Page 78 of Resilient Love

“I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it’s been for you to adjust to so many changes in your life these last few years, but I’m in awe of you.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you be in awe of me? I’m a brat to ninety percent of people, I can’t cook to save my life, andI rely heavily on my roommates to make sure I stay alive. It takes three business days for me to sort through my emotions well enough to speak about them?—”

He cuts me off, unwilling to hear my doom spiral. “The fact that youknowit takes you a while to process your thoughts and have been giving yourself the grace to do so is something to be proud of. I’m used to acting on impulse or not speaking at all, and it’s something I’ve been working on. Now, I didn’t realise you couldn’t cook, but that actually makes a lot of sense seeing as you’ve never even tried in my presence, but we’ll hire a chef or get meals delivered, and I can teach you how to cook.Mamíwill too, I’m sure.”

I lift my head, wide-eyed as I stare at him. “Your mum?”

He averts his gaze, looking sheepish with lightly pinkened cheeks. “Yeah, so…” He reaches up to scratch his neck, his eyes never meeting mine. “I was talking to Carlos, and he begged me to come visit with you, and I said yes. I hope that’s okay.”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me at his sudden shyness. “Rafa,” I say, but he still refuses to meet my eyes. “Rafael, look at me.” I snicker.

When his big brown eyes meet my gaze, he’s pouting, and it’s unbelievably adorable. “I wouldloveto meet your family. I’m absolutely going to fuck it up and embarrass you and probably throw up on the way there because I hate plane rides, but I want to go.”

He grabs my cheeks and plants a sloppy kiss on my lips that leaves me bursting with happiness as he pulls away, his eyes squinted at the corners and a contented smile on his full, wide lips. “You can’t fuck it up, Elise. There’s no way for you to.”

“Is that a challenge?” I joke, my brow quirked.

He rolls his eyes playfully, tugging me down onto his firm chest. “Thank you for agreeing to come,” he whispers.

“Thank you for wanting me to go.”

“I always want you with me,” he says, making my heart grow three sizes in my chest with his soft-spoken words. “Now, let’s get some sleep. We’ve both got games tomorrow, and you’ve gotta be on it.”

“Am I evernoton it?” I snark, rolling my eyes and tugging my quilt up to my chin.

“No,mi vida.No, you are not,” he says, kissing my forehead and leaning over to turn off the lamp, bathing us in darkness.

“Goodnight,” I whisper.

“Goodnight,mi vida.”

His steady breaths are the last thing I hear before drifting off, my dreams filled with a memory of my favourite birthday, beforeMamangot sick.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

FRIDAY, MAY 30

As I standout on the sidelines of the pitch, watching the ladies take their places on the field, my heart swells with an unfamiliar pride.

A lot has changed for me since I first accepted the position as their interim coach, and as strange as it seems, knowing my teammates are here to support these women is really fucking cool too.

They don’thaveto be here, and if they didn’t want to be, I know they wouldn’t, but it’s the final game of the season. Elise’sfinalgame, and while my friends don’t know what she means to me, they at least know this team means way more than I’d ever anticipated it would.

So today, despite having a game of our own in just a few hours, my closest friends are here to cheer us all on.

Elise jogs toward me, the game not yet started. “Hey,” she says, letting out a breathless laugh as she stops in front of me. “You see all the recruiters in the stands?” she asks, her eyes flitting over the crowd of people gathered in the bleachers.

“How could I not? You’ve been sending me pictures of each of them all week so I’d know who’s who,” I say, smirking.

“I’m glad you’ve been paying attention. Now, get ready to be amazed becausethat,” she says, tilting her chin to a thin brunette woman who looks to be in her fifties, seated a few rows up, centre field, “is Lorelle Laurent, the UK women’s football recruiter for the Olympic team. And I’m about to show her exactly why they need me.” Her face is fucking glowing with excitement and joy like I’ve never seen it before.

“I have absolutely no doubt,” I say, keeping our interaction brief because the longer she stands here, the more likely it is I’ll kiss her. “Now, Captain, get your ass back on the field.”

“Yes, sir,” she says with a chuckle, turning and sprinting into position.

My palms burn as I continue clapping them together, screaming across the field. “Yes! Yes, Elise!” My throat is raw from the last hour of obnoxious shouting I’ve been doing.

We’re more than halfway through the game, and these ladies aren’t tiring out. Well, everyone besides Adhira.

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