AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“All I know is nothing is guaranteed in football.” He wrenched his arm out of my grip. “I would’ve thought you’d be happy at the thought of me leaving.”
“Believe me, I will be fucking ecstatic when you leave. But I can’t see it happening at the end of this season.” Even though I wished it would. The truth was the club didn’t have the funds for another decent winger. That was one of the reasons why it was so important for us to win our final game. The higher in the league we finished, the more money would come to the club.
“Maybe they’ll sell you,” Jordan mused.
“You wish.”
“I do fucking wish. Every night.”
“Did I ever tell you how much I hate you?” I stepped closer, caging him in against the wall.
His eyes darkened as he placed his hand on my chest. My heart was racing beneath his palm, and I could feel his beating just as hard where our bodies were pressed together. Sliding his hand up, he curled his fingers around my throat.
I forgot how to breathe.
Leaning in, he placed his mouth to my ear. “Did I ever tell you how much I hate you back?”
Keeping one hand planted on the wall, I mirrored his movements, placing my own hand around his throat. His pulse was wild beneath me, but he remained completely still. I misjudged the distance between us as I tilted my head, my lips brushing over his ear, and a tiny gasp fell from his throat. “You’re the bane of my fucking existence, Jordan Emery.”
He swallowed hard underneath my grip. “Yeah? You’re—”
The door flew open, and we sprang apart, but not before Grant caught sight of our compromising position.
“For fuck’s sake.” He pinched his brow. “You two cannot be trusted to be alone in a room together. As the captain, I’m going to have to fine both of you for fighting.”
As Jordan pushed me away and stormed out of the room, I sank against the wall, exhaling a shuddering breath.
It hadn’t felt like we were fighting. Not in that moment. Not at all.
I didn’t know what it was, and I didn’t even want to think about what it might have been.
Jordan Emery was my antagonist, my rival, the thorn in my side that wouldn’t go away.
And my teammate.
That was all he was and all he ever would be.
10
JORDAN
The whistle blew, and the second half began. I was on fire today—the whole team was, united in our need to win this match, to finish up the season in eighth place. We were playing Wolverhampton Wanderers at home, and the crowd were behind us every step of the way, keeping our morale high. Better yet, we were currently winning 2–1, and Reuben had scored both goals.
It was one of those rare matches where everything came together. We were completely in sync, and it was as if we could read each other’s minds. We were unstoppable.
Wolves threw everything they had at us, but we kept pushing back. Then, in the eighty-third minute, something happened. Something that gave me déjà vu.
I had the ball, and there were too many players between me and Reuben. I couldn’t see an opening. But Theo was wide open.
This time, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t try and shoot myself. I booted the ball across the pitch, straight to Theo.
His foot connected with the ball, and he sent it soaring straight into the goal.
Fuck, yeah! I ran at him, along with half of the team, all of us piling on each other and celebrating. I didn’t get too close to Theo, of course, because I still fucking loathed the guy, but I appreciated his skills on the pitch. And now we were two goals ahead, with only seven minutes remaining on the clock, plus however much time was added at the end.
We just had to hold on.
As it turned out, we didn’t even have to do that. Theo’s goal seemed to be the final nail in Wolves’ coffin because they fell apart, and Reuben scored another blinder in the top corner of the goal.
