Page 80 of Summer Breakdown
“Where’s Zach? I can’t see him.”
“Zach’s there,” Mali says, pointing to him.
“That’s so far!”
“Zach’s super-fast,” Marcel says, “so Kai will need to be quick.”
“Okay. And where is Ezra?”
The game has started again, but Marcel points him out for her. He’s the best. Jasmine pulls her lip between her teeth as Kai runs. It’s not the end of the world if they don’t win this game, but it will be three losses in a row. County are good, but Marcel is right—the Titans are better.
Jasmine wants them to win so Marcel is happy. She wants them to win so they’re closer to their goal of the premiership. She wants them to win so she can see Frankie smile.
“Go!” Marcel shouts, and a few seconds later, Lani copies him. Mali reaches for her hand, and she gives it to her. Cam’s hand touches her shoulder as she reaches her arm across to Mali.
It’s close. The whistle blows, and they’ve only got a few seconds to get it over the line. They could go for a goal kick, but it would get them the draw. They want to win. Ezra takes a hit, but it brings down their player. Cam’s fingers tighten against her shoulder when he hits the floor, but he gets right back up. Kai tosses the ball to Zach, and Marcel’s right—he’s so fast.
Fast enough to get it over the line before it gets thrown out. Fast enough that the Titans win without the conversion that Jasmine knows Zach will make.
“Yeah!” Marcel screams, and Jasmine would hear him over anyone. Lani giggles, cheering like she has any idea what’s going on. Jasmine smiles, jumping up and down with Mali and Cam, and she lets herself look over, just once, to see if Frankie is happy too. She’s smiling, hugging players, and Jasmine wants her to hug her like that.
She looks at her for a moment longer, and Frankie looks right back, like she knew exactly where they were in the stands. Her smile is bright, and real, and so fucking pretty. Jasmine wants to look at it for a really long time.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It’squiznight,andFrankie has the energy to go. Well, it’s one forty-eight in the afternoon, but she’s pretty sure she’ll make it. She wants to see Jasmine, and Jasmine won’t ask her to go round for tea, because she hates her or something. Jasmine kissed her. On the mouth, in front of people, and forced every single one of Frankie’s dreams to be about her, and now she won’t ask her round for tea, and Frankie may die.
Her mum keeps asking her when she’s bringing Jasmine over, which just means Frankie is talking about her too much. She might have told the postman about her. Her dad wants to know if Marcel wants to play golf. She’s embarrassing herself, and she has no will to stop.
The phone rings, and she answer without thinking. “Good morning, Titans, er, club. How can I help?” There’s a reason she doesn’t answer the phone.
“It’s two in the afternoon,” Jasmine replies. Lord, her voice does something drastic to Frankie’s brain. She smiles against the receiver.
“Hi.”
Jasmine hums. “Hi. Can you let me know if either of the kids are needed for the match this weekend?”
“Hang on, the roster was finalised earlier,” Frankie replies, looking for the spreadsheet. Mali has taught her how to use the online system about twelve times, and still, Frankie hates it.
“Areyou having trouble with the computer?” Jasmine asks. There’s humour in her tone, and Frankie wants to hang up on her, but she’s not sure the joke would land, or that Jasmine would call her back.
“Shh.”
“Do you want some help?”
“Why are you still talking?” Frankie asks, and she’s rewarded moments later when Jasmine laughs. One day she’ll figure out how to make the sound her ringtone. She’ll even put her phone on loud despite the fact she glares at it the moment it dares to make a noise.
“Marcel is playing. Lani said she didn’t want to do it, but if she’s changed her mind, I can sub her in at half-time.”
“Does everyone get special treatment, or just my children?”
“I’m only doing it for Mike,” Frankie replies quickly.
Jasmine’s voice is giggly, even as she clears her throat. “You’re so rude.”
If Frankie closes her eyes, she can see the shake of Jasmine’s shoulders. She might even push her lightly. Sometimes, her hand lingers against her shoulder, and Frankie almost bursts into flames.
“Mm-hmm.”
