Page 39 of Begin Again Again

Daisy, Gemma and Luke had all wandered closer, probably to see who the tall drink of water was. Beth made herself smile. “Hey, sorry, this is my friend, Byron.”

Byron shot her a look.Beth ignored him. Her heart was pounding like a drum set. She could barely believe he was here. That this was actually happening.

“Joshua Ramos,” Josh said, extending a hand to Byron.

They shook in violation of all COVID protocols, eyeing each other like supervillains. Beth wondered how they’d behave if they knew how little time the other had actually spent with her.

“You don’t play touch, do you?” Josh asked.

Byron flashed him a zero-warmth smile. “Nah. You guys look tight though.”

“Cheers.”

The buzzer sounded and Beth thanked God. “Shall we get back out there?” she asked Josh.

He gave her a too-intimate smile. “Let’s do it.”

She turned to run onto the field, but Byron grabbed her hand. “Hey, grab a drink, after the game?”

“I—”

“Hang on!” Daisy interrupted. “I thought you didn’t drink?”

Beth’s face burned. She kept her gaze on the other woman, refusing to look at Byron. “Yeah I don’t. But I mean… he means… uh.”

Byron flashed Daisy a megawatt smile. “I didn’t mean booze. Lemonade’s still a drink.”

She turned scarlet. “It sure is.”

How much of a lady-killer was Byron when he was on form? A mass murderer, she guessed. He probably left piles of corpses all over the place. She gently extracted her hand from Byron’s. “I’ll see you for lemonade after the game.”

“Sounds good,friend.”

Beth ran onto the pitch, her body thrumming like a live wire.

Chapter 8

Byron lay on the grass, watching Beth’s team run in try after try. It was mostly down to the guys playing the hero, but he wasn’t paying them much attention. Beth looked incredible in the light of the setting sun, all bright hair, long legs and bouncing tits. She was giving it her all out there, running hard, chasing every touch. It was charming. He was as attracted to her sober as he’d been drunk. More. He smiled as she scooped up the ball, glad his decision to come see her in person had paid off.

He’d checked his phone at midday and seen his message to Beth hadn’t sent. He almost hit resend, but it was a pretty weak text. He knew he’d be better off making the effort to go watch her game. He’d mentioned coming along to support her and it was a good way to show Beth he was keen and hopefully finishing what they’d started last night. What he’d failed to finish last night.

“How long have you and Beth known each other?” It was the short girl, Daisy. She sat beside him, her fancy dog in her arms.

“A little while,” he said. “Your bloke is doing well out there.”

Daisy smiled. “Thanks. So, you and Beth met at work?”

“Nah. What about you and…?”

“Luke.”

“Luke,” Byron agreed. “How’d you two meet?”

Daisy gave him a look that said he wouldn’t get away with it that easily, but she launched into the story all the same.

Byron listened, trying not to smile. Even when people knew you were avoiding their questions, they couldn’t help answering yours. Everyone wanted attention. It wasn’t a bad thing, just kind of depressing that there seemed so little to go around. He and Daisy talked about Luke and their dog Oliver until the final whistle blew. No Woman, No Try had won. Daisy leapt to her feet cheering and Byron stood too. He spotted Beth, beaming as she ran toward him, and something in his chest stuttered, like an engine kicking into gear. He touched his sternum, slightly alarmed.

“Are you okay?” Daisy asked.

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