Page 61 of Always on My Mind

Another first in her career—her teammates felt like her friends. Between all the questions and teasing, she received congratulations from every one of them. And they thanked her for trusting them. It made the decision all the more valid in her mind. More weight seemed to fall from her shoulders. She wasn’t worried about this getting back to her father. She could trust.

“What’s going on out here?” Rebecca asked as she emerged from her office.

Niamh looked at Jamie with a raised brow. Jamie nodded to give her permission.

“Jamie’s a lesbian,” Niamh blurted.

“Okay, and?” Rebecca said.

“She’s dating my flatmate, Tessa Gallagher,” Niamh added.

“About time,” Rebecca replied.

“Hold on,” Paige said. “Niamh, did you know about this already?”

Niamh folded her arms over her chest with a confident smile. “Yep. Caught them snogging in the kitchen the day after Jamie’s injury.”

That sent the room into a fit of giggles, and a few demands to know why Jamie hadn’t told them as early as Monday morning. Jamie smiled and shrugged. She only knew she wanted to do it right.

Rebecca ushered everyone outside, leaving Jamie to head to the weight room. As she walked, she felt a lightness in her step she had never experienced before. Her teammates understood her now. She had successfully invited them in. Even if apparently some had had their ear to the door already. She too wondered why she had wasted so much time on a speech to make the ideal moment. While it wasn’t what she had rehearsed or imagined, it was perfect in the end.

In their match against Aston Villa, Stanmore women left with a draw. The following day, the men’s team played West Ham United at home, and the women’s team were invited to attend.Ray Rogers had booked them a box to themselves, as he had for the men at the women’s match. All in the effort to show the club’s commitment to collaboration between the squads.

Jordan and his wife, Laci, had come. As had Osahar and his wife, Nadia. Hector, Kâmil, and Luka had attended as well. In support of the men, Jamie came with Tessa. Eliana and Neriah were there. Zahra, Mai, Kiri, and Niamh also came. They were all in their seats when Tessa and Jamie came down the steps to join them.

Jamie never got used to watching football from the stands. Film was one thing, but being there live, with no way to impact the game made her restless. Of course, it didn’t matter at the men’s game, but it was still an odd feeling.

“Please, Eliana,” Zahra was begging. “It can’t be that different. I need to practice.”

“All Latin American Spanish is different from Spain Spanish,” Eliana replied. “And Colombian Spanish is different from Ecuadorian Spanish or Argentinian Spanish or Venezue—”

“Can you at least help me with pronunciation?”

Eliana sighed. “I can try.”

“Thank you!” Zahra squealed. “I’ve got flashcards ready. I really want to impress Hector next time we talk.”

Eliana picked up the first card. “You want to impress him by talking about—their word for car is carro?”

“That’s what this Colombian girl on TikTok says,” Zahra said with a shrug. “Why? What’s your word for it?”

“Coche,” Eliana said. She flipped through the next several cards. She muttered in Spanish as she checked each word.

“Wait, wait, you have to quiz me!” Zahra insisted.

Jamie chuckled as she watched. She turned to face Tessa. “Would you want me to learn Irish for you?”

“Ach, no, my Irish is shite,” Tessa replied. “I mean, I know a couple words here and there, but never enough to have a conversation or anything.”

Kiri plopped into the seat in front of them. “You shouldn’t let your roots get away from you, Tessa. My parents always used Maori at home so we wouldn’t lose it.”

“My parents aren’t fluent in Irish either,” Tessa explained. “My granda is, but he never taught it to my ma or me.”

“Hector’s taking classes in Arabic at a language school nearby,” Kiri said. “He said they teach loads of languages, and put a lot of focus on indigenous ones in an effort to keep them from dying out.”

“Do they now?”

Jamie loved the way Tessa perked up at the suggestion and made a mental note to look into it. Her schedule was packed, but maybe once the season was over, she could take some time and learn. Before she could suggest it, Zahra had raced over.

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