Page 165 of Off the Pitch

“Just in time,” Christian said with a grin as I ran past him.

“I heard you needed a hand,” I said.

“I think we might,” he said. “Welcome back.”

I didn’t have time to say anything else because the ball came hurtling towards me on the end of a wide pass from Micah, quickly followed by several defenders. It only took me a few minutes to realise exactly why the team had had such a tough time so far. Our opposition’s defence played high and tight, making it difficult to get through, and as soon as any of us had the ball, they were constantly pressing us to get it back.

I glanced up at the big screen, looking at the clock. Fifteen minutes to go.

We needed a different approach.

Two minutes later, the opportunity came.

A bad pass from one of their defenders meant Micah could get on the end of it, and it didn’t take him long to get the ball to Christian. I could see the opposition moving to surround him, but they stupidly seemed to have forgotten that I existed.

They were going to pay for that mistake.

I shot forward into the box, waiting on the line for my chance. Christian had seen me; his calculating expression made that clear. He passed to Micah, who was in the middle and open, and I darted forward as Micah sent the ball neatly onto my right foot.

The next minute seemed to happen in slow motion.

I turned with the ball at my feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw players approaching. In front of me was a virtually open goal. I lifted my right foot, connecting with the ball and sending it curling in a perfect arch that slid past the post and the outstretched hands of the keeper. Right into the bottom corner of the net.

The crowd exploded. Fifty-six thousand people cheered, clapping and screaming my name as the whistle blew and the goal was confirmed.

Christian was the first one to get to me, careening into my waist and pulling me into a tight hug as the rest of the team descended. Suddenly I was at the centre of a giant hug, everyone squeezing me and cheering. The feeling in my chest was indescribable; happiness, excitement and relief were all hurtling around me.

I looked up into the stands, searching for that familiar shock of red hair, and on the balcony, I could see the outline of Kit bouncing.

I’d never thought I’d get to this moment again, and yet I had. But I knew that it would never have happened without him. Kit had given me everything I’d ever dreamt of having, even when I’d thought I’d lost everything. He was my best friend, my true love, and the one person in the world who I could truly be myself around.

I couldn’t have done this without him.

Chapter Thirty-Three

KitIf you were the only human left on earth, what would you do?

HugoIdk—I wouldn’t want to be here without you,mon coeur

Kit

“I’m going to marry that man one day,” I said, watching Hugo celebrate with the rest of the team. He was squished into a giant sandwich hug with the team surrounding him, and I was so full of pride and love that my chest actually hurt just watching him.

“What?” David said, turning to look at me. I wasn’t sure if he hadn’t actually heard me, or if he just didn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I’m going to marry him one day,” I repeated. “Maybe in Scotland, hopefully with a dog as the ringbearer. All I know is that I’m going to marry him. I don’t think I could ever imagine my life without him. In fact, I don’t want to because that hurts too much.”

“Yeah?” David was smiling at me softly, and he reached out to squeeze my hand. “Sounds perfect to me.” He sniffed.

“Are you crying?” I asked, completely baffled.

“No,” he said, surreptitiously rubbing his eye. “I’m just very proud of you. And I meant what I said in August, I’m taking credit for this whole relationship.”

“Surely Christian should share the credit seeing as how we met at your house? You know, the house you share together.”

“Eh,” David said. He grinned and shrugged. “I’ll buy his share of the credit from him. I’m sure I can persuade him to hand it over.”

“I’m definitely going to ask Lily to be my best woman instead. She won’t be nearly as difficult,” I said. I stuck my tongue out at him while David gave me the fakest look of despair I’d ever seen.

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