“Most of them. I think there’s another two left to arrive, but that’s it. It’s a nice group. Mainly from the US, but there is a Canadian guy and someone from Australia too.”
“Cool. I guess making friends on the team would be nice.”
My phone buzzes again.
Kath:Nice digs. Shame you guys have to share rooms in America though! Hope the roommate is nice. Send me some photos of the campus after you have a nap.
I smile and start texting back, sending a flurry of teasing messages back and forth as we cross another lawn.
“Who are you messaging?” Austin asks.
“Oh just my friend Kath from school.” I snap another picture of the campus.
“Girlfriend?”
“Nah, nothing like that.” I pause, feeling suddenly awkward.
I’m too tired to really keep my guard up, and I know if I started talkingabout her I would end up saying too much. So I just smile at Austin and ask him about his hobbies, pushing thoughts of Kath out of my head.
Part 2
Chapter 22
Nineteen years old
Kath
Ibreathe heavily as I jog back up the netball court, wiping a bead of sweat off my brow. There are ten minutes left in this match against Warwick, and we’re tied 6–6. I’d usually be more invested at this point, but Sam’s coming to stay, and my mind is more focussed on his upcoming visit than it is on the last match of the term.
Our centre, Shona, signals for a set play and I move into position. The second the whistle blows, I feint left before sprinting right, catching the ball mid-jump. One quick pass across to Shona, a cut into the circle, and—perfect timing—the ball lands right in my hands under the post. I line up the shot and smile at the satisfying swoosh of the ball going through the net.
Shona high-fives me, and we jog back to our starting positions.
A piercing wolf whistle comes from the balcony along with a shout of “Nice shot, Ford.” Startled, I look up and spot Sam leaning on the railing, backpack on his shoulders. I haven’t seen him since he left for university months ago. He’s tanned from the Florida sun, broader than I remember, and his hair has lighter blond streaks again. Sam finished his term a week earlier than me and flew back to the UK for the break. We only get this one weekend together before he heads to Yorkshire with his dad and thenstraight back to the States. One weekend isn’t enough. But it’s better than nothing.
“Is that your boyfriend?” Shona whispers, as I hand her the ball. Her dark hair is sticking to her forehead, and I know mine’s doing the same. And that I have my bright red sports face on. It’s not an attractive face.
“Nah,” I say. “That’s Sam, my friend from school. He’s visiting from America. He’s at uni there.”
She raises her eyebrows appreciatively. “Bring him out tonight.”
My stomach twists oddly at the way her eyes are looking him up and down, but I paste a smile on my face.
“I was planning on it. Got to give him the full British university experience.”
The whistle goes again, and I dart forwards.Head in the game, I chant to myself,head in the game.After three more points in our favour, we win the match 10–7.
“Now I see why you keep refusing dates from the football guys.” Shona grins at me after we’ve finished shaking the hands of the other team. “I wouldn’t date them either if I had afriendlike that.”
I blush. “We’re just friends,” I reiterate.
And I haven’t been refusing dates. I just don’t really fancy any of the guys that ask me out.
“Well, he’s really hot.” She nudges me conspiratorially as we start walking over to the edge of the court.
“Don’t inflate his ego.”
“What about my ego?” I hear, and give a squeal as Sam pulls me into a hug, dropping his backpack and swinging me around.
