“Ready as I'll ever be,” I nodded, pushing down the small fear still lingering in my body.
I could do this, I was stronger and smarter now.
No one wanted to hurt me.
After that slow-motion of entry, time seemed to pass at double speed. I was suddenly back in the grind of chasing the ball, positioning, and keeping as much distance from the opposing team as possible.
“Stop avoiding contact,” Maddox shouted at me at some point, but I couldn't help myself. Having a stranger at my back was fucking triggering.
I forced myself closer to them during the second half, positioning myself in the right place.
My heart rate was double my usual one. A slight tremble ran through my body as I struggled with my growing panic and with being grounded. Instead, I focused on my breathing as I let my body remember what to do. I wasn’t back 100%. I still slipped up, and I was freaking out internally most of the time, but on the outside, I looked cool and collected. But it sucked when Max decided to take the goal shot instead of passing it to me.
The guy who last year had to be forced to take a shot and not question himself scored so seamlessly that I would have been impressed under any other circumstances.
Everyone cheered as we were winning 3-0, but the trust between my best friend and me crumbled on the field.
He could have passed it on; we were winning. There was no reason for him to take the shot.
“I'm sorry,” he muttered, coming over to me as the referee concluded the game and the team gathered to walk off after shaking hands with our opponents.
“No worries,” I mumbled, disappointment barely hidden from my voice. Max furrowed his brows as he watched me.
“You're upset.”
Several remarks crossed my mind, but I was so fucking upset and annoyed that I didn't even have the energy to utter a comeback.
Instead, I only shrugged and walked off.
Sweat drenched my jersey as I ignored my best friend calling after me and passing the opposing team's and our own changing rooms. I headed for the exit.
“Dex!” People waited and lingered there, but I couldn't even force myself to smile at them. I used to love this part. Coming out where everyone was cheering my name, seeing all the girls decked out in my jersey, fighting over my attention.
Now all I wanted to do was disappear. I offered a shitty wave before I made my move to my car. My knee ached with phantom pain as I picked up my pace, my attention zeroed in on my car.
My safety.
People still called after me, but I shut everything out and focused on that one simple task of getting to my vehicle.
Fumbling with the keycard, I unlocked the door and sank into the driver’s seat with the same swift motion, jerking the door to close.
The familiar thud of a door shutting never came as resistance pulled the door open.
I let out an annoyed sigh as I looked up, not wanting to argue with my best friend or entertain a fan. I just wanted to be alone.
But instead, I was met with kind blue eyes and a beautiful heart-shaped face. Her pink lips were parted, allowing her to take rapid breaths from chasing me. Her braids were messy, and a couple of hairs slipped out of them, and now they framed her face. She looked messy, yet beautiful.
And wearing my jersey.
“I'm driving,” she said, flashing me a sweet smile as she leaned against the door. “As soonas I caught my breath.”
I smiled, despite my shitty mood. “Think you're passenger princess material.”
“Yeah, but also, not missing out on my chance to drive this great Tesla.”
“It's a Polestar.”
She shrugged, her nose scrunched up. “It's white. Can you move? I need to sit down.”
