Page 67 of Within Striking Distance
“Juliet’s…” I want to saymy girlfriend, but an awkward silence lingers, because it doesn’t seem right to call her Everett’s stepmum either, even if it’s technically true.
“I’m Tinsley’s mum,” she explains for me. “She’s Everett’s half-sister.”
Tori nods, her shrewd eyes turning to me.
“So, dinner?” I suggest again. “Sprout wants to celebrate our win, and it’s Tori’s last night in Beckford. I was thinking the Japanese restaurant on the main street? Who’s in?”
Everett’s shouldersare tense throughout dinner, and I know he’s still seething over whatever went down between him and his dad, but his face softens, and his smile is genuine as he patiently answers all Tinsley’s questions.
“Why aren’t you allowed to catch the ball in your hands like the man in the net?”
“That’s called hand ball,” he explains. “In soccer, you’re only allowed to move the ball with your feet, unless you’re the goalkeeper.”
“Why aren’t you the goalkeeper? Can you be him next time so I can see you catch the ball?”
My housemate catches my eye, and we both snort a laugh.
“It doesn’t work like that, pipsqueak. We have certain positions on the pitch. I’m a forward, not a defender.”
Tinsley’s face scrunches in confusion, then she looks at me. “What position are you?”
“I’m a forward, too. A striker.”
Her eyes widen. “That sounds cool.”
I chuckle. “It iscool.”
She swings her bright green eyes back to her brother. “Are you a striker, too?”
He shakes his head. “I’m a right wing.”
“Can girls play soccer, too?”
“They sure can,” I reply with a grin. “There’s even an Australian women’s team, called the Matildas.”
“Mama, can I be a Matilda one day?” she asks. “I want to play soccer like Rett and Blake.”
“If you work really hard, you can do anything you want, princess.” Juliet smiles softly at her daughter, and my chest tightens. She’s so fucking beautiful. It kills me that we have to pretend we barely know each other when all I want to do is reach over and hold her hand.
Tori sniffs, and when I look at her, she’s wiping at her eyes.
“Are you okay?” I ask, suddenly concerned.
She laughs, fanning her face. “Yes. Sorry, pregnancy hormones.”
“Oh my gosh,” Emily squeaks out. “Congratulations!”
My sister blushes. “Thank you.”
“Congratulations,” Juliet adds warmly. “Being a mum is amazing. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
Everett stiffens, and I frown, wondering what the hell is going on.
Unaware of the growing tension, Tinsley asks, “What’s pregnancy hormones?”
“It means Tori’s growing a little baby in her tummy,” Juliet explains.
Her daughter looks between me and Tori. “You two are having a baby?”
