Page 20 of Matched Up

‘Holy shit,’ he said.

‘Sorry,’ I said on an exhale.

I couldn’t believe what I’d just done.Not that I regretted it.I wanted to do it again.I wanted to do it forever.It wasn’t like I made a habit of kissing boys I didn’t know.I’d barely kissed anyone.Like one other guy at some house party last year.But this just felt right.

‘Don’t apologize,’ he said, taking a deep breath.‘I’ve wanted that since I first saw you.Can I ask you something?’

‘Anything,’ I replied.

‘Why do you stay here?If you’re not getting game time?There are other clubs, ones where you’d get to play way more.’He looked into my eyes, and I didn’t feel shame.There was no taking the piss, just genuine curiosity.

‘I really want to make the team,’ I said.‘It’s like a challenge I’ve set myself.To see if I can make it this year.But it hasn’t worked out yet.I trainsohard, but I just can’t seem to get off the bench.’I ordered myself not to cry but I could feel pressure building behind my eyes.

He scanned my face, taking it in.‘Can I help?’Our faces were centimetres from each other.He wiped a rogue tear from my cheek with the sleeve of his top.‘What about if I help you train?’

Something lifted.

‘You would do that?’I couldn’t help smiling.

‘Yeah, I would.I mean, I don’t have that much free time, but what are you like with early mornings?’

‘Any time suits me.Literally any time.’I tried not to sound too excited but I failed.

He pushed a bit of hair behind my ear.‘OK, meet me at the club tomorrow, six a.m.?’

‘Saturday?Don’t you want to sleep in?’I mean, I didn’t ever sleep in, but I assumed most people did.Niall didn’t get up until midday at the weekend.I felt a wave of heat rush through me as I thought about Shane in bed.

‘Ah no, I’m a morning person.’

‘Same.Oh, are you going to Zoe’s party?’

‘The redhead?Yeah, she text me about it actually; not sure how she got my number.’He shrugged, and I tried to keep my face neutral, a desperate attempt at hiding the jealousy that was so strong it made me feel sick.‘I’ll be there if you are,’ he said when I didn’t say anything.It was the perfect answer.He reached down and threaded his fingers through mine, reigniting tiny fires in my veins.

I grinned.‘I’ll be there.And I’ll be at the club tomorrow.’

He nodded.‘Good.’

I moved so it was me against the wall.And this time I pulled him by his track top towards me and he kissed me again, slower.Our tongues in perfect sync.When I pulled away, I saw Shane glance towards the pitch where the boys had started to gather.‘Are you staying to watch the match?’

‘Of course.’

‘I’ll try and score for you … But, Lexie?’he asked awkwardly.

‘Yeah?’

‘Can you go on?I need to fix something and it’s not going to get any better with you being here.’He eyed his trackies and I laughed.

‘Good luck.’I reached up and kissed him again, long and gentle, before I walked back over to the pitches with a smile on my face, going over and over the kisses in my head.Andit surprised me how easy it felt.I’d thought about it before, kissing new people, how I’d do it then getting scared about how awkward or embarrassing it would be.But this was none of those things.It felt like it was supposed to happen.

‘I’ve been looking for you.Where’ve you been?’Dad put his arm round my shoulder, and I leaned into it.

‘Just went for a walk.’

He stopped and we both moved out of the way of the crowd that had started to gather for the boys.‘Cliftonville wouldn’t have scored if you’d been playing.’

‘Thanks, Dad,’ I said, even though it wasn’t true.

‘Do you want a hot chocolate, pet?I saw a van selling coffee over there.’He nodded to the other side of the pitch.

---