Page 54 of Summer Breakdown
“You okay?” she asks and Frankie nods because if she tries to speak, she’ll start talking about how beautiful she is. How she’s not sure how to react when she’s basically on top of her, between her legs. There’s nothing sexual about it – Frankie never felt anything when she was playing before. She’s had numerous men and women on top of her in their thirst to get a rugby ball.
Jasmine isn’t like anyone else. Before Frankie can do something ridiculous, Jasmine stands up, her hand out to help Frankie up.
“That was pretty good.” Frankie says and Jasmine smiles. The world ending, planets stop spinning kind of smile. The kind of smile Frankie never thought she’d get again. She wonders if Jasmine knows she’s still holding onto her hand.
“You think so?”
“Yeah.”
“Jas, you’re so good!” Mali says, and Jasmine spins to face her. Their fingers stay linked but Jasmine spun in such a way that Frankie basically has her arm around her waist.
“I can’t believe you took down Coach,” Kai says with a shit eating grin. He’s so close to being benched.
“I’ll let M’Baku take your place,” Frankie warns and Kai flips her off. Then, he smirks and Frankie’s truly worried. He’s outed her about Jasmine before, she wouldn’t put it past him to do it right now. He thinks he’s being helpful because if someone did it to him he would thrive. But he is a pretty boy and not a slightly too stocky woman.
“How was Gayle’s interview, Frank?” he asks. Wanker. It didn’t go well but he doesn’t know that because Frankie hasn’t told anyone about it. She’s not about to start now either.
“What interview?” Jasmine asks. Her fingers drop Frankie’s but she thinks it’s so she can look at her properly.
“Gayle’s did a profile on me.”
“Why?” Kai asks and Frankie glares at him, but Jasmine looks like she wants to know too. Ugh. She’s going to sack him.
“Glory Park want me to be the face of their new women’s line.” Frankie can’t tear her eyes away from Jasmine, but she hopes no-one is paying attention. She vaguely sees Zach pushing people away.
Jasmine’s eyebrows shoot up. “That’s amazing.” Then she frowns. “Why don’t you look happy?”
Frankie ignores the looks from her players who should be minding their business. “I don’t want to have to see my face anywhere.”
“But it’s so pretty,” Jasmine says. Frankie hears the collective gasps. Apparently, they are paying attention. She could build Titan’s up again starting with new players, right?
“Stupidly attractive, but if you don’t like your face, even though it would break Lani’s heart-”
“Oh my god,” Frankie says with a laugh. Jasmine smiles as her gaze sweeps down her body. “And your body is fucking insane.”
Frankie swallows, but Jasmine keeps talking like it’s just casual for her to compliment her. “Why would it matter what you look like?” Jasmine asks. Then, while Frankie frowns and everyone else steps closer, waiting for what Jasmine might say, she continues.
“They want you because you’re the first black rugby coach in the entirety of English rugby. They want you because you’re so good, the team is about to move to the Championship and the Premiership in back-to-back seasons.”
Frankie blinks, but Jasmine’s not done. Mali hums along after each point, her hand in the air like she’s in church.
“They want you because you scored more Championship tries than any other female rugby player.” Frankie’s locked in on Jasmine, the way her head tilts, the small smile pushing up her cheeks. Jasmine makes Frankie sound good when she’s never given her a reason too. Like she’s worth something even with her mistakes. Maybe it’s the way her voice is confident and warm, or maybe it’s the look in her eye. Frankie might need her as much as she wants her.
“They want you because you’re Frankie Bolanile Olúwa Adebayo.” She pronounced it correctly. Oh, her parents are going to adore her. “Who gives a fuck about the rest?”
“Swear jar,” Mali shouts, then clamps her hands over her face. Jasmine laughs but she stays looking at Frankie.
“You want a legacy,” Jasmine says, and she’s right. Frankie does want that. “What’s wrong with making sure it stays with you?”
“I don’t think I’ll do it very well,” she says quietly. Mali clearly wants to listen but she’s a good enough friend to notice the change in Frankie’s voice and spins around.
“Go practice,” Mali says, shooing people away. They don’t move, but then Zach glares and the team jogs back onto the pitch.
“Why not?” Jasmine asks.
“They kept asking me how I deal with imposter syndrome and how I overcome fears on the pitch and every time I told them that I don’t have that – they spun it around. I dunno if I came across very well.”
Jasmine frowns. “Why would you have that?”
