Page 74 of Couple Goals

I know that you’re thinking of freshening up the squad, so I’d understand if after yesterday I don’t figure as part of your future plans. Being part of the Tigresses has been a huge part of my life, and I just want to do what’s best for the team, even if that’s moving on from the club.

It’s been a pleasure,

Adriana Summers’

She sends it and turns her phone off.

For the rest of the day, Adriana pretends she can’t hear her family inviting her to join them, and they pretend they can’t hear her cry.

Chapter 26Maeve

Maeve doesn’t sleep, checking her phone constantly to see if Adriana has messaged her. Maeve’s calls, which Adriana never picked up, stopped going through at all yesterday afternoon. She checked Adriana’s location on Find my Friends to see if she is still at her family home, but it’s not updating. Adriana’s phone must be off. Maeve lies back, feeling hopeless.

Maeve had not been allowed to see Adriana when she was taken off the pitch, had had to watch to the end of their match from the dressing room screens, the Tigresses playing in a complete state of apathy, distraction and disarray after Adriana’s dramatic exit and Maeve’s earlier injury. They’d lost by a chastening 4-0 margin.

As soon as she had been able to she had messaged Adriana’s family, who she has been on group chats with for years, and they at least replied yesterday confirming that Adriana is with them and they’re looking after her. But since then, they had not replied to any other parts of Maeve’s message, where she had asked if there’s anything she can do, if Adriana is well enough for her to visit and that she can be there anytime, if she would only let her.She doesn’t know if they’re not replying because Adriana asked them not to, or if they’ve just been caught up in the unexpected turn of events. Should Maeve go there, to her family’s place? Or if she isn’t wanted, is it better to leave well alone? She just wants to speak to her, to know her friend is okay but if Adriana is feeling overwhelmed, the last thing Maeve wants to do is risk agitating her fragile health further.

She feels terrible, responsible even, for her friend’s panic attack. She should have known, she should have been able to be a better friend to her. But now, her apologies feel feeble.

She messages around the Tigresses, but none of them have heard from her. So she tries something in desperation, and finds Jacob Astor’s work email address. She sends him a quick email, apologising for the method, and asking if he knows if Adriana is okay – not saying anything about why she would be asking him and not caring about the consequences. He doesn’t reply either.

But the next morning, she wakes to a text from an unknown number.

She opens it frowning, expecting spam – but it’s a screenshot of an email, an email from Adriana to Coach Hoffman. An email where Adriana is not only turning down the captain appointment, but offering to move on from the club if everyone thinks it would be best.

Despite her injured ankle, Maeve leaps out of bed.

She doesn’t know who the message is from, and doesn’t think to ask, all she cares about is her friend, who is clearly not in a fit state of mind to be making these life-changing decisions. She needs to be there for her.

But after wolfing down a coffee, Maeve doesn’t know what to do. Then she asks herself what she has asked herself in her wisest moments.

What would Addy do?

Addy would know that the best ideas don’t come from being alone. They come from working together.

Maeve is finally going to follow the advice her friend gave her. She needs to apologise to Kira. She needs to put their overblown rivalry aside, for the good of her friend. And, she knows, for her own good too.

Maeve is going to have to be brave.

She forwards the message from the unknown number to Kira.

If you see this, please could we meet this morning before training? Need to talk to you, about everything.

She gnaws at her lip, wondering if she should be more upfront. But the reply is mercifully quick. Maybe Kira couldn’t sleep either.

Usual place, usual time.

Kira’s name on her screen sends a mixture of emotions running through her – a jolt of nerves and anticipation mixed with shame. But Maeve just sends a thank you.

Then she showers quickly and efficiently, ties her ponytail up into her confidence-giving hairstyle, and looks at herself in the mirror. It’s going to take all her steadfast resolve not to just run away. But she doesn’t feel like running away anymore. She needs to tackle her fears head on.

Kira and the rest of the team will be expected at training today, and Maeve is going in to be assessed by the medical team, but they should have a bit of time before the others arrive.

She arrives at the training ground when the early light is fresh and crisp, the pink glow of dawn still in the sky.

She heads to the pitch, her pulse racing. As she approaches, she hears the repeated thump and swoosh of a ball hitting the back of a net.

She sees Kira, in her Tigresses training kit, practicing alone.

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