14 #2
“A few hours ago. I came out for a walk—always helps me settle into the time zone quicker that way. I hate jet lag.”
“Huh,” Raina’s gaze turned to mine, a spark of amusement plastered across it. “Rihaan does too. He likes to go running—something about it countering the jet lag?”
I only nodded. I didn’t have to add to that, because ever the journalist, my sister turned back to Maeve.
“Speaking of that, I’ve been trying to get him to tell me—How exactly do you know each other?”
Maeve stiffened, barely, but it had been enough for me to notice. “How do you mean?”
Raina tilted her head, like she’d picked up on that small reaction too.
Luckily for Maeve, my sister was the nicer one between us and changed her questioning.
“It’s just that ever since your paper was published, I’ve been wondering what made you write it on him?
It’s not like he was in the same position when you’d picked him up for an example?
I mean two years ago, he had one of the lower injury incidence rates, so it wouldn’t have been enough for your research.
” When Maeve further hesitated, she quickly added.
“Promise this conversation is off-the-record. I’m just curious as his sister and nothing more. ”
Maeve opened her mouth, but I spoke before she could.
“We met in a bar couple years ago.”
My sister’s focus was completely on me then. “You did?”
I gave her a small nod, turning to Oliver. “It was after our match in Manchester.”
Oliver frowned. “Is that why you spent weeks in Manchester once Raina moved in?”
Raina’s eyes widened. “You two were together? Oh my god. What did you do to her!?”
“No,” Maeve replied quickly. “We’ve never been together.”
“No. This was weeks before you moved in.” I spoke after a beat, following Maeve’s lead. Meeting my sister’s gaze, I continued. “I was in Manchester because Matt asked me if I could house sit his place—and look after his dog. He’d broken up with his girlfriend, and he had away games.”
Raina narrowed her eyes, almost offended. “You’d look after a friend’s dog, but not your sister’s cats!?”
“First of all, I prefer dogs over cats any day. But mostly, I’d would never look after the cats who are tiny little reincarnations of the devil himself.”
“I’m gonna tell Milo that,” She simply replied. “You know he can understand what we say, right? Have fun saving yourself from him.”
“You’re literally proving my point for me.”
She ignored me. “Really, what did he do to you, and can I help take revenge?”
“She’s already done plenty,” I muttered before I could stop myself.
A wave of awkwardness blanketed us, and I knew the two next to me were expecting—hoping—for me to take my words back. When I didn’t, both Oliver and my sister sighed.
“Last question for you, Maeve. Do you also prefer dogs over cats? Fair warning, there is a right answer.”
“What if I said I like them both?” Maeve replied, clearly hoping to land on my sister’s good side.
“That would be the answer I’d expect from someone who’s worked in an animal shelter,” She answered, a grin tugging on her expression at Maeve’s raised brows. “But, we both know there’s one you prefer more.”
“How’d you know I worked there?” Maeve instead asked.
“I have my ways,” Raina grinned.
Maeve shook her head. “I actually prefer horses over both, but if I had to—I’d pick dogs, too. I’m sorry.”
Raina’s expression only bloomed, almost as though she’d given the right answer. My gaze flicked back to Maeve.
It remained there when she met my eyes effortlessly, a strange expression lingering in hers before she closed them as the wind picked up. Almost as though she'd felt lighter for some reason, she relaxed against the wind.
Her fingers moved across her skin as she pushed her blonde hair back, the small maroon ribbon kissing her pale skin. The urge to do the same reached me so suddenly and so powerfully that it tugged my heart into a wild beat.
Thankfully, Raina’s alarm went off then, and my senses snapped back into reality. “Shit. I’d turned it on in case we got lost in time.”
Before I could question her, she was already scrambling to her feet before the alarm had finished its second ring.
“Maeve. I’m sorry we have to run. I don’t want to leave my cats alone for longer than a couple hours.” Raina started as Oliver followed, moving with such unnecessary urgency that I couldn't help but stare. “Is there any where we can drop you?”
Maeve blinked, surprised by the offer as she stood up next to her. “I’m good, thank you. I want to stay back for a bit longer. Are you guys staying at the team’s hotel?”
Oliver shook his head. “We have a rental nearby.”
Raina nodded. “Unfortunately, not all team hotels are pet-friendly. I also don’t like leaving them in a small space for longer than I’d like.”
