Page 64 of Look What You Made Me Do

“Oh my God, we did it,” Ella yelled at Rosie, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might just burst out of her chest. “We did it!”

Rosie, who was crying and laughing all at once yelled back, “Yaaas, babe! We fucking did it!”

A potent swell of relief almost took her knees out from under her, but Trish and Rosie grabbed her into a three-way hug, holding her upright as they jumped up and down excitedly.

Jake and Pete ran onto the field and tears streamed down Ella’s face as the team – her team – huddled together in a big group hug. Then the boys picked up Jake and Pete and carried them off the field into the swarming Deluca supporters.

The cheer squad joined the fray and Ella, Rosie and Simon got swept up in the crowd, everyone reveling in the high of sweet, sweet victory.

Cameron found her and lifted her off the ground in a huge bear hug. “We did it,” he yelled over the noise, grinning down at her. “We did it!”

Ella almost fell over from the shock at such a show of affection and was glad he was still hanging on to her.

“You did it,” she said, beaming up at her brother, struggling to remember a time her heart had been so damn full. “You did it.”

Half an hour later Jake found himself standing in a circle with Cameron, Miranda, Rosie, Simon, Pete and Ella. The crowds had largely dispersed, the night had cooled rapidly and the dew was on the grass but none of them, it seemed, were willing to call it a night.

“Time to celebrate,” Rosie announced. “I’ve got a curry in the slow cooker and you’re all invited.”

The only one of them to look enthused was Cerberus, who had grown fat on the curry treats that appeared regularly under the table from anyone who dared to attempt it. He gave an ecstatic little shudder and whined appreciatively at her.

“Ah, count me out,” Jake said.

He glanced at Ella who was glowing. He hadn’t been back to their house since Ella had kicked him out and, in the effort to keep it professional – and avoid temptation – he should probably stay the hell away.

“Oh no. No, no, no.” Rosie shook her head vehemently. “It’s not a celebration without the coach.”

“She’s right,” said Pete.

“Yeah,” said Cameron. “Please, Coach.”

“Please, Jake,” Miranda said, her arm around Cameron.

Jake took in the eager faces, knowing that part of their motivation was how much less curry they’d all have to consume with one more at the table. And then there was Ella whose hair was loose and mouth was curved into a permanent grin and she was still glowing.

“Please, Jake,” she murmured.

There were those words again. Please, Jake. And it was Jake, not Coach and she was staring right at him which was like a hot fist straight into his groin. Between her and Miranda – two women who’d had his nuts in a vise forever – he knew he was sunk.

He gave a grudging nod. “Looks like I’m outgunned.”

“Yaas!” Rosie whooped. “I’ve sourced this great new spice that adds a little extra zing. You’re going to love it.”

Jake blinked. If Rosie’s curry had any more zing it’d need to be classified as a poison.

“We’ll go ahead and get the rice cooked,” she said with a little jiggle as she dragged Simon away.

“I’ll stop off and buy yogurt,” Pete offered.

“Buy extra,” Jake ordered, resigning himself to death by curry.

Even though it was a brisk night, they still ate on the back porch. Thanks to Rosie’s curry it wasn’t remotely possible for any of them to feel the cold. The heat was like a thermonuclear reaction in the stomach, likely to keep them warm to the end of their days.

Was her secret spice plutonium?

Simon took a large gulp of his water and passed around the yogurt bowl for second helpings. “Delicious.” He smiled at Rosie.

Miranda and Cameron had excused themselves earlier, taking their meals into the living room to watch Netflix. Cerberus had followed them in and Jake had no doubt most of the curry would, by now, have found a canine host.

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