Chapter 5
The air was thick with tension, the floodlights burning down onto the damp grass as the teams huddled on their respective sides. It had been a brutal match, neither side giving an inch, but now, with only minutes left on the clock, the score stood at 17-12 in favour of the Wirral Wolves. Gray Callahan rolled his shoulders, his breath coming fast and hard, his muscles burning with exhaustion. This was their last chance.
"We need a try and a conversion," their captain, Tom Davies, said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Gray, you ready?"
Gray nodded, jaw tightening. "Aye."
Cadi stood at the side-lines, arms folded as she watched the scrum form. She wasn't a rugby player, but she knew the game well enough—had watched Gray play for years, seen him grow from an eager, scrappy kid to the powerhouse he was now. He was always so focused, so determined. It was one of the things she loved—liked—about him.
Liked. Just liked.
The ref blew the whistle. The scrum engaged, bodies colliding in a battle of sheer will. Gray anchored his position, pushing with everything he had. At 6 feet 3 inches and still growing with broad shoulders, Gray was an easy one to spot. The ball rolled out, snapped up by Byron, who pivoted and passed it back to Gray in a fluid movement. The defence closed in, the Wolves determined to end the play, but Gray saw the opening—a narrow gap between their flanker and fullback.
He ran.
The world narrowed to the pounding of his feet, the shouts of his teammates, the distant roar of the crowd. A defender lunged, arms outstretched, but Gray sidestepped at the last second, feeling the brush of fingers against his jersey but nothing more. The try line was inches away. With a final burst of speed, he dove forward, slamming the ball down just as bodies crashed into him.
The whistle blew.
A moment of silence, then an eruption of cheers.
Gray gasped for breath, flat on his back in the mud as his teammates hauled him up, clapping him on the back. Tom clutched his head. "Bloody hell, Gray, that was insane. We still need the conversion."
Byron grinned, his front tooth slightly chipped from an earlier tackle. "No pressure, but if you miss, I'm never lettin' you live it down."
Gray shook his head, already focused on the kick. The crowd hushed. He lined up, inhaled sharply, and swung his leg. The ball soared through the air, cutting a perfect arc through the goalposts.
Game won.
The team erupted into celebrations, bodies crashing together in a chaotic mix of joy and exhaustion. Gray felt himself being dragged into hugs and slaps on the back, but his eyes searched instinctively for one person.
Cadi.
She was standing at the edge of the field, arms still folded, her expression unreadable. Her hair shone like a beacon. But when their eyes met, something passed between them—something that made Gray's stomach twist in a way that had nothing to do with adrenaline.
She smiled, but it wasn't her usual, easy grin. It was smaller, tinged with something else.
He moved toward her, but before he could reach her, another voice cut in.
"Gray!"
He turned just as Sarah Matthews—one of the girls from their year—bounded up to him, her long, dark hair falling perfectly over her shoulders. She was smiling, bright and confident, her eyes shining with something unmistakable.
"That was amazing," she said breathlessly, reaching out to touch his arm. "You were incredible out there."
Gray scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling oddly self-conscious. "Uh, thanks."
Sarah bit her lip, then tilted her head. "Hey, I was wondering... do you maybe want to go out sometime?"
Gray blinked. He was dimly aware of the rest of the team listening, waiting for his response. What a bunch of gossipmongers. But his gaze flickered past Sarah, landing on Cadi.
She had gone rigid, her fingers digging into her arms where they were crossed. Her jaw was set, but her expression was carefully blank. Too blank.
Gray hesitated.
Cadi wasn't looking at him anymore. She was staring at the ground, her face unreadable. Something twisted in his chest.
"Go for it, mate," Byron muttered under his breath, nudging him. "She's well into you."
Gray swallowed. He didn't know what to say. Didn't know why this felt... wrong. He wasn't dating Cadi. She was his best friend. And yet...
Sarah gave a small laugh, filling the silence.
"It's fine if you need to think about it," she said lightly, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
"Yeah," Gray said finally, his voice awkward. "I—uh—yeah, let me think about it."
Sarah smiled, though it wasn't as bright as before. "Okay. Let me know."
She walked off, and the moment she was gone, Gray turned back to Cadi. But she was already walking away. He exhaled sharply, then jogged to catch up.
"Cads—"
"Good game, Gray," she said, voice too smooth, too controlled. "You were great."
He frowned.
"Cadi—"
"You should say yes," she interrupted, still not looking at him. "She's pretty. And nice. And she really likes you."
Gray stared at her, something cold settling in his stomach. "Is that what ya think?"
Cadi finally looked at him then, her eyes flickering with something too quick for him to catch. She shrugged. "Why not? You're allowed to like people, Gray."
He didn't know what to say to that. Because yes, he was allowed to like people. So was she. But the idea of Cadi dating someone else made his skin itch, made something inside him coil tight with frustration. The silence stretched between them, heavy and unfamiliar.
Finally, Cadi huffed out a breath, forcing a smile. "I should go. See you tomorrow?"
Gray nodded stiffly. "Aye." She turned and walked off, leaving him standing there, staring after her, knowing that something between them had shifted. Something neither of them were ready to name.
That evening, Cadi was sitting down to dinner when a knock sounded at the door. She set down her fork, her heart pounding for reasons she didn't want to examine. Her mother opened the door to find Gray standing there, looking angry.
"May I speak to Cadi please?"
Cadi looks over her mom's shoulder. Her mom gives them a knowing look.
"Can we go for a walk?" he asked, his voice tense.
Cadi's mother glanced between them, then sighed. "Be back in half an hour."
Outside, the cool night air did nothing to ease the tension between them. They walked in silence until they reached the swings at the park. Gray stopped, his hands clenching into fists before he finally spoke.
"Are ya sure ya want me to go out with Sarah?" Gray asks abruptly.
Cadi swallowed hard. "Yes. It's fine."
Gray let out a sharp breath. "I turned her down."
Cadi's heart skipped. She gripped the swing's chains as she sat. "Why?"
He looked at her, something raw in his expression. "Because I want to go out with ya."
There was a pause, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Finally, Cadi whispered, "Me too. I don't want to date anyone else."
Gray let out a frustrated sound, his Irish accent slipping through. "Then why don't ya say what ya think, idiot?" he roared.
Cadi flinched but lifted her chin. "Because I was scared. I thought ya wouldn't be my friend anymore."
Their eyes met, the last of the hesitation fading between them. Gray reached out, catching a loose strand of her hair. Still sitting on the swing, he leaned in, their lips brushing in the softest, most tentative of kisses.
When they pulled apart, they were both smiling.