Chapter 18
Blake
I’m jittery as we run onto the pitch before our game against Hightower University, my gaze darting around the stands trying to spot Juliet and Tinsley.
Knowing they’re here somewhere, as well as Tori, has the nerves kicking in harder than they ever have.
This is my chance to prove to my sister that I’ve changed.
I force myself to focus on warming up with my teammates and running through our drills with practised ease.
It’s become muscle memory at this point.
The forwards set up a combination play where we cut the ball in and finish on goal, while Galdeen and our back-up goalkeeper, Zephir, take turns defending our shots.
Zac’s been working with Galdeen on his game, and he looks really impressive.
When the game starts, I lock in. Hightower’s centre-back is a mouthy bastard and keeps tugging on my shirt.
He’s just trying to get in my head, and I’m determined not to let him.
He’s all over me in the fifteenth minute as the ball plays through our midfield, and the ref either hasn’t noticed or is letting it play out.
Releasing a frustrated growl, I twist out of his grip and make my run for the box. Doyle crosses the ball to me, and I volley it; the power behind my kick ensures the keeper has no chance of stopping it.
My heart soars as my teammates swamp me. The goal was one of the best of my soccer career, and knowing Tori and Juliet are both here to see it only adds to the euphoria bubbling in my veins.
Hightower score an equaliser just before half time, but we go into the change rooms happy with our game. Coach Johnson leaves us to get the laughing and banter out of system before calling for us to settle down.
“Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves,” he says, failing to contain his grin.
“We still have sixty minutes left to play. Kristof, you need to play tighter on your man, but watch the play and be ready to push across and back up Bentley when needed. Keep formation at all times. When we get sloppy, we put our teammates under pressure.”
Kristof nods, the cocky smirk slipping from his face. The kid’s good, but he absolutely needs to be humbled.
“We’re getting plenty of possession, but we’re going to switch up to a three-five-two structure and focus on width and control,” Coach continues.
“Logan and Ashcroft, I want you two to work together to confuse the space. Keep them guessing and rattle them. Let’s play smart out there.
Don’t waste the ball, play it quickly, and take your chances. ”
Ashcroft holds his fist out to me, and I bump it. We’ve got this.
“When we get a turnover in defence, we want to move the ball quickly. With the overload in the midfield, Mathers and Kale keep wide. We’ll be relying on your speed down the outside.”
Murmured assent fills the room, everyone knowing their role to play.
Hightower isn’t expecting our change in structure, and it works to our advantage.
They scramble to adapt, but in the confusion, we maintain possession.
It only takes ten minutes for Everett to score a header off a corner, and seventeen minutes later, I score off a perfectly timed cross from Doyle.
He then scores another in the dying minutes, and I’m practically vibrating with anticipation of seeing Juliet when the three sharp blasts from the ref signal the end of the game.
I’m bouncing on my toes as we line up to shake the opposition’s hands.
“You good?” Everett asks, squeezing my shoulder.
“Never better,” I answer honestly.
He shoots me a strange look but doesn’t say anything else as we follow our teammates into the change rooms.
Making sure no one’s looking, I slip my phone out of my bag and text Juliet.
Blake: Give us about twenty minutes and we’ll be out. Can’t wait to see you.
Not waiting for a reply, I drop it back into my bag and strip down so I can shower quickly. I played one of the best games of my life tonight, and I’m fucking stoked Tori and Juliet were both here to see it.
Everett takes his time, and I try to play it cool.
I didn’t tell him Juliet and Tinsley were coming because I shouldn’t know that.
When we exit, I spot Emily and Tori waiting for us and head towards them, but Everett mutters a curse under his breath and storms off in the opposite direction, towards an older man who has the same dark features. His father.
Shit.
I pull out my phone and text Juliet, praying she gets the message before she gets blindsided by her ex-husband.
Blake: Your ex is here. I’ll let you know when it’s all clear.
Her response comes through a second later.
Pixie: I’m going to take Tinsley home.
Blake: Please don’t. Everett will want to know she was here. He doesn’t look happy. Seeing Tinsley will cheer him up.
That’s an understatement. Everett’s face is like a thundercloud as he engages in a heated discussion with his dad. I keep my eyes on them as I reach Tori and Emily, the latter clinging to my sister’s hand.
“Who’s that?” Tori asks.
“Everett’s dad,” Emily says in a wary tone as my phone buzzes in my hand.
I glance down, angling my screen away from the girls so I can check the notification. Not that I need to bother, they’re both watching the interaction with Everett and his dad.
