Page 32 of Forbid It

I laugh. “He knows who the better player is that’s why.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Dad came round, and he was all over him. Typical.”

Our dad loves the game as much as we do. There wasn’t a weekend in our childhood that wasn’t spent at the local park having a kick about, or at the stadium for a game. It only got more intense when scouts started sniffing around the youth squad. I’m the only one out of any of us that ever got to make money from it though.

“When do you reckon you’ll be back over for a visit?” Iwan asks and I swallow a mouthful of rice to hide my grimace.

The season is in full swing now, and I doubt I’ll have enough days in a row to grab a quick trip back across the Atlantic, what with the jet lag and the time difference. “I’m not sure.”

“Well, maybe we can come out there when the kids break up for summer.”

I nod. “Yeah, that would be good.”

“How’s the new team? Made any friends yet?”

I roll my eyes as I dig into my dinner. “It’s not the Academy, Iwan. I’m not a kid on my first day at a new school."

“Alright, alright.” Iwan leans back in his chair with a sigh. “Just making sure you’re all good. We worry, you know.”

“Well.” The chicken tastes dry in my mouth. “Stop it. It’s all good here.”

“It must be good if you’re hanging out with Cassandra.” Iwan wiggles his eyebrows.

“I’m hanging up now.” I tell him, grabbing my phone from where I’ve had it propped up. “Goodbye.”

Iwan is still laughing at his own joke as he hangs up the phone, and I’m left in the quiet of my kitchen, where the only sound is my fork scraping the bottom of my tupperware.

14

CASSIE

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Summer Itinerary | LA Rebels

Hello Cassandra,

Please see attached the itinerary for the calendar months of April to June.

Please can you confirm you will be in attendance for all dates.

Regards,

Adam Brown

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

cc: [email protected], [email protected]

Subject: Summer Itinerary | LA Rebels

Hi Adam,

Hope all is well.