Page 29 of Offside Rule

I didn’t know what to do or say, especially when I took in their outfits. Arianna wore my T-shirt, and Giulia had a blue bow in her red hair, which was spilling over a smaller version of Arianna’s shirt. They both wore my name and the number nine on their backs, and I just wanted to squeeze them to my chest.

They were here. Both of them had come to watch me play.

I grabbed Arianna’s hand. “You said you had another game in Munchen,” I said, then moved my attention to Giulia. “And you, did you come to watch me play?”

“Yup,” Giulia nodded, popping the last letter.

Arianna smiled. “Tell Xavier what you told me.”

The little one looked at her mother, who nodded at her, and then glanced back at me. “You sweat a lot.” She scrunched her nose, and we both started laughing.

“Giuli,” Arianna said after she was done laughing. “Tell Xavier you’re sorry.”

Giulia didn’t waste another second, and obeyed her mother. “I’m sorry you sweat a lot.”

I couldn’t help the genuine burst of laughter falling from my lips. Everyone turned their heads in our direction, but I couldn’t care less. I guessed it was weird to see a player who had just lost an important game laugh like that.

When the laughter died down, I got to my knees and faced Giulia. “Would it be better if I came back after I showered?”

She nodded. “Yeah. It’s gross, and it stinks.”

“Got it.” I smiled, then bumped fists with her.

I wanted to kiss the shit out of her mother for raising such an adorable kid. When I got back to my feet, I met Arianna’s eyes.

“How come you’re here?”

She bit her lip. “I quit my job, Xavier. I want to spend more time with Giulia, and it was time to give my knees a break.”

The confession took me by surprise. I knew she had been at war with herself over her job and her daughter, but she had never mentioned the idea of not doing anything related to football. I knew how much she loved it.

I blinked, not really knowing if I should congratulate her or not, but she didn’t give me a chance to say anything.

“We’re proud of you,” she told me, placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “That’s what Giulia said after they blew the final whistle.”

And right then, even with dozens of disappointed people walking past us, and the memory of what had happened today, I felt like the luckiest man alive.

TWENTY-ONE

ARIANNA

“Are you okay?” I asked Xavier an hour later, as we walked through the very same park where we’d had our first date. Giulia was playing in the sand with some other children, but my attention was fixed on him after he’d flinched in pain when I’d touched his left shoulder.

He glanced at it, jaw twitching. “Yeah. Just a scratch.”

I knew where he had gotten it from. Xavier had defended the goal by sliding on the artificial grass, and blocking the ball from an opponent. The move was so smooth that it had left the crowd speechless before they’d cheered excitedly.

They might’ve lost today, but I rarely encountered a team that ran on the field as one. They were destined for great wins, and anyone could see that. I just hoped their country was as proud of them as I was.

“Talk to me?” I tried to prod when he seemed lost inside his head.

Xavier’s palm found my cheek and stroked it with his thumb. I leaned into his touch, smiling at the comfort. I had no idea how we’d gotten here, but I hoped there was no turning back from this.

“It’s just that …” he started, blinking a few times before continuing. “My phone’s been buzzing in my pocket constantly, and I’m honestly too much of a coward to pick it up.”

I frowned. “Why? Do you think whoever is calling is going to lash out at you for losing?” When he didn’t answer, I placed a hand on his chest. “Xavier, you did your best out there, I know you did. And whoever is dumb enough to not see that doesn’t deserve to even have your number, let alone call you.”

He nodded, then a smile grew on his face. “I can’t believe you are actually here.”

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