Chapter 63
Lily - Currently questioning my life choices
Marcus - Te amo, Chambers
Lily - Hate you, Diaz
“You ready, Lily?” Jenna appears at my side as I’m putting my phone in my locker. I managed to pull her into this as well, and I can hear my nine-year-old self squealing because I’m about to play on City turf with Jenna Dillan.
“Yep.”
“Was that him checking in?”
“Yeah, he’s still at the hospital.” I sigh.
“That’s shit.”
“Yeah, he did send me a picture from this morning of him and Nova on the sofa to cheer me up though. I swear if you told me six months ago, I’d be swooning over Marcus Diaz with a ginger kitten on his naked chest, I’d have laughed in your face.”
“He’s naked in the picture? Can I see?”
“Bit weird, Jenna.” I eye her suspiciously.
“He’s hot. Girl, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
“True. But still no.”
She giggles, looping her arm around my shoulder and dragging me out of the locker room door. “Come on, girl, we've got a match to win.”
Walking out onto the pitch felt like coming home. Every nerve ending came alive with the turf under my feet, the roar of the crowd, all of it felt perfect.
The winning goal I scored was the icing on the cake.
Kai set me up, crossing a beautiful ball onto my boot, where I struck and it sailed past the keeper.
The swish of the net sounded like music to my ears.
But when I was surrounded by my team, my smile was so huge it physically hurt my cheeks.
I finally feel like me again. And when Nelly’s parents rush onto the pitch to celebrate with me, I finally feel that missing strand loop back around my heart.
“That was insane, Chambers.” Kai’s face is a picture of pure joy as we walk to the sideline to do the interviews. “We’re doing that again.” He bumps my shoulder with his.
“For sure.” I smile back at him and take in the crowd, who are raising the roof like we’ve just played the final in the World Cup. This is insane; the adrenaline is rushing through me. I can't believe how much I’ve missed this feeling.
I’ve always felt free on the pitch, and I’ve held myself back for too long. It’s been all in my head. I know that now. I need to remember this feeling right here, right now, when I get those feelings of doubt, when I feel out of control.
“You ready for your post-match interview?”
“I’m not doing those, Jenna, and you are.” I frown at him.
“You sure about that?” He looks towards the sideline where we have the camera crews set up for the post-match interviews, and my steps falter.
Marcus is standing, actually standing, no cast in sight, leaning against the makeshift desk, a huge smile on his face.
I hear Kai chuckle behind me as I sprint toward Marcus. Marcus opens his arms, and I fall into him. “Hey, Petardo.” He rubs circles on my back and kisses my hair.
“What are you doing here?” I mumble into his chest.
He pulls away, and I take in his beautiful face. “I may have lied a little.”
“Yeah, and he made me lie to you too,” Kai chimes in next to me as he claps Marcus on the shoulder as he passes.
“Have you been here this whole time?”
“I have.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you’ve had it in that beautiful head of yours that you need me here for you to play again.
” He brings his forehead to mine. “And you’ve just proven you don’t.
You’re incredible.” Kissing the tip of my nose, he moves back slightly.
Vaguely, I notice the cameras circling us as we look at each other.
He’s better.
He’s here.
He believes in me.
And he’s interviewing me?
Noticing the microphone he’s holding, I smirk.
“Not very professional of you, Diaz.” I step back and nod towards his microphone.
“It would have been rude to push you away, Chambers.”
“So are you going to interview me or what?” I put my hands on my hips and stare him down.
“I’m not sure you’re ready for me to interview you,” he challenges.
“I was born ready.”
He gives me a look that I know full well how my night is going to end. With me a very happy and very satisfied woman.
“Te amo, Chambers.”
“I hate you, Diaz.”