“Yeah, well, I’m not a big fan of yours either,” Lily says, leveling a cold glare at him.
“Lily, be nice. They are our guests,” I remind her. Alex grins over at me as I take a second to take in how ridiculously gorgeous he is.
“Oh Lord. Come on, Tim, I’d like to keep my breakfast down this morning.” Lily stands, dragging Tim up with her before stalking off to gather up the junior goalies.
“Lily is really not that bad once you get to know her,” I say. Alex just smirks at me. “Really! Are we ready to start back up?”
“Gladly, I’m hoping tae get through the rest of the day with all of my body parts still intact,” Alex answers, pulling me off the ground.
The clinic continues in the afternoon for middle and high school age campers putting us through our paces. The kids, including my junior girls team, work themselves to near exhaustion.
Alex makes sure everyone stays well hydrated, even pulling kids off the field when he feels they need a break. Even in the cold of winter, it’s still easy to forget to drink enough.
At the end of the afternoon, he talks to the kids about finding the one thing that they are passionate about, then going after it. He talks about growing up in the Highlands, kicking a soccer ball with his brothers on the way to school. How his brother signed him up for his first team, changing his nickname to Xander as a joke.
He shared with the kids how scared he was to leave his small world behind, moving to Los Angeles out of high school. I learned more about Alex in that few minutes than before I hooked up with him in the library. What was I thinking?
Looking at Alex, he winks at me before dismissing the rest of the campers. Trying really hard to regret my actions here!
“If ye are a high school or older player, we usually hang around after for a pickup game, if anyone is interested,” he says as hands start flying in the air. He just chuckles as he makes sure the kids going home find their rides.
I can feel the current team of players almost vibrating with excitement next to me. How often does a collegiate player get to be on the pitch with a pro? Not to mention two nationally ranked pros, one who led the league in goals last year. I’m still stunned I didn’t recognize him.
“I’m in,” I say. “Lily’s in too.” I ignore her when she gives me the stink eye.
“Perfect. Claire choose yer goal. Tim will start oot in the other goal. We can rotate in and oot during the game,” he says. Teams form, deciding on who will start.
Alex struts out in front of me to start as forward. Crap! I’ve watched this guy play on TV. He kicks hard. Like really hard. He pulls his team in for a pep talk, staring at me over their heads, grinning like he’s plotting my demise. It might as well be. He already knows that grin makes me weak in the knees.
“Bring it, Ross!” I yell, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Oh I intend tae…” He leans over to Lily who whispers something back. “Lloyd. Really? Like Carli Lloyd?” he asks, looking at me.
“Yeah, so?”
“Nothing, just I’ve met Carli Lloyd. She can kick like a demon.”
“Well, no relation, unfortunately.” I don’t know. I just couldn’t think of a clever comeback. I had a poster of her, he’s totally right.
The game starts and it’s not long until Alex is barreling down the pitch dribbling the ball. He’s beautiful to watch working his way around the defenders. There’s a grin on his face as he jacks with the other players. A freedom he doesn’t show playing with the Galaxy. I wonder if it’s the grin he showed kicking the ball to his brothers as they ran toward school.
Shit, here he comes! His kick sends the ball high where I manage to get a hand on it, sending it outside the goal. Jumping up, I get right in Alex’s face doing a small hip grinding dance.
“What? Was the badass Limey schooled?”
“Wiggle that arse again,” he growls. “And I winnae think twice aboot pinning ye tae the back of that goal. I’ll go for a matching scar.” He runs back out on the pitch laughing while I watch him in shock with my mouth hanging open. I’m pretty sure he is trying to put me off my game. Right? Shaking my head, I have to remind myself to focus.
Punting the ball to the other end, I walk back into the goal. Lily gets easily shut down by Tim at the other end so soon the ball is whizzing back in my direction. One of the other forwards kicks at the goal from too far out. I easily pick up the ball before being run into by a wall of muscle, effectively knocking me on my ass.
“Foul on Ross!” The other players are chanting for a free kick for goalie roughing. I toss the ball toward them as they all run to the other goal. Still lying on my back, Alex drops to his knees, straddling my thighs.
“Are ye alright? I couldnae stop in time. I’m really sorry.” He looks truly worried with his beautiful face all scrunched up in concern.
“Please, you think that tiny bump will keep me down? You should know better than to assume us American players are pussies.” He turns his grin on me. He’s going to have to stop doing that or I’ll never make it to the end of this game with dry shorts.
“I have a feeling nothing can keep ye down.” I hear a cheer from the other end. Leaning down, Alex brushes my lips with his. “We can revisit yer American pussy later,mo ghaol.”
“Hey! Stop dry humping my goalie, you asshole!” Lily screams from the other end. I’m pretty sure they can hear her in Dallas. I’m just glad the little kids are all gone. Grinning, Alex rocks to his feet then helps me up.
