Page 99 of The Assist
“I saw you earlier.”
My stomach drops. Cold and fast.
“In the corridor,” he adds. “Right before you dragged Mia into the physio room.”
My heart kicks against my ribs, hammering painfully. “I didn’t…” I start, but he cuts me off with a sharp look.
“Mate. I’m not stupid. Neither’s Jonno. Or Coach.” He scrubs a hand over his jaw, dropping his voice lower. “You were lucky it was me and not someone else.”
I drag a hand through my hair, pacing two steps away from him, trying to breathe. “You don’t get it, Murph,” I mutter, my voice rough. “I can’t…” I stop. My jaw’s tight. I can’t stay away, or pretend she’s just another physio. I can’t shove what’s happening between us back into a box now that I’ve had her, tasted her,felther break open against me.
Murphy’s quiet for a second, then steps in closer. “Idoget it,” he says, softer now. “More than you think. But you need to be smarter.”
I rake my hands over my face. Every part of me is thrumming, desperate to get back to her, totouchher, to make sure she’s okay after everything with her dad.
But he’s right.
What if Jonno had seen us, or Coach had?
She could lose her job. She’s worked her ass off to be here, and I’m not about to be the reason it gets torn away from her. I glance sideways at him, voice rough.
“You gonna tell anyone?”
Murphy snorts, slinging his bag higher on his shoulder. “Of course I’m not, we’re mates and this is none of mybusiness,” he says. “But you gotta be more careful, Diesel. For her sake.”
His words land harder than anything.
For her sake.Not for me. Not for the team.For Mia.
I nod, swallowing against the burn in my throat. “Yeah,” I rasp. “I know.”
Murphy claps me on the back, all casual again like he hasn’t just ripped a hole through my chest.
“Good. Now c’mon. Drinks are on you tonight, goal scorer.”
I force a rough laugh, following him down the corridor. But inside, everything’s tight and tangled. Because I know damn well he’s right. And the brutal truth is, I’d burn the whole fucking world down for Mia. But if I’m not careful, I might be the one who costs her everything.
We head to the small bar inside the stadium, it’s players and staff only, and most game days the team congregates here for a drink before we all make our way home. True to his word, Murphy announces to the gathered few that the drinks are on me. With a groan, I head to the bar and hand over my card, adding just enough cash to the tab so everyone can get a drink. I’m thanked by a whole load of shoulder grabs and slaps on the back as my teammates order a drink.
Danny sidles up beside me. “I have no idea what’s going on with you recently, but whatever it is, keep doing it. You are on fire at the minute, D!”
I’m leaning on the bar next to Ollie and Murphy, and staring into my beer glass. My shoulders lift on a shrug at Danny’s comment. I can’t bring myself to answer, so instead, I raise my glass and tap it against his. He seems content with that and moves around me to talk to Ollie and Murphy.
When the noise fades and the team thins out, I head back into the stadium to find her. She’s sitting on the edge of thebench by the entrance to the gym, scrolling absently through something on her phone, her brow furrowed.
God, she’s beautiful, and she has no idea. I move toward her before I can stop myself. She senses me coming, and looks up, her whole face softens when she sees it’s me.
That’s all it takes.
One look.
One smile.
And I know I’m already hers.
There’s no hiding it now.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
