Epilogue – One Year Later
Maya
“Any discomfort?” Maya turned Mina’s ankle to the left under the bright lights of the physio room. When she shook her head, she twisted it gently in the other direction. “What about now?”
“Nope.” Mina popped the p, giving Maya a big smile. “So, what do you think?”
Mina had been out for three weeks with a light ankle sprain but had made big progress with her rehabilitation. Maya would like to take credit for it, but quick healing was part and parcel with fifteen-year-old bodies—they just bounced back.
She chewed her lip, making a show of re-examining Mina’s ankle. “I think with a few weeks’ rest and some minor surgery, you’ll be back in no time.”
Mina’s brown eyes bulged. “Minor surgery?”
Maya tried to keep a straight face. “Mmm. I reckon if we remove your left foot and swap it for your right, then we might get some more wins this season.”
The girl erupted into laughter, but relief was evident on her face. Mina had always been the joker on the team, and her time out injured had squashed her spirits. Each of the girls were different and needed different approaches. Maya had learned that Mina responded best to humour.
Jamie’s playfulness may also be rubbing off on me.
“You nearly got me there, M. Good one.”
Maya smiled at the girls’ nickname for her. Though she hadn’t got the assistant strength and conditioning position with the senior squad last year, after her interview she’d been offered the same position with the under sixteens. The pay wasn’t amazing, as the job was only part-time, but she’d got her foot in the door, as Grandma liked to say.
Working with younger people wouldn’t have been Maya’s first choice but, having to push herself out of her comfort zone, she’d been surprised. And she still had the opportunity to shadow not only the head physio, Jenny Larson, but to work alongside nutritionists, coaches, and an incredible bunch of young players .
Mina glanced down at her ankle and wiggled her toes. “So…”
“I think next week you can start training—”
“Yes!”
“But”—Maya held up her finger to stop Mina leaping off the treatment table— “starting in the gym first. Light workouts. No football for a few more weeks, at least.”
“Okay.” Mina’s enthusiasm didn’t falter. “Thank you.”
“All the inflammation has gone, and your range of motion is back to normal. We just have to work on strengthening your ankle first before you go rushing into those crunching tackles of yours.”
“Got it.” She grinned and flopped herself ungracefully off the table.
Once she’d left, Maya packed up, filed her paperwork in the drawer, and grabbed her work bag. She said bye to Paula, the world’s smiliest receptionist, and a couple of players who were leaving the gym, then pushed through the double doors and into the car park.
She checked her phone, leaning against a concrete bollard to scroll through her Instagram feed. Five minutes passed, then the squeak of tyres and the roar of eighties music caused her to raise her head. Her stomach fluttered.
Jamie bopped her head as music blasted through her rolled-down windows. Her hair was still damp from her after-practice shower, and her eyes were hidden by sunglasses. She stopped her car in front of Maya and leaned out the window, lowering her glasses to rest on the bridge of her nose. “Hey, baby. Are you a car mirror?”
Maya chuckled at the deep voice she’d put on and took a step towards her. “Go on…”
The corners of Jamie’s mouth curled upwards as she fought to keep a straight face. “Because you’ve got a great rear view.”
Maya shook her head. “That’s your worst yet.”
Jamie climbed out of the car, leaving the door open for Maya, and pushed her glasses up to rest on top of her head. “One day I’ll come up with a line that’ll knock you off your feet.”
“I doubt it.”
Jamie snaked her arms around Maya’s back, pulling her in for a kiss. Her fresh shampoo-scent tickled Maya’s nose. “You’re right. I don’t need to with you. You’re already smitten anyway.”
“That’s what you think.”
“I know it.” She grinned. “You can’t hide from me now.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
Her lips found Maya’s again, then she playfully slapped her bum. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”
“You’re the one that’s la—”
“Smitten! See. Even finishing your sentences.”
“You’re so annoying,” Maya said, but she couldn’t stop the smile stretching across her face.
“So I’ve heard.”
Maya climbed into the driver’s seat and immediately started altering the position. Jamie sat closer to the wheel than she did, but she always let her drive when they were together. Since passing her test earlier in the year, Maya wanted to keep driving while she saved to buy her own car—and Jamie was more than happy to play DJ.
“Did you bring everything we need?” Maya asked. “The costumes?”
“Everything plus travel snacks.” Jamie turned to root behind the passenger seat, pulling out a bag of Starburst and a bag of chocolate Magic Stars.
“And your coach will be happy about those?” Maya teased.
