Page 113 of Take Her On

Maya climbed into the driver’s seat and immediately started altering the position. Jamie sat closer to the wheel than she did, but she always let her drive when they were together. Since passing her test earlier in the year, Maya wanted to keep driving while she saved to buy her own car—and Jamie was more than happy to play DJ.

“Did you bring everything we need?” Maya asked. “The costumes?”

“Everything plus travel snacks.” Jamie turned to root behind the passenger seat, pulling out a bag of Starburst and a bag of chocolate Magic Stars.

“And your coach will be happy about those?” Maya teased.

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Plus, I’ve burnt off probably these entire two bags in the session today. If you thought Coach Carmichael was bad…psh.” Jamie had been playing with Millton FC reserves, scoring those renowned Jamie Mellor goals, and was close to getting drafted into the first team. Her working so close by was a real convenience at the moment, with the reserves’ training ground only five minutes away. Who knew how that might change if Jamie got called up? Change didn’t worry Maya as much now, though. Like Grandpa had said, she couldn’t spend her whole life being scared—it’d happen anyway.

Jamie tore open the packet with her teeth and fished out a handful of sweets before offering the bag to Maya. She chose a red one and fired up the engine. “Just Can’t Get Enough” played through the speakers, and she smiled. “I can’t believe you still listen to this.”

“Maya’s declaration of love CD? Are you kidding? Gimme that on repeat.”

Warmth rushed to Maya’s face, the same way it always did when Jamie commented on her feelings for her.

Jamie’s hand slid up her thigh. “And the way you still react this way makes me love you even more.”

“I admit I do love this song. It reminds me of us.”

“Just can’t get enough of me, huh? It does track.”

“And there’s your famous big head.” Maya leaned across the console to kiss her. “Don’t change.”

Since Jamie’s mum had finally left her dad a few months ago, and Jamie had cut him out of her life, she’d got a real surge of energy back. She was more Jamie than she’d ever been—and Maya loved her more than she’d ever thought possible.

They drove for a couple of hours, dancing and singing to their mixed selection of music and stealing quick kisses at red lights. When they arrived in Newcastle, Maya parked Jamie’s car on the adjacent street like Alex requested, and they hauled their bags to their front door.

Alex answered almost immediately, wearing a pressed striped button-up and a neatly trimmed beard. He ushered them in quickly, giving them a hug before leading them into the spacious living room. Black “Happy Birthday” banners hung across the walls, the faint smell of vanilla mingling with the savoury aroma of party snacks. More packets of decorations and balloons lay scattered across the sofa and floor.

“You can put your bags in any of the bedrooms upstairs to get changed, apart from the small one at the end—that’s Maddie’s safe space—then meet me in the kitchen, and we can have a drink. I just need to…” Alex scampered out of the room, just as they were ambushed by two more familiar faces.

“Maya!” Hannah crushed her in a hug. “You’re late.”

Maya squeezed her back. “Sorry. Blame this one.”

Leah laughed and wrapped her arms around Jamie. “It’s nice to see Skip is still bossing you around.”

They greeted each other, then split off into their couples. Hannah tucked herself into Leah’s shoulder, and Leah kissed her forehead. Happiness radiated off both of them in waves. After their win over the Harriers last year, the two of them had hit it off at the celebration party at Rosie’s and had been joined at the hip ever since. It was great to see them both so happy—even if Jerome had got more than he bargained for in the ladies’ toilets. Poor guy.

They had a quick catch up. Leah was in the process of relocating to Scotland so they could get a place together, Hannah had been voted captain for her new netball team up there, and both of them couldn’t wait to see the look on Maddie’s face when she walked in.

Neither can I.

After blowing up a selection of black and silver balloons at Alex’s request and tying them in a bunch of average-looking arrangements, they all headed upstairs to get changed. It had been Alex’s idea to throw a fancy-dress birthday party, but the theme was their input: everyone had to dress like Maddie.

Maya burst out laughing at the sight of the black-hoodie-and-joggers ensembles Hannah and Leah were wearing. Maddie must have had at least three of those in her wardrobe. With their hoods up, covering their hair, and their heavy black eyeliner, it could’ve been Maddie’s clones skulking around the spare bedroom.

Jamie and Maya put on their outfits, and Hannah covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a guffaw anyway.

“Oh my god. She’s going to murder you.”

They found Alex downstairs, now wearing black skinny jeans and one of Maddie’s band T-shirts. He let out a frustrated sigh as he tried—and failed—to secure a piñata to the wooden beams in the kitchen.

“A piñata?” Jamie asked.

“I thought it would be fun.” He let the giant rainbow llama fall to the table and looked at the group. His face broke into a smile. “You guys look great.” He shook his head at Maya and Jamie. “She’s going to kill you.”

With the help of Hannah’s long legs, they attached the piñata, then blew up more balloons and added finishing touches, just as the guests started to arrive.