Chapter Thirty
Number Seven
Fireworks light up the sky over the stadium, dazzling the black Melbourne sky with flashes of colour on this chilly evening. I’m standing with the rest of the fans in my section, all eagerly awaiting what we have come for tonight.
Not the fireworks, as lovely as they are.
But to watch Stonebridge United take to the pitch in a friendly against bitter rivals Oakleaf Palace.
After the last of the fireworks erupt, the teams are announced on the PA system, and I feel a rush of excitement sweep over me. Both teams come on to the pitch, holding the hands of children dressed in the same kit as they are wearing. Mascots. That’s what Noah told me they were called.
And then I see him.
My heart pounds inside my chest the second I see the name “DARBY” across the back of his shirt, along with his number seven. He’s holding the hand of a little girl in pigtails, and I think my ovaries might be obliterated by the sight of him with a child.
They walk across the pitch and stand in line, and I can’t keep my eyes off Noah. I’m so glad I came. Seeing his reaction, the tears in his eyes, the emotion in his voice—I know without a shadow of a doubt I did the right thing by coming to Melbourne.
And I will stay in this stadium until Noah leaves the pitch. I won’t leave a second before then.
Because Noah deserves this. To have someone here for him, the entire match, rooting for him and encouraging him.
He needs me here.
And there’s no place on earth I’d rather be.
Cheers fill the stadium after the anthem is played, and finally, we get down to the business of playing football. The players get around the circle at the centre of the pitch, and as soon as the whistle is blown, a Stonebridge United player kicks the ball, and the game is underway.
I take my seat, as everyone around me is sitting and I don’t want to block anyone’s view. I lean forward, my feet tapping against the concrete floor, my hands clasped tightly together in my lap, excitement filling me as my eyes follow wherever Noah goes.
Within seconds, however, I’m breathless.
Because Noah is a thing of beauty on the pitch.
He’s running, and I can see the muscles flex in his thighs as he moves. I see how agile he is, able to turn and pivot and run wherever the ball is headed. I watch how he fearlessly goes after the ball, engaging with the Oakleaf Palace players to try and take it away. I’m impressed by his speed—he seems to fly down the pitch effortlessly.
Noah is absolutely brilliant.
Tears sting my eyes. It is an honour to watch him. A complete honour. I feel so incredibly lucky to be here seeing him in person, wearing his shirt, and being in this moment. People all over the world watch Premier League football and only so many can see it live.
I’m one of the fortunate ones.
Suddenly the Stonebridge United team begins moving the football this way. I can hear the manager yelling from the sideline, but I don’t tear my eyes off Noah to see what he’s doing.
Noah is flying across the pitch with the ball. Everyone in the stadium rises to their feet. He is cutting between Oakleaf Palace players. Outrunning them. Now he’s come across the halfway point and he’s still running!
“Come on, Noah!” I yell.
He continues to run around and between Oakleaf Palace players. Camden is running up behind him. I gasp as I watch him fly. It’s like he’s in a different gear! Noah closes in on the goal, and I hold my breath as the keeper for Oakleaf Palace slides out in front of him at the same time Noah strikes the ball with his foot, lifting it over the goalie’s body.
Bam! The ball hits the back of the net.
The Stonebridge United fans erupt into cheers. I’m cheering as loud as I can as Noah runs, drops to his knees, and slides across the pitch in triumph.
I think it’s the hottest thing I have ever seen.
Noah stands up, and all of his teammates pile onto him, celebrating the goal. Then he turns in my direction, and I hold my breath as he makes a V with his fingers and flashes it right at me, giving me a smile so big and so beautiful, I have to blink back tears.
That goal was for me.
And something tells me it might not be the last one I see this evening scored by the man I love.
* * *
It turns out I was right.
Noah scored his second goal right before half-time, heading in a ball that came off a corner kick by Harvey Cross. Once again, he looked at me and flashed me the V, and I had the same feeling of pride and excitement I did the first time he scored. Now we’re nearing the end of the match, and Stonebridge United lead 3-1, with Camden scoring the other goal for the team.
