Page 64 of The Hellion and the Captain
Meanwhile, Colin, Felix and the midfielders worked tirelessly to win back possession and spring counterattacks.
Then there was Emmaline, a revelation at outside forward. She flew down the wing, the cap that covered the waves of hair he loved so much bouncing as she ran, leaving defenders in her wake. She played the game so differently from the men, her creativity and tenacity creating chances, forcing the Rovers’ keeper to stay on his toes.
The game was still scoreless at the half, and Rhys praised his club’s efforts but demanded more.
“This is what we’ve worked for,” he growled. “Don’t let them take this from us.”
Rousing cheers answered him as they retook the field. The game opened up as both teams chased the breakthrough goal. Rhys’s heart pounded as he pushed himself to the limit, denying the Rovers at every turn.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Emmaline pounced on a turnover in midfield. She accelerated into space and found Tommy, sending it flying across the field toward him with a strong kick. The striker took one touch to round the rushingkeeper and sent it home, igniting thunderous celebrations in the stands.
Manchester Central dug deep to protect their slender advantage as the Rovers laid siege to their goal. With desperate tackles and last-ditch clearances, they were able to hold them off until, finally, mercifully, the game came to a close.
Pandemonium erupted as the realization of their achievement sank in. They were moving on. They still had a chance. Rhys was engulfed in a mass of bouncing, hugging bodies, a tangle of sweat-soaked limbs and delirious grins.
As the initial euphoria subsided, he sought out Emmaline, wishing he could show her how he truly felt, but knew that was a dream for another day.
Instead, he would have to be glad that they could share in this together, that she was as much a part of this club as any of them. She beamed up at him, eyes shining with pride and something more. Rhys wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, consequences be damned.
But he settled for a handshake, although he wrapped his fingers around her smaller hand, stroking her palm where no one could see him do so.
He could feel rather than see that people were watching them, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Victor Reeves or even Lord Montgomery, who had sabotaged them last year, were nearby.
“You were magnificent,” he murmured, still shaking her hand. “I’m so proud of you.”
“We did it together,” she whispered back, her voice thick with emotion. “All of us.”
“So we did.”
The club poured into the bathhouse, chanting their team song, and Rhys allowed himself to get caught up in the moment, forgetting the risks that awaited him – of being caught, of Emmaline not realizing her dreams, of he andEmmaline not finding a way to be together – as he opened his mouth and sang with the rest of them.
Usually, he stood to the side and watched them all, so he wasn’t surprised at the curious glances that came his way.
Emmaline seemed uncertain, but once she joined in the song, she did so with gusto, despite not knowing all the words yet.
When the song died down, they all turned to him, waiting for him to say something, and he jumped up on the table in the middle of the room, scattering some of the equipment that had been laid across it.
“Listen, lads!” he called out. “It was tough today, but you proved tonight that we are stronger than ever, especially when we play as a team. That’s what truly matters.”
They all cheered loudly before he continued.
“Only two teams stand between us and the Cup. First up – Eton!”
As the club cheered, Rhys looked around the room, his gaze finally landing on Emmaline, as it always did. Only, instead of the excitement he had expected to see upon her face, she looked as though a spirit had stepped right in front of her.
Her face was white, drained of color, her eyes wide and her hands in fists at her side.
It took everything within Rhys not to race across the room and demand that she tell him what was wrong so that he could make it all right again.
Instead, he slowly eased himself off the table and walked around the room toward her, accepting handshakes and congratulations from the other players as he went.
“Williams,” he said as he reached Emmaline. “Is everything well?”
He stared at her, willing her to share with him, but she just nodded curtly.
“Fine,” she said, her eyes flitting from one side to the other. “Perhaps we can discuss it at another time.”
“Of course,” he murmured before continuing on as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
