Page 15 of Set Play

“So, that’s how you knew who I was.” His words are quiet. Emotionless. “Not just because I play soccer, but because…”

I swallow thickly around the lump in my throat, shaking my head softly. My stomach is doing flips, tying itself into massive knots as I search his gaze for any hint of the man who rescued me that night.

Again, I remind myself that I shouldn’t care if he hates me. It’s better if he does.

So why does his disdain hurt so much?

There’s nothing I can say to make this better, but I am determined to try.

Except Mateo doesn’t give me the chance. Anger flaring, he drags his hands through his curly hair as he paces away from me. Like he’s hit with lightning, he whips around to stare at me incredulously.

“Did…did you follow me to The Hideout? Was that guy even actually harassing you or was it all just some sick prank?”

“No, it wasn’t—”

His eyes jump over my shoulder to Henri before returning to me. I swear I see regret in his eyes, but when he blinks, it’s gone.

“A fucking Clément. I can’t fucking do this.” With another disgusted glance at Henri and me, he turns and storms away.

I don’t even try to stop him despite desperately wanting to comfort him. It doesn’t matter if he’s upset. I hate him, so it’s better if he hates me, too. If I repeat the words to myself like a mantra, maybe I’ll actually believe them.

Ignoring the tightness that has taken up residence in my chest, I turn to see Henri watching me, judgement clear on his face. “What the hell was that?”

Henri scoffs with a roll of his eyes, and crosses his arms defensively. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line, sœur? Reyes is a good-for-nothing asshole who put us through so much shit over the years. What the hell were you thinking? Or did you conveniently forget all of that once he gave you some dick? I won’t just sit around and watch him hurt my sister. I don’t give a shit who he is.”

As if he’s trying to be heard, he practically yells the last two sentences, but I dismiss the notion. He’s just frustrated. It’s the only reason he didn’t get throat punched for that whole speech in the first place.

Like I could ever forget the shit he went through. That we went through.

With one more look of pure disgust, Henri turns, ready to storm off and fires his parting words over his shoulder. “I can’t believe you let fucking Reyes put his disgusting hands on you. Je suis déçu de toi, Élise.8”

Alone again, I’m left wondering what the fuck my life has come to lately.

1. Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas, mon fils? = What’s wrong, son?

2. Vous verrez peut-être bientôt des articles sur moi dans les médias qui me font passer pour une personne terrible. Un joueur rival a dit des choses négatives à la presse. = You might see articles about me soon that portray me as a terrible person. A rival player has been saying negative things to the press.

3. Que dit ce gamin, Henri? Pourquoi traîne-t-il ton nom dans la poussière? = What is this kid saying, Henri? Why is he dragging your name through the mud?

4. Il a dit à tout le monde que j'étais arrivé jusqu'ici uniquement parce que ma famille a de l’argent, en me traitant de raciste et de beaucoup de choses négatives dont vous n'avez pas besoin de connaître tous les détails. = He's been telling everyone that I only got here because my family has money, calling me racist and other negative things that you don't need to know about.

5. Ma sœur = My sister

6. À quoi pensais-tu, Henri = What were you thinking, Henri

7. Tu ne te bats jamais pour rien. Et pourquoi ne m'as-tu pas parlé des photos avant? = You never fight over nothing. And why didn’t you talk to me about the photos before?

8. Je suis déçu de toi, Élise = I'm disappointed in you, Élise

Chapter 10

Mateo

Henri Clément’s sister…

Fuck!

I’ve spent the last two weeks fantasizing about my rival’s little sister.