Page 33 of Nailing Heat
I know why.
I don’t like the answer, so I avoid it. I tell myself that while Mac and Cassie are all coupled up, that doesn’t have to be me. I’m here to do a job, not get myself caught up in any kind of relationship. That’s why while I’m standing on the field here at SeatGeek Stadium, getting ready to play the Chicago Stars, I keep my focus on the game.
It’s a night game. Playing under the lights was always something I’ve enjoyed, even when I was in high school. Our stadium did not have lights, so we could not play any night games, which meant away games were the only night ones. While most girls hated it because that meant getting home late and sometimes playing in the cold, I loved it. I thrived on the energy of being under the lights; almost like the hum of the lights was rechargingme as I ran. Now here I was loving it in the pros and still getting that same chance. A thrill travels up my spine at the anticipation and giddy feelings that are coursing through my veins.
“Alright, team, let’s bring it in,” Coach Watts says, clapping his hands, signaling that the drills are over and it’s time to put our game faces on. “We’re heading into the tunnel.”
Coach turns and walks into the tunnel that leads to the locker rooms and team room that is tucked away underneath the red and white plastic chairs that line the stadium. Jase and Coach Andie flank him as he heads into our team room. It’s time for the pregame pep talk.
The team follows him, going in the formation that Mac has worked on with us. We head in by position, staying with our units, lined two by two and preparing for the game ahead. Coach loved the idea when she presented it him. At first I thought it was silly because why do we always have to be separated by position, but when I saw how cool we looked marching in, I got what she was saying. We looked professional and it made her happy, so I did it. Mac always puts a lot of pressure on herself as the captain and the striker, so anything that I can do to make life easier on her, I do.
The hallway that leads the room is light grey with a red and white racing strip lining the whole thing, same as the Blaze building has, same as most facilities, I guess so the away teams don’t forget whose house they’re in. Once the whole team is filed into the room, we turn our attention to the coaches, who are all standing in the front of the room. August is there with them, along with Lucas and Dex.
Dex keeps odd hours at the training facility, and I practice and hang out with my girls. It’s like the steps we took forward the night we had a pizza picnic are all but washed away.
He notices me staring at him and inclines his head the tiniest bit, acknowledging my presence. Something he hasn’t done a lot of lately. I smile at him. The corners of his mouth tip up just slightly and then he looks away. Either way, it’s enough to knowthat he’s not pissed at me or that he’s going to up and just move out one day because of some weird eye contact.
Coach Watts has started his speech. He’s going on and on about what we need to do today. The Chicago Stars have speed. That is where my job will come in. I need to cut the angles and make sure they do not have a clear shot on goal. Clear out all the balls that come my way and try to steal it when I can. Getting it up to Cassie and the other midfielders is going to be critical.
I feel someone nudge me from behind while I stand there, staring ahead. I don’t move; I try to keep my focus as I mentally prepare myself for the game.
“Are you paying attention? Because you know it’s your job to help protect my ass out there,” Hendrix asks me, in her no-nonsense tone.
I bite my lip to keep from smiling at her. Turning my head slowly, I whisper, “Yeah, I know exactly what I’m supposed to do, he’s gone over this so many times.”
“He sure has. He wants this one bad.”
“Do you know why? Has Jase said anything?” I ask her lowly, taking advantage of the fact that DJ, one of our midfielders, is so much taller than I am and can easily hide the fact that I’m talking to Hen.
“Nope,” her voice is so low that I have strain myself to hear her. “But we all better deliver or we’re going to be running.”
I nod in confirmation, focusing back on what Watts is saying. As soon as I do, he claps his hands.
“Alright, ladies, we’re going to need to head out there. There are no escorts or youth players,” he explains. This makes me sad. I like it when I get to hold the hand of girl and see in her eyes the very same hope of one day playing on these same fields. “So, the walk out can be at your pace. Keep those heads up and let’s bring this win home!”
We all clap and cheer, rounding up so that we can put our hands into the circle we’re forming.
“Blaze on three,” Mac calls. “One, two, three.” She counts us down and we all shout “Blaze!” together.
Lining up is quick and practiced. Each player that walks past the coaches gives them a fist bump. August, Lucas and Dex are still standing there when we all walk by, so of course they get one too. I don’t miss the pride shining in August’s eyes as we all bump fists with him. He’s come a long way; he cares about us and this team. While we all thought this was going to be an operation run by someone else with August as the figurehead, it’s been the exact opposite. August is really here, doing this with us and supporting us.
I bump fists with my coaches, August and Lucas. When I reach Dex, my eyes find his and I smile.
Dex winks at me. “Go get ‘em.”
“Thanks,” I say, my cheeks flushing a shade of pink as I make my way past him. Thankfully, no one else seems to notice me. Then it’s out the tunnel and into the night that is lit up by the bright stadium lights. My game face falls into place, and I focus on my priorities.
Once the anthem and starting lineups are announced, we are underway. The beautiful game that will take ninety wonderful minutes has begun. And the Stars are ready for us. They come quickly in the first few minutes of the game.
One of the forwards, whose name I’m not sure of, storms past the midfielders and is making her way to me. She gets cocky and gives the ball more momentum than she should. It’s enough that I charge up to it, lightly tap it out of her range of dribble and send it up the field. Thankfully, it hits one of our players and she sends it up to Mac. I’m not even sure who found my pass but I’m relieved that someone did.
“Let’s find feet. Make sure you have feet!” I hear Watts command from the side of the field, and I know that direction was meant for me.
“Get your head together,” I say to myself.
“You’re good, Amelia, you’re good,” I hear Hendrix call from behind me. She knows that I’m taking that comment to heart.
I don’t respond. I make sure that my next few balls find feet. The player who thought she could drive on past me, number seven, does it a few more times. But each time, I’m able to send it away. One time my kick is so fierce I reach Mac, who is able to take a shot on goal with it. It doesn’t reach the back of the net, but she’s firing. And that’s a good thing.
