“Watch out!”someone shouted.A teammate.
Maia jerked, feeling a presence beside her.She whirled and barely missed the punch Amanda threw at her.
“What’s going on?”It was a female reporter for the local paper.
“Nothing,” Maia said.
“She’s lying,” Amanda howled.“She stole my place on the team.”
“I play for Christchurch,” Maia said, hoping Amanda wouldn’t swing at her again.
“Duck!”Henry shouted without warning.
Maia dropped, and Amanda tripped over her, the force of the blow she’d aimed at Maia throwing her off balance.
“Doesn’t look like nothing to me,” the reporter said.
Maia scrambled away from Amanda and joined Gerard and Henry, trusting them to tell her if Amanda tried to strike her again.She relaxed when she spotted Amanda’s teammates and the assistant coach.Maia watched Amanda struggle to run after her, but Cameron manhandled her toward the changing rooms.
“What can you tell me about the bad blood between Maia and Amanda?Didn’t they used to play on the same team?”the reporter asked, shoving a microphone at Maia’s teammates.
“I have nothing to say,” one said.
“Time for a shower,” another said.
En masse, her team left without commenting.The reporter glanced at Maia but must’ve thought better of trying to get a soundbite from her.
“Do you need to do any promo stuff before you leave?”Henry asked.
“I’ll check with the coach,” Maia said.“I’ll introduce you.”
“Amanda is digging herself a deeper hole,” Gerard said, his green eyes full of concern.“Surely they’ll punish her this time.”
“She’ll get herself arrested again,” Maia said.“I refuse to accept her crap.”
“Maybe you should take out a restraining order, so she’s breaking the law if she comes near you,” Henry said.“Your teams won’t meet again, so she can’t say the restraining order would stop her from playing rugby.”
Gerard snorted.“She’s doing that by herself.What did she think she’d achieve by attacking you in public?”
“She wasn’t thinking,” Henry said.“The woman has a temper and sees red instead of commonsense.”
“Coach Riley?”Maia said on reaching their head coach.“This is my boyfriend Henry and his business partner Gerard.Is there anything I need to stay for?”
He shook hands with Henry and Gerard before turning to her.“You did good, missy.Great game.Still can’t believe those idiots kicked you off their team roster.Their loss.My gain,” he said, his broad grin revealing a missing eye tooth.“We have the hospital visit next week.Other than that, it’s our usual training schedule.Have some fun.”He waggled his finger at her.“Not too much, though.I need you fighting fit for our next game.Things have become serious.”
“Yes, coach,” Maia said.
She, Henry, and Gerard wandered off to join their family and friends who’d come to see her game.Levi sprinted over with his best friend.Both boys gave her an enormous hug.Everyone was staying with Sam and Lisa before traveling to Dunedin.Henry and Maia would remain with them until the season’s end.
“Amanda!”a man roared.
Everyone, including Maia, turned toward the shout.
“Whoa,” Maia said, staring at the gun Amanda aimed in their direction.
“Levi.Scott.Behind us now,” Jacey said.“Everyone else, back up slowly.”
Sam and Gerard melted into the background while Henry shoved her behind him.
