Page 107 of Take Her On

Jamie grumbled as her alarm burst into life, reaching a clumsy arm to switch it off. Maya had already been awake for about an hour or so, her mind working overtime, watching the shadows move across the bed.

“Morning, sleepyhead.” She opened up her arm and, needing no more encouragement, Jamie snuggled into her, laying her head on her chest, and looping her leg over her torso. Maya’s eyes combed over her glorious, naked skin. Those white, muscular thighs. Lord, how I worship those thighs. She knew she’d been the one to suggest no sex before the big game, but this woman did not make that easy in the slightest.

Jamie tightened her grip around her and let out a sigh. She was always so soft and cuddly in the morning. “How did you sleep?” she asked.

“Not bad,” Maya answered honestly. Unlike last time, when she’d stayed awake tossing and turning most of the night, she felt nicely rested, despite waking up before their alarm. “What ’bout you?”

“Sleepy.” Jamie let her hands drift over Maya’s body and across her stomach, before shifting her head to place soft kisses on her bare chest. Her teeth grazed her nipple, and Maya’s whole body reacted.

She slapped her thigh. “No sex before the big game. Captain’s orders.”

Jamie grumbled, pouting, but Maya rolled her over to kiss her neck, grinning when she squealed underneath her.

“You have to rest those legs,” she murmured. “Goals scored will be rewarded in full.”

That perked Jamie up.

They had the whole morning to endure first as they attended the last of their lectures and seminars. They’d already finished the curriculum, and so the time was spent revising for their summer exams or practising papers. Not the most distracting of mornings, but it beat waiting at home.

When the time to leave finally rolled round, they boarded the minibus, ready to take them to the Harriers’ campus. The team seemed in good spirits, the sun was shining overhead, and Gareth, their driver, supplied a great mix of tunes to get them singing along.

The atmosphere in the bus changed when they pulled up at the Harrowsmith University entrance an hour later. Nerves wriggled in Maya’s stomach, but it was the look on Jamie’s face that made her grab her hand. She’d gone white as a sheet.

“Are you going to be alright?” she asked.

Jamie nodded, wetting her lips. “They can’t hurt me anymore. I won’t let them.”

Though her words were strong, the sadness in her eyes let slip her warring feelings.

Maya circled her thumb over her knuckles. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Remember that.” She picked up on the smallest quiver of an eyebrow. Doubt. “What is it?” she pressed.

“The team,” Jamie said quietly. “Our team. What if…”

“Our team loves you.” She squeezed her fingers. “We’ve got you. I promise. Now let’s go kick their fucking sorry arses.”

Maya held Jamie’s hand as Coach led them off the bus and into the school. Jamie’s attention was elsewhere, wandering the halls, seemingly taking in everything around her. Maya imagined she had a lot of memories here. Not all good. But not all bad, either.

She needed to do something. She needed Jamie at her hundred percent if they were going to beat the Harriers on their own turf.

They checked in and carried their equipment through to the changing rooms. The sound of music and chatter echoed from inside the home end. Jamie stiffened beside her. Maya squeezed her hand again as Coach unlocked the away door and ushered them inside.

Everyone found a space on the wooden benches. Maya eyed the peeling white paint in the corners as the smell of old socks filled her nose. The whiteboard hanging on the wall had a penis sketched in the centre, in permanent pen, judging by Megan’s feeble attempt to wipe it away with her keeper gloves.

Leah switched on her speaker and started playing her pumped-up playlist loud enough to drown out the noise next door.

Coach caught Maya’s eye, giving her a look that made her spine snap upright. “Do your thing,” she mouthed, before excusing herself so everyone could get changed. She must have sensed the unease too.

A swell of pride washed over Maya. Despite what had happened the last time they played the Harriers, Coach believed in her. Now she had to make this lot believe in themselves too.

She traced over Grandpa’s Only Fools and Horses pin, attached to the collar of her tracksuit. She could do this. She sucked in a deep breath. Then, once the team were mostly dressed, she walked over to Leah’s speaker and switched it off, halting Gala from bellowing out the chorus to “Freed From Desire”. Noodle opened their mouth to protest but closed it again when they saw the look on Maya’s face.

She climbed onto a bench and clapped her hands, wishing she had the same prowess at whistling as her grandma.

“Listen up, everyone.” Maya forced her breathing to steady as each pair of eyes turned to her. She lingered a little extra on Jamie before letting her gaze drift across the group. “I know there’s a lot riding on today, and it’s the last chance that some of us will have to win the league.” She caught some solemn looks on faces and quickly redirected. “But we’ve got to push that to the side. When it comes down to it, it’s just football.” She smiled to herself, the meaning of ‘just football’ shifting to a new philosophy. “We can outplay these players with our eyes closed. They know that. That’s why they have to play dirty, with their mind games and tackles. We’re better than that. We don’t play them at their own game, we play them at ours—football.”

Noodle and Leah let out a cheer, and the wave of bobbing heads spurred Maya on.

“We’ve got to keep our heads—I know that better than anyone—and focus. Have each other’s backs. Fight for each other. Leave everything out on that field. If we pull together, we’ve got this. I believe in you all. Do you?”