When we break apart, Nina grins. “That’s the Dylan we know and love! Solid as a rock.”
I smile back, feeling more confident. This is my element, where I excel. No one can take that away from me.
We run a few more scrums until I’m satisfied with my form. As I gather my things to leave, a sense of determination wells up inside me.
I may have gotten sidetracked, but my priorities are clear now. I’m here for one reason—to play top notch rugby. I can balance my personal life without letting it become a distraction. There’s too much at stake.
From now on, any free time goes into training. No more staying out late or showing up bleary-eyed to practice. I’m going to prove I deserve to be here.
With renewed purpose, I head home. I’m ready to focus everything I’ve got into being the best player I can be.
This time, nothing will get in my way. Not even the four incredibly hot men anxiously waiting to hear my life-changing decision.
Chapter 48
Noah
Thesunbeatsdownon my shoulders as I sprint across the field, the ball tucked firmly under my arm. Jayden and Killian flank me, perfect mirrors of focus and determination. But my gaze keeps sliding to the sidelines, where Dylan watches us, her ponytail swinging every time she claps for us, which is often.
Why is she always staring at Kai? Doesn’t she see how hard I’m working out here? How much I want her attention?
But no, all the girls go crazy over his appearance. I’m a decent enough looking guy, but I’m not that different in appearance than many of the other rugby players around. It’s not too hard to find tall and muscly guys with short, dark hair around here. Sure, not everyone has tattoos, but that’s hardly enough to keep me ‘interesting’ when next to someone like Kai.
It’s infuriating. He’s an exceptional player, sure, but everyone’s just so obsessed with his accent and his... I don’t know, charisma. His ability to score try after try, seemingly without effort, is just icing on the cake.
As if reading my mind, Kai suddenly has the ball, a blur of motion downfield. He dodges tackles like they’re not even there, before diving over the try line. A perfect score.
Dylan leaps up, clapping and cheering. “Amazing run, Kai!” Her smile is huge, and I watch him glance over at her and give her a thumbs up accompanied by a massive grin.
I clench my jaw. Of course she’s fawning over him. Mr. Hotshot with all the skills and the natural charm that makes ladies wet just by looking at him. Not me, sweating it out here every day. Trying to prove I deserve her.
Someday she’ll see. Someday she’ll be cheering for me.
The whistle blows and we’re back at it, running drills at full tilt. The sun beats down, making the turf shimmer.
Maybe I’ll get a chance to prove to her that I’m an excellent player too, that just because I don’t stand out as much as him doesn’t make me mediocre.
I see an opportunity to grab the ball and I charge toward it. But I underestimate the distance between me and it, and my fingers knock it forward. The ref blows the whistle for a knock-on, and I put my face in my hands and groan. Great, now she probably thinks I’m completely incompetent. I’m trying to impress her, but all I can manage is to make a complete fool of myself.
Kai snags the ball again, darting down the sideline. The same breakaway run as before. My frustration boils over. Doesn’t anyone see how hard I’m working? Can’t she see how much she means to me?
We reset, returning to our positions on the field, and the opposing practice side gets possession of the ball again. As Kai nears the try zone, I charge, seeing red. I tackle high, my shoulder crashing into his torso. We both slam to the ground.
The ref’s whistle screeches. “Noah! Off the field, now! That was dangerous play!”
I stare down at Kai, dazed in the grass. What did I just do?
Glancing up, I see Dylan, a hand over her mouth in horror. Tears brim in her eyes as she turns away.
Shame washes over me. I wanted her to see me out on the rugby field, but not like this. Never like this.
What have I done?
Before I can help Kai to his feet like I would any other player I’d taken to the ground, he jumps up on his own and storms off the pitch. Which is kind of nice of him, to be honest… most guys in his situation would have started a fight.
The team gathers around after practice, their faces stern. Jayden steps forward, his arms crossed. “What were you thinking out there, Noah?”
“Ugh, I don’t know… I just…”. I can’t find the words, so instead I just scowl.