My chest tightened as I stood there unable to move, to help.
“What happened?” The gaffer stood in front of Kaito and Baumann as the medic checked Freddie’s vitals.
He wasn’t moving.
Fuck, he wasn’t moving.
He was just a kid. He’d barely even started.
“I was showing Eric how to land with feet after kicking ball in air.” Kaito’s voice shook. “Freddie … Why? He jump to header ball as I kick. And I kicked … how to say … muchforce. I hit Freddie.”
Stupid, stupid.
“Why would he do that?”
“He didn’t realize. He just jumped in to take the ball.” Baumann shook his head. “Stupid fucking kid.”
“Show some respect,” Callan spat.
Baumann flinched and nodded.
Through all of this, I said nothing. Watched as the paramedics appeared on the field and placed the still-unconscious Freddie on a stretcher.
“Baird. Baird.”
The ground swayed under me.
“Baird!” Callan suddenly filled my vision, green eyes hard with worry. “Mate, you all right?”
I blinked, coming out of my trance to realize Freddie had been loaded into the rig and the rest of the team were heading off the field.
Callan had his hands on my shoulders. “You all right?”
I stepped back, giving him a half-hearted cocky grin, even though it felt like my heart was about to explode out of my chest. “I’m fine. It’s Freddie you need to worry about.”
“He woke up on the stretcher. Hopefully, it’s just a concussion.”
“Aye, that’s good.”
“Do you … do you need to talk?”
“Nah, mate. I need a shower. Then I need to get going.” I clapped him on the shoulder, grinning broadly. “All good,” I lied and then took off across the pitch, forcing myself to walk straight, feeling any second now like I might pass out.
There were a couple of private shower cubicles, and I snagged one.
Inside, I concentrated on breathing in and out like I’d shown Maia. I ran the water cold, and the shocking sting of it grounded me. I dressed and left before Callan could say anything more, but I was exhausted. At least I didn’t feel like I was going to pass out anymore.
Despite the exhaustion, something beyond restlessness buzzed in my veins.
Something reckless and wild.
I needed to blow off steam.
I needed … to feel in control in the most out-of-control way I could think of.
CHAPTER TWENTY
MAIA
