Page 112 of Take Her On

Maya tried to keep a straight face. “Mmm. I reckon if we remove your left foot and swap it for your right, then we might get some more wins this season.”

The girl erupted into laughter, but relief was evident on her face. Mina had always been the joker on the team, and her time out injured had squashed her spirits. Each of the girls were different and needed different approaches. Maya had learned that Mina responded best to humour.

Jamie’s playfulness may also be rubbing off on me.

“You nearly got me there, M. Good one.”

Maya smiled at the girls’ nickname for her. Though she hadn’t got the assistant strength and conditioning position with the senior squad last year, after her interview she’d been offered the same position with the under sixteens. The pay wasn’t amazing, as the job was only part-time, but she’d got her foot in the door, as Grandma liked to say.

Working with younger people wouldn’t have been Maya’s first choice but, having to push herself out of her comfort zone, she’d been surprised. And she still had the opportunity to shadow not only the head physio, Jenny Larson, but to work alongside nutritionists, coaches, and an incredible bunch of young players.

Mina glanced down at her ankle and wiggled her toes. “So…”

“I think next week you can start training—”

“Yes!”

“But”—Maya held up her finger to stop Mina leaping off the treatment table— “starting in the gym first. Light workouts. No football for a few more weeks, at least.”

“Okay.” Mina’s enthusiasm didn’t falter. “Thank you.”

“All the inflammation has gone, and your range of motion is back to normal. We just have to work on strengthening your ankle first before you go rushing into those crunching tackles of yours.”

“Got it.” She grinned and flopped herself ungracefully off the table.

Once she’d left, Maya packed up, filed her paperwork in the drawer, and grabbed her work bag. She said bye to Paula, the world’s smiliest receptionist, and a couple of players who were leaving the gym, then pushed through the double doors and into the car park.

She checked her phone, leaning against a concrete bollard to scroll through her Instagram feed. Five minutes passed, then the squeak of tyres and the roar of eighties music caused her to raise her head. Her stomach fluttered.

Jamie bopped her head as music blasted through her rolled-down windows. Her hair was still damp from her after-practice shower, and her eyes were hidden by sunglasses. She stopped her car in front of Maya and leaned out the window, lowering her glasses to rest on the bridge of her nose. “Hey, baby. Are you a car mirror?”

Maya chuckled at the deep voice she’d put on and took a step towards her. “Go on…”

The corners of Jamie’s mouth curled upwards as she fought to keep a straight face. “Because you’ve got a great rear view.”

Maya shook her head. “That’s your worst yet.”

Jamie climbed out of the car, leaving the door open for Maya, and pushed her glasses up to rest on top of her head. “One day I’ll come up with a line that’ll knock you off your feet.”

“I doubt it.”

Jamie snaked her arms around Maya’s back, pulling her in for a kiss. Her fresh shampoo-scent tickled Maya’s nose. “You’re right. I don’t need to with you. You’re already smitten anyway.”

“That’s what you think.”

“I know it.” She grinned. “You can’t hide from me now.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Her lips found Maya’s again, then she playfully slapped her bum. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”

“You’re the one that’s la—”

“Smitten! See. Even finishing your sentences.”

“You’re so annoying,” Maya said, but she couldn’t stop the smile stretching across her face.

“So I’ve heard.”