They are on the opposite end of the pitch from me, but I still follow along, my eyes rarely straying from number seven. He’s still attacking with the same energy he had at the start of the game, which is amazing to see in person. I don’t know how he does it! Surely he has to be exhausted from running up and down the pitch!
But Noah doesn’t act like it.
My phone continues to vibrate in my coat pocket. I ignore it, as I’m not missing a second of this match. I’m living in this moment, being present for Noah. That means not answering text messages or even taking pictures.
He’s spent his whole professional career with nobody watching.
That changed tonight.
It’s announced that there is five minutes of stoppage time, and I’m still riveted to the play on the pitch. Some of the players have been substituted, and Noah and Camden both come off at the same time. As he comes closer to the bench in his grass- and dirt-stained kit, his head turns in my direction. His espresso-coloured eyes search me out, and when they land on me, he flashes me the V sign once again, the biggest smile passing over his face.
I smile back at him, my heart so full of love for this man, I think it might burst. He takes his seat and grabs a bottle of water, squeezing it over the top of his head and down the back of his neck.
So. Hot.
It now seems like an eternity before the clock winds down, but when it does, I’m on my feet and cheering. Players from both teams walk around the pitch, clapping for their fans who have made it to Melbourne for tonight’s friendly. I see the Stonebridge United players making their way to their fan section at the back of the goal, but Noah doesn’t go there first.
He comes straight to me.
Emotions overtake me as I see him heading my way. I fight back tears of joy as Noah jogs up to me.
As soon as he’s standing before me, I reach for him, holding his face in my hands. He’s dirty and sweaty, and I wipe flecks of grass from his cheek.
“Noah,” I say, my voice thick, “I’m so proud of you. You were amazing tonight. I can’t believe what I saw! You’re so talented, and seeing it in person is just … just … incredible! Incredible! And I love you so much.”
His eyes once again grow rimmed with red. Noah draws my forehead to his, simply holding me in place as the crowd begins singing a Stonebridge United song.
Finally, he moves back so he can look at me.
“Having you here,” he says, his voice unsteady, “is one of the greatest moments of my football career. I will never forget this, Violet.”
I blink rapidly so I don’t begin to cry. Noah swallows hard, and I know he’s trying to do the same.
“I love you so much,” he says, drawing my mouth to his for a kiss. “I love you.”
Pure, unadulterated joy surges through me. This is what love is. It’s supporting someone. Believing in them. Showing up when they need you.
And I will always show up for this man.
Always.
“I have to go,” Noah says, holding my face in his hands. “Text me your hotel and I’ll meet you there. My hotel will be full of fans and press in the lobby. It will be easier for me to come to you.”
“Okay,” I say, nodding. “I will.”
Noah grins at me. “You aren’t a mirage, right? I didn’t dream this whole thing, did I?”
“No,” I say, grinning back at him. “I’m real. You’re real. And I just watched you score two goals in Melbourne.”
His eyes shine back at me. “I’ll see you in a bit. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
Noah flashes me another V and then jogs off to join his teammates, clapping for the fans who came out in support. I finally remove my phone from my pocket and open the Uber app so I can arrange for a ride back to my hotel.
And wait for Noah to meet me so we can celebrate his performance on the pitch tonight.
* * *
I put a spritz of my perfume on the back of my neck and check out my appearance in the bathroom mirror of my hotel room. I’ve changed into a pair of faux-leather leggings and a kelly-green sweater with an open back. I’ve re-done my make-up, this time opting for red lipstick.
Which I plan to get all over Noah, of course.
A mischievous smile lights up my face, and I leave the bathroom and flop down on the edge of my hotel bed, the lights of downtown Melbourne flooding through my window and providing a glittering city view. I reach for my phone. I’ve finally responded to all the messages I got during the game. Everyone was so happy for Noah, and it made my heart soar to see how my friends and family have embraced him.
I have no doubt I’ll be able to get an entire group of us to go to his first home game in August.
