darken and his jaw tightens at my answer.
Mostly because I just named the position that he plays.
He’s played that position majorly through high school and college, with a few exceptions here and there. But he shines the best as the wide midfielder. His free kicks and bends are legendary, or at least, on the way to becoming so. Like Beckham’s were.
And that’s why I’m a wide midfielder as well, because that’s how I taught myself.
By watching his and Beckham’s game tapes.
All in secret, all stolen by me, from him, from his room.
Aside from writing him secret letters, this was the only way I had to feel connected to him, by playing the game that he loved so much.
I’ve always been kind of athletic and interested in sports. I played soccer here and there. But when we moved to Leah’s house, I really picked it up. I’d watch Arrow play in the backyard and when he’d be at school, I’d retrace his steps and play all by myself.
So yeah, I play soccer.
But I’m really nervous to play in front of him, in front of my soccer idol.
The Blond Arrow.
Once we’re done with the introductions, Arrow divides us into two teams while Coach TJ takes notes of all players on the clipboard. He tells us to take positions and start. Coach TJ blows the whistle and there we go.
As one of the wide midfielders, I dominate the field at the center. I run and cover the most ground, tailing the opposing team’s players in possession of the ball, and stealing it.
Which is my area of expertise, if I might add.
The stealing.
I always have trouble though, keeping the ball in possession. But today, I do everything that I can not to lose the ball.
I dribble it like I’ve never dribbled before, my feet flying across the field until the opportunity opens and I can shoot and score.
When I make the first goal within the first five minutes of the game, I feel like I’m on top of the world. But that’s nothing compared to what I feel when I make a goal again ten minutes later from the center of the field and hit the net dead center.
It feels like euphoria.
Ecstasy.
I’ve never been this good before. Like, ever, and I’m not kidding.
I think it’s him.
His new, dark eyes are having an effect on me. They’re pouring all the adrenaline, all the fire into my veins, making me play the best game of my life.
I can feel his gaze tracking me around the field, watching me play for him.
It gives me such a high that when the whistle sounds at the thirty-minute mark, it takes me a few seconds to gather my bearings.
Suddenly, I feel three pairs of arms surrounding me and forcing me into a hug. It’s the girls, Poe, Wyn and Callie. Callie was with me on the team so when she squeals we won, I can’t believe it. Poe and Wyn squeal too, even though they were on the opposing team.
They tell me that I’m amazing and I think I’m going to cry because no one has ever said that I’m good at soccer.
No one has ever said that I’m good at anything actually.
“Salem.”
That’s his voice, loud and lashing, piercing through my happy bubble.
I actually draw back a few inches as soon as it hits me. The girls draw back too and our huddle breaks.
I spy his tall form at the edge of the field.
His muscled arms are folded, and his stance is wide. But instead of the deep admiration that I dared to imagine – because we won, didn’t we? – there’s a scowl on his features.
A dark scowl.
Before I can digest that, he dips his face and unfolds one arm. Then, he crooks a finger at me in a universal gesture of come here.
And it’s so condescending that I’m stunned.
The way he’s crooking his finger at me. Like he’s really a soccer superstar – which he is – and I’m really his overeager groupie he can just order around by simple gestures.
Okay so, I might as well be. A groupie, I mean.
But still.
He doesn’t know that.
But that’s not the end of it.
When I don’t move, he even arches his eyebrows at me, all arrogant and superior, before saying my name again in a voice that promises retribution. “Salem.”
And like the stupid, idiotic, lovestruck girl that I am, I move.
Because he called out my name.
He didn’t just call it out, I saw him call it out. I saw his tongue