58. Noah
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
NOAH
RECOMMENDED LISTENING ‘THE ALCHEMY’ BY TAYLOR SWIFT
My jaw aches from smiling so damn hard as I watch my boys, my team, my mates hold the Triskelion Cup and cheer through the mostly-empty stadium. It doesn’t matter because, we earned this victory. We played as a team; I was a good captain. I made this happen for them and with them.
But, really, playing the Cup is just part of the reason why I’m happy. I’m secure.
One of the other reasons is cheering me like mad, her sexy tits bouncing in the jersey which has my name on the back. My jersey. My girl. She’s on the phone to my stepmum, Isabelle, telling her about my win, tears in her eyes.
And the other reason is I now know that my parents, my family, is supportive of me too. That they love me. They want me.
Although Dad and Bel only stayed for a few days, I spent every moment with them. It was a lovely, if slightly awkward reunion. For so long, I’d thought of Isabelle as the villain to my story, it was a shock to see the redhaired bombshell as she really is. Dad defers to her, just like he did to mum. Mum was a quiet presence, a gentle breeze. But Dad bent to her too. Bel is different; she’s louder, more present. But she loves my dad, flaws and all.
I am now healed enough to be grateful to her for that. Instead of blaming her.
I’ve even become fast friends with my little sister, Thalia. She gave me pointers on batting grip on the first video call. She has red hair like Bel, black eyes like Dad and me, and an opinion on everything. Like my mum.
She’s a delight. A Dumaine. My sister.
I think of all this, of this summer and the cascade of decisions that led me to this moment. Where I hold the Triskelion Cup. Where I am a captain, a skipper who led from the front, no matter the challenges.
And I’m proud of myself. I’ve made it. On my own.
And I’ll do it again and again till I reach my eventual goal. I know this now.
And, then comes the moment. The one I’ve struggled and slaved and worked all summer for. The selection announcement.
“This summer has been a revelation,” Padric begins. “When you all showed up on the first of June, you were thirty-two individual players. With your unique skills and talents. You were looking out for yourself.”
“But, somehow, and this is what I love about this game,” Aiden continues. “You became a team. You took hits, you practiced, you strategized, you planned, and you fought. You played this little cup like it was the World Cup finals and I could not be prouder of any of you gentlemen for this effort, this gamesmanship. Well done, boys. Well done.”
We all cheer and hoot for each other. I lock arms with my mates, Fox and Ares, and absorb this feeling.
“But, along with the cup, we announced a prize, didn’t we?” Rohit takes up the speech. “The player of the season, the MVP who’s shown the most promise. He came back from an injury and a personal issue that should have derailed his life.”
I stop breathing.
“He has shown what it means to captain effectively,” he continues.
The cheers and yells begin. My ears start ringing.
“To lose graciously. To never lose hope despite the loss and yes…” Rohit smiles. “To score a record-breaking century. He’s a true leader of the Barrons Bay Challengers…so, for his contributions to the game of cricket this season and because he is an exemplary man as well as an extraordinary player?—”
I put a shaking hand to my heart.
“The official selection of the coaches’ committee, Paddy, Gilly, and me…is Noah Dumaine. Captain of the Barrons Bay Challengers.”
The shouts and screams deafen me because I cannot believe what I just heard…
Queenie
I scream, cry, shake, and almost throw up as I watch Noah get hoisted on Ares and his teammates’ shoulders. He is grinning broadly, too stunned to react.
I just send a quick group text to my family, Noah’s family and my friends – Noah’s new fans – that he’s the MVP of the season. But the words swim and my hands tremble.
The rest of Chachu’s announcement is lost in the cacophony of celebration. Noah’s finally allowed to walk to the presenter’s podium and shake hands with the Australian Cricket Board official who was present at the match.
He runs back to his campmates, and they parade him around on their shoulders. The rivalry between the Knights and Challengers is over, for this year at least.
I can’t bear it anymore. I can’t stand being apart from him.
It is totally against the rules, but I climb the three-foot high boundary line and run toward the team.
Noah sees me, and he climbs down from Fox’s shoulders and runs toward me. Immediately. Gratifyingly immediately. He catches me off the ground and whips me up and around and I laugh at him through my happy tears.
Call me a sentimental sap.
“This is all because of you, do you know that?” His sweaty forehead touches mine, because I’m on my toes and holding him so tight. “You’re the reason I get to live my dream.”
“That’s all you, Noah. You did all of this by yourself. I did nothing.”
“You gave me a reason to believe in myself. How do I thank you for that?”
“Promise to believe in me?” I ask him softly.
“All my life,” he vows.
Our kiss, endless and luscious and without tongue, is met with cheers and whistles from the players. And groans from the three coaches.
But I don’t care. I’m living my dream too. And it’s just beginning…