While I’m smaller and carry less muscle on my frame than the guys – not to mention being years out of practice – I play strategically, staying in positions where I can pass, score, or make a connection that helps our side. I know I can’t best the likes of Luciano head-to-head, so I avoid the direct fights, working to get the ball around instead of through.
Tomas shakes his head in disbelief when we call the game after an hour (7 –3) and begin to pick up our things.
‘Holy crap.’ He stops and regards me in some wonderment. ‘How?’
‘We all dream.’ I shrug between guzzles of water. ‘For me, it was always this. I wanted to be where you are. I played with these high hopes of, like, Crystal Palace Women’s, but the way my family is, even if I got offers …’
‘Leaving home, huh.’ Luciano nods. ‘I get that. I guess I’m lucky my chance is so close by, you know.’
‘You are.’
‘You play like a new Marta,mina.’ He holds out a hand. ‘I’ll give you that.’
‘Honoured, coming from you.’ I smile and shake it.
‘Be back next Saturday.’
‘I’ll certainly try.’
I sweep a curl from my face with a chuckle as Luciano headson his way. Miguel puts on a whiny little mimicry voice. ‘You play like a new Marta. I love you, Shantal.’ He makes about five different obnoxious kissy faces, at which I roll my eyes.
‘You wanted to play for Crystal Palace?’ asks Darien as he piles his own stuff into his bag beside me. I can tell he’s resisting adding to Miguel’s quips, which is at least to his credit.
‘I did. But football doesn’t pay the bills,’ I hum as I start to unlace my boots. ‘I went and studied athletic training and comp sci instead, then interned with Conquest … so here I am. Quite a way from my initial intent,’ I add, almost a jab at myself.
Darien just sits with that for a moment. Perhaps he’s thinking.
Then he drops his bag and water bottle. ‘Let’s do a one-on-one. Please.’ He actually clasps his hands together, as if in prayer. ‘Please.’
I look around, picking up the ball. We’re the only ones left. ‘Why?’ I gesture towards the others, disappearing towards the car park.
‘Because. It’s better than playing with computers.’
I laugh, slightly snidely. ‘Aha! Well, I’m quite good at playing with computers, I’ll have you know.’
‘It’s not as fun as football.’
Without warning, he slaps the ball from my hands, and runs down the pitch with it, dribbling it deftly.
I watch Darien, immature as he is, grinning at me, his curls falling out of place, his eyes creasing with genuine happiness. Ugh, I want to hate him so badly. I really do. He’s got his head in the clouds all the time, whereas I have my entire company’s fate riding on my performance here. I don’t have the room in my head to take up another source of stress, nor in my heart to hold someone else dear, only to lose them in the end. I have no other options. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.
I sigh.Just football, I tell myself.This is just football.
Chapter Fifteen
Darien
Shantal is in deep thought, I can tell. Her little ponytail swishes as she jogs over, already plotting her path to the ball.
‘Just us,’ I tease her, dribbling back towards the net. ‘No one to connect with.’
‘No need,’ she replies.
In one swift move, hooks her foot round mine and steals the ball. The way she crosses me so effortlessly is pretty damn amazing. Her ball control is insane. I’m trying to catch her, but she’s a winger – she’s got to be fast, too. I’ve never played on a team or in any particular position, just kicked the ball around till I grasped the sport, like most kids growing up here. Shantal, though, is serious.
Once I compose myself, I’m able to get around her to stick out my leg, and the ball slips my way, letting me gain possession. Unfortunately, I’m now darting around an aggressive Shantal.
She hops back a few steps and flaps her T-shirt, trying to keep cool. My eyes unconsciously travel to her exposed midriff,the waistband of her Nike Pros peeking out over her football shorts, as she wipes her face with the hem of the shirt. I’m not sure how I didn’t notice it before, because she’s clearly built like a footballer. Strong, sculpted legs, toned arms and abs: she is literally knock-me-outwow.