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Plus, I’ve burnt off probably these entire two bags in the session today. If you thought Coach Carmichael was bad…psh.” Jamie had been playing with Millton FC reserves, scoring those renowned Jamie Mellor goals, and was close to getting drafted into the first team. Her working so close by was a real convenience at the moment, with the reserves’ training ground only five minutes away. Who knew how that might change if Jamie got called up? Change didn’t worry Maya as much now, though. Like Grandpa had said, she couldn’t spend her whole life being scared—it’d happen anyway.
Jamie tore open the packet with her teeth and fished out a handful of sweets before offering the bag to Maya. She chose a red one and fired up the engine. “Just Can’t Get Enough” played through the speakers, and she smiled. “I can’t believe you still listen to this. ”
“Maya’s declaration of love CD? Are you kidding? Gimme that on repeat.”
Warmth rushed to Maya’s face, the same way it always did when Jamie commented on her feelings for her.
Jamie’s hand slid up her thigh. “And the way you still react this way makes me love you even more.”
“I admit I do love this song. It reminds me of us.”
“Just can’t get enough of me, huh? It does track.”
“And there’s your famous big head.” Maya leaned across the console to kiss her. “Don’t change.”
Since Jamie’s mum had finally left her dad a few months ago, and Jamie had cut him out of her life, she’d got a real surge of energy back. She was more Jamie than she’d ever been—and Maya loved her more than she’d ever thought possible.
They drove for a couple of hours, dancing and singing to their mixed selection of music and stealing quick kisses at red lights. When they arrived in Newcastle, Maya parked Jamie’s car on the adjacent street like Alex requested, and they hauled their bags to their front door.
Alex answered almost immediately, wearing a pressed striped button-up and a neatly trimmed beard. He ushered them in quickly, giving them a hug before leading them into the spacious living room. Black “Happy Birthday” banners hung across the walls, the faint smell of vanilla mingling with the savoury aroma of party snacks. More packets of decorations and balloons lay scattered across the sofa and floor .
“You can put your bags in any of the bedrooms upstairs to get changed, apart from the small one at the end—that’s Maddie’s safe space—then meet me in the kitchen, and we can have a drink. I just need to…” Alex scampered out of the room, just as they were ambushed by two more familiar faces.
“Maya!” Hannah crushed her in a hug. “You’re late.”
Maya squeezed her back. “Sorry. Blame this one.”
Leah laughed and wrapped her arms around Jamie. “It’s nice to see Skip is still bossing you around.”
They greeted each other, then split off into their couples. Hannah tucked herself into Leah’s shoulder, and Leah kissed her forehead. Happiness radiated off both of them in waves. After their win over the Harriers last year, the two of them had hit it off at the celebration party at Rosie’s and had been joined at the hip ever since. It was great to see them both so happy—even if Jerome had got more than he bargained for in the ladies’ toilets. Poor guy.
They had a quick catch up. Leah was in the process of relocating to Scotland so they could get a place together, Hannah had been voted captain for her new netball team up there, and both of them couldn’t wait to see the look on Maddie’s face when she walked in.
Neither can I.
After blowing up a selection of black and silver balloons at Alex’s request and tying them in a bunch of average-looking arrangements, they all headed upstairs to get changed. It had been Alex’s idea to throw a fancy-dress birthday party, but the theme was their input: everyone had to dress like Maddie.
Maya burst out laughing at the sight of the black-hoodie-and-joggers ensembles Hannah and Leah were wearing. Maddie must have had at least three of those in her wardrobe. With their hoods up, covering their hair, and their heavy black eyeliner, it could’ve been Maddie’s clones skulking around the spare bedroom.
Jamie and Maya put on their outfits, and Hannah covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a guffaw anyway.
“Oh my god. She’s going to murder you.”
They found Alex downstairs, now wearing black skinny jeans and one of Maddie’s band T-shirts. He let out a frustrated sigh as he tried—and failed—to secure a pi?ata to the wooden beams in the kitchen.
“A pi?ata?” Jamie asked.
“I thought it would be fun.” He let the giant rainbow llama fall to the table and looked at the group. His face broke into a smile. “You guys look great.” He shook his head at Maya and Jamie. “She’s going to kill you.”
With the help of Hannah’s long legs, they attached the pi?ata, then blew up more balloons and added finishing touches, just as the guests started to arrive.
Maddie’s parents were first, looking slightly uncomfortable in simple black T-shirts. Bless them, they tried . Maddie and her mum were spitting images of each other—the same aquiline nose and striking green eyes—but couldn’t be more different in personality. Her mum gave them big enthusiastic hugs that were on par with the ones they’d received at graduation. Then in poured acquaintances from uni, and a lot of people Maya and Jamie had never met before, who looked very confused over their choice of outfit.
