Page 120 of Try Line Hearts
The house burst into confused chatter and Kiri let out an excited shriek.
“What’s happening?” one auntie demanded, already half-standing.
“Is that allowed?” another asked, scandalized and delighted in equal measure.
Hemi pushed off the wall, heart suddenly pounding. “What’s he doing?”
Mereana stood very still, tea forgotten in her hand, like she didn’t trust herself to breathe—deep down she understood.
On the screen, Lucas crossed the pitch. The crowd went eerily quiet.
Kiri started laughing — breathless, disbelieving, eyes already wet.
“I knew it,” she said. “Iknewit! I TOLD you all!” The cousin at her feet sighed deeply and stuck a $10 note in one of her hands—a bet had just been won and Kiri was the winner.
“Told us what?” Mereana asked, voice tight.
Lucas reached Eli.
He cupped his face.
Eli froze.
Kiri made a sound that might’ve been a sob.
When Lucas kissed him, the stadium roared.
So did the Kaine watch-party.
It wasn’t just cheers. It was a wall of sound — aunties shrieking, cousins screaming, someone in the hallway yelling, “GET IT, BOYS!” like this was the most natural thing in the world.
“Oh my God,” one auntie gasped, hands flying to her chest.
Mereana’s hand flew to her mouth. “Well, that’s something isn’t it,” she said softly, and the words sounded like shock and pride braided together.
Hemi exhaled hard, scrubbing a hand down his face. “Brave,” he murmured. “Bloody brave.”
Kiri laughed through her tears, pointing triumphantly at the screen. “ITOLDyou! The picture from his apartment… You don’t look at someone like that unless you’re alreadygone.”
The cousin on the floor, the one who had paid her—voice soft — said, “Eli looks happy,” and the room quieted just enough for it to land.
On the screen, Eli kissed Lucas back — fierce, sure, unafraid.
The crowd kept roaring.
So did the house, but it had changed texture now: less surprise, more joy. The kind of joy that made grown women wipe at their eyes with the backs of their hands and then immediately pretend it was “just the onions” even though no one was cutting onions.
Mereana sat back down slowly, pressing a hand to her chest, as if her heart needed reminding to stay inside her ribs.
“He found someone,” she said, voice thick but steady. “He found someone who will stand up like that for him. In front of everyone.”
Hemi nodded once. “Good.”
Kiri returned to her phone, thumbs flying.
soooo when were you planning on telling us about the Irish rugby captain, cuz?
She couldn’t wait for the reply.
