Chapter 3 #2
Her words hit harder than they should. Probably because they were true and sounded so similar to what my grandad said to me growing up. Don’t forget a good player plays, a great player adapts.
Dragging a hand through my hair, I willed myself to think of something useful to appeal to her kinder side I’d only seen once or twice during college.
Rare, but I knew it existed. The most memorable time was when we’d spent all night studying in the library—opposite ends, of course—but there was a storm tearing through campus.
Before I complained about forgetting my coat, she shoved her umbrella over both our heads with a grumbled, “You’ll get sick, you idiot.
” We’d walked to my dorm in silence, rain splattering above our shared cover.
Then the next morning, she was right back to snapping at me in class.
The sting of her words still settled. It wasn’t easy, watching everything fall apart. But maybe she was right. Maybe leading them meant figuring out a new way forward—even if it wasn’t the way I wanted.
I’ve always had people in my corner. Coaches who made calls during my college career.
Teammates who followed my lead. A last name that got me in rooms before I’d earned the right to be there.
The option to go international if I wanted it.
And that was its own mess. I’ve had multiple scouts at my games, talks with my agent that I’ve tried to downplay.
My grandad wanted me to be proud and excited, but I only ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure of trying to live up to his name.
Playing for Ireland was his dream—was most players' dream—but for me, it meant more than I wanted to give. I didn’t want to live abroad, or to carry on his legacy.
If I was doubting it, I certainly didn’t deserve to be wearing the jersey with O’Riley for Ireland.
I’d built my whole life here, my career, my team, and I didn’t want a future for myself I hadn’t chosen or worked for.
Maybe that was another reason why this conversation with Teddy mattered so much to me. Because no matter how many doors my name opened, building something real and important with my guys felt like the only thing I’d earned on my terms. They needed me right here and now.
This was the first time I’d felt completely out of my depth and still expected to deliver. No amount of O’Riley last name leverage is going to help me here, and she fucking knew it as much as I did.
I looked back at her, and she watched me with that same sharp, cool expression she wore the first time we met. She had her shit together then too, whereas I didn’t, and still don’t.
“You’re right. I’m sorry about what I said before; that wasn’t fair. This means a lot to me and my team.”
“I know,” she replied bluntly. “So, like I was saying… You’ll be traveling for four out of the nine weeks. Those were originally home fixtures, but they’ve been reassigned to keep our schedule clean. But—”
My phone buzzed, interrupting her, and I made the mistake of glancing down at it. The group chat lit up again. The lads had already turned our travel schedule into a bingo card, guessing they all got emails whilst I’ve been here.
Teddy’s voice cuts through, all cool steel. “Oh, I’m sorry, am I keeping you from something vital?”
“Hmm?”
Her nostrils flared. I bit down a smile. She was easy to rile, but now wasn’t the time.
“If you’re going to be distracted, it’d better be for a good reason. Making plans while I’m trying to fix your squad can’t wait?”
Something bristled in me, low and stubborn, unwilling to back down this time. What she wasn’t saying pressed in anyway. “That’s what you think I’m doing? Making plans with someone?”
Controlled as ever, she shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is that’s clearly more important.”
“Seriously?”
“You want to fix this or not? Because I don’t have time to waste with you. I’ve already missed pitch training today.”
I shook my head. “It was just the guys asking for an update. Relax, Teddy.”
Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t give me the satisfaction of another reaction above that. So, I made it about business again. “What happens when you have away games?”
“The pitch is yours. But if you trash it in any way, I’ll make sure you’re all out on your asses.” She pinned me with a stare that was icy as fuck… I liked that she gave no shits about upsetting me.
“You wound me.” I knew I should rein it in, let it go. But the words were out before I had a chance to stop them.
“I’d like to,” she muttered, and I liked it. The annoyed version of her. Unfortunately.
“I’ll take that as progress.”
“You shouldn’t.” She tapped on her phone again, and then my own pinged in my pocket, but I didn’t have the balls to check this time. “That notification, you can check. I’ve sent you a request to share a calendar so we know what is happening and when. We’re in blue, you’re in green.”
Fitting, considering those were our team colors. “Alright. We’ll make it work.”
“I know you will.” She leveled me with a look. “Because you need to be on your best behavior all season long, Captain.”
I didn’t hold back the grin at her calling me that. “Duly noted, Captain.”
Teddy’s baby blues didn’t waver from mine, like she was daring me to push my luck.
I kind of wanted to.