Page 21 of The Hooker

The day runs like normal and then we’re on the field for kickoff and I push Daisy from my mind. Instead, I focus on winning and not getting my body ruined by South Africans.

The stadium’s loud, and not in our favour. Especially when we win after a game filled with yellow cards and close calls.

Sitting in the sheds, my body begins to feel the aches and pains. It’s possible I’m getting too old for this. I roll my shoulders and drop my head to the back of my cubby and breathe deeply. Am I looking forward to an ice bath? Am I so old that I want the ice bath because I know I’ll feel better after it? There is no way I can tell any of the younger guys that.

Something taps my boot, and I open my eyes. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when I see her serious one, hair braided away from her face, team cap casting shadows on her cheeks.

“You okay? No blood today,” she observes.

“All good. Just a bit sore.” I lean forward and wait until she comes closer to whisper, “Don’t tell anyone, but I can’t wait for the ice bath.”

Daisy snorts and leans back. “I think you’re the only athlete who’s ever told me that.”

“I’m just too wise.”

She makes a rude noise of disagreement, which I choose to ignore. “Want me to remove the tape?”

I nod and stand so she can remove the tape decorating my body. I removed the tape and gauze protecting my ears already, but was waiting for her to rip everything else off. My face scrunches when the tape on my thigh rips off hair. Maybe she’s right and I am a masochist, because I look forward to this every game.

I had a call with Linda from management before the match to sign the relationship form. She wasn’t as shocked as I expected her to be, just wanted my signature and contacted the PR team in case a statement needs releasing. Daisy doesn’t know it yet, but today is the last day she’ll treat me. Adam’s taking me on now instead, so while I don’t like her ripping hair from my body, I try to enjoy her fingertips brushing my skin while she finds the edge of the tape before ruthlessly pulling it.

“All done.”

I turn to face her. We’ve been in this position thousands of times before. Me standing in front of her, bare-chested, with her hands full of tape, but now that I’ve kissed her, I’m finding it difficult to stop myself from bending down and covering her lips with mine. Her eyes flash when I lick my lips, but she steps back quickly.

“Ready to go?” A hand slaps my back harder than necessary, and I turn to glare at Suli.

“Yep. Let’s get this over with so we can have dinner.”

I leave Daisy in the changing sheds and follow Suli to begin our cool down routine.

Everyone’s heading to a restaurant afterwards to celebrate the win and being one step closer to the Freedom Cup, but all I want to do is show up at Daisy’s room and tell her about my conversation with Linda.

Dinner’s a long and rowdy affair. The boys are excited about the win and fired up for the game next week, desperate to win the cup. I want to win the cup too, but gazing at Daisy a few tables away, it doesn’t seem as important. Whichreallyno one can find out about. God, if the boys found out I thought a woman was more important than footy, they’d disown me. The single guys would at least, the ones with partners would welcome me with open arms and help me choose a ring. It’s too early for rings, though.

I lock eyes with Daisy, and she smiles at me before laughing at something Adam says and throws her head back.

Is it too early for rings?

I shake myself and rejoin the conversation with Johnny and Nick. Hemi will arrive in two days and join us for the last game, but if what Daisy’s been saying is true, he’ll be glued to his phone, waiting for text messages rather than hanging with the boys.

Dinner finally ends and some of the younger guys head to a club to continue the celebration—we have tomorrow off, and they’re taking advantage of it. I return to the hotel and press the button for a level that isn’t mine.

Suli rolls his eyes. “You better not sleep there. Just because you signed something doesn’t mean it’s a free pass to have sex with your girlfriend on a work trip.”

“I’m going to tell her about the meeting. And she’s not my girlfriend.” I grin at him. “Yet.”

The lift doors open and Suli steps out and says pointedly, “I’ll see you later.”

“Later, bro.” The doors shut on his unimpressed look. And I will see him later. I’m not about to tempt fate and annoy management when they made my life a lot easier instead of making everything difficult. I’ll sleep in my room after I’ve told Daisy the good news.

I knock on her door and slip my hands into my pockets, rocking back on my heels while I wait for her. The door opens and I grin. “Hey, baby.”

She leans against the doorway and crosses her arms. She’s changed into tight leggings that leave little to the imagination and an oversized crop top. She looks edible.

“Hello, lovely. As glad as I am to find you at my door, I’m not sure it’s a great idea.” Daisy scans the hallway to make sure there’s no one around before pulling me inside, despite her words.

“I know, but I wanted to see you.”

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