Page 50 of Hotshot

“But just to add to the torment, I’m not here all weekend, either. I’m off to see my aunt and cousin before the festivities. I’m away for a full five days.”

Sloane covered her face with her palms and groaned.

“Think of this as impetus for you to set a record to get your boot off. More flexibility in your ankle will be required, believe me.” Who the hell had she turned into, speaking like this?

The look on Sloane’s face told her she was just as confused, too. Hopefully, also turned on. Ella knew she was.

“When is it due to be removed?”

“This week, I hope. I have another X-ray tomorrow.”

“Make sure it goes well, then.”

“Believe me, I will.” Sloane shifted her foot and sat back. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for so long.” She stared at Ella with a dreamy grin.

“That makes two of us.” Ella paused. “But you know this is complicated, right?”

Sloane nodded. “I do. But I never have liked easy.”

“I hope you’re not trouble, Sloane Patterson.”

“I guess you’re going to find out.”

CHAPTER19

The scan results came back, and the news was good: the boot could come off. Now came the next phase of rehab, but Sloane had done it before, and she could do it again. However, this time was doubly important for a few reasons. First, because she wanted to finish what she’d started at Salchester. Second, because of Ella.

Their kiss still burned fresh in her memory. Bright lights illuminated the scene behind her eyes every time she blinked. Kissing Ella had been like a dream sequence in a movie. Scorchingly slow, achingly fast. Ella was everything Sloane wanted in a woman. Ella had taken her time to unlock Sloane, and there was still more to come. They both knew that. The exciting thing was, Sloane got to unlock Ella, too. She wanted to be the person to do that in every possible way.

She made her way along the corridor of the club’s training centre, and walked into the empty lounge area. Sloane grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and sat on one of the couches. She wriggled her toes with caution, but was pleased nothing crackled when she did. It felt weird not to have the boot on. Her foot was finally free, which meant she was a step closer to total freedom, too.

She glanced at the lounge walls, covered in posters of soccer formations and tactics. Lucy sometimes gave her match briefings in here to smaller groups, and she’d clearly done one recently for the defenders, highlighting the low block. There was also the obligatory tinsel around doors, and a fake Christmas tree in the corner to provide some festive cheer.

Sloane pulled her phone from the pocket of her tracksuit pants, then frowned. She had 142 notifications, and she’d last looked only 45 minutes ago. What the hell was going on? She clicked, winced, then massaged the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. Sloane flipped left, then left again, and again.

Someone had tailed her and Ella. So much for being left alone here. Perhaps the honeymoon period was over. Seriously, did people not have better things to do? Apparently not. There were photos of them at the service station on the way back from training getting coffee. Photos of them outside Ella’s potential new flat. Photos of them laughing and looking very cosy when they left the flat, standing beside Ella’s car. The story with it went along the lines of “Salchester’s US forward sensation is still recovering from her injury setback, but maybe she’s getting a little extra help in the form of the mystery brunette seen here.”

Ordinarily, she would have ignored the photos. However, after last night, Sloane looked at them in a different light. Now she’d kissed Ella, to her, these showed therewassomething between them. Something that jumped out of her phone.

Photos like this weren’t unusual for Sloane. But they were for Ella, and she was worried about her reaction. She tapped out a quick message to her, asking if she’d seen them. Ella was with her client in London today, so she wouldn’t be checking her phone. Sloane hoped she was okay with it. Getting involved with a public figure, however minor, was something Ella had to consider.

The door of the lounge opened, and Lucy walked in. “I saw you pass my door, and I thought you might be here.” She waved a hand when she saw Sloane get up. “Stay put. Even though it’s clearly good news about your ankle. Let’s talk in here – I could do with a change of scene.”

Sloane nodded and sat back down.

“Your ankle’s doing well?” Lucy pointed to Sloane’s finally bootless foot.

“Yep, the physios are satisfied. I just need to work on it over Christmas and New Year, and they’re hoping I can return as soon as mid-January.”

“That’s great. Progress is clearly going well, but what are your plans over the holidays? Are you going back to the US? You’re not playing, so if you wanted to, you could. As long as you stick to the fitness program.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.” Sloane never liked going home for Christmas when she was in the same country, so being here was an enormous bonus. She’d have to call her mom and deal with her disappointment, but she was used to that. “I’m going to stay here and get fit. I want to do the best thing for my recovery.”

Lucy eyed her with a nod. “If you’re sure.”

“Positive.”

“How are you feeling otherwise? Ella says you’re doing well, but I wanted to check on you myself.”

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