Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
~DEX~
She is hurt. And I hate that she is not letting me check her.
Instead, I got waved off like everything is fine.
I don’t know if everything is fine and neither does she.
She knows that she wants to win this game and the hell with everything else.
Amelia is not thinking straight or past this game.
If she would have just let me come onto the field, then I could have helped her think long-term.
But no, she waved me off like a stubborn ass.
I huff and sit down next to Jase.
“You okay, mate?” His English accent sounding heavier when he’s using slang from across the pond.
“No, she should have let me check her out. That girl,” I say pointing to the spot on the field where it happened, “fell on her pretty good. I should have been allowed to check on her. She wouldn’t have had to come out because I entered the field.
” I sigh heavily again and cross my arms across my chest.
He chuckles. “I see you’ve been reading up on the rules.”
I nod. “Yeah, I read it on the way here on the plane ride. I figured I needed to know things like this.”
“Well, that was a smart move and I’m sure the girls will appreciate the effort.
But you’ve gotta remember that soccer is a physical game.
And the girls are going to take tough tackles like that, and they will pop up and be just fine.
” He pats me on the back and adds. “It’s good that you care but they know their bodies a bit better than you do.
Let her make the decision; forward-thinking aside, she made the best decision for her and the team right now. ”
I nod and he gets up to watch a shot that is being fired at Hendrix. But she comes up big and saves the goal. The buzzer sounds, the ball resting safely in her hands.
The Blaze wins the game, and everyone is jumping up and down.
I want to be just as keyed up, but the only thing I want is to get Amelia on the table to check her out.
I exchange high-fives and a few slaps on the back with Coach Andie, Coach Watts, and Lucas even gives me a hug.
I want to be flying high with the rest of them, but the worry won’t let me.
I decide it’s best to head off the field, so my mood doesn’t infect anyone else. It’s pretty easy to slip away when you’re not exactly close with anyone on the staff. Expect for maybe August but I can see him up in his box. He’ll be down shortly, which gives me plenty of time to get away.
I make my way over to the tunnels, where the girls will need to come in to change. Coaches will give speeches and then it’s out on the town to celebrate before that early airport call, from what I’ve heard.
I lean against the wall and wait for her. I can see they are all still out there celebrating and talking to the few fans that made the trip out. I see Danny is hugging Mac, and even Jase has his arm around Cassie. It’s a great night for these girls and they’ve done well.
I’m proud of them, I am. I’m really worried about the center back who took a nasty hit and refused to come out for me to take a good look at it.
It’s a good twenty minutes of me holding up the wall before she makes her way into the tunnel with the rest of the girls.
“West!” I call out to her as she’s making her way into the tunnel, flanked by Cassie and Mac. Hendrix is right behind them talking to Coach Andie.
Amelia’s eyes meet mine and they widen for a second. I think she sees that I’m pissed.
“Langley,” my last name falls easily from her lips, and she is now glaring at me.
“I need to check you out. This is not a request!” I’m telling her that this is going to happen.
“Sure, can I hear Coach’s speech first and then I’ll head over,” she tells me.
“Nope, now. I’m sure he’ll understand.” I turn on my heel and head into the trainer room, knowing damn well she’s following me. Not necessarily for me to check her out but for her to rip me a new one.
I hear her before I turn around to face her. Her cleats are making a clicking sound on the floor as she enters. The footsteps sound heavy, almost like she’s stomping. I turn around and see the fire in her brown eyes, which look almost like molten chocolate.
Amelia opens her mouth to speak but my hand comes up, silencing her. “I would appreciate it if when you are injured that you let someone look at you. You should not have continued playing. Any part of you could be injured after a hit like that. Next time, please let me evaluate you.”
Amelia scoffs and places her hands on her hips.
“No, I don’t think I’ll be doing that. I am fully capable of deciding when my body needs to be evaluated and when I’m completely fine.
” She shakes her head. “Calm down, football, you’ve been with us for a hot minute.
That doesn’t mean we are going to change the way we function because August hired us a full-time trainer. Got it?”
She turns on her heel to leave, but I’m faster.
I lightly grip her shoulder, spinning her so that she’s facing me.
Her body is pressed against mine as I take a step, pinning her to the wall beside the door.
I hear her gasp. Her lips remain parted as she stares at me.
“No, I don’t got it.” I get ready to fire off a retort to her little speech when our eyes lock.
Green meets brown and she’s staring at me intently like she’s not sure what’s going to happen next.
I slowly release my hold on her, and I take a step back. Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I would like the opportunity to check you out next time you take a tumble like that. That hit looked bad, that’s all.”
“It was a slide tackle. She slide tackled me and it’s completely legal.
She did it correctly and I was okay. If I need you, I’ll call for you.
Okay?” Her voice is low and shaky as she watches me.
“I get it, you’re here now. But you always have to remember that I’ve been doing this a long time.
I know my body. And I’ll call for you if I need you. ”
I nod. “I didn’t anticipate there being hits like that in soccer. I’ve been on NFL sidelines when players have taken hard hits. Hell, I’ve heard the bones crack from there. I didn’t expect see it on the soccer field.’
