Chapter 24
Ainsley
Junior Year - March
As soon as I step onto the turf, every conversation dips half a notch.
Not silent, but quieter. As if the boys can no longer talk around me, like I’m some fragile child.
They know me. They’ve joked with me for years. Yet the vibe is different now that I’m on the same playing field as them.
With them.
As equals.
I roll back my shoulders and keep my chin up. Regardless of the players, it’s the same game. I’ve got this.
Evan taps his stick against mine, and I nod at Landon as he stretches on the ground.
He’d wanted to carpool, but I didn’t want the team to think it was some protective move.
They know Evan, Landon and I are friends, and I don’t need to give off the impression that I’m some princess who needs bodyguards.
I can handle myself.
Coach Burns runs us through drills, acting as if I’m one of the guys, and I’m grateful. I don’t need a speech or to be treated any differently. There isn’t much time for socializing while we work. Then, he calls for a scrimmage.
Perfect.
We split up into two teams, only utilizing half the field. Landon is on my team, and Evan opposes us. I jog into position at attack, spinning my stick and staring down the two defenders as we wait for the draw. They shift a few steps away from me.
Good luck covering me from back there, boys.
The game starts, and I cut hard to the crease, running around the outside of the group. Landon has the ball and looks to pass. I’m wide open and catch it without any effort.
No body check. No pressure. The defenders give a half-hearted reach in front of me, like they’re playing tag in on the playground instead of defending me.
I weave in and out as I run, and bury it in the top corner of the net.
Goal.
“Nice!” Landon taps his stick against my helmet.
But that felt too easy. Lackluster.
I shake it off and jog back to my spot, jaw tight.
The same thing happens. I get possession of the ball, and run straight down the field. Untouched.
Another goal.
I hold my arms out wide. “What the hell, guys? Why is no one defending me?”
“Cover her!” Coach yells from the sideline.
Frustration crawls under my skin as we set up for the next draw. I snatch the ball and my shoes eat up the turf as I charge for the goalie.
Finally, finally, someone hits me.
Hard.
Not dirty or reckless. It’s a clean hit. The impact knocks me off balance for a second before I catch myself, maintaining possession of the ball.
Adrenaline flashes hot through my veins.
Yes.
This is it.
I spin around and sneak the ball past the goalie.
“Let’s go!” I turn around, expecting my team to congratulate me.
Until Landon’s voice cuts through the excitement. “That was a hard hit, Russo.” He walks toward the defender who checked me. “You trying to take her out the first day?”
Russo holds up his hands on either side of his head. “I was just doing my job.”
My stomach drops.
Fuck.
“Hey, man.” I tap my stick against Russo’s helmet. “That was a clean hit. Gonna have to try harder to stop me though.”
He doesn’t laugh with me, his eyes hard on Landon. “She’s gonna have to take hits if she’s playing with us, Fletcher. You can’t stop us just because she’s your girl.”
Landon’s about to fire back but I step in front of him, yanking on the bars of his helmet to jerk his eyes down to mine. “You told them to go easy on me?”
“Yeah, he did,” Russo says.
My eyes flick between Landon’s, waiting for him to say it.
“That was a rough hit, Ainsley.”
“And I’m a rough player.” I let go of his helmet. “Did you or did you not tell the team not to hit me?”
He spins on his heels and storms toward the center of the field.
You have got to be kidding me.
I whip around. “Coach, you better get your boys in check. I’m not a delicate little flower. This is lacrosse. I can’t have everyone being afraid to touch me.”
“I’d be happy to touch you, Ainsley.” Patrick gyrates his hips from the goal.
“Never in your wildest dreams, Weber.” I flip him off and several of the guys chuckle.
“Stop holding back,” Coach says.
I pop out my hip. “Unless you’re too afraid that your best won’t be good enough to stop me.”
Oh’s ripple throughout the players.
The energy on the field changes, and I’m stopped from scoring on the next play. The game comes together, and we start working as a team.
I won’t lie, getting hit by these guys is a bit different from the girls I’ve played with. Still, it doesn’t change a thing. I feel challenged. It’ll make me a better player. I just need to train harder so I’m stronger, and can endure the hard hits.
When practice is over, I wait for Landon to come out of the locker room.
His eyes are on his shoes, not wanting to meet my angry gaze.
I cross my arms over my chest. “You realize you’re making things worse for me by acting like this, right?”
He throws up his hands. “I’m sorry, okay? I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”
I arch a brow. “Do you worry about me when I’m playing with the girls, or is it just now that I’m on the same team as you?”
“I worry about you always, Ainsley.” His jaw works under his skin. “But these guys are bigger and stronger than you. I’ve taken plenty of hits from them to know what it feels like.”
“I can handle it, Landon.” My face heats, anger rising higher.
“I’m here because I’m just as good as any of these guys.
And do you think the teams we play against are going to dial down their aggression?
Because I can promise you, they’re going to come for me twice as hard.
I need to get used to it now so I’m not wiped out in the first game. ”
His eyes widen like he hasn’t thought of that.
“Don’t hold me back,” I say, a mixture of a plea and a warning in my voice.
“I wasn’t trying to.”
Those puppy dog eyes of his melt my reservations, and my shoulders slump. “I can handle myself, okay?”
“I know you can.” A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “You did good today.”
Pride swells in my chest. “Thanks.”
I get the whole boys don’t hurt girls thing, but this is different.
This is sports.
And I’m here to win.