Chapter 15
The sun beats down on my neck as I stare across the empty rugby pitch, my mind full of leadership terminology after the day’s classes. Heat radiates off the grass in shimmery waves, reminding me of my childhood summers with Jayden. We’d play one-on-one rugby for hours, collapsing in exhaustion as the day faded to dusk.
Jayden’s always been wary of strangers. I know why. His stepdad Walt waltzed into Jayden’s life when he was ten, all charismatic smiles and big talk. But behind closed doors, Walt was a mean drunk. I saw the bruises he tried to hide.
So when someone new comes along, Jayden blows hot and cold and occasionally bares his teeth. Like with Dylan. I get that he’s protective of our team, but she seems harmless. Eager to prove herself, yeah, but she’s got no agenda other than playing her best.
So why’s Jayden giving her such a hard time? She’s not like Walt. I mean, have you seen her smile? It lights up her whole face. And she’s got a wicked sense of humor too. Just the other day, I heard her sassing our other teammate, Luke, about his terrible finesse on the pitch. She’s kinda perfect, actually...
Wait, do I have a thing for Dylan? Is that why I jumped to defend her against Jayden?
No way. I barely know her. But I do feel this urge to shield her. To make her feel at home here.
And the kiss we had came out of the blue, but that was just spontaneous. A way to dispel the tension. That’s all there was to it.
At least Jayden’s not trying to treat Dylan like he tends to treat his fangirls, though. Using them and discarding them without a thought before rapidly moving onto the next one. I’ve seen him in action, and it’s both alarming and impressive, the simplicity with which he’s able to pull hot chicks and then treat them like utter shit. No consequences to make him stop, I guess.
My phone buzzes, jolting me from my thoughts.
Jayden:
Why do you have such a boner for Dylan?
I laugh out loud. He can be a real mind reader sometimes. Maybe I do have a little thing for her. But it’s more than that. She deserves a real chance here. And I’m gonna make sure she gets it.
I shake my head and start typing a reply:
Noah:
Dude, I don’t have a ‘boner’ for her. I just think she deserves a fair shot on the team. Put yourself in her tiny ass shoes. She just moved here and is trying to fit in. Cut her some slack.
A few moments later, my phone buzzes again.
Jayden:
Whatever, man, she’s cute and all, and maybe I just haven’t gotten to know her as well as you. I want to like her, but I don’t know if I can trust her. Something about her seems off.
I frown and start typing furiously.
Noah:
You’ve got to give her more of a chance. Help her feel welcome here. It must be lonely and overwhelming being surrounded by a new team of guys. She’s new to the city, too. Just give her a chance. And of course something seems off… anyone would be acting off with a giant man-child like you breathing down her neck and being nice one moment and mean the next. Stop being so moody and get yourself together.
I hit send and wait, wondering how he’ll respond. I get why he’s being prickly, but it’s misplaced, and I just want to help her feel at home here.
My phone buzzes one more time.
Jayden:
Fine, I’ll try to be nicer or whatever. But I’ve got my eye on her.
Noah:
I knew you’d come around. She’s gonna be great for the club and the women’s team. Just watch.
I set my phone down, hoping I’ve made some progress with Jayden. Dylan deserves to feel accepted. And I aim to make that happen, no matter what it takes. Even if it means standing up to my stubborn friend.
I usually don’t get involved in team politics or take sides. But for some reason, I feel drawn to Dylan.
Maybe it’s because her situation reminds me a bit of my own past. When I first joined the rugby team, I was an outsider too. The hazing and teasing was relentless until I proved my worth on the field. It was a lonely, isolating time.
I see that same look in Dylan’s eyes—that deep hunger to belong. She’s trying so hard to fit into the team, taking any insult or joke with forced laughter.
I know that feeling of never quite measuring up. Of having to work twice as hard just to be seen as an equal.
And I’m a giant man, the stereotypical image of a professional rugby guy. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to add on being a woman. I can only imagine a huge deal of frustration and, at some point, a certain resignation that we’re all stuck within an entrenched, misogynistic framework that will take years or decades to shift. Not that I’d ever say any of this out loud.
Or maybe it’s more than that.
There’s an intensity about Dylan that intrigues me. She seems to wear a tough exterior, but I sense a vulnerability underneath.
When we talk, her emerald eyes bore into mine with startling focus. Her quick wit and sarcastic humor make me want to banter with her for hours.
She makes me feel energized, alive, as if I have to be on high alert to keep up with her witty sneak attacks.
She knows how to pester and prod, but in an intellectual way that’s hard to poke holes in. And, as I think about it, I realize that I love every second of it.
I shake my head, confused by my own tangled emotions. I barely know this girl. Yet I feel oddly drawn to her in a way I can’t fully explain.
All I know for sure is that I want to protect Dylan from harm. I want to see her thrive and succeed here.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.