Page 19 of Matched Up

Megan pulled off her hoodie and grinned back at Niall, who was standing with Dad at the side of the pitch.

And then I saw him.Standing by himself, hands in pockets, staring right at me.I tried to stop myself smiling, but I couldn’t.So I looked down at my feet, Sadie’s words a blur.

‘Go Westing!’The girls shouted together, but my head was too full of Shane.

I held his gaze as I walked back to the bench and sat down.

The match was intense.The last time we played Cliftonville they beat us three nil.But this time?We were putting up a fight.Nil–nil at half-time.I tried to look like I didn’t care if Sadie put me on or not, but inside I was begging for it.Zoe wasn’t playingthatwell.I could do just as good a job as her.I looked at her as she wiped her brow, and wondered if Shane noticed how good she looked tonight.How her hair swung in a perfect ponytail and how long her legs looked in the Westing shorts.

‘OK, same team.Come on, girls, let’s win this,’ Sadie said, then walked back to the sideline.I went back to the bench and sat down beside Amina and Penny, who were complaining that Sadie wouldn’t let them have their phones.

‘We’re supposed to be watching the match,’ I said, stating the obvious.

Amina sighed.‘Ugh, can you be bothered?We won’t be playing; I think they justhaveto have subs or something.’

‘You don’t know that,’ I said.‘Yes, Lola!’I stood up as she travelled with the ball into their box.She passed it to Megan.Sadie was screaming ‘hit’.And she did.Hard and low, bottom-left corner; it was perfect.I cheered without thinking about all the other stuff.Sadie cheered, the whole team cheered.And then I felt stupid.When it all died down and Cliftonville had possession again, the crowd silent, I just felt pointless and pissed off at myself for cheering.Amina and Penny were right.

The match ended two–one to us, and I should have been happier, but sitting on the bench all night in the freezing cold with Shane there to witness it, had dampened my mood.I picked up my bag and started to walk away from the team when I heard my name.

‘Lexie.’

I looked up and scanned the other side of the fence.And there he was.Staring at me, waving me over to him.And all the other stuff?White noise.

‘Shane,’ I said.‘Hi, how’s it going?’I didn’t know what else to say.

‘Meet you behind the pavilion in five?’He raised his eyebrows and flicked his eyes towards the big white building.The boys match didn’t start for another thirty minutes.

‘Sure,’ I said, trying to tone it down so he wouldn’t hear the excitement in my voice.

I ignored the shouts of my name from Megan and tried to hide behind people as I passed Dad.

And there he was at the back of the pavilion, standing against the wall, looking at his phone, one foot resting on the brick.

‘Hey,’ I said.

He turned round, smiling, and all the disappointment from not playing in the match just disappeared into the night.

‘Hey,’ he replied.‘Good match.’

‘Yep,’ I said, walking over and standing in front of him.

‘You know what would have made it better?’

I looked up.‘What?’

‘Seeing you out there.’

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat when he said it.It was like all the feelings came back at once.The disappointment.The fact I was just a sub, that I’d never be as good as Megan.

‘Hey, you OK?’

He took my hand.But it wasn’t just my hand; every nerve in my body was on fire.

I looked up at him.‘Yeah, I’m OK.’I whispered, moving closer, so close I could feel the heat of his body.

And then something happened.Something I can’t explain because it wasn’t conscious.It was primal.

I turned into him, so he was pressed against the wall.Right there in the dark I stood on my toes and reached up to kiss him.And he kissed me back.His mouth tasted of Coke, sweet and warm, his hands on my hips, finding the bare-skinned space under my shirt and just above my shorts.My whole body tingled.I ran my hands through his hair, then they were on his face, pulling him closer to me.I let my hand explore underneath his tracksuit top, feeling lean muscle and zero per cent body fat.My mouth was aching when we stopped.Out of breath, we stared into each other’s eyes.

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