Page 125 of Play On

And that’s the man who loves me back, exactly as I am. He didn’t see my action of coming to Australia as a whimsical, butterfly idea. He saw it as me coming to support him. To be the person in the stands, wearing his jersey on my back because he deserves it.

Because he deserves to be loved like this.

I take my seat, still buzzing inside from what just happened.

Noahlovesme.

I can’t stop replaying his declaration in my head. I’m joyful, I’m excited, I’m grateful … All of these emotions about Noah are wrapped up into one right now.

But to see how much it meant to him for me to be here, to see the expression on his face and how emotional he got?

I absolutely did the right thing by coming to Melbourne.

And now I can’t wait to see him flash the V when he scores a goal tonight.

Chapter Thirty

Number Seven

Fireworks light up the sky over the stadium, dazzling the black Melbourne sky with flashes of colour on this chilly evening. I’m standing with the rest of the fans in my section, all eagerly awaiting what we have come for tonight.

Not the fireworks, as lovely as they are.

But to watch Stonebridge United take to the pitch in a friendly against bitter rivals Oakleaf Palace.

After the last of the fireworks erupt, the teams are announced on the PA system, and I feel a rush of excitement sweep over me. Both teams come on to the pitch, holding the hands of children dressed in the same kit as they are wearing. Mascots. That’s what Noah told me they were called.

And then I see him.

My heart pounds inside my chest the second I see the name “DARBY” across the back of his shirt, along with his number seven. He’s holding the hand of a little girl in pigtails, and I think my ovaries might be obliterated by the sight of him with a child.

They walk across the pitch and stand in line, and I can’t keep my eyes off Noah. I’m so glad I came. Seeing his reaction, the tears in his eyes, the emotion in his voice—I know without a shadow of a doubt I did the right thing by coming to Melbourne.

And I will stay in this stadium until Noah leaves the pitch. I won’t leave a second before then.

Because Noah deserves this. To have someone here for him, the entire match, rooting for him and encouraging him.

He needs me here.

And there’s no place on earth I’d rather be.

Cheers fill the stadium after the anthem is played, and finally, we get down to the business of playing football. The players get around the circle at the centre of the pitch, and as soon as the whistle is blown, a Stonebridge United player kicks the ball, and the game is underway.

I take my seat, as everyone around me is sitting and I don’t want to block anyone’s view. I lean forward, my feet tapping against the concrete floor, my hands clasped tightly together in my lap, excitement filling me as my eyes follow wherever Noah goes.

Within seconds, however, I’m breathless.

Because Noah is a thing of beauty on the pitch.

He’s running, and I can see the muscles flex in his thighs as he moves. I see how agile he is, able to turn and pivot and run wherever the ball is headed. I watch how he fearlessly goes after the ball, engaging with the Oakleaf Palace players to try and take it away. I’m impressed by his speed—he seems to fly down the pitch effortlessly.

Noah is absolutely brilliant.

Tears sting my eyes. It is an honour to watch him. A complete honour. I feel so incredibly lucky to be here seeing him in person, wearing his shirt, and being in this moment. People all over the world watch Premier League football and only so many can see it live.

I’m one of the fortunate ones.

Suddenly the Stonebridge United team begins moving the football this way. I can hear the manager yelling from the sideline, but I don’t tear my eyes off Noah to see what he’s doing.

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