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“Hey, Elena.”
“Hey, Liam.” Elena accepted the hug. “How’s your knee? Are you behaving yourself?”
“Of course I am. I don’t fancy being on the injured list again.” Liam’s expression softened. “I’m glad you could be here. It’s been strange without you around.”
“I only joined the team this season,” she reminded him.
“Even so, people missed you. I hope you come back soon.”
Elena smiled and patted her belly. “We’ll see how things go. It kind of depends on other factors.”
Liam’s expression said that he understood. Then he beckoned her to join him. He led them into the dugout, where one of the other players cleared the bench and gave Elena and Fleur space to sit.
“You just put your feet up and watch from your personal seat,” Liam said as he dragged over a kit bag and put it under Elena’s feet, giving her a sly smile. “We’ll make sure to put a show on for you.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re talking about something specific, Liam?”
Liam just winked and stood up. “I’ll talk to you later. We’re about to start. You need anything, just ask one of the boys. We’ll look after you.”
He walked away, and Elena turned to Carl, who was hovering nearby. “What is going on, Carl? What are you up to?”
“I’m not up to anything.” Carl’s expression was blank. “I’m just doing as I was told.”
“What did Jason tell you to do?”
All she got was that blank look, which put her on edge. Something was up, more than just a football game, but Elena couldn’t put her finger on what.
Fleur took her hand. “Don’t think too much. It’s just going to give you a headache.” She smiled. “Let’s just enjoy the game from the best seats in the house.”
“We’re not in a house, Fleur.”
“You know what I mean. Stop being grumpy because you’re cold.”
That was easier said than done. Elena was shivering away in her coat, though the dugout mostly blocked out the chilly wind. One of the players brought them hot drinks, which did help warm up her hands as well as her insides. Elena just wished she could watch the game from the comfort of a home.
The game got underway, and Elena was surprised at how well the Wenstown Wolves were playing. She had no idea what Carl had done with them, but it was certainly working out for the team. They were a cohesive unit, moving around like a well-oiled machine. If Elena hadn’t seen them before, she would have thought this was their regular play. But she had seen them at the beginning of the season, and this looked like a completely different team.
Given how much they had struggled in the past, this was impressive. Carl was a magician.
As they sat in the safety of the dugout and watched, Elena found herself looking around for Jason. He had to be here; he had gotten them tickets to come in, after all. And Fleur had said he would be present to watch. But she couldn’t see him. It was like he was invisible.
At halftime, while the players were crowding around the coaches, Fleur stood up. “I’m going to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Good luck. I’m sure the line is going to be a mile long.”
“I hope not. The cold isn’t being kind to my bladder.” Fleur waved a hand as she walked away. “Later, sis.”
Elena wondered if she should go to the bathroom herself. Somehow, her bladder was holding out, but it wouldn’t take much for it to make her feel like she was going to pee her pants. She really didn’t like that part of a pregnancy, almost as much as she hated throwing up. Her body was going to take a beating on the inside from this.
Twenty weeks to go.
“Do you need anything else?”
Elena’s heart missed a beat. She looked up and saw Jason standing over her. She had to fight back the urge to jump up and throw her arms around him. Mostly because she didn’t want to seem so eager.
And mostly because she was sure the slightest movement would unbalance the equilibrium in her belly. It was at a nice medium right now.
Elena swallowed and managed a small smile. “Hi. I…I don’t really need anything right now.”
