“Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the stadium so packed for a non-league game,” Nikki says as I watch the bleachers rapidly fill up.
“This is why I dragged us here early,” Gwen says, looking smug. “I knew everyone would want to watch Azzie’s boy.”
I nudge her in the ribs. “Stop that. He’s notmy boy. We’re just friends.”
“It wasn’t half this packed at the scrimmage game two weeks ago,” Renee says. She’s wearing a team jersey with Goodrich on the back. It was a gift from Thor when they first started dating. Renee hadn’t been to many games before she started dating one of the Ryemont Raiders, but now she’s at all of them.
“Because classes hadn’t started and most of the female population didn’t know about Callan Hunt yet.”
“It’s kind of insulting,” Renee says, opening a packet of trail mix. “A lot of these people have never supported the Raiders, and they’re only showing up now to ogle the hot Irish guy.”
“Girl, get real.” Gwen tosses her long hair over her shoulder. “The majority of girls here are only here for the guys. Look at Azzie. She’s only ever been to a couple games.”
“Astrid came with me those times to support Thor,” Renee says, “and she spent most of her time with her nose buried in a book. No ogling was involved.”
“She was dating Joe at the time,” Lyn reminds everyone. “Astrid doesn’t look at other guys while dating.” She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “She’s one hundred percent loyal.”
“Ugh, hello.” My gaze bounces around my friends. “I’m right here. No need to talk around me.”
“I’m just proving a point, is all,” Gwen says. “I know Azzie is loyal, but she’s here today for Callan, right?”
“He’s my friend, and I want to support him.” And learn a bit more about soccer. I’ve conducted some Google research over the past couple of days, so I can talk more knowledgeably with Callan about it next time.
“No ogling involved?” Gwen arches a brow and smirks.
“Shut. Up.” I can’t fight my grin. “I’m only human.”
“Is that Scott Saunders?” Gwen asks, peering to my left.
We all turn and look.
“Holy fuck,” Nikki blurts, mirroring my reaction. Before summer break, Scott was maybe five foot seven with a skinny build and long dark hair that hid his face. Now, he’s easily over six feet with short hair that shows off his good looks, and he’s clearly hit the gym over the summer. “How did that happen in one summer?”
“I don’t know, but I want me a piece of it,” Gwen says, and I recognize the gleam in her eye. When Gwen sets her eye on a guy, she has singular focus until she wins him over. I really admire my bestie for how she goes after what she wants and doesn’t take no for an answer. Not that any guy would turn her down. Gwen is a smokeshow even if she is self-conscious over her height.
“Didn’t he ask you out sophomore year?” Lyn questions.
“He did,” Gwen confirms, “but he was a skinny computer geek back then, and I turned him down.”
“You’re a piece of work,” Lyn says, narrowing her eyes.
“Don’t throw shade at me for calling it like I see it. You’re all thinking the exact same thing, but you don’t have the balls to say it.”
“You’re such a bitch sometimes, Gwennie,” Nikki says, securing the cap on her sports drink. “And I totally called it. You’re too boy crazy to not be in a relationship.”
“I wasn’t attracted to him when he asked me out before, but I sure as fuck am now.”
“You’re not the only one who’s noticed,” Renee says, jerking her head in Scott’s direction as we watch several girls move seats to sit beside him. “You need to nail that down stat.”
“I’m not concerned.” Gwen lifts her hand, wiggling her fingers at Scott when he looks in our direction. “I know how to get what I want, and I can be patient.”
Scott’s brow puckers before he slowly lifts his hand in a wave. Gwen smiles at him before breaking the eye contact and staring straight ahead. “It’s starting. Time to put our game faces on.”
When our team enters the field a few minutes later, the noise from the crowd is deafening, and it definitely ramps up a few notches when Callan emerges.
I’m mesmerized from the second the whistle blows and the game starts. Most of the time, I don’t really know what’s going on, but anytime Callan has the ball in his possession, he creates magic, and I’m riveted, like the rest of the stadium.
For a tall guy, he’s superfast with the ball, and he literally runs rings around the other players, skillfully weaving the ball in and around the opponents’ defenders to either pass it to a teammate to score or slam it in the back of the net himself. He seems to have strong instincts, knowing where to position himself to take advantage of a ball in play. It’s so fast-paced, buthe always seems to know how best to maximize his time with the ball and how to outwit his opponents to his team’s advantage.
