Page 39 of The Long Game

“Thank you, Josie,” Diane said, after a curt hello and a skeptical look in my direction. “I took some creative liberties with it this year. I’m particularly proud of the font.”

“Which is stunning,” Josie agreed. And boy, she was such a horrible liar. It was painful to watch. “You know what else we were talking about? The girls’ soccer team.”

Diane frowned. I did, too. And Cameron… Well, he was now scowling in the general vicinity of the conversation.

“All right,” he grunted, taking a step back. “This is my cue to lea—”

“Love,” Josie finished for him. “This is Cam’s cue to finally acknowledge how much he’s loving working with the team. And Adalyn. And—”

“And the activities,” I blurted out. My eyes widened at my own words. “So much that he also wants to sign up. Right along with me.”

Cameron’s gaze fell so heavily on me that I could swear I felt my skin heating up under all that silent hostility.

Oh God, what was I doing?

“A team bonding exercise!” Josie squealed with a clap. “To build their camaraderie and trust. How FUN. Now that’s what I call dedication. To the girls, of course.”

As if some strange kind of vengeful self-destructive autopilot had been switched on, I asked, “What do you say, Coach?”

His lip started to twitch.

And I stared at him, feeling sick to my stomach over what I was doing. What I had done. God, ever since Sparkles I’d been unhinged. But this man… There was something about him that made me spring up on guard and attack before he could hit first, as if—

Cameron’s mouth bent, one of the corners moving upward and giving way to a smirk.

Even with all that facial hair, it was obvious. Visible. Right there, on display. And he didn’t even look amused. No, he looked…

It was in that moment that my memory decided to throw back at me something he’d said.

I only play when there’s something worth winning.

Oh God. Oh no.

Had I… just given a highly competitive man like Cameron Caldani a reason to take me down?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Adalyn

Goat yoga.

With baby goats.

And Cameron Caldani. In workout pants and a skintight long-sleeved thermal.

This was the first activity on Green Oak’s fall brochure—or how I imagined Cameron referred to it in the privacy of his mind: small-town activities that will guarantee Adalyn’s demise. That was why I knew the brochure like the back of my hand. Just like with the Green Warriors, I was on the quest of never being blindsided again, so I could recite every detail of every activity scheduled from this weekend to the end of fall.

Number one being Green Oak’s Goat Happy Hour, referred to as GOGHH, taking place the last Sunday of every month at noon in the barn located on the south entrance of the Vasquez farm.

My quest also included the man I was up against, so now, I also knew everything public there was to know about Cameron Caldani. Born in the outskirts of London, to an English mother and an Italian father. Signed his first contract at the age of seventeen with a small team and flourished as one of the best goalkeepers in the PremierLeague. He went on to play for clubs based in London, Manchester, and Glasgow and was called twice for England’s national team early on in his career. Five years ago, when his prominence started fizzling out, he made the jump across the Atlantic and came to the US to play for the L.A. Stars. Until a couple of months ago, when he announced—in a rather out-of-the-blue manner—that he was hanging the gloves. For every team, he’s worn the number thirteen kit.

The latter I’d already known. Number thirteen was a rare choice for a keeper, but who I was to judge?

I was prepared. I’d even run to Outdoor Moe’s and gotten myself suitable clothes for yoga. Leggings and the only tank top he’d had in stock in a women’s size. It hadSOMEONE IN GREEN OAK LOVES MEprinted on the front, which didn’t ring exactly true, but I couldn’t come to GOGHH in a suit. I had, however, come here in heels. But it was okay. This was meant to be done barefoot—I assumed. And I was equipped with data, knowledge, leggings, and a shirt with a dubious advertisement. I was ready to show Diane and everyone in Green Oak the civil, responsible, and absolutely not unhinged person I was.

One of the baby goats bleated, startling me into the present and making my eyes gravitate to my right.

Okay, perhaps I wasn’t completely prepared. But I don’t think anyone could have been for the sight of Cameron Caldani standing barefoot on a pink mat, with the sun shining down on his outlined pecs.

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