“They’re your friends, too,” Henry said.
They’d accepted her, thanks to Henry.Learning about shifters had stunned her, and although she shouldn’t, she was looking at them differently.They hadn’t done anything to warrant this, generous with their help and support, and this contradiction was tossing her off balance.
Maia’s phone rang, and she pulled it from her handbag.She didn’t recognize the number and set it aside.It stopped ringing before giving her another alert.The voicemail had her stomach churning.
“It’s the Black Fern selector.He wants to speak with me.”
“Call him back,” Henry said.“You’ll only stress if you wait until we get home.”
“What if—”
“The worst that can happen is they tell you not to come,” Henry said.“If you don’t have rugby commitments, we’ll take a couple of weeks for a holiday in the sun.Either way, you’ll have next year to make the team.You’re a talented player, Maia, and you will make it.”
She stared at her phone.Chances were the team management had already spoken with selectors.They would’ve informed them she wouldn’t be playing, that they’d stood her down.Heck, they’d cast her in the worst light possible.
Maia hit the call button and waited for the selector to answer.
“Maia, thank you for calling back,” the man said.
“Sorry, I was driving,” she said, lying without a blink.
“Your team management has contacted us and stated they’ve stood you down for discipline issues.We’d like to know exactly what you’ve done so we can proceed.”
“Discipline issues?”Maia parroted.
Amanda was still messing with her, even though she was an innocent party.She glanced at Henry, and he nodded with encouragement.“It’s true they’ve stood me down, but I’ve done nothing wrong.When I arrived to take up my rugby contract, I had problems.Someone tagged my house and let the air out of my vehicle tires.They tied a puppy outside, purposely hurting it, so I’d go outside to investigate.When I did, they struck me on the head.I suffered a concussion that had me off the field and on limited play for several weeks.
“That was the start of the nuisance pranks.I reported these crimes to the local police, who have been investigating.Yesterday, I went on a training run.I’ve been taking the young boys and girls from the local primary school with me, helping their team to train.We went over an obstacle course, and when we were running through the forest, Amanda, my teammate, attacked me.She wanted to injure me so I couldn’t play rugby or attend your training camp.The young kids alerted adults working nearby, and the local police arrested her.”
“I see,” the selector said, his voice non-committal.“What happened next?”
“My coach called me into a meeting this morning and told me management was standing me down because I had attacked Amanda.They said if I dropped the charges, they might reconsider.They also instructed me to visit the team doctor.”Maia issued a sigh because this was a nightmare.“Once I arrived at my appointment, I was told I needed to submit to drug tests and required a psychiatrist’s report.”She didn’t mention the doctor pressuring her to use his clinic for the tests and use a psychiatrist in the same building.
“Do you have copies of the police reports?”
“I’m sure I could get them for you.”
“Send them to the email address on the card I gave you,” he said and hung up.
Maia scowled at her phone, frustration and acute disappointment making her chest ache.Her entire story sounded farfetched.She wouldn’t believe it.“This is unfair.I have done nothing wrong.”
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry.This isn’t right, but I’m not sure what else to suggest.”
“I could drop the charges,” she said bitterly.“But I can bet that wouldn’t go well for me either.They’ll sideline me.I probably wouldn’t get game time.They’d relegate me to water boy status.”
“I’m so bloody sorry,” Henry said.
Yeah, they were crushing her between a rock and a hard place.She’d bet they weren’t standing down Amanda.Their team’s convincing performance had secured them a spot in the playoffs.
“Next season, I’ll have problems finding a team to sign me.No one will sign a troublemaker because the team managementwillbad-mouth me.I can’t win, no matter what I do.”Her throat grew tight, and she hung her head, every muscle in her body tense.Her stomach churned with nerves and disappointment.
Aunt Beatrice’s whiny voice rippled through her thoughts again; this time, Maia imagined a victorious glint in her eyes.“Life isn’t fair, Maia.Remember that.Life doesn’t owe you a thing.”
Maia snorted.That would teach her to try to one-up her aunt.Pettiness was a bad look, and she was paying for her attitude.
“I should sell my house and move back to Auckland.”
“No,” Henry snapped.“You can sell your house or keep it.I don’t care, but you are not running back to Auckland.You are not leaving me.Hell!That didn’t come out right.I love you.We’re engaged to be married, and I want you at my side.You areitfor me.If you want to play rugby for another team, I’ll fully support you, but we are not breaking up.You hear me?”
