‘Well then, you better shape up quick if you want to be ready for the next season.’
My head snapped up. ‘What are you saying?’
Cole’s eyes shone. ‘I’ve already spoken to the board and the club director. They all agree that there is no just cause to keep you on the sidelines any longer.’
Tears threatened to break free. I willed them to stay behind my eyes. ‘A-are you fucking serious?’ My voice cracked.
He smiled, ‘Deadly. But’—his face sobered—‘It won't do much to repair your reputation. Things like that can take years to rebuild if they ever do…’
I was a bundle of nods and broken, disbelieving laughs. I knew it wouldn’t be easy.
‘But your suspension has officially been lifted.’
It was only hearing those words come out of his mouth that I realised how much I’d convinced myself it would never happen. Warmth spread through my chest, only it was laced with something sharp. A pain that prodded at my heart. Football used to be my whole world—it was more important than my family, my friends and even my partners. It waseverything.Until her.
Until Fallon.
She barged her way through the cracks in my heart, not put off by my short temper, my sarcastic tone and even my inability to form coherent sentences sometimes. She tore me open and shattered my defences, not stopping even when the shards of glass sliced her palms and pierced her heart. I didn’t deserve that sort of loyalty, not when I’d done nothing to earn it. But my selfish nature wasn’t about to stop me from grabbing it with both hands.
‘You wanna tell me about the girl?’ Cole asked, a knowingsmile on his weary face. ‘In the text she sent me along with the video, it’s pretty obvious she cares about you.’
‘I, uh, yeah,’ The words died in my throat. I sniffed sharply, still reeling from the news. ‘I fucked it up.’ I’d never get the image of her face out of my head when I told her we’d been a mistake.
‘So unfuck it,’ he said.
I sighed. ‘It’s not that simple.’
‘Didn’t say it was. But you’re Oliver-motherfucking-Blake. I’ve never known anything to keep you down for long.’
My head popped up at the nickname. As if she heard someone plagiarising her, Rosie’s name lit up my phone. After I answered the phone call from her on Fallon’s phone, I memorised her number and saved it, figuring it would come in handy one day.
‘Sorry, I’ve got to take this,’ I muttered, pressing the green button and lifting the phone to my ear. I didn’t get a chance to say hello before Rosie’s voice cut through the air.
‘Has your microscopic brain realised it’s in love with her yet?’
My mouth opened and closed a few times. ‘Uh, Rosie-’
‘Also known as your worst nightmare if you ever hurt her again. Now, answer the goddamn question. Have you realised that you will never in this life,ever,be able to do any better than the fucking ray of sunshine that is my best friend? Because if you’ve not realised it yet, I have a dog with explosive diarrhoea who just came into the surgery and Iwilllet him loose in your house.’
I pinched the bridge of my nose. ‘Your threats get weirder by the day.’
‘Believe me, they’re not empty.’
I had no doubt of that.
‘Well?’ she pressed.
‘Yeah, I’m in love with her.’ Cole wore a smug smile as hewatched me pace the length of my kitchen. I flipped him off. There was no heat behind the gesture because I couldn’t keep my heart from splitting open right then and there.
Rosie hesitated. ‘Are you sure? I won’t let you hurt her again.’
Pain radiated through my body. I pressed my palm flat against my chest, knowing that despite how much it hurt, I deserved it.
I stopped pacing and said in a broken rasp, ‘I love her, Rosie.’
Another long pause. ‘Good. Glad you’ve caught up. Now listen closely because she’s gone somewhere and I’m not sure how much of her will be left when she returns.’
All the blood drained from my face.
