Maeve #2
“And yet, my signature is needed on all your notes to clear you each morning.” I grinned, knowing my lack of frustration, irritated him more. “Special instructions from the Head Coach, and the board.”
He shrugged. “I can easily say that you’re just trying to jeopardise me on purpose, especially because your reaction from first meet ensured I couldn’t bring Doreen around during camp.”
“Well, you are a liar.” I snapped.
“And, you are trouble.”
“You—”
“Enough.” My father’s voice cut me off before I could snap back with something sharper, startling both of us at once. “You two. Come with me. Now.”
I glanced around us, only noticing then how everyone had paused, their eyes fixed on us.
Great.
This was just great.
Without waiting to see what he was going to do, I tightened my grip on my tablet and followed in the direction my father had gone.
I could feel the weight of everyone’s attention lingering on my back as Rihaan caught up to me.
Before I could help it, the words spilled out of me. “You know, you’re not really doing much to help your case, right?”
Rihaan faltered, barely, his eyes narrowing in my direction as he fell back into step. “What is that supposed to mean?”
I gripped my tablet tighter. “It means that even though you’re refusing to listen to me and pretending to be deeply hurt over my paper, and still…
proving me right. I read the notes left by the previous senior physio.
Weren’t you supposed to be on complete rest during the break to heal your Posterior Tibialis?
And yet, during the first meet it was easy to spot that you’d barely rested.
And now, you know there’s a limit for you during each rotation because of your previous injuries.
It’s to ensure you don’t overwork yourself, but you just don’t care.
Either you’re insecure about your own ability to perform well, or you simply don’t think that the professionals know what they’re talking about. ”
When he remained silent as we reached the steps to the locker silents, I finally looked at him, in all his fuming glory and finished.
“Or, I was right. You think because you’ve achieved a few milestones in your early career, you think you’re some kind of rare jewel this sport has scene, and you can do whatever the fuck you want, and then pout because someone called you out one. ”
His gaze narrowed then, his voice filled with challenge as he spoke.
“You want to know what it feels like when someone calls you out? Take a fucking look in the mirror, Maeve. You’re saying I do whatever I want and throw a tantrum, but you’ve just ensured my entire career is now under microscope all the while you get a fucking promotion because of who your dad is. ”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, we’re back at this?”
Rihaan huffed out a short laugh. “Yes. We are.”
“I thought you’d gotten over that after you pulled that little stunt,” I gave him a bored look. “Boy, you sure know how to hold grudges, don’t you?”
“Don’t kid yourself, trouble.” His voice dropped a dangerous octave as his eyes darkened.
“If someone—anyone else in the sport had done this? They would’ve been ridiculed and their paper would’ve been made into a joke.
You’re the daughter of one of the greatest men in the sport, who now is the coach of the England cricket team. You think that’s all on your merit?”
“I have never needed my father to help my career along.”
He barked out an amused laugh. “If you think that, then I hate to break it you— you’re simply naive.
It takes one search to find out who your father is.
And sure, maybe you do have the brains to be where you are but it’s your father who gave you this promotion.
So, if I were you, I’d get off my high horse about professional advice.
You don’t know what’s the cost to get here on merit, and you sure as hell don’t know my body to know if I’m insecure, entitled, or arrogant. ”
“The pot says to the kettle,” I snapped. “As you said, Rihaan. It takes one search to find who your father is too. Don’t tell me you believe that you only got the opportunities to be here all on your merit.”
He shook his head once. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, well, neither do you.” I climbed the steps before he could add another baseless thing to the conversation.
“WHAT IS THE MATTER with the two of you?” My father thundered the moment we both stepped into the room he’d settled in.
“She started it,” Rihaan murmured, making me roll my eyes.
“Such a child,” I whispered, low enough to be just heard by the man next to me, his scoff a proof.
“If this is you two on the first day,” My father ignored us both. “I don’t think I want to know what two weeks of training camp will do to you. Let alone the tour.”
He paused then, looking at both of us intently.
“Hey, this was your great idea,” I shrugged, because frankly, quitting sounded real appealing right about then. “Don’t look at us like we put you in this situation.”
“Now, who’s being childish?” My father raised a brow.
“Your child, Dad. That’s who,” I replied, a grin pulling at my lips.