Page 64 of Hits Different

We ring off, and after a second, I peek back outside, watching him. I feel a frisson of excitement for our date later. I look around at my state of a bedroom, and begin tidying up.

Anything to distract from the fact that all I can think about is Brandon Carter. And that I’m pretty sure we both just lied to each other.

Chapter 25

Spiralling

Brandon

Hi Dad!

Hope you’re good & campaign prep is going well. Life at Summit is awesome. I’m pretty much fully recovered now, just in time for the scouts. I looked online and saw that the conference for the Engineering Expansion Committee is next month, and it’s really close to where I’m staying.

I could swing by and we could get lunch, if you have time? Or just a coffee?

Brandon

* * * *

I stay on the field another hour. I believe in keeping my promises, but I also believe in protecting my career. Drills. Stretches. Protein. Anti-inflammatory meds. More stretches.

I’m doing everything I need to do to get my game back.

And it’s not fucking working.

I know I should give myself more time, but my body won’t move in the way it used to.

I can’t cut and dive, spin or adjust like I could before the accident. It might not sound like a big deal, but to me it is.It’s the difference between a Sunday player and a Super League Player.

Four weeks until the scouts visit. Four weeks until nothing less than perfection will do.

I could have told Di Rossi the truth, but I don’t need to give the guy another reason to walk away from me. And now he’s watching me from afar. I can feel the weight of distance looming like an unspoken threat between us.

My phone chimes.

Reuben

Pizza before the game was a schoolboy error

Billy

Wrong chat skipper

My teammates. They have another group chat. One without me.

Freddie

Who has time for managing multiple chats when they’re pizza drunk?

Billy

Clearly not the you of two.

Two of you.

Freddie

Who’s all cocky now he’s remembered how to save a penalty?

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