Page 127 of Play On

Pure, unadulterated joy surges through me. This is what love is. It’s supporting someone. Believing in them. Showing up when they need you.

And I will always show up for this man.

Always.

“I have to go,” Noah says, holding my face in his hands. “Text me your hotel and I’ll meet you there. My hotel will be full of fans and press in the lobby. It will be easier for me to come to you.”

“Okay,” I say, nodding. “I will.”

Noah grins at me. “You aren’t a mirage, right? I didn’t dream this whole thing, did I?”

“No,” I say, grinning back at him. “I’m real. You’re real. And I just watched you score two goals in Melbourne.”

His eyes shine back at me. “I’ll see you in a bit. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

Noah flashes me another V and then jogs off to join his teammates, clapping for the fans who came out in support. I finally remove my phone from my pocket and open the Uber app so I can arrange for a ride back to my hotel.

And wait for Noah to meet me so we can celebrate his performance on the pitch tonight.

* * *

I put a spritz of my perfume on the back of my neck and check out my appearance in the bathroom mirror of my hotel room. I’ve changed into a pair of faux-leather leggings and a kelly-green sweater with an open back. I’ve re-done my make-up, this time opting for red lipstick.

Which I plan to get all over Noah, of course.

A mischievous smile lights up my face, and I leave the bathroom and flop down on the edge of my hotel bed, the lights of downtown Melbourne flooding through my window and providing a glittering city view. I reach for my phone. I’ve finally responded to all the messages I got during the game. Everyone was so happy for Noah, and it made my heart soar to see how my friends and family have embraced him.

I have no doubt I’ll be able to get an entire group of us to go to his first home game in August.

The idea of having a group there, showing up for Noah, nearly makes me want to cry happy tears again. I decide to throw the idea out there right now so I can get tickets. I look up the schedule on the Stonebridge United website and see the first game of the season is a home one in Surrey on a Sunday. I quickly message the group chat:

Thinking ahead—I’d like for a bunch of us to cheer Noah on in the season opener on 13 August. It’s a Sunday, and it’s at home in Surrey. Bella, I assume you’ll be there, but if anyone else would like to go with me, I’d love to have a group of us there for Noah. Let me know if you’re in and I’ll see about tickets.

Nicholas is typing …

Aimee is typing …

Nicholas: Amelia and I are in.

Aimee: YASS I AM IN! By the way, Harvey Cross is GORGEOUS. Can you get the details on him from Noah? Please and thank you, LOVE UUUUUUUUUU

Bella is typing …

Bella: Yes, I will be there! Can’t wait to cheer on the boys! Oh Aimee—sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Harvey has a girlfriend.

Aimee is typing…

DAMN IT.

I smile. This is going to be great. I can’t wait to tell Noah he will have not just me, but a group of us supporting him.

Buzz!

My heart leaps. It’s a text from Noah:

Butterfly, do you care to rescue me from the lobby? I’m in a chair and trying to hide behind a potted plant.

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