Chapter 20
Chiara
Another tie.
And honestly?
That one was hard won.
By the time the whistle blows, half the players on both teams look like they’ve been dragged through a war zone.
I’m already mentally cataloging injuries before they even leave the field.
Bruised ribs.
One questionable knee.
Three split lips.
A whole lot of egos that will need icing along with everything else.
There are more bumps and strains after today’s game than I’ve seen in a while, but luckily nothing catastrophic.
Still.
I can’t help thinking the fight before the match probably didn’t help matters.
That and the fact they spent eighty minutes trying to flatten each other after.
As the teams shake hands, my gaze drifts across the pitch—and lands on him.
McMurray.
The jerk who made that disgusting comment about me earlier.
I only just learned his name from one of the staff.
He’s standing near midfield with his teammates, and when he catches me looking, he smirks.
Actually smirks.
The expression sends a chill down my spine.
It’s the kind of look that makes my skin crawl.
I immediately turn away and start searching the field for someone else.
For the one player who can erase that ugly feeling in my chest.
And I find him instantly.
Like I always do.
Noah.
His brilliant blue eyes are already on me.
Focused.
Steady.
Like he’s been watching this whole time.
For a second, the noise of the stadium fades away.
The players.
The fans.
The chaos of the field.
All of it disappears.
And I smile.
I don’t even try to hide it.
Because this man?
He’s special.
I know that now.
And if our time together is short—if this wild, confusing, amazing thing between us burns out the way I’ve always feared it might—then I’m not going to waste another minute pretending I don’t want it.
“So,” Finley says beside me, arms folded as she watches the field. “You gonna go for it or what?”
I glance at her.
“Yeah,” I murmur.
“I think I am.”
Her eyes widen dramatically.
“Really? Because I had this whole speech ready.”
I laugh.
“You did?”
“Oh, yeah.” She clears her throat theatrically. “It was very inspiring. Something about how you can’t miss your chance at love just because one rotten apple ruined the whole barrel and if you don’t take the risk then the rotten apple wins because you end up alone forever—”
She pauses.
“Oh, wow. That sounded way better in my head.”
I burst out laughing.
Before she can protest, I pull her into a quick hug.
“Fin, it’s a great speech.”
“It is?”
“Absolutely. And I might steal it someday if someone else needs convincing.”
She raises a skeptical eyebrow.
“But you don’t?”
I shake my head.
“No.”
Because the truth is something in me shifted today.
Nothing in life is certain.
I know that better than most.
But Noah?
He makes me think that maybe—just maybe—some risks are worth taking.
Across the field, Noah is heading toward the bench, grabbing his bag, and talking to Tank.
My heart starts pounding.
And before I can overthink it?
“Hey, Walker!” I call out. “Are you ready?”
His head snaps up immediately.
Those blue eyes lock onto me.
Then he glances around, eyebrows lifting slightly—like he’s trying to figure out who I’m talking to.
Because yeah.
This is the first time I’ve said anything like that in front of everyone.
For a brief second, panic flickers in my chest.
What if I misread everything?
What if he doesn’t want this to be public?
But then Noah grins.
And the grin is so wide and so bright it makes my stomach flip.
“Yeah, Love,” he calls back. “I’m ready.”
He walks straight toward me.
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
When he reaches me, he drops a quick kiss on my lips like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Then he takes my hand.
And just like that, the rest of the world disappears again.
Together we walk toward the parking lot and climb onto the team bus heading back to the hotel.
I figure it’s fine.
After all, I rode the bus here this morning.
And earlier, I’d hitched a ride with Finley to the motel so I could change before the game.
But as Noah settles into the seat beside me, his hand still wrapped around mine, a warm realization settles in my chest.
For the first time since this whole crazy thing started, I’m not trying to run away from it anymore.