Page 147 of Studs Up
“Fuck off.”
I couldn’t hear the fans as we marched out onto the field. The music that was playing and the flags that were waving were just silent background.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t be the player we needed to win. I couldn’t face Nolan on this field knowing what I said to him, knowing how untrue it was, and knowing I would never be able to have him back.
Someone sang the national anthem, we took our team picture, and then we were on the field.
It didn’t take long to clash with Nolan. He took me out in the first five minutes and sent the ball to Cruz.
I took a second on the ground to catch my breath. The hit hadn’t been brutal, and I wasn’t winded from sprinting. It was his skin on mine that sucked the air out of my lungs.
“Get up,” he hissed at me before he stalked away. I didn’t want to. I had never prayed for an injury before, but I was contemplating one.
“Get your ass up, Monroe,” he called. So I did. I stood and went back into position.
He stayed a few yards behind me.
“If this is how you want it,” he growled loud enough for me to hear. “Fine. But you will not play like shit.”
The ref blew the whistle for halftime, and he turned to me.
“If you can't pull yourself together and we kick your ass, I will never forgive you. That’s not how I win.”
This was the limit. This was it. A rage so fierce overtook me. How could he be such an ass? How could he do this to me? I broke his heart, and I got that. But this was just cruel.
I didn’t remember any of the halftime plans or talks. When I got back out on that field, I would put him to shame.
I was angry. My blood was boiling over the pictures, the invasion, the blackmail, the eyes, and Nolan. It was too much, and the first time I got the ball, I took it down the right, beating Marcel and bracing for the clash with Nolan. I didn’t give him the chance to get near me before I took my shot.
The tips of Diaz’s fingers brushed the ball just enough to send it wide and out.
Nolan didn’t give me any space to move. He locked me down so tight I was called offsides five times.
Frustration built. Nolan badgered me. The break up had turned him into something I didn’t recognize.
In the dying minutes, Alex sent me the ball, and we sprinted down the field together. Marcel was the only one to beat. He was backing up, watching my feet, and then watching the ball when I sent it back to Alex. His lapse in concentration left an opening to blow past him. Alex delivered a perfect pass, and with one touch, I put it in the net. Diaz never had a chance.
I scored, and it left me stunned. I had done it. I scored. I turned in time to catch Alex before he sent us tumbling to the ground and saw Nolan barking at his backline. But his eyes passed over me. And I wasn’t sure if he was truly furious with me or was proud that I had passed the ball.
I made one last run. We were in extra time and the ref was going to blow the whistle any second. This time, Nolan was on me. His body battling with mine. His panting breath and skin were such a distraction. He put me into the corner where I stayed, keeping the ball away and running out the rest of the clock.
The final whistle blew, and our fans screamed from their corner of the stadium. An explosion of music and confetti drowned everything out.
I turned and was face to face with Nolan. His blue eyes were surprisingly soft.
He reached for my hand in a congratulatory shake.
“If you think I bought your bullshit, you were wrong. Two and four, all the fucking way.” He glanced at the Rovers running for me. The celebration had already started with green and gold confetti raining down around us.
“Celebrate,” he said. “And then I’m taking you home.” What was happening? He was taking me home? Why the fuck would he want to do that? He just spent ninety eight minutes torturing me, pissing me off, and…oh…Oh my god, he did it on purpose.
I wanted to scream at him that he was such an asshole and jump into his arms and kiss him breathless.
“Nolan,” I opened my mouth.
“We’re gonna fucking talk,” he said. We were running out of time. The team was coming. “But I am taking you home. Understand?”
I could only nod.
