Game on, Love (Pitch and Pits #1)

31

Oliver

THE MOMENT MY FOOT touched the field; it was like everything else faded away—the crowd, the buzz of life that lingered around after stepping away from the team and the last bits of pressure to do enough. Today, though, the stadium was silent. There was no audience, just a couple of selectors in the stands, a few officials, including agents and journalists and a handful of players who were part of the main squad.

It had turned out to be a sunny day, the kind that made you want to play forever, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved that it had. There was nothing wrong with playing in a covered field, but feeling the warm sun on my face as I stood on the same pitch I learnt how to play and fell in love with the sport I was about to test for made me feel like it was a full-circle moment.

I was four when my dad bought me my first bat—nineteen years ago tomorrow, on a clear day like this—he’d brought me to this very stadium as he taught me how to play. Adjusting my gloves, I tapped the bat against my shoe before walking towards the crease.

Cricket was in my blood. But it wasn’t just DNA; it wasn’t just about legacy.

It was the feel of the bat in my grip, the rush as I took my place against the wickets, and the moment the strategy, the tension settled just before the bowler ran in.

It was home.

The tricky thing about calling something that isn’t a place, home, is that you feel a sense of belonging, but what do you do when life and circumstances inevitably impose their will? When something you called your sanctuary, your purpose and your life no longer gave you a sense of peace but only reminded you of what you lost?

For the last year, I had tried to move on from that feeling. The one that told me that the shared rituals, the unspoken moments we shared, and the language I spoke with my Dad when we both stepped on the pitch were now all part of a distinct memory.

He was my first coach, my first critic, my loudest supporter and my hero.

I always thought that the game had been mine because of him, and the privilege to learn from him was what made it home.

But as I crouched low at the crease, taking in the setup. I finally felt the click in me.

Seeing him lose his home had made me feel like I’d lost mine, but it wasn’t until last night that I realised that it hadn’t truly been home until now.

It was the moment just before we’d fallen asleep. She was wearing this look, the one that told me she was in a haze of peace, satisfaction and sleep in her eyes as she smiled warmly, and I realised that none of this mattered if I didn’t have her. As long as she looked at me with that look, it felt like I could breathe again and finally be on the pitch again. Not because I’d found my way back to what I’d lost but because I’d found my way to something that mattered in a way I’d never known before.

Raina.

“King, you ready?” Becker asked; he was England’s pacer and stood at the end of his run, eyes fixed on me with laser focus. I had played with him before and knew his weaknesses and strengths like the back of my hand, so the only thing left was to focus.

One breath in. One breath out.

I nodded as the calm spread through me and tapped the bat against the ground.

Becker began his run up, hurtling the ball towards me and without hesitation, I stepped forward, meeting it with a clean, deliberate drive cover.

I watched the ball fly towards the boundary, my veins thumping with satisfaction as the umpire signalled a four.

The next few overs, I was in my element. It wasn’t just a physical battle but a mental one, too, as I let my instincts guide me as I read the deliveries with precision. Knowing when to block, when to drive and when to cut. From the sweat on my brow to the frustrated look of the fielders, it was a reminder that I fit here, but it no longer was the only place I belonged.

After one final classic cover drive shot that went up in the air, I was ready to call the match a success. Raising my bat briefly in acknowledgement of where the selectors sat, I felt at peace. I had given it my all, and no matter the outcome, I knew I would be satisfied.

Walking off the pitch, I tugged off my helmet just as I caught movement at the edge of the stands before I felt a tug in my chest.

I frowned.

Raina had left as early as me this morning, having to be in the office for a restructuring meeting, and for a second, as I looked in that direction, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But as she waved at me lightly, and the rush of a tide crashed over me, I knew it was her. She looked as good as she did this morning, not a single thing out of place but there was a soft glow on her face now as she walked over to me, and it made my heart skip a beat.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, a grin spreading across my face as she reached me.

She shrugged, as if her being here was the most natural thing. “Surprise?”

There was a teasing glint in her eyes, but there it was: the quiet peace that lingered on the edges and made my heart thud with a rhythm that matched hers.

And I didn’t think, I just acted.

Forgotten were the gloves, the helmet or anything else as I closed the distance and placed my lips against hers. And just like each time, our lips grazed each other in a familiar way before everything else slotted into place. It was soft, gentle and perfect in every way as the world around us faded. She responded to the kiss in the same way she always did as her lips parted, and she leaned into me, her hands finding their way to the back of my neck. The kiss deepened naturally in an urgent but certain way like it was the first time.

When we finally broke apart, I kept my forehead pressed lightly to hers as our uneven breaths mingled between us.

“I thought you had a meeting,” I murmured, my voice low.

She smiled, pulling back. “I did, but it ended with enough time for me to get up here.”

“Should’ve told me you were coming.”

“And possibly distract you? That was a hell of a cover drive, by the way.”

I groaned, lowering my head as I stole another kiss—shorter this time as she couldn’t help herself from laughing.

“How are you going to cope when I’ll be discussing your matches with you on a regular?” She asked, a soft laugh still hidden in her voice.

“I don’t know,” I responded, honestly, my voice strained. I couldn’t help it. I already knew I was done for her, but hearing her speak my language like it was the most natural thing to her made me painfully hot for her. It wasn’t just that she was a finally enjoying being part of my world, but it the fact that it made me feel seen in every way. Lowering my head, I whispered in her ear. “But I think we’ll just have to come up with different ways to practice me getting used to it.”

I felt her skin warm up as I placed a kiss on her cheek before pulling back. “I think that can be arranged.”

