Chapter Twenty-Nine
Matchday
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
I’m in Australia.
I’m walking to the stadium from the Uber drop-off point on Olympic Boulevard, timing my arrival to coincide with when the Stonebridge United team will take to the pitch for warm-ups.
And I’m about to give Noah the surprise of a lifetime by showing up at his first friendly of the season.
It might be chilly and dark outside—after all, it’s winter in Melbourne—but I feel nothing but a warm rush of emotions surging though me. I’m wearing Noah’s jersey underneath my new Stonebridge United jacket.
HIS JERSEY.
Goosebumps sweep over me. I’m so excited. I can’t believe I’m here. I actually did something I wanted to do, not caring if my parents think less of me for doing so.
I know I’m not in butterfly mode now.
I’m a woman who wants to be there for the man she loves.
And I’ll give Noah the support he has been missing since the day his father passed away when he was sixteen.
The chilly breeze causes my hair to blow back. The large stadium is in front of me, a magnificent sight, all lit up in lights and glowing bright in the night sky. It’s set in Olympic Park, which is east of Melbourne city centre. The Yarra River runs alongside it, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground is on the other side. My heartbeat ticks upwards with each step I take towards the rectangular, modern-style stadium.
I still feel behind on sleep—it was hard to get a good sleep on the aeroplane, and I had to sort out times to text Noah so he wouldn’t be suspicious of my lack of responses to his texts—but now I’m running on pure adrenaline.
And a desire to see Noah play football.
I pass by other football fans, wearing a mix of team shirts, scarves, and hats supporting Stonebridge United and Oakleaf Palace, the team Stonebridge United are facing today in the friendly. I’ve already texted Camden and told him I was on my way. He knows the location of my seat, so when he sees me, he’s going to point Noah in my direction. I’ve also texted Bella, Aimee, Nicholas, and Amelia in a Connectivity Group Chat I created so I can give them updates and send them pictures of Noah on the pitch.
I take an excited breath as I reach the stadium, retrieving my phone from my stadium-approved size-A4 bag. I take a few pictures because the building really is spectacular. I do a few selfies, too, and I love how happy and excited I look. My face has a rosy glow from the cold, and I can see how I’m beaming in each picture.
I make my way to the queue to enter the stadium, pulling up my ticket info on my phone. I listen to the conversations around me and hear people discussing Noah multiple times. What a rush that is! I can’t get enough of hearing how highly they think of him and how important he is to the squad. Pride is already brimming over in me with each word, and I can’t even imagine how I’m going to feel seeing him on the pitch!
My ticket is scanned, my bag is searched, and then I’m inside the stadium. I get a programme, of course, but I won’t bother to get anything to eat and drink until after I see Noah warm up. I can’t miss a minute of that. That’s why I made a point to get here as soon as the stadium opened for fans.
I wind my way through the concourse, trying to soak up as much of this incredible atmosphere as I can. As I get closer to the entrance area for my seats, my anticipation for this moment builds. This is about to happen. I’m about to see my boyfriend on the pitch, in person. I’ll be supporting him, cheering for him, and marvelling at watching in person the elite player he has worked so hard to become.
I reach the entrance, and as soon as I step out into the stadium, seeing the green turf all lit up by lights, any fatigue I had goes sailing right out of me.
I feel absolutely electric now.
I keep going down the steps, closer to my pitch-side seat, and I have no regrets about the money I spent for the entire trip. Zero. This is going to be the best thing I have ever done, I know it is.
I reach my seat row—with only a barrier between me and the pitch—and have the urge to pinch myself to make sure this is real.
I notice the people sitting in my row are dressed in Stonebridge United gear, and I smile at them as they rise so I can move into my seat. “Hello,” I say cheerfully.
A man in his fifties smiles at me. “I see you’re wearing the right colours today.”
I grin. “I am a Hawks fan through and through.”
The other man with him—who has a Camden Tremblay scarf draped over his coat—smiles in approval. “Just what we like to hear,” he says with a nod.
I take my seat and start snapping a few more pictures. Then I stand up and take a few selfies with the pitch in the background. I select the best one and send it to the aptly named “MISSION: SAUCY SHORTS DOWN UNDER” chat group:
I am inside!! Moments away from surprising Noah. I am so excited!!!
And it might be eight o’clock in the morning in England, but already responses are coming in:
Amelia: SQUEEEEEEEE THIS IS SO EXCITING I WISH I COULD BE THERE TO SEE HIS FACE!
Nicholas: She really is shouting, BTW.
Bella: I am so so excited for Noah! Camden confirmed he knows you are there right now and will point him in your direction. He just texted me from the dressing room. I wish I could be there to see this!! But I’ve got the Stonebridge United game up on the app, and I’m keeping my eyes peeled for you!!
Amelia: Me too!
Aimee: I CANNOT WAIT FOR NOAH TO SEE YOU!!! But first, coffee.
I smile and type a reply:
I could use some of that myself. #JetLagIsReal
Aimee: #JetLagIsRealButSAUCYSHORTSDOWNUNDERisWorthIt
Nicholas: This is my sign to leave the chat if you are diving into Saucy Shorts talk.
I smile at that and reply:
You better leave now because I will be including shots of said Saucy Shorts, Nicholas.
I wait to see the “Nicholas has left the chat” message to come through next.
Amelia: Ha ha, you’ve scared him off now. He’s going off to make breakfast. Which is good because I want a bacon butty. I’m STARVING and need a big cup of hazelnut coffee.
