Page 40 of Couple Goals

On the pitch, Coach is stern as ever in her smart navy tracksuit, authoritative next to Kevin and the other assistant coaches who have just arrived, looking at Serena with admiration and more than a little fear.

‘Good of you to join us, Kira,’ says Hoffman.

Maeve’s head jerks back to see Kira’s jogged up behind them, her hair wet and forehead still creased.

‘Thanks boss,’ says Kira. Maeve would have said ‘sorry’, if she’d been late, but that’s Kira’s unshakeable confidence for you.

Maeve studies her face for signs of whether she’s angry, upset, or maybe still horny (which Maeve would secretly like this to be the case), but Kira’s just a mask of indifference, listening half-heartedly to Hoffman as she stretches her hamstrings.

‘So, Tigresses,’ Hoffman claps them to attention. ‘Of course you all know that this week is a big one. On Saturday, you’ll be playing your first fixture of the new season. Your first since the team’s new ownership.’

Maeve stands up a little straighter. She can’t believe that in all the excitement with Kira, she’d not realised how quickly the first game had come around.

‘Now, it should be a comfortable start for us,’ says Hoffman, tapping on her tablet. ‘Home match against the Bristol Robins. They’re expected to be mid to bottom half of the table, and from what I’ve seen of everyone in training, we should have more than enough to beat them comfortably. I want to start the season by making a statement.’

Her gaze flashes around, and Maeve can feel the team’s anticipation growing. ‘All eyes are going to be on us. Announce your arrival as who the Tigresses really are, under your new management. You need to show them all you’re here to go all the way. Non-stop winners in a serious promotion push.’

Maeve wonders if this is the club’s ambition, if they’re going to be freshening up the squad with more comings and goings before the transfer window closes. When will the issue of club captain be settled?

Maeve finds her eyes drifting over Kira’s hands, her long, dextrous fingers. She doesn’t know if Kira notices, but Kira starts fiddling, her right hand lazily circling her thumb against her finger in a hypnotic motion which makes Maeve zone out entirely.

‘Murphy? Choksi?’

Maeve snaps back to attention, terrified she’s been caught lusting too overtly.

‘How were this morning’s drills?’

Maeve’s mind goes blank. She looks over at Kira, wondering who will manage to reply first.

‘Yeah, it was very productive,’ says Kira, with an impressively straight face. ‘I think we’ll need a bit more time, in the future, just to get really good at finishing.’

Maeve feels the heat flare in her face and can’t believe how bold Kira is. Maeve finds it incredibly hot, and she only wishes she could be so daring.

‘Yes, I’m learning a lot from working with Kira,’ Maeve speaks up. ‘But I agree, I think practice will make perfect. A lot of practice.’

Kira shifts a little. Maeve wishes they were alone so that they could keep practicing right now. Hoffman looks between them, her silver eyes flashing.

‘Is that so,’ she says. Maeve worries for a brief second that Hoffman knows exactly what is going on between the two of them.She has a sudden memory of being in Football Academy, lying to cover that Adriana had been sneaking contraband alcohol the night before, on a very rare occasion that Maeve hadn’t done what an authority figure had wanted of her. But now, as then, there had been a slight twinkle in the eye, as if even if they did know, they were glad Maeve wasn’t being a rat, was loosening up a little.

‘Good,’ Hoffman nods. ‘Well, keep at it then. Keep pushing each other harder.’

Maeve’s ears go pink.

Then Hoffman turns away from them to give feedback to Elisa about her goalkeeping.

Kira flashes a wink to her across the team, and Maeve can’t help grinning back. Is this what it is, to be naughty? To not play by the rules all the time? Maeve can suddenly see why people do it. She’s learning a lot from Kira indeed – like how to prioritise her own pleasure, her own wants, how to be a bit selfish and ruthless every once in a while. It might be no bad thing for her game.

But even as she’s feeling the elation she notices a face turned towards hers in the group. Adriana is staring at her. Maeve quickly stops smiling as her face reddens further. She wishes it wasn’t so easy for Adriana to read her every thought.

She tries to concentrate on Kevin explaining the next drill, but finds her eyes sliding back to Kira’s back, her hands, her bum…

When they’re finally given a five-minute break to stretch, Maeve feels a tap on her shoulder.

‘Hey stranger,’ says Adriana.

‘Hey!’ says Maeve, feeling like she’s been caught red handed. She throws her arms round Adriana in a big hug, trying to cover her weirdness but definitely, obviously, overcompensating.

‘Someone’s in a good mood this morning,’ says Adriana, suspiciously, pulling back. ‘Did something happen?’

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