When the time came to hide in the living room and switch off the lights, Maya’s heart quickened in her chest. The keys rattled in the door, two distinct voices continued their conversation about who was the best Batman, and then Maddie’s brother led her into the room.
“Surprise!” everyone shouted, leaping up and firing party poppers in her direction.
Technically, it wasn’t a surprise. Alex had forewarned Maddie about certain things that would be happening today, leaving out the part about fancy dress.
Maddie’s eyes widened as she took in the room full of friends and family, each dressed in her signature style. Her laughter broke through, a sound of pure joy and disbelief. “Oh my god. Look at all of you.”
Maya had never seen Maddie smile so much. She’d half-expected her to roll her eyes and make a beeline straight for the salted pretzels. She greeted those close to her, then made her way around the room. When she set eyes on the two of them, she burst out laughing.
“This is going to ruin my reputation forever.” She tugged at the fuzzy belt of Maya’s pink dressing gown before lightly whipping her with it. “Nobody knows I secretly like pink.” She turned to Jamie. “And you. I expected better of you, Jaim. I thought we were friends?”
“Now we can be fuzzy pink friends. ”
“I hate you.”
The party kicked into high gear. Drinks flowed, people laughed, and the pi?ata got beaten to a paper pulp, courtesy of Maddie and her dad. She seemed to be having a good time, which Maya was relieved about. Even Alex relaxed as the night wore on.
When an old-school karaoke was fetched from Maddie’s auntie’s car, it made a night at Rosie’s look like afternoon tea at a nursing home. These people didn’t do things by halves. The mix of Maddie’s clothing influence and the energetic performances made an incredibly entertaining combination. A tipsy neighbour performed renditions of “Dancing Queen” and “Living on a Prayer” with a trace of a Spanish accent. Then Maddie’s mum tentatively sang a popular Beatles song that was well received and pretty adorable, even with her face heavy with Maddie-make-up.
Jamie put her arm around Maya’s waist. “You know what’s weird?” she murmured in her ear.
“How Maddie’s auntie is managing to do a handstand and sing at the same time?”
She chuckled. “I mean, yeah, that is impressive, but that’s not what I was going to say.” Her voice took on a throaty edge. “Is it weird how hot I think you are in this pink dressing gown?”
An electric current jolted through Maya’s stomach. “Really?”
“Mmm. I missed you.” Jamie’s fingers dug into her side, and she exhaled .
Maya’s mind caught on the memory of her fingers awakening a pulsing inside. “We can’t here.”
“No one is going to notice while this is happening.”
Maya glanced around the room. She had a point. A little dance area had broken out in front of the “stage”—a small space in the corner marked by cushions—while the rest of the guests were cheering on with Eurovision-like enthusiasm.
They snuck out of the room, Jamie’s hands already wandering over Maya’s legs and arse as they headed up the stairs.
Someone is really feeling this pink ensemble. Who knew?
Jamie kissed her, pushing her back against a bedroom door and pressing her hand between her legs. Maya grunted, welcoming the pressure, and pulled her body closer. There was a collective cheer from downstairs. Maybe they were embodying Maya’s internal reaction, or maybe Maddie’s auntie had started performing other professional karaoke tricks. Right now, Maya couldn’t care less.
Jamie brushed their hot tongues together, and Maya’s stomach rolled, needing more of her, right now. She fumbled behind her for the door handle and pushed it open.
They stumbled back towards the bed, a mess of hands and legs and mouths, and landed on something hard. It yelped, and Maya tore herself from Jamie. Hannah and Leah were tangled on the bed in various states of undress .
“Jesus, guys.” Maya laughed, and Jamie rolled sideways, almost tumbling to the floor. Maya caught her at the last second, and they bumped heads.
“You could’ve knocked first,” Hannah said, pulling up her bra strap.
Maya rubbed her forehead. “Sorry, I didn’t realise anyone was in here.”
“I think the other room is free,” Leah said, her cheeks flushed and her blonde hair defying gravity.
“Thanks.” Jamie grabbed Maya’s hand, and they headed next door, feeling like naughty teenagers.
With the door closed behind them, they burst out laughing as the sound of a badly sung Cher song filtered up from the room below. It had been a whirlwind day so far. Maya could hardly keep up with her surging emotions.
Jamie’s gaze dropped to her mouth, and she wet her lips. “Where were we?”
