Page 23 of Couple Goals

‘She is going to set some additional practices for us around training, with one of the other coaches. Would you be down for that?’

It’s a lot to take in. She only met Kiratoday,and suddenly it seems like their lives are going to be very bound up in each others. Maeve turns away from Kira to think, busying herself with putting her wet towel in the wash basket, and then finding her little wash bag. It’s cow print, a gift from Adriana. Maeve feels embarrassed about it in front of cool Kira, so she opens it with her back to her, pulling out a comb and hair tie.

There’s a part of Maeve that’s thrilled at this idea. Coach mandating that she spend more time with the most exciting, surprising, talented player Maeve’s been on a team with? It’s an incredible opportunity to improve, to really challenge herself.Training with a firecracker of a forward like Kira is really going to help her when it comes to actual games against the best strikers in the league.

That is how sheshouldfeel. But Maeve’s also terrified. Look at what happened with being ‘challenged’ in this way today – she lost control of her own emotions, and lashed out against a fellow teammate. Kira is her rival for the club captaincy, after all. What if the more they work together, the stranger that competition will feel.

Maeve hears Kira stand, walk quietly towards her, her studs clattering lightly on the shower room floor. Already the increased proximity makes the hairs on Maeve’s arms stand.

And then, of course, there’s the complication of how Maeve is crazily attracted to Kira. It’s hard to ignore even now, and the closer she and Kira work together, will she be able to hide that from her forever?

‘Maeve?’ Kira asks. ‘What are you thinking?’

Maeve ties her hair up into her slick, practical ponytail, giving herself the feeling of some protective armour. In it, she is Maeve Murphy, professional footballer, club captain of the Manchester Tigresses. She turns back to Kira, holding her shoulders back.

‘If that’s what Coach thinks is best, then of course that’s what we’ll do. But to be clear, Kira, I want to stay as Captain. This team is the most important thing in my life. No matter how closely you and I end up working, we are not in this together. I’m not going to just step aside and let you take what’s mine.’

Kira’s arms are folded, the lithe muscles of her arms tightening. Kira opens her mouth to reply, but at that moment there’s a knock on the door.

They both freeze, as if caught in a compromising position and realising just how close their faces are to each other.

‘Moo? Moo, are you in there? Can I come in?’ Adriana’s voice calls from the other side.

Maeve closes her eyes in humiliation and Kira smirks when she sees Maeve’s worried expression.

Adriana slowly opens the door, her red curls bouncing as she pokes her head cautiously around.

‘Moo?’

Adriana takes in the two of them, stood alone in the private shower room. Adriana’s expression goes from knotted in worry to that of a cheshire cat who has just been given a lot of cream.

‘Oh! I didn’t realise you’d have company!’ Adriana squeals. ‘I can come back later.’

Maeve wishes the two of them would stopsmirkingall the time.

‘It’s fine,’ Maeve snaps, ‘we were just leaving too. Separately. We’re done here. Right, Choksi?’

Kira’s head tilts slightly, as she just takes her time studying Maeve before she replies. Unlike her, Kira seems unrushed and unfazed, even now that they’ve been interrupted.

‘Sure,’ Kira shrugs.

Kira takes back the ice pack and Maeve feels her resolve wobble as she remembers Kira’s tenderness earlier. But this is just another test. She won’t let Kira mess with her head.

‘I guess I’ll see you at our extra practice, then, Murphy.’ Kira touches a couple of fingers to her forehead in a salute. ‘Be careful with that wrist.’

Chapter 9Adriana

Adriana leans coquettishly against the doorframe.

‘“Careful with that wrist, Murphy,”’ Adriana does her best impression of ‘sexy Kira’, even doing a performative wink. ‘How about you rest it by lying down in my bed, and I’ll–’

‘Addy! Please!’ Maeve groans, covering her scarlet ears. She rushes to the door, opens it to check that Kira has actually left. ‘Don’t make a big deal out of nothing!’ She hisses.

‘Didn’t seem like nothing to me,’ says Adriana. ‘Didn’t seem like nothing when the two of you were pressed up against each other on the pitch. And it didn’t seem like nothing when the two of you were alone in here dramatically heaving your bosoms.’

‘We are not lesbians in a period drama, Addy, we don’t have heaving–’

Adriana sing-songs, ‘Maeve and Kira, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I–’

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