Page 48 of Nailing Heat
“I know, I’m making sure that you all get enough first,” I tell her.
She shakes her head. “That’s a mistake. Go get it now. Some of these girls will keep on going until it’s gone. Go and eat.”
I stare at our joined hands and wink at her. “Thanks for the tip.”
I get up and grab two slices of cheese and head back to sit beside her.
“Gatorade too,” she says with a chuckle as she examines my food.
“Yeah, yeah.” I laugh and get ready to head back over there. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m good, but thanks.” She grins at me, and I swear there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see that smile every day. We’re getting used to each other and becoming more comfortable around each other. I like it. But this won’t last.
I shake my head, trying to shake off the feeling, and failing.
“I could use some more Gatorade and napkins if you’re going,” Hendrix calls, breaking the spell that is forming between us.
“Sure thing, Hendrix,” I tell her.
“Hendrix!” As I walk away from the table, I hear Cassie say, “Let them be, let him stay with her for a bit.” I think she says as I head away from the table.
I shake my head. That woman and her boyfriend, Jase, are sofucking insightful. I keep hearing her words from the other night. She may not think I’m a bad guy for what I did. But the truth is she doesn’t know what I did and frankly, I’d do anything to keep them all from finding out. But as close as this group is, I feel like it’s only a matter of time and then they won’t be encouraging whatever little spell I think is dancing around us.
Chapter Seventeen
~AMELIA~
It’s another home game against Bay FC. Thankfully, we have an early lead. Mac and Cassie each found the back, so we lead early 2-0. There’s still time left in the first half and a whole other forty-five minutes left in the next. However, I’m hopeful that we can hold this lead.
We need this win.
You can see the scoreboard is bringing up the spirits of the players on the field and on the bench. The fans are loving it. So many of them have been on their feet since the first goal was scored. I love the cheers, screams and the energy coming from them right now.
Coach Watts even looks happy. Standing there beside Jase, casually talking to him and gesturing towards the field. The only one who may not be enjoying this as much as the rest of us is Hendrix. The win is a great thing, but the girl hasn’t touched the ball all game. And that has got to make her antsy. I see it on her face when she’s walking around her box, more like pacing it. The way she comes out a bit too far. She wants to be involved in this game, but so far we haven’t needed her. The Bay FC offense has been nonexistent. I know Watts said they were plagued withsome bad injuries right now, but I thought there would be something more than this going on.
I do feel a bit bad for them because our win right now might be because of their injury listing. Or they are having an off night. I know what those nights feel like and the self-loathing that follows the plane or car ride home from a game. I know how it ate at me the whole way from Kansas City. Dex even commented in the apartment that the silence from the Blaze players was shocking.
Sure, we were on a regular old commercial flight, flying with anyone who is coming from Kansas City to Tampa. But they would not have heard a peep from us. I remember avoiding all eye contact from any of them because I was afraid of the look of shame on their faces. I assumed everyone knew about the tie that hadn’t hurt us, yes, but it did nothing for us. And that is what stung.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when the first Bay player comes charging towards me. I look at her jersey to see which number she is, eight. I have never seen her before. I’ve gotten used to looking the team up to see who is on it, if there are any women’s National players or if I’ve come across any of them during my college season.
This one I haven’t seen before, but she seems to be pretty cunning. Strategically keeping her dribble tight, which keeps the ball close to her so that it’s harder for defenders like me to snag it away.
I advance anyway.
Moving quickly towards her I challenge her, so that we’re in a one-on-one stance. She has to get around me to make it to Hendrix. And as much as she would like some action right now, she’s not getting any. And she’s going to keep a clean sheet, meaning no goals scored.
The girl grins and keeps on coming, I come forward and move toe-to-toe with her, kicking at the ball so that it pops up. Sherecovers quickly and is able to receive the popped ball on her chest. I wait for it to come down and swipe at it gently with my foot, knocking it out from in front of her.
Time to take off.
I run quickly at the ball; I can feel her behind me. My jersey tugs backwards but I fight on forward. Thankfully, I’m able to get a shot off before her pull on my jersey causes me to go flying back. I eat turf.
Fuck!I think to myself as I feel my calf scrape at the turf. That is going to leave a mark. But on the plus side, that ball is nowhere near the net. I push up on my elbows and see that the ball has made its way back up to Mac. She won’t get to keep it, however, because the ref has blown the whistle.
My teammates come jogging over to where I’m still lying on the turf. I push up and stand when the ref approaches me.
“Are you alright?” she asks me. I can see her looking over me.
