Page 96 of Hotshot

Ella sat up, hackles rising. She wasn’t having that. “You just told me you’re moving back to the US. Excuse me if I’m a bit upset about that.” She pressed her index finger to her chest. “I’m trying to be the bigger person.”

“And failing gloriously.” Sloane paused, then took Ella’s fingers in hers.

Small fireworks exploded in Ella’s chest.

Damn Sloane. Damn every last little thing about her.

“You said I couldn’t possibly turn it down. Nine months ago, that would have been true. But now, I’ve met you. I always thought if I met someone here, I’d keep them at arm’s length. Not go all in.” Sloane held up her hand. “To some extent, that was true. But even if my body was cautious, my heart never was. You could never have been a fling, Ella. I’ve fallen for you. But like you say, I have to think about what’s best for the handful of years I’ve got left in my career. I have to choose wisely, and it can’t just be for you. But”—Sloane held up a finger—“Lucy wants to talk to me after the FA Cup Final. They’re still thrashing out the deal, but Salchester have an offer on the table as well. Adrianne needs to do her thing to get it the best it can be. I don’t know how it matches what New York have offered yet. Not until I speak to Adrianne and Lucy. But everything’s on hold until after the final.”

Ella sat, transfixed by Sloane’s gorgeous red lips. Her fluttery eyelashes. Her hair, ruffled from the ever-present breeze on the rooftop. Sloane had uttered many words, but the only phrase that stood out was ‘I’ve fallen for you’. It was lit up in her mind like a glow stick. She hoped it was enough.

“But I want to stay. I want to be where you are. If you say yes, then I will, too.” Sloane turned the full power of her gaze on Ella.

Ella wallowed in its heat, its passion.

“I want to wake up with you. I want to fall asleep with you. I want to watch more sunsets with you. I want to spend every holiday with you, not just Christmas.” Sloane leaned over and squeezed Ella’s hand. “If Salchester give me a decent offer, should I say yes? Can we start again?”

Those words made Ella shake her head. “Are you insane? I’m not starting again. The moaning about the lack of cream? About driving on the wrong side of the road? Your inability to call football the right name? That’s not going to work.” Ella stood, and pulled Sloane with her. As she did so, her heart lifted higher still. There was hope. Big hope. In the end, hope was what she needed.

If Salchester came in for her, Sloane was staying. Lucy had told Ella they were serious about wanting Sloane. And Sloane wanted to try again. She was sorry. There would be ground rules. But Ella knew in her heart the answer she wanted to give. It was yes. It was always yes. She’d fallen for Sloane, too. Now they just had to learn how to catch each other better.

“No, we can’t start again. But we can pick up where we left off. Just me and you. I’ve fallen for you, too, Sloane.”

The sides of Sloane’s mouth turned upwards. “Thank fuck for that.” Then she leaned forward and covered Ella’s mouth with her own.

It felt like home.

CHAPTER35

“Okay everyone, huddle!”

Sloane had been in the same locker room only last month to play the game against England. What a difference a few weeks made. Back then, she’d been surrounded by American accents, which had been strange. She was used to British voices, now. Whoever would have thought that?

That last time, she and Ella were also on shifting sands. Today was a different story. Yes, her contract discussions were still on hold. However, this morning she’d woken up with Ella, just as she wished for. Everyone in the team knew they were an item. Sloane walked to the centre of the group.

“Welcome to the FA Cup Final, you beautiful humans!” She looked around the group. Nervous energy radiated off them. But that was a good thing. They could use that. “I asked Lucy if I could do this talk, and also team captain, Layla. They both kindly said yes. This is the biggest day in our club’s short history. The women’s team is less than ten years old. We’ve come a long way.You’vehelped this club come a long way. I’ve only been here a year, but I’m hoping to carry on building in future years. Unfortunately, we can’t win the league, although we gave it our best shot.”

Sloane was still pissed, but that was football.

Soccer.

Damn it.

“But you know what we can win? The FA Cup. At Wembley. Isn’t that what childhood dreams are made of? But we’re not only doing it for us and for the fans. We’re doing it for all those who came before us. All those who wanted to play football but were told they couldn’t because they were women.

“Some of you might have heard me talk about my great-grandmother, Eliza Power, later Patterson. She wanted to play football, but she wasn’t allowed. So she cut her hair, strapped down her breasts and pretended to be a man. And she scored and scored and scored. Until she was found out and kicked off the team.

“When you’re out there playing today, think of her, and all the other Elizas all around the world. We’re allowed to play. It’s a privilege, and one we should never take for granted. Go out there, express yourself, and make this a day for every Salchester Rovers fan to remember. Don’t be daunted by the crowds: they’re here for you, so let them lift you. In the words of the wonderful Shania Twain: let’s go, girls!”

Sloane finished off by going round the team, high-fiving her crew. When she reached Lucy, the manager clasped her hand tight and pulled her in for a hug.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Then she came face to face with Ella. Her new love. She gave her a high five, followed by a hug. When her mouth was level with Ella’s ear, she whispered. “I’m going to beat them for you, too. Because they treated you so badly when you needed them all those years ago.” They were playing against Rushton City, the team that had let Ella go. Sloane kissed her ear, then pulled back.

“It’s not about me,” Ella told her. “But go and beat those bastards.”

Sloane grinned, then followed her teammates into the tunnel.

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