Chapter 28
The sun is high in the sky, hovering over the sports field. Shouts punctuate the air as athletes run drills, rugby balls spiraling, boots scuffing.
I weave through the crowds, eyes scanning for my team, when they catch on him.
Kai. Surrounded as usual by an enthusiastic group of beautiful women, their laughter too loud, their touches too casual. What is a group of women like that called, anyway? A bevy of beautiful Beckys? An army of attractive Amys? A harem of hot Hannahs?
But despite their enthusiasm, his easy smile doesn”t reach his eyes, and they instead find mine. A jolt rushes through me as memories of our night together flash in my mind—the brush of his lips on my neck, his hands roaming my body.
I force my gaze away. Focus, Dylan. You”re here for rugby, not some schoolgirl fantasy. Still, my eyes drift back to him, to the tattoos snaking down his arms, the muscles flexing as he stretches.
As I watch, he extracts himself from the women with an effortless excuse and starts towards me. My heart pounds. His walk is languid, yet purposeful.
”Fancy seeing you here,” he says, his full lips quirking and revealing straight, white teeth that make my body respond with quivers and tingles. I’m a sucker for great teeth, muscles and tattoos, and this man checks all the boxes.
I laugh, a bit too high-pitched, and I inwardly wince as the sounds I’m making remind me of the gaggle of women that were just hanging off him. That’s the right terminology. A gaggle of gorgeousness. ”Rescuing me from my own thoughts, maybe.” I shake my head ruefully. ”You”re trouble, Kai.”
His eyes soften. ”I know things have been...awkward. What do you say we reset, for the club”s sake?”
”So you do remember me?” I”m beyond confused. The way he looked blankly at me by the bar made me feel so insignificant, so irrelevant to him.
”How could I possibly forget you, Dylan?” His words are smooth but his eyes contain something genuine. Remorse, maybe? A hint of embarrassment?
I quirk a brow and frown. ”Then why did you pretend not to—”
”Look, I”m sorry,” he frowns. ”I was just so surprised to see you, and there were so many people around. I”d had a few beers. I know that”s not an excuse, but I didn”t know what to do, so I reverted to my neutral stare.”
”Your… neutral stare?”
”Yeah. It”s how I deal with complicated situations when I can”t think of words.”
”I see,” I press my lips together in a firm line. ”You called me by the wrong name.”
He nods and sighs. ”Sorry about that, too. I realized as soon as I said it. I”m terrible with names. Dylan. Dylan Dylan Dylan. I know your name. and I won”t fuck it up again. I promise.”
I nod, exhaling the breath I”d apparently been holding. ”Okay then. You had me very confused. But I guess that makes sense? It”s not like we were dating or anything.”
He looks relieved. ”So… clean slate?”
My eyes meet his one more time, and he still seems genuine. I take a deep breath. ”Okay. Reset. Clean slate.” We share a tentative smile, a truce, and solidify it with a handshake.
The touch of his hand against mine sends an enjoyable shockwave up my arm, and my fingers tingle as he pulls away. As we head in opposite directions, promise of friendship rather than fire lingers. My steps feel lighter as I head to practice, my mind clearing.
Glancing over my shoulder, I watch Kai return to his entourage, the women surrounding him with coy smiles and flirtatious touches.
A pang of jealousy twists in my gut before I tamp it down. Focus on the game, Dylan. You literally just convinced yourself that he was nothing more than a friend.
As I turn to leave the field, I replay the conversation in my head. Kai”s proposition to reset things between us makes sense. Still, the simmering tension pulses just below the surface, like a live wire.
Being near him is playing with fire. But I meant what I said—a clean slate is exactly what we need. As hot as our one night stand was, there can be no repeat. For now, I”ll douse the flames. Channel that energy into leading this team, proving my worth.
My steps feel lighter crossing the field. The sun”s warmth soothes my skin. Around me, the sounds of sport fill the air—whistles, shouts, and the unmistakable thwacks of bodies colliding.
This is my element. Rugby courses through my veins. And I”ll be damned if I let anything jeopardize my shot to finally lead. Kai”s charm won”t divert me from my goals now.
I”m playing the long game.
As I reach the door to the locker room, resolve settles in my gut. Time to focus on what matters—becoming the assistant captain this team needs. Proving my talent surpasses politics or petty drama, and it most definitely leaves guy problems out of the picture.
I push open the door and enter the locker room, the smell of sweat and rubber greeting me. My teammates” voices echo off the concrete walls as they joke and chat before practice.
But a hush falls over the group when I walk up to the whiteboard, marker in hand. Their eyes follow me, rapt with attention.
”Alright team, gather round,” I say, authority ringing through my voice.
The other women gravitate toward me, forming a semicircle. I make eye contact with each one, seeing focus and trust shining back.
”I know tensions have been high lately. There”s been uncertainty about leadership.” Murmurs ripple through the group.
”But now, we move forward united. No more infighting or politics. We are one team with one goal.”
The group nods and murmurs sounds of assent. The mood shifts, an electric current of motivation sparking to life.
”We have what it takes to go all the way this season. All the way to finals. We are strong enough. We are smart enough. And we sure as hell are stubborn enough.”
Laughter and cheers erupt. I feel their energy feeding mine, fueling the fire within.
”Now let”s get out on that field and show everyone what we”re made of!” I shout.
The team whoops and hollers, thundering out of the locker room with purpose. As I follow, confidence surges through me.
This is exactly where I”m meant to be.