A wry smile creeps across Coach’s face. “So, you and Milo?”
I jerk away. “What?”
“What’s happening between you two?” Coach can barely contain his chuckle. “You two have been sticking together like glue. On the soccer field, praising each other at the cafe, and now he’s here. You’re constantly looking at each other with moony eyes.”
I sigh. “Is it that obvious?”
Coach pats my back. “Only because you two barely shared the same space before he started tutoring you.”
“Well, if you must know, we’re dating now.”
“Really? And it’s all going well? I don’t need to give him the stern parental figure lecture?”
I laugh. “Okay, now you’re weirding me out.”
“In all seriousness, though, I don’t think you could’ve picked a better guy. Milo’s intelligent and loyal. I’m happy for you, too.”
I lean forward and hug him. “Thank you, Coach.”
When Coach and I stand from the sofa, Aunt Maddy is quick to give Coach a hug. As they embrace, I move toward Milo.
Milo takes my hand and lets out a ragged breath. “How’d it go?”
I nod ecstatically. “Good. He always had his suspicions, so it wasn’t a monster shock.”
“I’m glad he took it well.”
I giggle. “He asked me about you.”
“What? Why?”
“Because he suspected something was going down between us.” I click my tongue. “We spent all that time in your house, and no one noticed anything. Coach, however, saw right through us.”
Milo chews his lip. “And he approves?”
I grin wholeheartedly. “He agrees with me. You’re my perfect guy.”
Milo pecks my lips and nuzzles his nose against mine. “Good, because I’m never letting you go.”
Epilogue
Three Weeks Later...
Theendofthematch is nearing. The whistle blows, giving the other team’s forwards opportunities to attack. Leah blocks a pass and kicks the ball toward me. Weaving up the field, I do the rainbow kick over a defender, hamming it up for Kai on the sidelines.
“Nice work, West!” Coach calls from the sidelines. “Girls, remember your formations!”
I pass the ball to Hayley, and she runs the field toward the goal circle. She beats a defender and then passes to Dominica. I grit my teeth hard when Dominica loses control of the ball. I dodge and weave the other teams’ players and run at an angle toward the player in possession of the ball. With some fancy footwork, I regain the ball.
Now, without looking for help from my teammates, I enter the goal circle. I size up the keeper, swing my leg back, and shoot. The ball soars under the top bar, the referee’s whistle blows, and the crowd cheers.
It takes a few moments to register. When it does, I jump in joy.
The buzzer sounds for the end of the game, and my team rallies around me. I smile up at the sky and hang my arms over Leah and Hayley’s shoulders. We won, four to nil.
“Good job, Jamie,” Dominica says. “Great to have you back on the team.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “It feels good to be back.”
