“I don’t blame her. She’s younger than me, and she spent most of our childhood being ferried around to training and football matches. It was just my dad, so she had to come with us. She spent hours watching me when she would have rather been with her friends or doing her own thing. I think a part of her must hate that Maisie loves it so much—she thought she’d finally escaped.”
“Does Maisie’s dad not come?”
“She doesn’t know her dad. Jessica got pregnant when she was eighteen—he wasn’t ready to be a father. When she kept the baby, he bolted. We never heard from him again.”
“Oh.” Lia wasn’t sure what would be worse—having an absent father who pretended you didn’t exist or never knowing your father at all. “That must’ve been hard.”
“It was. But she wouldn’t change it for the world. And I wouldn’t, either.” That was clear to see from the look on Erin’s face whenever she glanced at Maisie. “She’s the best.”
As Maisie raced back over to them, a contagious grin on her face, Lia had to agree.
Chapter 11
The Spanish sun warmed Erin’s skin as she stepped onto the grass.
Along with the rest of the team, she’d arrived yesterday at their hotel in Marbella for Albion’s mid-season training camp, and she couldn’t wait to get started. Around her, excited chatter swelled as her teammates caught up on how they’d spent the Christmas holidays, but Erin didn’t care enough to tune in to what they were saying.
How could she, when today was the first day she was going to kick a ball around with her team again?
Finally, she’d progressed in her rehab enough to get back on a pitch—even if it was only a training pitch. Erin didn’t care, filled with a giddy kind of excitement she hadn’t felt in years. It wasn’t full training. She couldn’t have any contact with anyone else, but she could pass the ball, she could run with the ball, and, most importantly, she could smash shots past their goalkeeper.
Her first attempt thundered into the top corner, past Gina’s gloves.
Shanice clapped Erin on the back. “Nice to see you haven’t lost it.”
Much as she’d never admit it to anyone else, Erin was glad, too. Some of her fears that she’d have to start from the beginning, that she’d never get back to her best, ebbed away as the session went on.
By the time they’d finished, Erin was sweaty and exhausted, her shirt stuck to her skin and her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath—but oh, she was in heaven.
“That was fantastic, honey.” Her father beamed at Erin from the side of the pitch. Since their hotel was a meagre ten minutes from his apartment, he’d made the trip out to watch her train.
“Sorry it wasn’t a game.” It couldn’t have been interesting for him, but he’d insisted on coming along anyway. Erin knew no longer being able to come to watch her play made him feel guilty, but Erin didn’t begrudge him. He’d done his time—more than enough—and she was happy he was free to live his own life now that both his daughters were fully independent.
“Oh, it’s fine.” Heedless of her soaked shirt, he wrapped her in a hug. “It’s so good to see you back out there. How do you feel?”
“Good.”
“You sure? You were hesitant using your bad leg.”
Trust him to notice. Then again, he’d spent years analysing Erin’s game with her. She shouldn’t expect anything less. “I know. But it’s not because I’m in any pain—it’s all in my head.”
“It’s natural to be worried something bad might happen again,” he said, still keeping a secure arm wrapped around her lower back, “but you need to trust your body.”
Her body that had failed her a few months ago. “I’ll get there.”
She had to.
“Good.” He gave her one last squeeze. “Well, I’ll let you—Alex!” His face broke into a wide smile as they appeared behind Erin. “Come here, give me a big hug.”
“I’m all sweaty.”
“Psh, a little sweat never hurt anyone. Besides—I’m covered in Erin’s already anyway.”
“I’m not sure that’s the draw you think it is, Mr. Finch.” But Alex allowed themself to be enveloped in his arms.
“Will you join Erin and me for dinner later tonight?”
Erin needn’t have worried about the scheduling. They had several evenings free, and Erin was going to take full advantage of seeing her father while they were both in the same place.
