Page 79 of Hotshot

“Training. She’s got her first game back tomorrow. She’s really excited, as am I. I’ve missed seeing her toned, supple legs on the pitch.”

“Perve.”

“I’m allowed to say that, she’s my girlfriend.” At least, Ella hoped she was. “We’re meeting later at Kilminster. Sloane’s meeting her cousins at the local game.”

“Can I come?”

Ella shrugged. “So long as you don’t say anything embarrassing, sure.”

Marina’s mouth dropped open and she put a hand to her chest. “Little old me? I’m the soul of discretion.”

* * *

Ella scannedthe car park as she and Marina got out of their cars, but she couldn’t see Sloane’s Jeep yet. She led Marina across the gravel to the pitch beyond, carrying a coffee in a portable cup for Sloane, bought from Shot Of The Day.

Marina had called her a sap.

Ella had told her to shut her face.

“Blimey, this looks like the places you used to play in back in the day,” her cousin told her as their feet sank into the damp grass. She scrunched her face. “I thought those days were gone.” Marina picked up her dainty shoes, not built for muddy fields.

“You were the one who wanted to come.” Ella hoped her scowl would shut Marina up. “No moaning.”

“I was just saying,” Marina replied as they got to the side of pitch.

“Try not to.”

“Who rattled your cage?” Marina pulled her grey bobble hat over her ears and raised her chin to the sky, as she did when she was annoyed with Ella.

Maybe she’d been a little harsh on her, but Ella put it down to nerves. Taking Marina anywhere was always like that. She was Marmite. People either loved her, or they hated her. There was no in between.

“Ella, over here!” In the distance, Ella spotted someone in bright green waving in their direction. She squinted, but couldn’t quite make out who it was, but assumed it was Cathy. She waved back.

Minutes later, Cathy and Hayley arrived beside them, cheeks rosy, breath swirling around their faces. Ella hadn’t seen them since Christmas, but it was as if no time had passed. They hugged her immediately.

“This is my cousin, Marina. These are Sloane’s family, Cathy and Hayley.”

Marina pulled them in for a hug, and they accepted with grace. “I love this ground. It’s so wonderfully retro, with the pitch and the clubhouse.” She gave a wistful look. “Just charming.”

Ella had forgotten Marina was a grade A actor when she wanted to be, too.

“All my favourite people here at once!”

Ella whipped around to see the one who mattered most walking towards them, a Salchester Rovers winter jacket zipped up over her training gear.

“You made it!” Her heart skipped a beat as Sloane walked beside her and laid a chaste kiss on her cheek, followed by a squeeze of her hand.

“Got to support the family, just like they’re supporting me in my first game back tomorrow.”

“We can’t wait,” Cathy confirmed, hugging Sloane. “To see you in action, it’s going to be such a treat.”

“And when I score, it’s for Eliza, remember.”

Ella gave Sloane her coffee.

“Is this from where I think it’s from?”

“With cream,” Ella added. “Suzy’s started stocking it just for you.”

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