I thought I saw a smile curl his mouth before he sped up on the pitch and snuck behind the Dalmarnock player who had the ball. He stole it from him with a finesse I marveled at, and thechanting grew louder. This time, John was open. Callan passed it, the ball soaring through the air and landing at John’s feet. It was like a dance, the way John caught the ball with ease and then volleyed it into the back of the net.
The stadium exploded as Ainsley and I jumped into each other’s arms, screaming in elation.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CALLAN
“We need Beth in those stands every fucking week if that’s the way you’re going to play, mate!” Baird squeezed my shoulders as we strode toward the locker room. The team was hooting and whistling, vibrating with energy from the win against an opponent no one thought we could beat.
I laughed, a bit abashed. Because I couldn’t lie that even though I promised to block her from my mind, my gaze went to her throughout the game, and seeing her chanting for me, jumping up and down with Ainsley … it was the best motivation a bloke could get.
The locker room was a cacophony of good-natured name-calling and banter as we broke the game down to its pivotal parts. We shut up when the gaffer and coaches strolled in to congratulate us. “This could be a turning point, lads,” the gaffer said, visibly proud. “Now they know we mean business and we’re here to make history in Scottish football.”
We cheered, exhilarated by the realization that we might actually take the Pro League. That a club outside of Glasgow might win it for the first time since the 1980s.
To say I was buzzing by the time I showered and left the locker room with Baird and John was an understatement. Partners and family members waited for us in a VIP area near the players’ entrance.
As soon as I walked into the room, I heard my name called and turned in time to see Beth run at me. I dropped my training bag to catch her as she jumped into my arms, hers around my neck, legs around my waist. A different kind of pride filled me as I held her tight. Then she kissed me. Deep and hungry and totally fucking uncaring we had an audience.
Wolf whistles broke us apart, and I grinned at her cheeky smile as I lowered her to the floor.
“That was some greeting,” I murmured, cupping her face in my hands.
“I’m so proud of you.” She fairly vibrated with it. “You were awe-inspiring.”
“Awe-inspiring?”
Beth laughed, smacking my biceps. “Don’t let it go to your head … but aye, awe-inspiring.”
“Aye.” Baird came up behind me, slapping me on the back. “Keen might win Scottish Player of the Year again at this rate.”
“Really?” Beth’s eyes widened.
I shrugged. “Who knows.”
“He’s being modest.” Baird moved away to embrace his sister.
Beth reached for my hand as I took my training bag with the other. “Are we leaving?”
I considered her and my teammates whose stares I could still feel. “Can I introduce you to the lads you haven’t met first?”
“You want to?” She bit her lip, trying to stop a smile.
I tugged on her hand. “Never been prouder to introduce anybody in my life.”
A sheen coated her eyes, but she quickly blinked the emotion away before leaning into me. “Never been prouder to be at someone’s side.”
Fuck.
It was dizzying …
Falling this hard.
As I brushed my teeth, Beth called from the bedroom, “My parents are bugging us to come for dinner. I’ve put them off by telling them I need to talk to them alone next weekend. I’m going to tell them everything.”
I rinsed my mouth. “Good about telling them about your anxiety and that … but you know you don’t have to put them off. Maybe it’s time I meet them.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that because you want that meeting with Dad?”
