Page 21 of Matched Up

‘No thanks.’I wanted to keep the taste of Shane in my mouth forever.

We watched the boys walk out.Niall included.I’d half forgotten that Niall was on the team too.What was happening to me?Usually, I’d have guessed the boys line-up and I’d be waiting to see if I was right.Maybe Niall would be on the bench now that Shane was here.I glanced up at Dad, who was on the phone, wondering if he’d regretted coming altogether.

Niall wasn’t on the bench, and as pissed off as I was at him, I breathed a sigh of relief.Harrison had put him on the wing.Leftwing.He was fast but his left foot was his weaker one.He was not going to be happy; he’d have to cut in.

‘Isn’t that Megan?Hello, Megan, love.Great game, incredible goal!’Dad held up his hand to high-five her and I wanted to die.

She didn’t leave him hanging.‘Thanks, Mr Ryan.Couldhave done with Lexie in defence, though.’She glanced at me as she said it and I pretended not to hear.Zoe was standing next to her sipping a hot chocolate, Westing hoodie sleeves pulled down over her fingers.She looked annoyingly good.

Glentoran were around the same place as Westing on the table, so it was always a good game.Last time they played it was a three–all draw.But they didn’t have Shane then.And it didn’t take long before Shane made himself seen.

I hadn’t taken my eyes off him since he’d stepped on to the pitch and Zoe and I gasped at the same time.Hunter crossed the ball and Shane hit it first time.A volley off the crossbar and into the net.

‘Bloody hell,’ said Dad.

Unlike Niall or any of the other boys would have, Shane didn’t celebrate.He just jogged back down the pitch with his head bowed.Then just before he turned, he locked eyes with me and I saw the tiniest smile.A split-second curl of his perfect lip before it disappeared again and the ball was back in play.

‘Oh my God, I’m going to video the rest of the match so I can send it to him, then he can watch it back and see how good he is.’Zoe was right beside me now, gazing at Shane and biting her lip, holding her phone through the gaps in the wired fence.She looked at me like she was checking I’d heard what she’d just said.

I laughed and wished Zoe wasn’t here.‘Who wants to watch themselves back?’

‘He has no confidence.Like, I was telling him how good he was and he was all, “No, I’m not.”This way he can see it forhimself.’Zoe smiled a self-satisfied smile into the night.‘And I found out he doesn’t have a girlfriend.’

I squeezed the fence in front of me and bit my tongue instead of telling her yes, actually, he sort of did.I mean, it might not be official or anything, but we’d donea lotof kissing, like, twenty minutes ago.Andhe was my coach nowandI was going to invite him to my house when my parents went away.That thought surprised me.Because it came out of nowhere.It wasn’t something I did or even thought about, but it was like he made my brain wire differently.

I forced my face to relax the tension that was desperately trying to make me frown.‘Oh really?’

‘Well, not that it matters really, and I’m not bragging, but when I want something, I usually get it.’I didn’t even have to look at her to imagine the stupid smug smile.I hoped she could sense the stabby vibes I was sending her while pretending not to hear.I think Dad was pretending not to hear too.

‘Well, just keep your paws off Niall,’ said Megan seriously.

Dad looked at me in confusion.

I shrugged.I wasn’t in the mood to explain anything right now.

Zoe wasn’t fazed at all.She laughed.‘Oh, Megan, did Lexie tell you about predrinks?’Zoe looked between us and now Megan looked confused.

‘No?What predrinks?’

I nudged Megan and eyed Dad.‘Keep your voice down.’

‘OK, but what?’

‘Zoe asked us to come to her house early, but I said I didn’t know.’

‘Why didn’t you say?’

‘Forgot.’

‘Well, straight after the match is fine if you can make it,’ said Zoe.‘Mum’s always telling me to invite more people round.’She smiled, then turned back to the match and Megan glanced at me, puzzled.

Then Shane scored again.And this time I saw him looking at someone else.I followed his gaze to a woman in a coat and scarf standing alone.And this time his smile was full-on and all for her.

10

Even though his team had won, Niall’s mood had turned to rage now.And I got it, I really did.Before he got into the car, I watched him kick the ground, digging his foot hard into the grass that we walked across to get to the car park.Dad didn’t even notice.He was pointing out some building work that was going on across the road.But I hadn’t seen Niall this angry in a long time, if ever.

‘That new kid’s good, isn’t he?’Dad said on the drive home.

---