“You ready?” Sienna asked, leaning over Phoebe and patting my leg.
“It’s not on me,” I replied, a little confused.
“You’re as nervous as he is, Elise. Just breathe. He’s got this. As soon as the whistle blows, he’ll be fine,” Angelo offered.
“It’s like riding a bike. He knows what to do,” Gabriella added.
In my head I knew everything they were saying was true. In my heart though, I was so nervous for him.
The whistle sounded.
A cheer echoed.
It was game time.
I was trying to watch the game, I really was, but my eyes kept drifting to one player in particular whether he had the ball or not. Even when he didn’t, his arms were waving wildly. Even though I couldn’t hear what he was saying, I was positive he was out there directing his troops.
When the ball was lobbed in his direction, I held my breath as it floated through the air before dropping to a complete halt against his foot. Swinging his leg back, he booted it with everything he had. Sliding to the front of my seat, I held my breath and bit the inside of my cheek. The ball needed to go in. It had to. It just had to. It needed to hit the back of the net. Luca deserved a goal in his final game.
Everything was happening in slow motion.
When the ball hit the net, the crowd went crazy. Like fully insane. And Luca’s family were no better. The kids were stamping their feet. His mum was clapping and crying. And Ari was clutching at her stomach.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the man standing in the centre of the field, staring straight up at the sky mouthing something before he was pounced on by his entire team. By the time they all arrived, including the goalkeeper who’d had to run three quarters of the length of the field to pile on, I couldn’t even see Luca.
He’d scored.
He’d done it.
In his final game, he’d put the ball in the back of the net.
Whatever happened from here, win, lose or draw, he’d be able to walk away knowing he’d scored in his final game.
“Ah fuck!” Behind me someone was complaining.
I didn’t even turn around. I didn’t want to know.
“This is not happening,” Sienna scoffed.
“What?”
“Ari just pissed herself.”
“Pissed herself?” I asked. Surely that couldn’t be right.
“Her waters just broke,” Sienna explained.
“Oh, shit.”
Spinning around, I saw Ari clutching her big pregnant belly with a pained look on her face. This couldn’t be happening. Not today. Not now. Ari wasn’t due for another two weeks, but it seemed like this baby didn’t want to miss the excitement.
“Oh my god!” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Mum. Can you take the boys?” Ari asked as Josh wrapped his arm around her back.
“Of course. Did you want me to come with you?”
“No, no. You stay and watch. Josh will take me to the hospital. We’ll call you once we know more.”
