Page 31 of Scoreless Nights

I gave him a nod to say thanks, but kept my mouth closed as I unwrapped the tape around my ankles for no good reason. Then I trudged toward the trainer for them to wrap them again. It pissed them off to have to redo it, but it was an excuse, not to have to speak to anyone else during the half.

When we made our way back to the field, I did some warm ups near our bench like I always did, and fought like hell not to look up at Lily again. But of course, I had control issues, and that didn’t last. I just had to know if she was still there, if she was watching me. But I wasn’t going to make it obvious.

Tripp kicked the ball my way and I decided to act like I missed it. He started to call me out because I never would’ve missed that kick, but his words turned into a laugh when he saw me glance up towards Lily.

She was still there, still looking at me, and her eyes were still bright from everything going on around her. Her friends were no longer there, and she was sitting alone, which allowed me to slow down, and take a minute to lock eyes with her again with a smile.

Her returning smile made me feel like I was a kid again, and walking her down the aisle behind our parents after their wedding. I always pretended I hated that moment in my life, but I felt like a prince that day.

Lily gave me a shy wave and turned bright red, like she wasn’t sure she should be waving. To avoid drawing attention to myself, I didn’t wave back, just gave her a wink.

When I saw her friends coming back to their seats with bags in their hands, I knew our moment was over, and I had to turn away. But not before I saw them handing Lily an Inferno jersey. She held it up and smiled, with the back of it facing me, so I could see the name and number of who it was before she started putting it on.

Maddux, number five.

Lily was excited and thankful, just like I would have expected her to be, when given a gift. She wrapped her arms around her friend and then slid them into the jersey. She put it over her head, covering her flowery ruffle top, then her friend pulled her own jersey out.

Peyton, number seventeen.

I didn’t have to see the back of Jackie’s jersey to know that it said Martin, number one, on the back of it. It shouldn’t have bothered me because thousands of fans wore my jersey, but when it came to those three girls, I wanted my name on Lily’s back.

“Time to focus,” Tripp yelled, completely oblivious that I was going to rip his jersey up later, and burn it in my sink.

Until then, we had to get back to business and unless we scored a few more goals, I knew the outcome of the game was riding on my shoulders. I jogged into position and tried to forget about who was watching me. I tried Rhys’ method, using my adrenaline and anger to fuel my game.

It must have worked, because every ball kicked my way was denied, and with two minutes left, I knew it was going to be a win. Nothing could get past me when I pictured the ball being Tripp’s head and Lily wearing his fucking jersey.

After the game ended, the news media pulled me aside and asked for an interview right in front of our bench. I looked up and smiled, thinking I would see Lily watching, but all I saw was the back of her head and her dumb jersey. She was leaving, and the magic of having her there was gone. Answering the questions as quickly as I could, I made my way to the locker room.

Rhys kept smirking at me while he changed, and I wanted to shove my shorts into his face. I was well aware that I got lucky. Had it been a more competitive game, my distractions would have cost us.

ChapterSeventeen

Lily

It may not have been how I imagined my night going, but the high from watching Cruz play was bizarre. It was an excitement I never envisioned when we first pulled up to the stadium. I just wish Angel and Jackie could have known why I was so exhilarated.

When they finally caught on that I was turning into a hardcore fan right before their eyes, I played it off by mumbling Tripp Maddux’s name. It was all I could think on a dime, since I had met him the night he brought Cruz home. He was easy to remember, and easy to spot as he ran down the middle of the field.

“Did you love it?” Jackie squealed as we made our way back to the restaurant where she left her car.

“I did!” I smiled. “Thank you both again, for my jersey.”

“You gotta have a favorite player,” Jackie winked at me. She was assuming because I said Tripp’s name that I had the same crush on him that she did Cruz. And I was going to let her believe it. For some reason, she seemed to like me more once she thought I was looking at the game with the same goggles she was.

“Peyton is your favorite?” I asked Angel.

“Probably,” she shrugged. “He’s the best in the whole dang league.”

“And kinda hot?” I teased.

“Well, duh. But choosing a favorite player based on looks is Jackie’s thing.”

Jackie shrugged, having no shame in the truth.

We laughed, and things got easier from then on. What started out as being a very uncomfortable night for me ended on a high note, and I was once again thankful for Angel, and even Jackie.

After dropping Jackie off, Angel and I started heading back to South Beach.

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