Page 39 of Penalty Kick

“Yes, sir.”

One last nod and Dash slipped out of the office, making his way back to the pitch. Giddiness radiated through him. He was back. No more sitting on the sidelines, dressed like he was attending Mass. All was going to be right with the world.

At least it would be soon. As soon as his other team took the field and kicked some butt. That was one game he didn’t mind being on the sidelines for. Just him and his girl.

My girl…

* * *

Nerves raced through Talia as she stood on the side of the pitch at Pemberton Stadium, waiting for the field crew to finish setting up the goals for the Unified game. A regulation-sized field was massive—bigger than an American football field—something Talia hadn’t realized until getting involved with the Rising. That made it too large for her kids. At least in her mind they were her kids, which was part of why she was wound so tight regarding this game.

We can do this…we can do this…we can do this…

Except there was no we about it. Talia wasn’t going to be doing any of the work. It was all them.

Taking a deep breath, she let it sit in her lungs for a moment, hoping it would help slow her racing pulse. The team was congregated in small groups behind her, watching the crew set up the goals just as she had been. They all looked so sharp in their electric-blue jerseys, which were just similar enough to the first team’s that from far away no one would know the difference, but up close they were unique enough that the team felt as if they weren’t complete copycats. Seeing how their eyes had lit up when she’d handed them out the other day at practice was something she would never forget. For some of them, she was pretty sure that moment was better than Christmas.

“Looking sharp, team!” Dash shouted, his voice loud and clear over all the commotion.

He was greeted with excited cheers and high fives from each kid, making his way through each grouping, not leaving anyone out. Talia’s heart squeezed, feeling like she could burst. Whether it was the nerves from the upcoming game or just excitement of seeing him, there was no telling. But something was making her feel as light as air. Turning to her, Dash flashed her a smile that was bright enough to light up the entire stadium, making her insides swoon.

Oh, holy hell…

“Where were you?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

They had agreed to meet on the sidelines after the first team’s game was over, so they could help psych the kids up before the game. Talia had figured it was the easiest place to meet, since Dash was already going to be there. Her heart hurt thinking about the look in his eye when he’d suggested it, since he once again wasn’t going to be playing. They'd touched on what seemed like every topic there was during all the texting they’d been doing since the carnival, but of all the things he’d shared with her, that stood out the most. The Dash she had known before—or thought she had known—was the good-time guy. Always down for a party. The Dash she knew now, the real Dash, was so different. He was kind, funny, caring. He loved to play the game, but the team was really his priority. Letting them down the way he had definitely had taken its toll on him more than anyone seemed to realize.

“Sorry,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a quick squeeze before dropping it again. Butterflies let loose in her tummy, the small gesture making her feel special. “I was talking with your dad. You told him about what happened.”

“I did.” Defensiveness swelled within her, kicking the butterflies straight to the curb. There hadn’t been an accusatory tone to Dash’s voice, still Talia couldn’t help but feel like he was upset about it. Too bad. His reaction at the ice cream shop had been extraordinary in her mind, something most people never would have done. And she was going to brag about it to whomever she damn well pleased. “He needed to know. What those kids said and did was not okay. But more than that, what you did…Dash, that was damn near heroic! Hell, to Tanner, it was heroic. Having someone he looks up to like you come to his defense like that, when most people would just look the other way…that is a big fucking deal. And Gunnar and Cowboy needed to know.”

She let out a huff, ready to fight. For a fleeting second, she wondered if she would be this worked up if it had been Liam or any of the other players who had been the one to defend Tanner, or if part of the reason she was so emotional about this was because of her feelings for Dash. Feelings that until the other day, she had still been trying to convince herself weren’t there. But she could only lie for so long—at least internally. Externally, she could deny it all she wanted. And planned to continue to do so.

“Talia,” Dash said, stepping into her, his hands flying to her face and cupping her jaw.

Pulse starting to race again, her brain and her heart argued over if she wanted him to kiss her right now. Her heart said yes. A thousand times yes. Until her brain reminded her where they were and who was around them. Their team stood to their right, no doubt watching their every more. Giving her a wink, that megawatt smile turning even brighter, Dash delivered some of the best news she could think of.

“I get to dress next game.”

“Seriously?” she squealed. Dash nodded. It was all she could do to stop herself from throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing as tight as she could. But again, they had an audience. “I’m so happy. Although, does that mean you won’t be helping us anymore?”

“No. I am still yours. All yours.”

All mine…

Those words told her everything she needed to know. He was here because he wanted to be, not just because he was assigned community service. He was also here for her. The butterflies returned, heat rushing to the cheeks that were still cradled in Dash’s hands. Now she really wanted to kiss him.

The ref’s whistle indicating the start of warm-ups cut through the air, disrupting Talia’s trance. Stepping back, the cool air swirled around her, making her miss the contact. Dash was quick on his feet though, turning to the team and sending them onto the pitch to get warmed up, as if he hadn’t just leveled her with just a few words. Maybe he hadn’t realized he had.

A wolf whistle rang out behind them, stealing Talia’s attention. Spinning around to see where it came from, Talia was confronted by the perpetrator immediately. Not, not confronted—assaulted. At least that’s what it felt like—a visual assault as a redhead, closely resembling Jessica Rabbit, stood in the very front row of the stands waving a large posterboard. The glossy finish reflected the bright stadium lights, but there was no mistaking what it said in bold, red lettering. I’ll salsa dance with you, Dash!

Talia’s stomach lurched, the reminder of Vegas making her want to hurl. Heart rate kicking up a notch, she turned back toward her team, trying to push the thoughts from her head. She didn’t need to focus on that now. Didn’t need to be thinking about Dash at all—much less that version of him.

He’s not really that guy….he’s not really that guy…

Problem was, after a reminder like that, she both did and didn’t believe herself.

An hour later, Talia’s heart was still moving a million miles an hour. The clock was winding down and the score was tied one-one with the Dallas Unified team. Liam stood downfield, right next to Sunny in goal, whispering encouragement and instructions, like a third base coach in baseball. She wasn’t sure that was actually allowed, but no one had said anything, so she wasn’t going to stop him. Dash, on the other hand, was pacing up and down the sideline, much like Gunnar did during a game, shouting directions as play progressed. The kids seemed to only half hear—or half listen—to him as he told them where to move, but it didn’t stop him.