I laugh under my breath and look down at Carmen.
She glances up at me at the same time, searching my face. “Wanna go?”
“I’ll go if you are.”
She nods, turning back to them. Yeah, sure.”
The group starts walking, and we follow, a few steps behind at first. I glance up ahead to see Jack pretending to tackle Hassan over what must’ve been some stupid topic.
“Touch me again, ya hamar,” Hassan yells, somehow getting Jack into a headlock.
“I know that means donkey!” Jack yells back.
We all do considering the amount of times Hassan has called us that insult. Well, not necessarily us. Just the boy he’s choking right now.
“Bro, I googled it during chem,” Carson says, dead serious but the look on his face tells me he’s joking. “It also means you’re built like a busted Nissan too.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?” Jack yells, still stuck.
That does it. Carmen bursts out laughing next to me, and then the rest of us lose it too.
[text_hash] => 0a801b51
)