Page 81 of We'll Meet Again

“Not today we don’t,” Betty replied, and took Billie’s hand firmly.

Billie understood now where Ethan got his positivity. His unyielding hope. She talked about Ethan’s commitment and determination, but Betty herself must have instilled it in him. When Billie wasn’t sure she could admire any two people more, they showed her this. She smiled, and gave Betty’s hand an affirming squeeze. She was going to believe too.

To a roaring stadium, Jordan blocked the free kick.

It carried on that way for much of the second half. Billie felt her heart in her throat as each team created chance after chance, but neither were able to get the ball in the back of the net. She had to admire the defenders on both sides, as well as the keepers, as both teams’ attackers kept hitting a wall, even after both managers had used up all their subs. Fresh legs couldn’t break through either.

Until the eighty-seventh minute. Hector had the ball and raced up the pitch, dribbling carefully to avoid the Arsenal defense. He passed to Artem in the center, who sent it straight to Osahar, a couple yards ahead. Ethan was open, but just barely. Osahar made the pass anyway, and thankfully, Ethan got it and escaped the defender with a clever turn. He headed straight for the goal. Billie’s hand found Betty’s to her left, and their fingers intertwined without even looking.

Peter was wide open on the left, but Ethan either didn’t see him or was choosing to ignore him, despite Peter clearly gesturing for the ball. Billie wondered if anything else had happened between them to make Ethan play selfishly, even just for a moment. In a rather risky move, he faked like he was going to shoot from just outside the box, which drew the goalkeeper off his line. Ethan was able to sprint around him and take a clear shot at a now undefended goal. The ball swished right into the corner of the net as the Stanmore supporter’s section went absolutely wild.

Billie and Betty looked at each other, screamed, and leapt into each other’s arms, jumping up and down to the beat of the cheering fans. Beer rained down on them. Yellow smoke plumed from the lower sections, fogging up the stadium. The pandemonium only continued when the final whistle blew, since only a minute of stoppage time was added. Betty and Billie got high-fives, hugs, and offers for drinks from everyone around them.

The press surged onto the pitch, Ethan their primary target, and those that couldn’t reach him swarmed in on Coach Warren. Billie took a moment to watch him, how he lowered his head and smiled with humility. The bashful look on his face as he spoke into the microphones. He had just done this incredible thing, and he was still the same. Her chest got that warm, fuzzy feeling he gave her. She had to admit to herself that if she wasn’t in love with him already, she was certainly teetering on the edge of it.

Betty and Billie ran onto the pitch along with the other friends and family members as soon as they were allowed. Betty, uncaring that Ethan was in the middle of an interview, rushed forward and engulfed him in a hug. He chuckled and hugged her back before introducing her to the reporter, a middle-aged man with jet black hair, slicked back to reveal a handsome, angular face.

“Betty Knight, what a charming name,” he said.

“You think that’s nice, you oughta hear my phone number,” Betty replied with a sly grin.

Ethan rolled his eyes but left her to it, taking the opportunity to get to Billie. Immediately, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she planted a kiss on his lips, so sweet and adoring and triumphant, she didn’t even hear the camera shutters snapping rapidly around them.

“Hope you aren’t too tired,” she said when they parted, running a hand through his hair before she leaned in to whisper huskily in his ear. “I’ve got such good plans for celebrating.”

Chapter 22

Theycouldn’tgetthroughEthan’s door fast enough. After dropping off Betty at her hotel - though she assured them she wouldn’t be staying there long with that reporter’s phone number secured - Billie and Ethan went straight back to his flat. They didn’t even make it to the hallway before their lips were locked, hot and needy, all teeth and tongue, frenzied for one another. Finally, once in the safety of the flat, Ethan’s hands were all over Billie - grabbing her ass and her hips, kissing her neck with a kind of hunger she hadn’t seen from him before.

“Ethan,” she moaned, letting her head fall back to expose more of her skin.

He answered with a grunt as he pushed her back against the wall. Her legs subsequently turned to jelly, but he held her up with his hips. He rocked into her, and she felt his half-hard cock against the inside of her thigh. Gasping, she gripped handfuls of his shirt.

“Ethan,” she said again. “Can’t we at least make it to the bedroom?”

“We can go wherever you want, darlin’.”

She pushed on his shoulders to make him look at her and she shook her head. “Tonight’s about you, FA Cup finalist.”

His smile turned her insides to mush. He took her hand and let her plant her feet on the ground before leading her into the bedroom. She immediately started undressing. Her Stanmore scarf went first, followed by her jacket, kit, and jeans. His green eyes, usually so bright, darkened as he looked over the lingerie she’d bought just for this occasion.

“Damn, baby,” he said. “All this for me?”

She nodded and turned slowly to give him a complete view. The pale yellow lace, as close to Stanmore’s primary color as she could get, added to how sheer it was. The bra had no cups, so her hard nipples were clearly visible, and the thong left nothing to the imagination. Ethan’s red cheeks let Billie know she’d done well, but she decided to ask anyway just to tease him, “You like?”

“I love it,” he told her. “God, you’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Now sit down on the bed, handsome.”

He did as she instructed, an enthusiastic smile on his face. She strode over to him, taking her time so he could get the image burned in his brain. When she claimed his lips in a kiss, his tongue darted out to meet hers. She had to remind herself not to get caught up in the kiss itself, she had more she wanted to do for him. Her hands found their way to his shirt and started undoing the buttons. Meanwhile, her lips trailed down to his jawline, and to that place behind his ear that always made him moan.

“I wanna make you feel so good,” she whispered, pushing his shirt off his shoulders.

“You do that every day,” he said.

She smiled and kissed his cheek. “God, you’re so fucking sweet.” She openly ogled him with his shirt off afterward. “And hot.”

He laughed and pulled her in for another kiss. Ethan kissed her more than anyone she’d ever dated or slept with. Not that she complained, he was great at it, but something about it, beyond the incredible technique, always made her arousal shoot through the roof. It was how badly he craved her. Like kissing alone was enough for him, he didn’t even care if they made it to the rest. Just the touch of her lips was everything he needed.

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