Page 4 of Payback
“DEWALT!WHAT ARE YOU STILLdoing here?” a deep, familiar voice echoes off the changing room shower walls. I squint through the soap running down my face to see the team manager, Vaughn Harris, standing on the other side of the tiled wall. He’s watching me with a scowl on his face.
“Sorry, sir. I’m almost finished.”
“I don’t mean in the showers. I mean here…Why are you still at the training grounds at this hour?”
I continue rinsing the soap off and reply, “I was watching films with Stephens.”
“What films?” he asks, eyeing me seriously.
I turn my back to him, not wanting to see his reaction when I answer, “We were watching films of Camden.”
“My son Camden?” he asks in confusion.
I nod. “Stephens thinks if I can pick up some of Camden’s style, Tanner and I might get on better on the pitch.”
The sound of the water running is the only noise for several long seconds before Vaughn exhales heavily. “Look, I know Tanner can be a bit of a pain in the arse. And I know it was a lot for you to leave South Africa so you could come here to play alongside someone who’s only ever played alongside his twin brother. But I think this can work, Roan. More than work. I think it can be brilliant.”
I nod, still looking away from him because,ag man,do I miss home. Leaving my mom and two sisters behind for this team was the biggest step I’ve taken in my soccer career. And playing alongside Tanner Harris has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced in this crazy game. He and his twin, Camden, were killer strikers who worked in tandem with each other for years. Now the entire team and coaching staff expects me to step in and take Camden’s place. It often feels like an unattainable goal, but I’m no fucking quitter. And my place on the team is more important to me than anything.
I school my features to look confident and turn to face my coach. “I understand what you’re saying, sir. That’s why I’m working so hard.”
Vaughn looks at me firmly for a moment and then nods. “All right then. We’ll see you at training tomorrow. Go home and get some rest.”
I finish showering and head into the changing room where my suit is hanging inside a garment bag. I’m just unzipping it when my phone illuminates with a call.
I see Tanner’s sister’s name, Vi Harris, on the caller ID and quickly answer. “Erm, hello?”
“Hiya, Roan! It’s Vi.”
“I know,” I reply with a laugh. “I saved your number after the last time you called.”
“Oh, right,” Vi giggles nervously, sounding a lot more tense than she did when she called to ask me to be their cousin’s date at some wedding tonight. “Look, Roan, I’m calling to let you know Allie is at the hotel now, getting ready. I’m not exactly sure what she has planned for tonight, but I’m just warning you to be gentle…Okay?”
“Gentle?”
“She’s…fragile, I think. She says she has some plan, but I don’t know what it is exactly. I’m just worried about her. So, do you think you can be on your best behaviour?”
I frown at her request. “Did you expect I wouldn’t be?”
“No, no, no. But, honestly, I’m the sister of four footballers. I know how you guys spend your nights. Bacon Sandwich Rule and all that.”
“Bacon Sandwich Rule?” I ask, my face twisting up in confusion.
“When you lick something to mark it’s yours and no one else can touch it…Oh, never mind. Just do whatever you think is best for Allie tonight, okay? Trust your instincts. I want this night to be exactly what she needs, because she’s had a rough go of it. The problem is, I’m not sure what she needs. I just want whatever you do to her—”
“Do to her?” I interrupt, my voice rising in disbelief. “What exactly would I do to her?”
My blood pressure rises because I fear that Vi has my motives for agreeing to this crazy setup a bit out of whack. My hope is that doing this favour for the Harris family might earn me some points with Tanner. They are a close-knit group, and it’s been impossible for me to infiltrate them in any meaningful way that might translate to better chemistry on the pitch. And Vaughn has told me time and time again that once I’m “in” with Tanner, I’m all in and I won’t be able to shake him. So if Vi is worried about me doing something that crosses a line with their cousin, she’s dead wrong.
“I don’t mean you’d do anything. Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I’m six months pregnant and this baby is sucking my communication skills out of me one hormone at a time. I’m just beginning to panic that this was a bad, bad idea!”
Vi’s voice reaches a shrill level that rattles my ear, so I do what I do with my mom and sisters. Pulling out my most soothing voice, I defuse the situation. “Look, Vi. Despite what you might think, I’m a good person and I will take care of your cousin. I may be a professional athlete, but I was raised by a single mom and have two younger sisters. I’ll be whatever Allie needs me to be tonight, even if it’s just a shoulder to cry on. All right?”
Vi exhales a huge breath of relief. “Yes…Oh my goodness. Thank you, Roan. I’m sorry I’m such a mess. I really do appreciate this.”
“It’s no problem.” I inhale a deep breath and add, “And you’re sure your dad won’t mind me taking his niece out? I’m really trying hard to earn his respect on the team.”
“I’m sure,” Vi insists. “My dad isn’t even going to the wedding and I’ll explain everything to my brothers. You’re doing us a huge favour.”
My shoulders relax. Vaughn Harris has taken me under his wing since recruiting me, so the last thing I want to do is negatively affect my relationship with him because I let his daughter talk me into taking out his niece for the night.
“Great. I’m happy to help,” I reply with a forced smile.
“You’re the best! Hopefully this is the last call you’ll get from the crazy pregnant lady!” She laughs maniacally, and I can’t help but laugh back.
“No worries. See you later.”
“Bye!”
I hang up and shake my head. Something tells me I’m going to regret agreeing to this night.
