Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“I’m not too bad just yet,” I admitted. “But I’m sure that I’ll get that way soon.”
The middle ref gestured to both goalies.
“Here we go.” Kaylee, our goalkeeper, jumped up and punched her hands together.
“You got this,” I said to her. “No goals.”
“None.” She winked.
The ref’s whistle blew, and we spent the next eighty-five minutes zero to zero.
My lungs were on fire. My legs were jelly. My elbow ached for some reason, and I was exhausted.
“Coach needs to put Nettie back in,” Beth grumbled.
I agreed.
Nettie was as fresh as she was going to get.
She’d been sitting on the sidelines for ten precious minutes now, and I didn’t know why.
Then Kaylee said, “They took their forward out, too. Giving them both rest until the last five-minute push. She’ll be back in soon.”
Sure enough, Nettie was back on the next call, and she had determination in her eyes.
“Whatever you do,” I said to my fellow defensive players. “Don’t give it to her. They’re going to be ready for the obvious.”
Just like we were when the ball went to the other team’s forward.
I easily read the play and cleared it to the midfield, pissing the midfielder closest to me off.
“What are you even doing out here? You’re broken, remember?”
I ignored her.
Instead I focused on the field and saw the moment that I needed to steal the ball for a second time.
This time, though, I kicked a longball to the left front part of the field, watching as Sarena crossed the best cross of the game.
The ball went from the left side of the field to just outside the six-yard box, where Nettie was able to just tap it in.
The scream that left my mouth was hoarse and broke several times.
“Yes!” I cried, meeting Nettie in the middle of the field as we set up for the kickoff. “That was freakin’ amazing.”
I said the same to Sarena, then hustled back to my position.
“Now,” I said to the teammates that were on the left and right of me. “Get ready for an assault. Because they’re pissed now.”
And they were.
Really pissed.
For three more minutes, they hammered us hard, giving it everything that they had.
Poor Kaylee was on the ground more than she was on her feet, and everyone was wild in the back field.
My head was also hurting like a mother, because I’d taken an elbow to the forehead somewhere in that three minutes.
The best sound in the world was the buzzer sounding.
Then everyone was screaming as we dog piled Nettie.
Nettie laughed under the pile of sweaty bodies on top of her.
Sarena bent down and smacked a kiss straight onto Nettie’s mouth, “Yes!”
I was an exhausted mess by the time that I met up with my girl and Beau after the game.
Luckily, the game was home.
“We did it!” I squealed.
Beau caught me, laughing as he hauled me into his chest and twirled me around like a child. “You did it.”
“So loud.”
Beau put me down with a laugh and I dropped down to my haunches and said to my girl, “I’m sorry. I was excited.”
She touched the tip of my nose. “I’ll allow it. This one time.”
She’d done more talking than signing today, and I was excited to see that hadn’t changed during the game.
“Y’all want to head to dinner with us?” Nettie asked, stopping by our group.
“Sure! Where?” I asked.
“Hopps.” Boone slung his arm around Nettie’s shoulder. “We deserve a beer after that game. It was anxiety-inducing to watch.”
I snorted. “Try playing.”
He tapped me on the arm with a closed fist and said, “See y’all there.”
Iris walked between Beau and me as we made our way back to Beau’s truck.
Court caught up to us as we were halfway there. “You played well. Hesitant at first, but once you got into your groove, your passes and actions became a lot smoother.”
“I was terrified,” I admitted. “I never want to feel a bone of mine break again. But once I got my confidence back, everything else was great. Also, it was a great idea to go with this cast. You were right.”
It was some mesh-like plastic thing that had no give, but was breathable and easy to clean. It was practically made for athletes.
“Had one myself before I retired,” he said. “Only thing I couldn’t do well with it on was throw-ins.”
We were just rounding the back of Beau’s vehicle when a person came into view.
I scowled when I saw it was Eloy.
He scowled right back when he saw that I had my hand in Beau’s.
“Mag, can we talk?”
I shook my head. “We’re headed to eat with friends. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to speak with you.” I hesitated. “Nor do I really want to.”
He scratched the back of his head. “It won’t take but five minutes.”
I looked back at Beau. “Can you get her in the car and give me five?”