Aimee: I’m having Vegemite on toast this morning. #AussieBreaky
Bella: I’m having a bowl of Weetabix and berries.
Aimee: Have you ever had chocolate chip Weetabix? That’s my favourite.
I glance back up at the pitch, and then it happens.
The Stonebridge United team is announced.
I quickly close out of the chat and hold my breath. I get up from my seat, as Camden told me to do, and find I’m trembling with both nerves and excitement. I stand there, listening to the Stonebridge United fans cheer, and then it happens.
I see him.
Noah trots onto the turf, and I see the number seven and “DARBY” across the back of his navy shirt. I’m buzzing—I’m so eager and anxious for him to see me, I can barely stand it.
He hasn’t turned around yet, but I see Camden look my way and then smile. I hold my breath as he moves over to Noah before he is about to start his warm-up, talks to him, and points over in my direction.
I swear the world stops as Noah’s head turns in my direction. He searches, and when he sees me, he freezes. His whole body just goes still, and even from here, I can see the look of complete shock on his face.
I wave excitedly at him. “NOAH!” I shout.
Camden says something to him, which seems to move him into action. He jogs towards me, staring at me as if I were a mirage.
Because I’m sure, in some ways, he has to believe I am.
Noah comes up to where I’m standing. When he reaches me, his brown eyes are wide, searching mine, his face etched in nothing but pure confusion and disbelief.
“Violet,” he says, his voice shaking. “What? … Why? … How? …” He trails off, as if words are failing him.
“I’m here,” I say, smiling at him. “I came to see you play.”
I hear other fans clamouring for him, but he stays focused solely on me.
“You’re here,” he says, his voice thick as he touches the side of my face with his hand. “You’re really here.”
I nod as I wrap one of my hands over his, squeezing it. “I am, Noah. It’s high time someone came to watch you play.”
His eyes begin to grow rimmed with red. I fight back my own tears as I see how much this moment has moved him.
“You came to Australia,” he says, his tone still dazed.
“Of course I did. I came for you. It matters to me.”
Because I love youis left unsaid.
“Violet. This is crazy. I can’t believe you did this. You came to Australia.”
“Of course I did,” I say again, grinning at him. “It’s your first friendly of the season, I couldn’t miss it.”
“You even kept this a surprise,” Noah says, his voice reverberating with the shock that he’s still feeling.
“I wanted it to be the biggest surprise for you.”
Noah continues to stare at me, and I still don’t think he’s trusting reality at the moment.
“Oh, I have one more surprise for you!” I say eagerly. I let go of his hand and quickly shimmy out of my coat. I turn around to reveal that I’m wearing his jersey. I turn back around to face him, and I find that Noah has become teary.
“My shirt,” he says, his voice barely audible. “You’re wearing my shirt.”
“Your shirt,” I repeat, my own voice growing thick with emotion. “I wanted to wear your name on my back. I’m so proud of what you have achieved, Noah. And I couldn’t be prouder to be here wearing your shirt.”
I push down my own tears when I see how overwhelmed he is by my grand gesture.
He reaches for my face again, this time putting both his hands on it. I wrap my hands over his, and he takes a moment before speaking.
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” he says, his voice rough.
“You are worth a trip around the world, Noah. I would do it all over again just for this moment. For you to simply know I’m here for you.”
Noah stares deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Violet.”
I pause for a moment, my breath caught in my throat.
Noah just told me he loves me. I stand very still, hoping he’s not saying these words because he’s stunned and caught up in the moment. I want him to say them from his heart. When it doesn’t matter if I’m making some big gesture. I want him to say it when we’re in bed. Watching TV. Drinking tea. I want Noah to love me for the big and small moments.
I just want him to truly love me,I think.
“I do love you, Violet,” Noah says firmly, his eyes kindling with emotion. “And you should know that.” He draws my mouth to his for a chaste kiss. “I love you so damn much,” he murmurs against my lips. “I love you.”
The second I hear the tone of his voice, when I see the fire in his beautiful brown eyes, I’m certain of one thing.
His words of love are true. Spoken from his heart.
“I love you, too,” I say, my voice wobbling.
Suddenly Noah’s expression washes away to one of pure, heartfelt joy. His eyes sparkle now. And the smile on his face?
Oh, it’s so beautiful and happy, I want to remember it forever.
I gaze back at him, knowing I’m showering him with the same smile he’s giving to me.
“I’ve got to go. But look for this tonight.” Noah makes a V with his fingers, his palm facing outwards, and holds it up to me. “When I score tonight, which I will, this V is for Violet. For you.”
Then he trots back to the pitch, joining in the drills with his teammates.
I stand still, blinking back tears as I watch him.
That’s the man I love.
And that’s the man who loves me back, exactly as I am. He didn’t see my action of coming to Australia as a whimsical, butterfly idea. He saw it as me coming to support him. To be the person in the stands, wearing his jersey on my back because he deserves it.
Because he deserves to be loved like this.
I take my seat, still buzzing inside from what just happened.
Noah loves me.
I can’t stop replaying his declaration in my head. I’m joyful, I’m excited, I’m grateful … All of these emotions about Noah are wrapped up into one right now.
But to see how much it meant to him for me to be here, to see the expression on his face and how emotional he got?
I absolutely did the right thing by coming to Melbourne.
And now I can’t wait to see him flash the V when he scores a goal tonight.