Page 16 of Matched Up

‘You love it then?Football?’He was looking right into my eyes now for the answer.But it was my smile that gave it away.

‘More than anything.When I’m not playing it’s all I think about, always thinking of the next game, always out in the back garden practising, watching it on TV.Football’s my life.’I felt my face flush with embarrassment.‘I don’t think I’ve told anyone how much I love it.It’s like if you admit it, it’s embarrassing if you’re not the best player.I mean, it would be OK for Megan to say she loves it because she can back it up.But me?’I laughed, trying to hide the humiliation of sharing so much.But it felt easy with him.

He stopped the ball and looked at me deadly seriously.‘You shouldn’t talk about yourself like that.’

My stomach flipped.‘Yeah, I know, just a habit.’

‘What’s your name?’

I’d forgotten that we hadn’t even exchanged names, even though I knew his already.

‘Lexie,’ I said.

He repeated it, like he wanted to try out the way it felt on his tongue.‘Nice to meet you.I’m Shane.’He grinned as he held out his hand.

And that was all it took.A handshake that sent waves of electricity through my veins and I knew that this was only the beginning.

8

‘Ready, Lexie?’

I turned to see Sadie and the rest of the girls walking on to the pitch.

‘Oh shit, I’d better go,’ said Shane, not breaking my gaze.‘See you later?’He smiled and winked before turning and jogging to the side of the pitch where he hopped over the fence again.

And it took a few seconds to come back down from whatever high I was riding, until the mash-up of nausea and excitement in my stomach calmed down and my breath went back to its usual rhythm.

‘Ready,’ I said to Sadie, trying to shake it off more quickly.

This didn’t happen to me.Can’t eat, can’t sleep, crushing on people.That was a Megan thing.I was focused.I was eye on the ball at all times.Until now.

And it wouldn’t leave me alone.The whole practice I was thinking about the way his eyes had skimmed over my legs and always ended by looking straight into my eyes like he could see my soul.

‘Lexie, where’s your head?’Sadie’s voice was like a cold shower, as a ball flew past me.

‘Sorry!’

At our water break Zoe came skipping over to me.‘Oh my God, were you talking to Shane?He’s really cute, isn’t he?I’m going to invite him to my party.Do you think he has a girlfriend?’She was looking at me in expectation, her trademark smile lighting up her face.

‘I have no idea.’

‘What are you wearing?Do you and Megan want to come early?Predrinks?’Zoe grinned.

‘I don’t actually know how we’re getting there, but I’ll let you know.Thanks, Zoe.’It took all my effort to be civil, when the way she talked about Shane made me seethe.

Just before we started back, I glanced over at the sidelines to see him standing there, leaning on the fence, watching our training.So I upped my game.I tackled harder, tried to make my passes accurate, and even though I missed a couple of penalties, I think I did an OK job.I heard the rest of the boys before I saw them.I was too focused on Shane and the way he rested his chin on his hand and smiled when I let myself make eye contact.

Hunter’s voice broke me out of the other world at the end of practice.‘Nice job, Lex!’

I kind of thought he’d give it a rest now, maybe chill out a bit after I’d said no to V-Ball.But there he was, with a big encouraging smile, his eyes on me.

I pretended not to hear him and glanced to where Shane had been standing.But he wasn’t there.He was on the pitch now, warming up by himself.

‘You coming, Lexie?’Megan called from the sidelines,probably wondering why I was hanging around when the boys had already started kicking the ball between themselves.

And because I was thinking about him, I forgot I wasn’t talking to her.

‘Yeah, coming now.’As I realized my mistake, I saw her grin like she’d just been awarded person of the match.

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