The idea of having a group there, showing up for Noah, nearly makes me want to cry happy tears again. I decide to throw the idea out there right now so I can get tickets. I look up the schedule on the Stonebridge United website and see the first game of the season is a home one in Surrey on a Sunday. I quickly message the group chat:
Thinking ahead—I’d like for a bunch of us to cheer Noah on in the season opener on 13 August. It’s a Sunday, and it’s at home in Surrey. Bella, I assume you’ll be there, but if anyone else would like to go with me, I’d love to have a group of us there for Noah. Let me know if you’re in and I’ll see about tickets.
Nicholas is typing …
Aimee is typing …
Nicholas: Amelia and I are in.
Aimee: YASS I AM IN! By the way, Harvey Cross is GORGEOUS. Can you get the details on him from Noah? Please and thank you, LOVE UUUUUUUUUU
Bella is typing …
Bella: Yes, I will be there! Can’t wait to cheer on the boys! Oh Aimee—sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Harvey has a girlfriend.
Aimee is typing…
DAMN IT.
I smile. This is going to be great. I can’t wait to tell Noah he will have not just me, but a group of us supporting him.
Buzz!
My heart leaps. It’s a text from Noah:
Butterfly, do you care to rescue me from the lobby? I’m in a chair and trying to hide behind a potted plant.
I giggle at the idea of that. That might be worth a picture before I talk to him.
I grab my bag, double-check to make sure I have my room key, and head downstairs to the lobby. I take the lift down to that level and exit, finding it fairly quiet this evening. I walk across the white marble floor and scan the plush seating arrangements for Noah. So far, I see grouped sofas and wingback chairs, but no chair behind a plant.
Then I spot two chairs on the far edge of the lobby with a large potted palm between them. Ah-ha! That has to be where Noah is.
I whip out my phone and move around to the side. Sure enough, I see Noah sitting there, wearing a white dress shirt and jeans, one foot tapping anxiously on the floor.
I pause for a moment and take a picture, grateful that my ballet flats haven’t announced my presence like my heels would have. I wait there a second, staring at him, seeing if Noah picks up my presence or not.
Suddenly he lifts his head. And when he sees me, I’m rewarded with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
I hurry over and throw my arms around him. Noah draws me tightly into his body, his hands skimming over my open back, his face buried into my hair.
No words are said. None need to be.
Because the way we are holding each other says it all.
I breathe him in, the sensual, familiar clean-citrus scent on his skin, and close my eyes. I could stay in his arms forever like this.
One of his hands slides up to the nape of my neck and tangles in my hair, then I feel his lips on the top of my head. I move back so I can look up at him, and I’m touched by the tender way he’s gazing at me.
“I have so much I want to say to you,” Noah tells me, his one hand caressing my back. I shiver as I feel his calloused fingertips glide over my bare skin. “I don’t know if I can find all the words to tell you what tonight has meant to me.”
I caress his freshly shaven skin with my palm. “You don’t need to say anything. I know.”
“No. You deserve all the words, Violet. You need to hear them from me.”
“You are going to make me cry,” I say, my eyes growing watery.
He smiles lovingly at me. “I don’t want to make you cry, but you need to know how incredible you are.”
I swallow hard. “You already make me feel that way, Noah.” I put both my hands on his face and draw his mouth closer to mine. Goosebumps sweep over my skin the second I feel his breath against my lips. “Maybe we can show each other how we feel before we talk about it. Because I’d really like to show you how much I love you.”
Then I kiss him. Right in the hotel lobby where anyone could snap a pic, I kiss him.
A soft groan escapes his lips, and my pulse quickens in response. I move back from him and brush my index finger over his lips, wiping away the red lipstick I have left behind.
“Let’s go back to your room,” Noah says, tightening his arms around me, “and we’ll compromise.”
“Compromise?” I ask, lifting a brow.
He smiles gently at me. “I’ll show you how much I love you. And I’m going to tell you whilst I’m doing it.”
Love for this man bursts through me.
“Only if I’m allowed to do the same.”
Noah answers this time with his lips instead of words.
Then he takes my hand in his and leads me to the bank of lifts on the other side of the lobby, ready to take me back to my room and show me—with actions and words—just how much he loves me.