“That would be great,” Charlie said.“Why don’t we do the photos first?”
To Maia’s surprise, their photo session was fun, and the chuckles and laughter dispelled her residual fear.Once they were done, she sent the photo to Henry and told him she’d call in the morning.She also added she’d had an issue but Laura and Charlie were here.
“Henry will call and demand answers, but I’ll sort out a hot drink.Tea or coffee?”
“Tea for me,” Laura said.“If you have peppermint, great, but normal tea is fine.”
“I’ll take the same,” Charlie said.“Either peppermint or regular.I bet you get that call from Henry in five minutes flat.”
Maia’s phone chirped.“Henry,” she said.
Chapter 20
“Henry,we’reflyingbackimmediately after the game, and I won’t be alone.Besides, nothing has happened since the skeleton.”
“No headaches or concussion-related problems?”
“Not a one.I’ve attended three training sessions.My coaches seem pleased with my progress.”
Her words didn’t appease the big man.
Maia reached over and placed her hand on his knee.“Give me a goodbye kiss for luck.I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Please watch over my rugby girl.”He jumped out of the driver’s seat and rounded the hood to stand by her door.When he opened it, he said, “I want a proper kiss.”
Maia climbed out straight into his arms.Their lips met, and he kissed her—an incredibly sweet kiss that had her wanting to beg him to come with her.Except he couldn’t, and they knew it.
“Play smart.Look after your head,” he ordered.“I’ll be waiting in the terminal when the plane lands.”
“Thank you.”She gave him a swift kiss before grabbing her gear bag.“I’m nervous even though I won’t play for long.”
“You’ll do fine,” Henry said in a gruff voice.
With a wave, she shouldered her bag and hoofed it to the terminal entrance.As she’d expected, she found her team members and coaching staff gathered in the terminal.
“Ah, there you are, Maia,” Seth, the team manager, said.“We’re boarding in thirty minutes.”
Maia accepted the boarding pass.She smiled at the girls standing around her.Some met her gaze, but few returned her friendly smile.Her stomach plummeted, and disappointment spread.Being the new girl wasn’t easy, but she hadn’t expected overt hostility.No, that wasn’t the right term.The girls were more standoffish.
“Maia!”
Maia turned to spot Jan and smiled.
“Are you nervous?”Jan asked.
“Yes,” Maia said.
“I’m petrified.I’ve been to the restroom twice since I arrived,” Jan confessed.“It’s always like this before a game.If I’m not panicky, that’s a bad sign.”
“It’s my first chance of game time for a new team.I’m ultra anxious.”Maia scanned the other girls, who were all chatting while waiting for the last two players to arrive.“Is it me, or are the girls acting aloof?”
“A bit of that and game nerves.We played badly last week, and the coaching team has shown they will reward form players.That brings pressure and competition for team spots.”
What Jan said made sense.She would’ve asked more questions, but the two tardy players arrived, and they moved to the boarding gate as a group.The flight was uneventful, and Maia spent her time proofreading one of her manuscripts on her e-reader before she sent it to her editor.
A bus waited for them at the airport, and as Maia expected, the place they were playing was off the beaten path.Spectators stood around the edge of the field instead of sitting in a stand.The changing rooms were drafty, making Maia glad she’d donned her playing gear beneath her tracksuit before leaving home and didn’t have to strip and get cold.She’d bet the showers had limited warm water, and there’d be a battle royale to get to them post-game.She’d shower at home.
Game time arrived, and the two teams jogged onto the pitch.Maia sat on one of the deck chairs provided for the coaches and trainers and wrapped a coat and a blanket around her knees.The charcoal gray sky told her she might end up playing in the rain.