Pixie: We’ll wait in the car.
Blake: We’ll be out soon.
“Should I go over there?” Emily asks.
I shake my head. The last thing Everett will want is a witness to whatever is being said.
Tori worries her bottom lip between her teeth, and I know she’s reliving our own trauma with our father.
A few of our teammates exit the change rooms behind us, and they all cast curious glances in Everett’s direction. He doesn’t miss it; his jaw clenches.
Noah, Jasper, and Dane stop by my side, their eyes locked on our teammate.
“Everything okay?” Noah asks.
“He’ll be fine,” I say, knowing the attention will piss Everett off.
“If you need us, just call.”
Noah had his own shit with his dad as well, so I know he gets it. He claps my shoulder, and they head off towards the car park.
I’m wondering if I should step in when Everett takes a step back, snarling, “I said no!”
He turns his back on his dad and stalks back to us, wrapping his arm around Emily’s shoulder and pulling her along. “Let’s go.”
Tori looks at me, but I shrug. I don’t know what’s going on between him and his dad, and I’m not game to ask with the mood he’s in.
He’ll share with me if he needs to. Though something in my gut doesn’t sit right, and I wonder if it has anything to do with Juliet or Tinsley, because if it does, I’ll be making it my business.
Distracted by my thoughts, I almost forget that they’re waiting in the car for us. I unlock my phone and message her.
Blake: On our way out.
When we reach the car park, I hear Tinsley before I see her.
“Rett!”
A smile lights up Everett’s face as she reaches us, and he barely has time to release his hold on Emily before his little sister launches at him. She wraps her arms around his neck, squeezing tightly.
“Hey, pipsqueak,” he chuckles. “What are you doing here?”
“I was cheering you on, silly,” she says. “I was shouting ‘Go Rett’ so loud.” Her face drops. “Didn’t you hear me?”
“Oh, yeah,” he says, nodding his head. “I heard you.”
“What about me, Sprout?” I ask with an exaggerated pout. “Were you cheering for me, too?”
She eyes me with cautious curiosity, then nods seriously. “Mama and me were cheering for both of you.”
The thought of them cheering my name causes a fluttering sensation in my chest.
Juliet reaches us then, her cheeks flushed, and my stomach swoops at the sight of her, but I don’t miss the way her gaze darts around the emptying car park.
After getting a glimpse of Everett’s dad, I’m dying to know what happened between them and how she ended up with full custody of Tinsley.
If he touched either of them, he’s going to regret it.
“Hi,” Juliet says softly, keeping her gaze trained on Everett. I know it’s so we don’t give each other away, but a selfish part of me wants to grab her and kiss her, consequences be damned. “I hope it’s okay that we came. I thought Tinsley would enjoy watching her big brother play.”
Tori’s gaze darts between Juliet and Everett, and I know she’s trying to do the maths.
“It’s fine. She’s welcome at any of my games,” he says, but his smile is tight, and while I know it’s because of whatever went down with his dad, Juliet is clearly thrown for a loop at his less than warm reception.
“Okay, well, come on, princess,” she says, reaching for her daughter. “Let’s leave these guys to celebrate their win.”
I want to shout for her to stay, but Tinsley beats me to it.
“I want to celebrate their win,” she says, burying her head in Everett’s shoulder and refusing to let go.
“We could all go out for dinner,” I blurt out, and Tori’s confused gaze slides to me. Swallowing, I try to act as nonchalant as I can. “Juliet, this is my sister, Tori. She’s visiting from Sydney.”
“Nice to meet you,” Juliet says, smiling warmly at my sister.
“You, too.”
“Juliet’s…” I want to say my girlfriend, but an awkward silence lingers, because it doesn’t seem right to call her Everett’s stepmum either, even if it’s technically true.
“I’m Tinsley’s mum,” she explains for me. “She’s Everett’s half-sister.”
Tori nods, her shrewd eyes turning to me.
“So, dinner?” I suggest again. “Sprout wants to celebrate our win, and it’s Tori’s last night in Beckford. I was thinking the Japanese restaurant on the main street? Who’s in?”
Everett’s shoulders are tense throughout dinner, and I know he’s still seething over whatever went down between him and his dad, but his face softens, and his smile is genuine as he patiently answers all Tinsley’s questions.
“Why aren’t you allowed to catch the ball in your hands like the man in the net?”
“That’s called hand ball,” he explains. “In soccer, you’re only allowed to move the ball with your feet, unless you’re the goalkeeper.”