Page 109 of Take Her On

“So, stand your ground, be physical, and get that bloody ball on the bloody floor, and play bloody football!” She huffed and clapped her hands. “Thomas, anything to add?”

“I don’t care how you do it.” The Harriers’ coach’s voice travelled across the field. “You stop Mellor from getting absolutely anything. Not a sniff!”

The team shared a look around the group, but luckily Jamie was smiling.

“I’ve heard them say worse.” She shrugged.

“You have them rattled. Let’s really give them something to be afraid of.” Maya winked at her, then pulled her gaze away and addressed the whole group. “Keep pushing. Work for each other. We’ve got this if we all stick together.”

“A draw might as well be a loss to this lot! Sort yourselves out. You’re a disgrace! Have some pride!”

They blocked out the Harriers’ coach and stuck their hands in a circle. “One, two, three, Millton!”

The second half made the first look like a teddy bear’s tea-party. Voices were louder, passes were quicker, tackles were harder. The Harriers were out for blood. Literally.

Maya wiped the red streak up her knee with her hand. Playing on Astroturf guaranteed at least three nasty leg burns from slide tackles, but the adrenaline stopped her from caring. She was determined to do anything to stop Robyn from getting near their goal. This was what they’d been working for all season. She wasn’t going to let it slip away.

“I think you’re a bit obsessed with me,” Robyn hummed, flicking her brown ponytail into Maya’s face. “You’re so close.”

She’d figured out that the more she ignored her, the more frustrated Robyn got. The ball went out for a Millton throw, and they pushed further up the pitch. Leah called for Jamie, but the Harriers’ number five pushed her in the back and onto the floor. The ref blew for a free kick, and they gained more ground.

“Come on,” Maya mumbled under her breath. It was a great set-piece opportunity. Someone just needed to get something on the ball.

Just one goal.

“She’s not as good as I remember,” Robyn said, standing in front of Maya to block her view. “Jamie, that is. She’s lost her spark, playing with you.”

“More like from the way you all treated her. And she hasn’t lost her spark.” She cursed herself for engaging, but she couldn’t stand hearing her talk about Jamie.

And Robyn knew it. She turned around to grin wickedly. “Has she lost her spark in the bedroom too? She used to be such a little firecracker. I do remember that.”

Anger spread through Maya’s belly, and she gritted her teeth. She couldn’t let Robyn get to her. Jamie had assured her nothing had happened between them, so she had to let her comments go.

The ref blew her whistle, and Leah crossed the ball into the box. Jamie jumped high above the defenders, and the ball connected with her head, heading straight into the bottom corner.

Maya held her breath as time stood still.

The keeper got low, pushing the shot wide with her fingertips. A collective gasp of relief and frustration emanated from the touchline and the supporters in the stands.

“That’s better, Millton. Keep going!” Maya clapped, feeling Robyn’s eyes on her.

“It’s cute you’re trying so hard. I guess you have to, with a team like yours.”

Does this woman ever shut up?

The corner was cleared easily, then the Harriers were on the break. Their left-back dribbled the ball up field, playing a long ball to their winger, who collected it easily at her feet. Robyn darted in front of Maya to receive the ball, but Maya stepped up behind her so she couldn’t spin. Robyn weaved left and right, trying to fake a turn, but she read her easily and dislodged the ball from her feet. Space opened up in front of her, and she ran into it, lifting her head to try and pick a pass. She spotted Jamie pointing at the top of the field and thumped an arching ball for her to run onto.

Jamie was faster than the Harriers’ defenders. And with her stalker lagging behind, Maya’s breath hitched as she faced one-on-one with the keeper. She feigned a shot and sidestepped her, but the keeper’s outstretched arm caught Jamie’s ankle, sending her flying. Roars erupted over the pitch, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Maya sprinted over, praying it wasn’t her bad ankle. Thankfully, Leah was already helping her to her feet. Jamie looked up as she approached, her chest heaving.

“You okay?” Maya nodded to the spot. “You up for taking it?”

“Just try and stop me.”

Maya looped her arm around Jamie’s back. “You’ve got this.”

She grinned. “Thanks, Skip.”