“Well, we’re not as breakable as you think we are. And the hits may happen, but we’ll let you know when we need you.” She takes a step back, making her way towards the door.
“I know.” I feel like an ass for getting so fired up over this. “I got worried when you went down.”
She nods. “Thanks for looking out for me.” With that she’s turning on her heel and heading to the team room, where I can faintly hear Watts giving a speech.
August comes around the corner, and leans against the door frame, watching me. I stare back at him, waiting for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I break first.
“What’s up, man? How much of that did you hear?” I ask him.
He stares for a beat longer before speaking, “I heard a lot of it. Were you worried about the whole team or was it just her?”
“The whole team.” The lie rolls off my tongue so easily that I almost believe it myself.
“Just checking,” he says nodding. “Because while I know I lifted the rule, I don’t think you’re in the place to start something with someone right now. Divorce was recently finalized, correct?”
I shake my head. “Yes,” I croak out. August is making me feel like I’m two inches tall right now. A sleazy dude who is looking to use his position as trainer to be inappropriate. “I signed the papers before I left.”
He knows this. I told him this.
He nods again. “Alright, well, take some time before jumping into anything.”
“Is this your way of warning me off of the girls on the team? Because I’m not looking to start something with one of them.
Especially Amelia since we live together.
Unless you’re here to tell me that you found me a new place.
” I place my hands tighter in prayer, hoping he’s here with that good piece of news.
He chuckles. “No, still no updates on that front. I have no further update than what I told you on the plane ride over. I was watching the game.”
I chuckle. “I love that for you. You were actually watching a women’s soccer team play.”
“You think I wouldn’t?”
“I think that the August I know wouldn’t necessarily enjoy watching it. That he would rather be with Drew watching the Marlins play,” I tease him.
“If I’m doing this, really owning a team, then I’m going to watch them play and root for them just as hard. I’m their biggest fan,” he says chuckling, August is trying to make light of my observation but he’s failing. I know him. He’s proud to be the owner of the Blaze. I love that for him.
“I’m proud of you, man,” I reply. “I’m sure your dad is too.”
“Oh, well, the only thing that makes Maxwell happy is seeing the revenue numbers finally moving in an upward direction.” He shakes his head. “But thanks, that means a lot.”
I nod. “Of course. What does Maxwell think of you owning the team where Hendrix plays? Because the first I met him, he was yelling at you for sulking over her.”
“I was not sulking over her.” He shakes his finger at me, punctuating his words.
“Whatever you say, dude.”
“I don’t think he remembers her, to be honest.” He winces when he says the sentence.
My eyes widen. “Are you kidding me? From what I remember, she was the subject of many arguments before I met you, and some after.”
“I know, I know. But I think he forget about her, so let’s not remind him.” He winks at me.
“I still can’t believe that I finally got to meet the famous Hendrix. It truly is a small world.” I shake my head.
I see something shift on in his posture; his shoulders slump a bit and he hangs his head.
His eyes no longer meeting mine, which is not like August. He’s usually so sure of himself and with confidence that comes across in spades.
But right now, he’s vulnerable and unsure of what he’s about to tell me.
“Yeah, that’s her. And boy, does she hate my guts,” he admits.
“I thought that was a thing you two did; the verbal sparring that I saw the other night. Made it seem like you’re not too fond of her either,” I explain to him.
“Easier that way, I guess. Besides, that’s all in the past and that’s where we are leaving it.” He shrugs again and looks back over at the team room.
“Maybe if you’re hoping for different, then don’t take such cheap shots at her.”
“I do not take cheap shots at her,” he assures me with defensiveness in his voice.
I raise my eyebrows, watching him. “You know you do.”
“Either way, it’s fine. She keeps on hating me and she thinks I hate her too. It all works out for everyone.”
“Are you sure about that?” I ask with genuine concern.
“Yeah, I’m sure about that.” He shakes his head.
“Way to make this about me. I came in here to see why you were so worried about Amelia and you turn this on me. You’re clever.
” He wags his finger at me. “You know they take hits like that. Takes them a minute to get up, but they all do, god willing.”
I nod. “Yeah, I never saw it before, and it looked like a hard hit.”
“Uh-huh,” he says, but I can tell by the playful tone of his voice that he doesn’t believe me.
“Well, that’s good. Now it’s time to celebrate because we beat the Chicago Stars!
” He yells the last part, and I hear cheers ringing out from the team room.
I can’t be sure if they are cheering along with him or from something said in that room.
Either way, August is smiling a mile wide as he stands back to full height.
“I’m going to go congratulate them on their win. I’ll see you later, we’ll get drinks.”
“Sounds good, man. Thanks.”
August nods and he’s gone. I stand there thinking about what he said.
I tell myself over and over again that my concern was because it was one of our players.
And not because the player that it was. The hit looked really bad.
This has nothing to do with Amelia. I remind myself of that again and again, as I grab my shit and prepare to meet up with the team.