Page 17 of Take Her On

Another of Maya’s passes went out of play and she cursed, kicking the Astroturf with her boot.

Coach blew her whistle, and they headed back into the changing rooms. Maya lingered at the back, her mood seeming to mirror the October chill and the thick grey clouds overhead. Jamie considered saying something to her but decided against it. She needed to hurry as she had a meeting to attend.

Changed back into her jeans and black hoodie, Jamie said bye to the players and slipped out into the lemon-scented hallway. The first few weeks had passed by quickly, and she was starting to get the hang of things. Practice twice a week, game days on Wednesdays when the season started, and extra training in her spare time. The schedule wasn’t all that different from her time at the Harriers.

But she didn’t want to think about that.

As it was late in the day, with classes having finished, the university grounds were a ghost town. The wide halls echoed with the emptiness. Only the cleaner’s shoes squeaked as she tugged her trolley along.

Jamie found the door she needed and knocked on it twice. When a deep voice called out, she entered, her eyes drawn to the huge man at the end of the room.

“Jamie.” He smiled. “Take a seat.”

The head of her English Literature course was a giant oak tree of a man who insisted everyone call him Marlon. He looked every bit the bodybuilder, from his bulging biceps to his square shoulders and meaty neck. The sight of him swallowing up the small desk in the English office would have been enough to make Jamie laugh if she wasn’t so nervous.

She’d spent a lot of time in offices over the last year and didn’t want a repeat.

“Hi, Mr Nichols.” She took a seat and placed her bag by her feet.

Mr Nichols raised his eyebrows and wagged an enormous finger.

“Marlon,” she corrected. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright. You’ve had a lot to get orientated with.” He threaded his fingers together and offered her a sympathetic smile. The kind of smile reserved for people who knew what had happened to her last year. “How are you settling in?”

She scratched the back of her neck. “Good. The football team have been very welcoming.” Well, aside from Maya, but she wasn’t going to mention that.

“We’re very pleased to have you. Quite the left foot I hear you have.”

“Something like that, yeah.” She chuckled nervously. The sooner this was over, the better. She didn’t want to keep reliving the past. She was ready to move on with her life.

“And the course?”

“Really enjoying it so far.”

“Great! And, uh, have you…had any trouble at all?”

Jamie shook her head. “No. Everything has been great, thanks.” Luckily, her last university had been as eager to squash the news as she had been. She forced a big smile at Marlon, trying to emphasise her point. She was fine. She was great. This year was going to be different. “In fact, I don’t think I’ll need any more check-ins at all. I’m all settled. If I need something, I know where to find you. Thank you.”

“Only if you’re sure. My door is always open.”

Jamie stood, collecting her bag. “Thank you, Marlon. I appreciate it.”

She hurried out of there, heaving a sigh of relief once the door was closed and she was back in the quiet hallway. Her muscles ached from football, and a hot shower was calling her. Thoughts of curling up in bed to read her new book moved her feet faster across the squeaky floor.

As she stepped outside, a gust of air hit her, ice cold droplets trickling on her skin. She winced, tilting her head up to the grey sky as she hurried to her car. Once inside, the droplets soon turned into thirty dozen, bouncing off her windows like bullets. She relaxed into the soft seat, fired up the engine, and her speakers started blaring The Human League. Her favourite era of music—eighties.

Back in the safety of her own space, she let the sound consume her, moving through her limbs and putting a genuine smile on her face. This music always did that for her. Even when times were shit last year.

But she’d got a plan: study hard, train harder. The university season started in November, and she knew if she wanted to make it pro after graduation, she needed to keep her head down. Focus on the games and not get sucked into drama. Especially not any lesbian drama relating to the grumpy captain.

She drove into the rain, singing along as the water ricocheted off the tarmac. She slowed as a woman, still wearing a smart grey pantsuit, dashed across the road with a little brown dog. Its little paws moved at double speed to keep up with its owner’s striding pace.

Then she saw her. Hunched over and soaked to the bone. She recognised that sulking walk.

What is Maya doing out in the rain?

Jamie considered driving past—or speeding quickly through a big puddle beside her. It was no secret that Jamie’s new captain wasn’t her biggest fan. Maya had avoided her like the plague since Sunday night, demanding a new definition of having a chip on the shoulder. Jamie shouldn’t get involved where Maya clearly didn’t want her.