“That was an amazing save!” Danny exclaims.
“She’s amazing,” I reply. The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Danny just watches me and nods.
Drew, however, has a different reaction. “She’s the one. The one that Dad made you stop seeing as soon as he found her in your apartment.” I don’t bother to deny it. His eyes are shining with delight because he’s figured it out. I knew that he recognized the name, but I wasn’t going to help him with her identity. “Does Dad know she’s here?”
I shake my head. “Are you kidding me? He doesn’t remember her name. She was the best goalie that was up for drafting that night, so he took her.”
I can feel Danny’s eyes on me, but I don’t look in his direction. He knows the story; thankfully, I don’t have to explain it to him in front of Drew.
“Did you draft her on purpose?” Drew asks.
I shake my head again. “No, I didn’t. She was the best option. It was merely a business decision,” I lie.
The shit-eating grin on his face tells me that he isn’t buying it. “And you never thought to tell me.”
I turn my attention back to the game. “Leave it,” I say, my tone low and definitive, hoping he understands that the subject is closed.
Drew just snickers and turns his attention back to the game.
Hendrix pulls off some amazing saves. Each time I cheer for her, I feel Drew’s eyes on me.
At one point I turn to him. “I want the team to do well. She’s a major part of that,” I remind him.
“Does he always cheer for her so loudly?” Drew asks Danny. Like I’m not even there and couldn’t answer this question for myself.
Danny looks from me to Drew before answering. “Yeah, he does.”
I can tell that Drew isn’t buying it. Danny wasn’t very convincing.
“Interesting. I wonder what has changed,” Drew ponders, clapping me on the back.
“Fuck off, man,” is my only comeback. Not the best but it shuts him up and allows me to enjoy the rest of the game.
The Blaze end up winning. As time runs out, Mac scores off a beautiful corner ball that Cassie serves her. It’s an effective play that takes a lot of skill and timing. Moments later, the buzzer sounds, and the referee declares the Blaze the winner with a score of 1-0.
“Yeah! We’re playoffs-bound, baby!” I say, my fist pumping the air.
“That was a great game!” Danny says as we high-five.
“That’s awesome, congratulations, man,” Drew says, shaking my hand.
“We’re one of the few teams that can say they made it to the playoffs during their inaugural season,” I tell them.
Drew claps me on the back. “You put together one hell of a team here, August.”
I nod and smile. “Coach Watts has done some amazing things with them. There’s no denying that.”
“We headed out tonight?” Danny asks.
“You know it,” I say, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “Now go get your girl.”
With that, Danny heads out of the box in search of Mac.
“Can we talk about the cheers and excitement you were showing over your goalie yet?”
I shake my head. “I cheered just as loudly when Mac scored,” I remind him.
