Page 12 of Take Her On

“Well, it’s trials for the football team, so I thought, why not?”

Maya clenched her jaw. “Not here here. Like at this university here.”

More people began to fill the room, taking up the empty benches. She nodded a greeting at some of her teammates as they entered.

“Starburst?” Jamie asked.

Maya glanced down at the bag in her hand before looking back at her with derision. She’d rather eat old chewing gum from under the locker benches than take something from her.

“Suit yourself, grumpy.” She tucked the bag away and straightened up, ruffling her short blonde hair. Maya’s eyes were drawn to the half-sleeve on her forearm, but she quickly glanced away. The last thing she wanted was Jamie thinking she was interested in her.

“Are you not going to answer me?” Maya pressed.

“I don’t owe you any explanation.”

“Of course you do. You’re a Harrier, for fuck’s sake.” That comment caused a few of her teammates to turn their heads. “You can’t just waltz in here and take over.”

Jamie laughed. “I don’t want to take over. Relax. I’m just here to play football. Believe me.” When Maya shot her a look, she blew out a breath, letting another laugh pass her lips. “Look, I told you already. My folks moved. This university is closer. You can retire your detective skills.”

I’m not buying it. Maya pressed her lips together. “You have a car.”

“Observant.”

“Why not just drive there?”

The corners of Jamie’s mouth quirked in a way that made Maya want to punch it off her face. “Do I really bother you that much?”

The direct question threw her. She waited a moment, pondering whether Jamie wanted her to answer honestly or if the question were meant to be rhetorical. Surely she knew how irritating she was?

The silence between them was replaced by the chatter around the changing room.

Maya held Jamie’s stare. “You don’t bother me,” she said, crossing her hands in her lap. People like Jamie revelled in the attention. They wanted a reaction, and she didn’t want to give her the satisfaction. She needed to focus on what was important.

“I wish I could say the same.” Now fully changed, Jamie leaned her head back against the white walls, squinting under the bright lighting. Maya did a double take at the tight red T-shirt covering her shoulders, thinking for a second she’d brought a Harriers top to trial in. Even Jamie would surely have reservations about wearing that in a sea of Millton players. It’d be like bleeding out in shark-infested waters, just asking to be eaten alive.

“Excuse me?”

Jamie laughed, shaking her head. “It’s nice to see you’re still so easy to wind up, Skip. Comforting, really.”

“Don’t call me that. I’m not your captain.” Maya let out a frustrated sigh. “And don’t even think about challenging me for it, either.”

“Are your ears clogged? I don’t want to be captain.”

Memories of Jamie gathering the Harriers like troops flashed before her eyelids. Maya found her statement hard to believe. Jamie had always been vocal and commanding on the field, revelling in the nuisance she created and leading by that example.

“Whatever,” Maya said. “Just wait ’til everyone finds out you’re a Harrier.”

“I’m sure they already know.”

“What, you really think everyone knows who you are? Like you’re some sort of celebrity?”

“It’s no secret we’ve beaten you every year…So, yeah.” Jamie smiled, and rage simmered in Maya’s gut, as she leaned forward. “And thank you for making that so easy.”

Luckily for Jamie, Coach Carmichael burst through the doors. Otherwise she’d have a Maya-shaped fist in her face.

“Come on then, you lot! Out on the field in two minutes. Grab the balls and the cones.” Her dark eyes rested on Maya. “Thomas, lead the warm-up,” she told her. “Now, go!”

The room jumped to attention, grabbing their boots and water bottles and flying out the door. Before Maya could give Jamie a piece of her mind, she was already gone, winking at her and disappearing into the crowd of departing women.