Page 12 of Couple Goals

To Maeve’s utter astonishment, Choksi twists her arms around herself and pulls her t-shirt off. She paces the middle of the empty pitch in just her black sports bra, loose-fitting sports shorts and trainers, showing her abs are just as impressive as her toned shoulder muscles. She starts stretching her thighs out, gently thrusting out her hips and rocking forwards and back and Maeve can’t cope anymore.

It’s one thing to be checking out the competition. It’s quite another to bechecking outthe competition.

Then a voice calls loudly across the pitch.

‘Hello? Is someone there?’

Maeve’s worst nightmare is coming true. The striker is squinting at where Maeve is stood in the dark corridor, and now she is jogging over. Shit.

‘Yo!’ the new player calls out casually. The woman seems completely unfazed that she’s just in her sports bra. She stops before her, and cocks her head to one side, openly eyeing Maeve up and down.

‘Ooh… Hey, you seem really familiar.’

Maeve might faint. The stranger pushes the messy waves out of her eyes, and Maeve sees them properly for the first time. They’re the same rich brown as her hair, but with a brightness and spark to them, seemingly lit from a fire within. They are the most beautiful eyes Maeve has ever seen.

‘I’m Kira,’ she says, offering out a hand. ‘I play upfront.’

Maeve realises she has a light American accent, though Maeve can’t place exactly where.

‘M-Maeve,’ she stumbles, reaching out to shake Kira’s hand. ‘Centre-back.’

Maeve hopes Kira can’t feel how sweaty her palms are because of her being the one who was just exercising.

‘Oh, that’s right,’ Kira grins. ‘I know who you are.’

‘I… You do?’

‘Well, duh, obviously I’ve watched you play,’ Kira replies. ‘You’re supposedly one of the best players in our league so…’

Maeve feels wrong-footed.‘Duh?’…‘Supposedly?’She feels like the woman is showing off her knowledge, which is normally Maeve’s thing.

‘Oh,’ Maeve retracts her hand, which feels like it’s burning from their touch. ‘Well, of course I’ve watched you too – when you were playing for the Vixens, I mean, not, you know, just now.’

Kira frowns, then her mouth twitches, amused. ‘Just now? Were you watching me train, this whole time?’

Kira still makes no effort to reach for her training hoodie that’s on the ground next to them both.

‘Er, I… I mean, I arrived, and… saw you… yes I did watch you for a bit, sorry if that was weird of me…’ Maeve trails off, feeling her cheeks scorching again.

Kira holds Maeve’s gaze, wets her lip. ‘And? Did you like what you see?’

Kira grins cockily. It makes Maeve imagine what it would be like to be with Kira in a dark bedroom, and the fact her mind went there only makes her panic more. Her brain completely overheats and she doesn’t answer for too long.

Maeve has never trusted her own gay dar, but even if Kiraisqueer, someone as gorgeous as her couldn’tpossiblybe flirting with Maeve, could she? Besides, if they’re going to be teammates, surely Kira would also assume they would keep things strictly professional between them?

Maybe, Maeve realises, Kira’s just asking for feedback on her training prowess! What should Maeve say?‘You’re the most amazing player I’ve ever seen? I’m intimidated by you?’She doesn’t want to be weird and suck up to her too much. Maeve’s frazzled brain tries to say something minimal and neutral.

‘You’re– I– You’re fine,’ Maeve mumbles. ‘I mean, you’re notfineas in– I mean. Your form is okay.’

Kira folds her arms. Maeve can’t help noticing the hard lines of the woman’s biceps and forearms.

‘Excuse me?’ says Kira. ‘Okay? My form is “okay?” Is this the kind of astute feedback that made you team captain?’

Okay, that’s confirmed it. Her new gorgeous teammate hates her.

‘I-I’m a good captain!’ Maeve folds her arms defensively.

‘Oh, really?’ Kira raises an eyebrow. ‘And what if someone else wants to be Captain instead?’

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