She kissed her, fingers pulling apart Maya’s robe and tweaking her nipples through her bra. Maya groaned, threading her fingers into Jamie’s thick hair. She kissed her exposed neck, feeding off the sounds leaving Jamie’s lips. She couldn’t get enough. She nipped her with her teeth, tasting her perfume, and tugged at her hair.
Jamie shrugged Maya’s robe off her shoulders, pushing her back to the door. Maya gasped, her heart racing in her chest as Jamie trailed her tongue over her collarbone. Her hand was pressed against the fabric of her underwear, and Maya pushed against her, feeling herself throb. Fuck, yes.
“Jamie!” someone called from downstairs. “You’re up!”
Maya sighed against her mouth. “Are you serious? Is that the fucking karaoke?”
Jamie caught Maya’s lip between her teeth before kissing her again. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“Really?” she grumbled, trying to ignore the pulsing between her legs. “I’ve got other things in mind.”
Despite her protests, they redressed, checked their hair, and Jamie led her back downstairs.
“There they are,” Alex said, as they walked into the room. He handed Jamie a microphone, then held another out to Maya. She stared at it, confused.
You’ve got to be joking me.
She glanced at Jamie, who gave a cheeky smile and a shrug. “Come on, babe. Just one song.”
Maya laughed nervously. “I don’t think so.” Singing and dancing with Jamie was one thing; doing it in front of these people—sober—was something completely different.
“I know you can dance,” Jamie said with a smirk. “Let’s give them a show.”
She’d better not be suggesting I strip in front of these people.
Maddie nudged her. “Go on. One song for my birthday.”
Ah, dammit. Not a bloody birthday wish.
Maya groaned, but when Jamie encouraged her forward with a wave of her hand, she didn’t resist. “Fine. But you’re doing most of it.”
Jamie grinned. “Sure. You can be my back-up dancer. You’re Michelle, and I’ll be Beyoncé.”
“A dream come true.” Maya sighed as Jamie tugged her to the machine. She tried to keep her eyes away from the partygoers and focused on Jamie, who smiled encouragingly. “What song are we singing, anyway?”
Jamie winked. “You’ll see.”
The nerves coiling in her belly multiplied tenfold. Oh god. Please don’t be a stripping song.
There were a few beats of awkward silence while the CD whirred, searching for the track. Looking into Jamie’s dreamy blues, with the pure joy radiating out of her so contagious, Maya couldn’t help but relax a little. There was something about Jamie that calmed all the storms inside her. Whether it be football or work stress, family problems or nerves, looking into Jamie’s eyes made everything easier. She didn’t need to worry.
The opening notes played, and the familiar sound tugged at a memory in her brain. The two of them in Rosie’s, Jamie dancing and singing… Their first kiss.
When the beat quickened, Jamie sprung to life, spinning around in her dressing gown.
The sight was something else.
Jamie started singing with all the confidence of Morten Harket himself, swinging her pink belt and moving around the small space before returning to Maya for the chorus .
“ Ta-a-a-a-ke on m-e-e-e-e ,” Jamie sang, widening her eyes, encouraging her to join her. She held out her hand, and Maya took it, unable to do anything other than grin like a helpless idiot.
“ Ta-a-a-a-ke me o-o-o-n ,” she joined in.
The room sang along, Maddie and Alex clapping and whooping from the front.
Jamie spun her round before belting out the high note, which had some people covering their ears. She didn’t seem to mind, jumping straight into the next verse, holding Maya’s hand and making her move with her. Maya embraced it, not caring what people thought, just focusing on the feel of her, the happiness in the room, and their friends cheering them on. Hannah and Leah reappeared at some point too, looking slightly dishevelled, and Jamie played her part, getting people involved in the dancing and encouraging them to let go.
Maya watched her with a mix of disbelief and awe at how much they’d changed and grown since she’d watched Jamie moving in through her window. She’d never thought they’d be here, singing karaoke together, dancing around her best friend’s living room in pink dressing gowns, or that she’d open her heart to her, finding a love that completely consumed her head-to-toe.
They came together for the chorus, singing at the top of their lungs, and when the song faded out, Jamie crushed her lips to Maya’s. “Thank you,” she said, in between kisses. “It was so fun to do that with you.”
“I hate to admit it, but yeah, it was fun.” Maya smiled, looking deep into Jamie’s eyes, and brushed her fingers through her hair. “Hey. When you sang that in Rosie’s, was that for me?”
“Kind of, yeah.” She laughed. “Guess it worked.”
Maya kissed her again, letting herself melt into everything that was Jamie. “I guess it did.”
THE END