Maeve gave her a nod like she understood. “I thought the players had a mandatory stay with the squad?”
Oliver shrugged. “Special circumstances. It’s literally a five minute drive that they don’t mind. Plus, this is the only one—we’ll be back with the squad for the next two stops.”
“Is there a reason why you two are moving like the beach is about to burst into flames?”
Oliver gave me a look. “We’re making up for your lack of urgency.”
“There is no emergency.” I replied. “Your cats will be fine if we’re a few minutes late.”
“We can leave you to find your way back, if you’d like.” Raina shrugged, sharing an amused look with Oliver before turning her gaze back to us. “Just make sure to bring the blanket back with you.”
And the next instant, both of them were scurrying along, leaving Maeve and I in an awkward silence. I stood up before it could swallow us.
Grabbing the blanket, I gave it a shake to dust off the sand before folding it neatly.
“So, you finally remember, huh?” Maeve asked once I finally turned to face her.
“Yeah, I do,” I replied, my voice clipped. “But nothing happened, right?”
She frowned, before schooling her features as quickly. “Nothing worth repeating.”
I pressed my lips together, only giving her a nod. “Have a good night,” I replied, sliding my sunglasses back on before moving past her swiftly, jogging up to my family.
Because, she was right.
I’d clearly felt something that night. I felt it even now. But from her actions, let alone her words, it was painfully clear that I’d been the only one who had.
And repeating them would only cause trouble for me.
Which was precisely why I had to focus on what she'd done.
On the choices she'd made.
On every reason I'd had to keep my distance from her in the first place.
Maybe if I kept reminding myself of those things, it would be easier to hold on to the anger I'd felt.
Anger was familiar.
Anger was safe.
Whatever that strange pull between us had been, whatever had sparked beneath my skin when she'd looked at me or touched me, I couldn't afford to give it a name.
Because the moment I did, I had a feeling it would become something I couldn't walk away from.
Maeve
BY THE TIME I made it back to the hotel, my mind was still somewhere on the beach.
Somewhere between the strange feeling I got when I sat with the three of them, the sunset and the little flutters I had spent trying very hard not to think about.
The lift doors finally opened, as I looked up, and nearly walked straight into my father.
Dropping the phone that was pressed to his ear, he sighed. “There you are.”
I frowned as continued. “I've been trying to call you.”
Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I gave it a click and realised. “It must’ve died. Sorry.”
“That’s not very safe. What if something had happened?”
“It’s actually quite safe here. There were only 420 cases or so in New Zealand last year, and plus, the amount of telephone booths I saw would’ve also helped.”
He blinked, startled. Almost like I had answered a rhetorical question—which to be fair, I had.
“I looked it up before I went for a walk.”
He shook his head slightly. “Of course.”
When I offered him a small smile, his eyes softened.
“What’s up?” I asked, ready to head to bed, and slowly let the thought train gather steam, getting ready to forge ahead.
“Just wanted to see if you wanted to get some dinner together.”
I hesitated before shaking my head.
“No, thank you. I'm actually exhausted.”
He studied me for a moment. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, a sigh escaping me softly. “I just want a shower and bed.”
He nodded, though something in his expression told me he wasn't entirely convinced. “Alright. Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Sleep well, trouble.” He kissed my forehead before heading towards the restaurant, and I stood there watching him disappear. The sweetness of the gesture should have made me feel better. Instead, it made something ache, and deepened the feeling I’d clutched on to.
After spending what little time I had watching Rihaan with his sister, seeing the easy affection between them, the way they pulled each other’s leg in good fun, even the way his little sister tried to interrogate me, had been sweet.
Painfully so.
So was his attempt to save me from it.
But it wasn’t what had I’d held on to as I pressed the floor button and met my reflection in the lift mirror.
It was the fact that the relationship with his sister made me think of mine. And my mother.
I hated that.
I hated that she still had the ability to appear in my thoughts when I least wanted her there.
And with the way our relationship had been for years, I rarely wanted her there.
I’d come to terms with our relationship—or lack there of, but that didn’t mean that there were days where I’d wished for a better outcome.
I was turning twenty-five soon.
Twenty-five.
The reminder came in her voice, but it only made the ache in my chest deepen. I still remembered the night I’d called her during fresher week, homesick. She’d laughed when I told her and reminded me that I was eighteen now. As though I should have outgrown it now.