“Aye, what she said,” Sophia agreed.
“You know your parents are just as in love,” I told my cousin. “They’re most certainly still having a lot of sex.”
Sophia grimaced. “You know, it’s such a delight to have you back at these dinners, Beth. We’ve missed you. Really.”
I grinned. “Aw, thanks.”
“I don’t know why everyone says you’re my mini me.” Mum shook her head. “You are your father’s daughter. Shit-stirrer extraordinaire.”
Grandma Elodie sighed heavily. “I’m not sure any of this is appropriate dinner conversation.”
“Mum.” Aunt Ellie chuckled. “When has this family ever had appropriate dinner conversations?”
“That doesn’t mean we should give up trying.”
“Speaking of sex … Beth.” My brother had a wicked look in his eyes. “Haveyouhad any since that time with that bloke in his Volvo?”
“Luke!” All the adults at the table exploded in outrage as I almost toppled my wineglass from laughing so hard.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CALLAN
It’s hard to describe how it feels to run down a football pitch with the sound of blood pumping in your ears and thousands of voices chanting, “He’s slick, he’s class, he’s faster than the Flash, Callan Keen, Callan Keen!”
The high is incredible. It always propelled me down the field, my feet and brain in sync as I controlled the ball, dribbling and weaving out of the Leith players’ attempts to tackle. The voices of the fans, their belief in me, like a fucking drug turning me into that force they said I was.
Seeing Kaito open, I kicked the ball and he caught it, had to tackle it back off a Leith center forward, and then immediately booted it in an arc toward John. The Leith defender couldn’t get to him in time, and John powered the ball into the back of the net as the opposing team goalie dove the wrong way.
The stands went wild as Botan jumped into my arms to celebrate the goal. That too. There was nothing like the sound of fans losing their minds when you scored. It was uproarious. Deafening. You could feel the sound vibrating like a drum in your chest, it was that loud.
The whistle sounded, ending the game.
Final score: 3–1 to Caley United.
“Well done, lads!” I shouted as I walked into the locker room.
The team cheered back at me.
They were absolutely buzzing with the win, but John’s smile was subdued … he seemed off, considering he’d scored two of the three goals. “You all right?”
“Yeah, yeah. Good game.” He turned away from me.
I glanced over at Baird to find him watching. He had an uncharacteristically serious look on his face. Before I could ask him if he knew what was up, the gaffer and Sven walked into the room.
We quieted as Brian grinned at us. “Now that’s more like it.”
Whistles, shouts, and curses lit the air with electric excitement.
Brian gestured for us to quiet. “Take tomorrow off. Recuperate. Celebrate, but not too much. You’re back in here Tuesday and we’re going to train hard for our game against Strathmore next week. We’re taking nothing for granted.”
Strathmore United hadn’t played well their last two games.
“Nothing motivates a team more than loss. They’ll be coming for us.”
We nodded.
“Good game, lads. You’re really starting to play like a team, and it shows. Keep it up. See you Tuesday.”
