Page 92 of Sweet Temptation

“I guess he’s feeling better,” I replied.

“Hopefully,” Anna added. “Someone needs to turn this game around. It’s been too close for my liking so far.”

The whistle blew, and the game kicked off again. As the second half got going, it was clear the Eagles were playing far better with Noah on the field. The other team could barely get hold of the ball, and when they did, Noah would be the one to win it back. Whatever illness had kept him from school, it certainly wasn’t slowing him down tonight. He was barking orders at his teammates, and they seemed to be responding, as every one of them looked more energetic than they had in the first half.

One of the opposing players became frustrated with the Eagles’ sudden dominance. The big, bulky guy with jet-black hair was sprinting around the pitch like a madman, desperately trying to get the ball back. When the ball fell to Noah, I gasped as the guy flew toward him and lunged at him with both feet. Noah didn’t flinch. He simply flicked the ball up and over the player, leaving him in a heap on the floor as he dribbled away. The crowd rose to their feet as Noah passed the ball between two defenders and straight into Sawyer’s path. It was just him and the goalkeeper, and he calmly curled the ball into the net.

The stadium erupted as the Eagles finally got their first goal, and the players all ran to congratulate Sawyer. Noah remained calm, as though it was no big deal, a focused and determined look still etched on his face. The guy with the jet-black hair wasn’t far from him, still on the ground, a furious look in his eyes.

Wes had his fingers in his mouth and was whistling loudly, and I laughed at his enthusiasm. “Stop encouraging Sawyer, or he’ll keep scoring, and I’ll be his lucky charm for life.”

He grinned at me and leaned in close to my ear so I could hear him speak over the cheers in the stadium. “Maybe that’s exactly what I want so I can cuddle you at all his games.”

I swallowed as he pulled back to look me in the eyes. I’d seen that look before, and it certainly wasn’t friendly. I got the feeling he wanted to kiss me again. It was probably a good thing the referee started blowing his whistle loudly and Wes looked away; if we kissed again, the blurry line we’d crossed might disappear entirely.

“Shit,” Anna said. “What’s he doing?”

I glanced at the field and gasped as I saw two players rolling around on the ground fighting. Everyone on the field was rushing toward them, and when they pulled the two players apart, I realized Noah was one of them.

“That did not just happen.” Anna’s eyes were wide. “Tell me that didn’t just happen!”

"What’s going on?” Wes asked, his expression filled with confusion.

“I missed it too,” I said. “Why was Noah fighting?”

“I have no idea,” Anna said. “But I’m pretty sure number nine started it.”

The referee continued to blow his whistle as he tried to calm the players on both sides. Sawyer and some of his teammates had grabbed Noah and were pulling him away from the scene while a group of players on the other team were complaining to the referee. The guy with the jet-black hair was glaring at Noah, a smug grin on his face.

“That’s the guy he was fighting?” I asked Anna.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “He just ran right up to Noah after the goal, and suddenly they were on the ground throwing punches.”

Once things had calmed down, the referee marched up to both Noah and the opposing player and showed them a red card, ordering them off the field.

“Oh no,” Wes said. “That’s Noah out for the rest of the game.”

Noah trudged off the field, and the rest of the Weybridge team shook their heads. Some of them could barely look at him. They’d played so well since he’d arrived, but now they had to go on without him. When Noah reached the edge of the field with his head hung low, it started to rain.

Thankfully our seats were under cover, but the water fell in hard sheets, quickly soaking the players on the field. Noah didn’t seem to notice. His wet shirt gripped his skin, and his damp hair flopped against his face.

He finally looked up, but it wasn’t to focus on the game as it got back underway. Instead, his eyes went straight to the stands and directly to me. He didn’t even need to search for where I was sitting; it was like he could sense exactly where I was.

The agony in his gaze as he looked at me was hard to endure. And it was only once he broke our stare off and disappeared behind the bleachers that I felt like I could breathe again. He’d just been in a fight that got him kicked out of the game, but I couldn’t help but feel like there was something else behind the pain I saw in his eyes.

* * *

“Areyou sure you don’t want to come to Toddy’s?” Wes asked as we left the stadium. The Weybridge Eagles had held on to win the game, despite Noah getting sent off, so it seemed my time as Sawyer’s lucky charm wasn’t over. I’d been secretly hoping the team might lose so he’d fire me from the position.

“I’m sure. I need to have a hot shower to warm up,” I said. “Besides, I’m not that hungry.”

“You aren’t hungry for a Toddy’s burger?” Wes placed a hand against my forehead like he was taking my temperature. “Something must be wrong. Are you feeling okay?”

I swatted his hand away. “Very funny.”

“Yes, I know, I’m hilarious.”

I went to blow warm air into my freezing hands only to realize the reason they were so cold was because I’d left my gloves behind. It probably served me right for taking them off to steal some of Wes’s fries.

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