Page 27 of Fallen Legacy

“I have no choice but to stick around, Seb. Dear old Wilbur’s making sure of that, but how can I truly trust any of you again?”

Seb sighs and gently nudges my arm with his. “You can trust us. I promise you. You’re one of us now.”

“The games starting,” Archer growls, and I pull my attention from Seb. I realise the other three have all been listening to our conversation. Vee sighs and looks away, looking like someone stole her sunshine. Archer just mutters something under his breath and turns his full attention to the game. It’s too hard being around them all again. I feel like I fit in with them, even if I shouldn’t. Worse than that, I enjoy their company and try as I might, I can’t find it in me to keep up the hate. Does that make me weak? Maybe it does.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Kit makes a pass that sets up a shot for their striker and he scores. He and Kit celebrate together, patting each other on the back. Vee and I are on our feet shouting his name and cheering him on. One player from the opposing team walks past Kit and shoulder checks him. Kit says something to him and the player doubles back and snarling says something back to Kit. Kit explodes, charging at the other player and taking him to the ground. He raises his fist, but he doesn’t get a hit in as two of his teammates pull him up off the guy. The ref blows his whistle and produces a red card, resulting in a series of ‘Boo’s from across the stadium.

“What’s going on?” I ask no one in particular, standing to my feet and watching as my brother glares at the other player as he strides off the pitch. I don’t miss the fact that his fists are clenched at his sides. My brother is brimming with anger.

“That fucker said something to wind him up,” Archer concludes. A deep frown is on his face as he studies the smug opposition player who is laughing with his teammates at Kit getting sent off.

“He’ll be gutted he got carded,” I say, biting my lower lip. I watch the coach say something to my brother before he heads off into the changing rooms. “I need to check he’s okay.”

Archer tugs on my sleeve. “They won’t let you through to him until the match has finished, so you may as well sit back down.”

Begrudgingly, I retake my seat. Vee and I make sure we ‘boo’ loudly every time the player who got Kit sent off touches the ball. He looks up at the sound of our boo’s and he winks at us both and blows us a kiss. Cocky fucker. Is it bad of me to hope that someone tackles him and does it badly?

When the final whistle blows, it’s to a loss of four to one. Beaumont Hill ran the game after Hawk Bay went down to ten men. We had no chance. They all celebrate, patting each other on the back and grinning whilst our team walks off, heads down and looking beaten.

I’m straight on my feet. Eager to get down and check if Kit’s okay. When we turn to exit the stands, I notice that Wilbur and Alexis are no longer in their seats. Did they leave after he got sent off?

I don’t invite them to follow me, but they all do anyway. Archer puts his hand on my lower back, and I pull away and glare at him. He doesn’t get to touch me anymore. We reach the tunnel down to the changing rooms and a security guy stops us, but one word from Archer and he lets us through. We wait for the players to change and start filing out. Kit comes out with one of his buddies, his head down, looking totally pissed off.

“Kit,” I say, trying to get his attention. He looks up frowning but gives me a half-smile when he realises it’s me.

“Hey guys,” he greets flatly, as he walks over to us.

“What happened? What did that guy say to you?” I ask him.

Kit chews on the side of his mouth and looks from me to Archer and back again. “It was nothing you need worry yourself about, sis.”

I place a hand on my hip and stare at him, brow arched. He should know me better than that. “I know you, and it takes a lot to rile up that temper of yours.”

“Was it something about Scar?” Archer asks him, folding his arms across his chest and studying my brother’s cagey posture.

Kit sighs and looks at me from under those long eyelashes of his. “He said stuff about the leaked tape and said some disgusting things about you, sis.”

“What kind of disgusting things?” I ask, my gaze narrowing. I’ll deal with that fucker.

“I’m not repeating what he said, but I would not stand by and let him speak about you like that. The boys should have let me hit him. At least that would have been worth being sent off for,” he growls, kicking at the floor with the heel of his trainer.

“Well, I’m glad they stopped you. Otherwise, you’d have been looking at a ban and your team needs you. Don’t worry about that fucker, Kit. It’s just name calling. Sticks and stones and all that jazz.” I attempt to reassure him it doesn’t matter what the other guy said, but he still looks unconvinced.

We all walk out to the car park together and Kit looks around as if looking for someone. “Granddad said he’d take me home. He must’ve had to leave,” he says, the disappointment clear in his voice.

“You know Wilbur,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “Probably some business emergency.”

Archer and I share a look, and we both know what the other was thinking. Wilbur likely left when Kit got sent off. No doubt unhappy that Kit has shown up the Alderman name.

“Calvin’s picking me up,” I tell him, wrapping my arm around his shoulder, which is getting increasingly hard as he keeps growing and getting taller.

“Actually, he isn’t,” Archer pipes in, clearing his throat. “I texted him and told him I’d drop you off.”

I glare at him. Who does he think he is? “Looks like we need to call an Uber, then.”

Archer sighs and he shakes his head at me. “Just let me drop you both off. You can give me the silent treatment all the way there and pretend I don’t exist.”

This brings a chuckle from Seb, and I turn my frosty glare on him. He holds up his hands and backs off, but something snags his attention. “That the fucker talking shit about your sister?”

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