Page 12 of Racing Heat
“You are never going to let me live that one down, are you?”
I shake my head. “No, probably not.”
“I’m pretty sure I can find a way to wear you down.” We both stop and stare at each other. “Ugh, I’m not looking forward to the flight.”
“Do you not enjoy flying?” I ask her, happy that she pivoted us onto much safer topics.
“No, it’s just the whole process of getting there, getting checked in, flying to San Francisco, and playing in an away game that’s so tiresome. I like home games. I have a very rigid routine before home games.”
I nod. I get it. I had a ritual for every home game too. I think most elite athletes do, but I don’t tell her that. Instead, I say,“Away games were always my favorite—all of the time I got to spend with my team. The bonding was nice, and we would go out and chase some tail. It was a good time. Don’t you girls do anything like that?”
Cassie laughs. “We go out, but you see us when we’re out. There’s not much chasing tail. Plus, we’re far from home. Why bother starting something?”
I pull her into a side hug. “It’s not like we were looking for relationships out of those meetings. But it’s cute that that’s where you took it.”
“I can’t believe my parents hope I find a man someday, if this is how they think,” she replies.
“I’m sure not all of them think like me, just most,” I tease.
“Sure, that’s one way of looking at it.” Her nose scrunches and her blue eyes dance with amusement.
I laugh and let her go. “It’s been fun. Thanks for the run.” I turn and head to my car, thoughts of her saying that I’m not marriage material still filling my head. It bothers me so much more than it should.
Chapter Five
~CASSIE~
My fingers are itching to play with the hem of my shorts. I’m on edge. I really miss my home-game ritual. I arrive at the stadium after Mac—of course, because that’shergame day ritual. She likes to get there before the whole team and even some of the staff. She says it helps center her and get her in the right mindset for the game. When I arrive, we walk the field together, just her and me, getting our heads in the game. I picture the types of runs I may have to do. I imagine myself taking the corner kicks. I can feel the energy of the fans, the excitement of game day. It calms me.
After we walk, we had to the center of the field and stretch. We work through the stretches in an extensive routine. We still stretch with the team; however, this one is just for us. Mac and I will pass the ball back and forth like we’re getting ready for a youth game. I didn’t know Mac then, so I didn’t get to do that with her. I love that we do it now.
But today is an away game, so none of those little traditions can be followed. We have to arrive at the stadium with the team. The home team is already there, so there is no quiet pre-game walk. The stretches are done together, as a team. Forget passing with Mac; that doesn’t happen at away games.
That’s why I’m so anxious.
I’ve been this way for every game. Mac has a bit of the jitters too, but I don’t think it’s quite as bad as me. Or maybe she’s just better at hiding it than I am.
The team is now in the visiting locker room getting ready. Everyone is getting into uniforms and warm-up shirts. I’m already ready. I’m not sure if it’s my nervous energy, but I got ready much faster than everyone else. So, I’m in the hallway, pacing. I’m trying to calm all my nerves and get my game face on. I stare at the floor as I walk back and forth.
A dark shape is standing in front of me when I turn to make another lap. I look up to find Jase. I instantly feel some of the tension that’s been settling between my shoulders release. I’m not sure why his presence is calming, because he’s not exactly the happiest of men. Jase is usually scowling, and his arms are always folded across his chest, or his hands are jammed into his pockets, with his eyes studying the ground.
“Hey,” he says in way of greeting. “You don’t look so good. Everything okay?”
I sigh loudly and shake my head, hoping to clear my mind. But it doesn’t work.
“Come on, out with it,” he says. “Tell me what’s got you all up in your head. This is a big game, and we need clear minds.” He repeats the same message Coach Watts gave to us earlier in the week, only his was a bit more positive than Jase’s.
“I’m just missing my home-field game day ritual. It calms me. And right now, I can’t get a clear head.”
“Well, you’ve got to learn to deal with away games and not being at your home field with all of your rituals.” He puts air quotes around the word rituals.
“When I saw you standing there, I thought you were going to be helpful or something.”
“What gave you that impression?”
“Because you used to have to deal with this kind of thing,” I exclaim a little too loudly. It makes everyone who’s in the tunnel look our way. It’s mostly staff of the Angel FC and a team member or two. It’s not exactly bright in the tunnel, so I can’t make out their faces. I just know that none of them are my friends, or they would have come over to talk to me.
“How is Mac handling the away-game jitters? You two seem to do that ritual together.”
