Page 61 of Couple Goals

‘Murphy?’ Coach tries again. ‘Are you listening? Could you stay behind for a moment please?’

Maeve’s stomach flips, but of course she nods and lingers behind. Could this be it? Could Coach be about to tell her she’s Captain? Her heart pounds with confused hope at how quickly this might be happening.

Kira goes past, head held high, and doesn’t even look at Maeve. Maybe she knows? Maybe that’s the real reason she was being off today? Maeve had thought it was about them, but maybe this is confirmation Kira didn’t care about her like that.

Then Maeve is alone with Coach Hoffman, until she turns and gestures towards the stands, calling over… Jacob Astor.

Maeve’s heart pounds harder. If it’s the two of them, surely thisisa conversation inviting her to be Captain? She tries to hold back a smile, starts practicing how she’ll gratefully receive the invitation.

And yet, as Jacob strides over, Maeve just keeps seeing the ghost of him holding hands with Adriana in the park, him leaning down to tenderly kiss Adriana’s forehead. Maeve tries not to meet Jacob’s eye, as if he’ll somehow be able to tell she knows his secret, feeling incredibly awkward around him. It’s hard to look at him without trying to see what Adriana sees – even if she isn’t attracted to him herself, she can tell that Jacob is a handsome man, in a classic sort of way, with chiselled cheekbones,a strong angular jawline, and stern forehead, like a Greek statue in a museum. Adriana might end up with the bold extroverted type more often from the way she tends to meet them, on dancefloors, at parties or bars, but she’s often felt her friend would be better with someone the more quietly geeky type, like Adriana’s favourite characters in the romcoms they used to watch. Maybe that’s what this man is for her.

She only wishes that Adriana could have found that in someone who wasn’t a colleague so it wasn’t going to be such a complicated situation. Then Maeve remembers her own fling with Kira, and reminds herself she’s really not one to judge.

Coach Hoffman and Jacob nod at each other, and Maeve knows that they’ve discussed this beforehand.

‘Murphy,’ Coach begins. ‘I’m afraid this isn’t going to be a fun conversation.’

Maeve is so stunned that she feels numb.

Coach Hoffman and Jacob are equally stern as they contemplate Maeve.

‘Tell me. What does a captain do, Murphy?’ Coach asks her.

Maeve swallows, her throat dry. She’s still frozen.

‘Well?’

Maeve coughs, feeling like she’s being tested and desperately tries to remember the exact words Jacob had used.

‘They set an example?’ she ventures.

‘Exactly,’ says Hoffman. ‘They set an example, not just of the standard of play, but also the standard of behaviour. They represent theteam.I don’t know what kind of captain you were under Coach Fernandez, and I don’t really care. All I know is that under me, you have not been doing that. I may not be in the dressing rooms or “nightclubs” with you all, but I have eyes, Murphy.’

Maeve feels the blood drain from her face, wondering if Coach Hoffman is about to say that she has sensed the chaotic sexual rollercoasters going on between Maeve and Kira.

‘Your evident animosity towards Kira Choksi is unprofessional, and distracting for the team.’

Maeve’s heart is hammering. She doesn’t know if it’s better or worse that Coach seems not to have any idea of any romantic complications between them – she has hidden her true feelings better than she thought but to hear it’s distracting for the team comes as a curveball.

‘People feel they have to pick sides between you. They don’t want to. It distracts your fellow teammates from the game.’

Coach Hoffman removes her glasses, pinching the bridge of her nose.

‘I understand that you may be “upset” with the decision made for Kira to be Captain at the fixture last week. However, your reaction to that is, in itself, an indication to me that you are not a good fit for the role of the captain. I should not have to justify myself to my players because you should respect my leadership and vision for the team.’

Maeve swallows, the tips of her ears red.

‘Murphy, you’re a talented footballer. I can see that you’re pushing yourself to play well. But playing well takes place off the pitch too.I hold my players to the highest of standards, and you’re falling short of what I would expect from someone who is trying for the captain position.’

For this whole time, Jacob Astor just stands there, his expression, seemingly, unmoved. It feels particularly humiliating to be accused of being unprofessional when he is right there, secretly dating a player in his own team.

‘I expect you to change your attitude and be there at all future scheduled additional training with Kira,’ says Hoffman. ‘I hope I do not have to talk about this with you or with her again. Off you go now.’

Maeve walks away like she’s forgotten how to, surprised her legs can keep holding her without her instruction. It’s like having a dead leg, but all over, she can’t feel any of her limbs, can’t feel anything.

Chapter 21Adriana

Even though Adriana spent the past two nights with Jacob, she’s still excited to see him today. Not only has she completely broken her ‘no repeats’ rule with Jacob, here she is breaking it again, in new ways.

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