TUGGING MY BAG ON my shoulder, I left the locker room and scanned the area; when I went overhead, two hushed but strong, familiar voices echoed in the air. Frowning, I followed them, and as I got closer, it was Sean’s voice that was clearer.

“Look, distractions come in all shapes and forms. You might be great and all, but he has a lot going on and he’s about to possibly go on a tour for two years straight. I’ve already heard back that he’s set to be in the ODI and T20I squad, and with this, he’s about to get loaded on with more. All I’m suggesting is you cut your losses short before it messes with his head.”

What the fuck?

I stepped into the hallway just to notice Raina’s expression as it shifted. Gone was the soft look she had worn as I left her to go take a shower. Instead, her eyes were sharpened in a way that made me proud but, at the same, a little worried for Sean.

“I’m giving you a minute to rethink your words. We all are adults here, and you have absolutely no room or right to speak to a stranger like that,” Raina said sharply. Sean, who picked up on her sharp tone, straightened up slightly.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to offend—”

“No. Wrong choice of words again,” She shook her head. “You have no idea who I am, but I know who you are. You think just because you’ve known him for years, you can decide what’s good for him and isn’t? He’s an adult, and you need to be more respectful towards him. Going behind his back to go to his Dad? Wrong. Speaking to me like that? Wrong.”

“He told you—”

“Tell me this, Sean. Why do you keep questioning his ability to manage a career and personal life at the same time?”

I stepped forward as she stared down at Sean, who was completely taken aback by her. “Look, I didn’t mean to imply that.”

Raina just shook her head in disappointment, like each time he opened his mouth, he was choosing the wrong words, and I agreed with her.

“I don’t care what you meant. If you want to support him, you don’t do it by undermining him and going to other people in his life to back off or fix up matches for him. He has been focused long before I came into the picture, and he’s had the same goals since I’ve been here. Life threw him for a spin, but instead of giving him the room he needs to breathe, if you constantly take away the things that actually help him find his focus back, you’ll have much bigger issues in life.”

“She’s right, you know. I haven’t felt this focused like I did today. And she’s a big reason why.” I said evenly, and Sean looked at me as he pressed his lips together. “Honestly, I’ve looked over you constantly speaking to my Dad because I know he has been involved in these conversations before, and I don’t want him to feel like you’re cutting him out. But you can’t speak to her like that. Not now, not ever. If the next words that come out of your mouth aren’t you apologising to her, the next I’ll be doing is finding a new agent.”

Sean’s eyes flared at my comment before he turned to her. “I’m sorry. I overstepped.”

Raina gave him a single nod before she turned to me, her voice softer. “I’ll give you two a minute.”

I nodded, watching her as she walked out of the building before turning to Sean.

“What the fuck was that?”

“Dude, she is—”

“No,” I said sharply, picking up on his tone. “I mean it. Not to me or anyone else. I would suggest even not to yourself.”

He sighed, before running a hand through his hair. “Okay, Okay. Let’s take a minute here. Damn, man, I’ve never seen you like that before.”

“Well, get used to it.” I rolled my shoulder, shaking off the strain that had formed. “But seriously, what were you thinking?”

“I didn’t realise it was serious. I had seen pictures on social media, but I didn’t realise it was just one person; it always only had you in a shot. So when I saw you two by the stands, I couldn’t help it, Okay?”

“What pictures?” I frowned, and he gave me a bewildered look before realising I was being serious. He pulled out his phone and handed me where one of my fan pages had this array of pictures from the times I’d hung out with her in public. I’d gotten good at ignoring them, but it was like when she was around, I’d stopped caring. I scrolled through the pictures and realised it was really only me who you could make out, and thankfully, there were none from our date.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t slightly concerned about the rest being there, but that night felt special in a way different to the other ones, and it was only just for us.

I ran a hand over my face before handing Sean’s phone back to him.

“You want me to get them taken down?” He asked, sliding it back into his pocket.

“I need to ask her. I’ll text you,” I replied, and he nodded. “You’re sure about ODI and T20I?”

“Yeah, one of the coaches confirmed it this morning. Today looked great, too; you’re definitely in the mix now. They’ll make a fair play against the rest and announce it in time.”

I nodded.

“Sorry about earlier. I really didn’t mean any harm.”

“Yeah, well, don’t repeat it, and we’re good.”

He gave me a single nod before I walked out of the building.

Raina was standing by the gate, waiting patiently with a hand tucked in her trousers, her eyes fixed on the door.

Her lips turned up in a smile as I made my way to her.

“You are incredible; you know that, right?” I said, my voice low.

“I do,” She lifted her shoulder, making me laugh. “Seriously, though, if you hadn’t warned me about him or told me about how much he has actually done for you in the past couple of years, I don’t think I would’ve been this straightforward.”

I sighed. “I know. But, now, so does he, and there won’t be a repeat of this.”

“Good,” She whispered just as I ducked my head to steal a kiss.

Pulling back, Sean’s words from earlier ran in my head, and I scanned our surroundings. I could only see mine and a couple of the cars parked up and a couple of pedestrians who didn’t care at all about us but realised I needed to talk to her before anything else. “Want me to drop you off at work?”

“I’m done for the day.”

I frowned. “Where’s your stuff?”

She blinked. “I dropped it at home before coming here.”

“Oh,” I replied. There was an off-tone in her voice, but I couldn’t exactly find a reason as to why she would be dishonest. “Let’s go home then.”

She nodded as I linked our hands together and pulled her to my car.