Page 19 of Shes my 1 Try

“Complicated?” she interrupts with a smirk.

“Yes, and no. Actually, if I think about it, it doesn’t feel complicated at all. It feels like the most natural thing in the world,” I sigh, just the thought of Asher enough to chase away any complications. “That first day I met him, I…well he came off like a cocky son-of-a-bitch, after he finally managed to say something to me. There was just something about him. Something I couldn’t let go of.”

Sipping her coffee, I can tell she’s putting her thoughts into order by the way her eyes look anywhere but me. I’m sure there’s a bunch of dick jokes running through her head as well, when her lips do this kissy thing as she tries to hold in a snort of laughter.

“Look, you’re my best friend. In the whole wide world. I love you,” she starts, securing her coffee on the grass by her side. “If you feel as connected to Anaconda Asher as you say you do, then I am behind you all the way.”

Rolling my eyes at the nickname she’s labelled him with, I smile when she takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you. It means a lot.”

“But you know this complicates things so much for me.”

“You’re not talking about Ronald, are you? Is he causing you?—”

“Forget about that douche,” she waves it away. “I’m just sorry I didn’t know about him sooner. No, I mean red is just not my colour, honey. How can I support your new man when I look awful in red?”

A snorting laugh escapes me, and we both fall into fits of laughter. Lying back on the grass and enjoying the summer sun, my thoughts quickly turn to seeing Asher tomorrow. Butterflies flutter and swoop in my chest and the urge for any amount of pressure down below, in that magical place between my thighs, makes it hard to concentrate on what Ines is saying.

All I know is, tomorrow things will be changed forever and for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid to take that leap.

For the first time in ten days, Asher and I didn’t speak last night and as stupid as it sounds, there’s this empty space in my heart. Sitting here at the Rays’ stadium, the ocean breeze greatly appreciated against the hot afternoon sun, my knee jiggles up and down nervously.

“Will you stop it,” Ines scolds, clamping her hand down on my knee.

“I can’t help it. What if he doesn’t see me? What if?—”

“What if the moon is made of cheese?” she jests, poking her tongue out at me. “Honey, if everything you’ve told me about this man is true, then you have nothing to worry about.”

Asher had warned me about his pre-game rituals and I knew we wouldn’t speak last night. Apparently, I’m a distraction—in a good way. I didn’t expect to have to spend half the night assuring Ines that Asher Scott was not a cheating home-wrecker after she did some digging of her own. Doesn’t stop me from glancing up to the players suite where the wives and girlfriends sit, trying to spot the woman who made so much trouble for him.

“Yes, you’re right. As always,” I admit, sighing heavily.

“I’d be more worried about sitting in the members’ stand in that jersey,” she snarks, my personalised Dingoes jersey well out of place in a sea of blue.

“They can go choke on a bag of dicks,” I say out of the side of my mouth, the man next to me giving me a weird look. “I pay my membership like everyone else.”

Ines opens her mouth to say something but shuts it as the ground announcer starts giving us the rundown of today’s events. Pre-season trials never garner much interest, but somehow, this match has sparked a lot of interest. The stadium is at capacity and as the cheerleaders make their way onto the ground, tension begins to build.

The perks of being a long-time member mean my seat is close to the tunnel where the players run onto the field, and right on the fence-line. The Dingoes bench is also right in front of us. There are already support staff setting up the area and I watch them, wondering if I can recognise any of them from Asher’s descriptions. When a gorgeous blonde starts moving things about, I’m fairly certain it’s Kennedy; Billy Hunt’s girlfriend and sister to the Dingoes captain, Kai Martin.

“Competition?” Ines whispers against my ear, as Kennedy laughs at something one of the other men around her says.

“No! No, she’s dating Billy,” I assure her, wondering if she’s as friendly as Asher tells me she is.

“Is he the guy with the thighs?” I nod, laughing at how Ines remembers people, and try hard to shut down the nervous energy making me regret that second cup of coffee.

And now—the announcer begins, a hush falling over the stadium—the match up you’ve all been waiting for. Please welcome to the field, the South Coast Dingoes!

A chorus of boos and hisses fill the air, as Kai Martin leads his team out onto the field and I stand up, eagerly waiting to see Asher run out. When a tall, dark-haired player with the number two jersey runs out, my heart jumps into my throat. I haven’t been this close to him in months, and I feel like a fucking teenager watching my crush.

It’s all obliterated in a hail of roaring cheers as the Rays take to the field, pyrotechnic flames going off around the stadium. When the smoke settles, I scan the field to find Asher on the opposite side. As the ref blows the whistle, and the Dingoes kick-off, rampaging down the field after the ball, the mix of excitement and nervous energy builds.

I love rugby league. I have since Poppy brought me to my first game. It became a tradition. One that marked me as the weird girl at school who could talk footy with the boys. It also irked my parents that I didn’t want to spend every weekend with them on their hunt for the best fishing spot in Sydney.

I’m torn about cheering for a side I’ve followed since I could walk as they make a break down the field. And supporting the man doing his best to stop them. It was obvious the Rays weren’t going to take it easy on Asher, but the bone crunching tackles and blatant arms thrown out taking him head-high makes me sick.

I’ve never shied away from the ferocity of the game, in fact, it’s part of the reason why I love it. Maybe it’s some weird recessive neanderthal gene that allows me to enjoy the brutality of it, while appreciating the skill and dedication it takes to play at this elite level week after week. Whatever it is, even I know the team I’ve supported for so long is going out of their way to target Asher and it feels very personal.

“How much more of that can he take?” Ines asks, wincing at another tackle taking him to the ground, elbows and knees thrust into him.

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