Felix nods slowly, his eyes never leaving my face. I’mvaguely aware of Gwendoline’s annoying voice asking George what this means, but mostly I’m focussed on the thud of my heartbeat echoing in my ears. Middlesbrough. The English Football Championship League. One step below the English Premier League. Football in the UK. The ultimate dream. Approximately sixteen thousand kilometres from Beckford and from George Whitford.
An electric shock jolts me out of my stupor and I look down at my hand to see it covered by Willow’s slender fingers. My mouth goes dry as I drag my gaze to hers. Her lips are moving, but I can’t focus on what she’s saying.
“W-what?” is all I manage. I shake my head to clear it. Is this really happening?
“Are you okay?” she murmurs, her cheeks flushing a delicious rosy colour.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips and her eyes track the movement which causes the blush to spread to her chest. She squeezes my hand, sending a flood of calm shooting through my arm to the centre of my body.
I take a deep breath and turn back to Felix. “Are you serious?”
His laugh is deep and booming as he leans forward and claps me on the shoulder. “Congratulations, mate. I knew you could do it.”
I slump back in my chair. All the hard work and sacrifices are finally paying off, but all I can think about is leaving my angel. “Does Coach Rourke know? When do they want me?”
“Your coach knows,” Felix says with a nod. “I spoke to him this week. They want you over there next week, so tonight was your last game for Beckford U. Their leftwing tore his Achilles, and his replacement just isn’t up to scratch. You’ll begin with the academy team, but they have every intention of playing you when you’re ready. With the season starting next week, they’re keen to get you training with them as soon as possible.”
“But school?—”
“You only have a couple of months left,” George interrupts. “I’m sure we can arrange for you to submit everything online.”
“Exams—”
He narrows his eyes. “I’ll handle it. Focus on your game, son.”
Son. It takes everything in me to keep a straight face. I haven’t been his son for years. I’ve been his protégé.
“This is insane,” I mumble, my voice barely more than a whisper.
Next week.
Life as I know it is about to change.
Panic starts to set in. What if I get over there and choke? Middlesbrough isn’t a nobody team. It wasn’t long ago they were a part of the English Premier League. What if I’m not good enough?
“Ocean.” I pinch myself as I mutter the safe word.
I need to stop thinking like that. They’ve seen me play, and something impressed them. I’ll work my arse off to show them I deserve this opportunity.
The waiter arrives, placing my steak in front of me, and I’m grateful for the distraction. It’s only when I move to pick up my cutlery that I realise Willow has tensed beside me. When I look over at her, she’s sitting straightin her chair, her face pale. A quick glance around the table tells me no one else has noticed.
I lean over and whisper, “Are you okay?” She flinches, and my brow lifts. “Seriously, Willow? I thought you’d be happy to see the back of me, considering my existence in your life has apparently caused you nothing but misery.”
Chapter 6
Willow
It’s not possible.
Luca is staring at me with those impossibly golden eyes with tiny flecks of green that you can only see in certain lights. He’s watching me with a wary expression as I sit frozen in my seat. There’s no way it can be him.
My phantom.
I take a deep breath and focus on the rise of my chest as oxygen passes through my lungs. It’s not him. It can’t be. I would know if it was him. Right? There’s no way I could live with someone for four years and not know that he’s the man submitting to me once a month at Euphoria.
Only… why the hell would he be muttering my phantom’s safe word?
“Willow?” Luca asks again, glancing at our parents before focusing back on me. “Do you need medical attention?”
