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“Scar,” Sam called, turning toward the closed dressing room door. “I have to go. Something came up at work.”

Scarlett’s muffled groan came from the other side. “Fine,” she grumbled. “You better pick up though if I FaceTime you.”

Sam hummed, half turning away, her eyes trained on the ground. “Yeah,” she mumbled. “Okay.”

“Did you still want to meet later this week?” Jess asked softly. “About the PR stuff.”

Something in her voice sounded careful, as if she was speaking to a skittish animal, afraid it would dart away at the first wrong word.

Sam cleared her throat, rubbing a hand over the back of her neck. “Yeah.” She glanced up at Jess, seeing the timid but gentle look in her eyes. A look that made her want to both stay and go at the same time.

She glanced away again, forcing a painful smile. “I’ll text you later, about a day and time.” Then she turned, mustering every ounce of will she had to break the tension. She nodded towardthe back of the shop. “You might need to call Tess back to help, so you’re not here all night.”

Jess gave one slow nod, her lips pursing slightly.

Sam cleared her throat once more as she walked away. “I’ll see you later,” she called over her shoulder.

Chapter nine

Sam stepped onto the edge of the field, the faint scent of freshly cut grass mixing with the earthy tang of the dirt beneath her shoes. The wide expanse of green stretched out beneath the mid-morning sun, its rays casting long shadows from the goalposts at either end.

A handful of women were scattered across the field, some jogging and kicking a ball back and forth, while others stood nearby in clusters, chatting and laughing.

Liz was easy to spot, with her bright red ponytail bobbing back and forth as she jogged after a ball.

“I don’t get the appeal,” Tiana muttered as she ambled up beside Sam, one hand raised to shield her eyes from the blinding sunlight. “Why would anyone want to run around chasing balls in this heat?”

Sam smirked as they walked toward the sidelines where a row of bags, water bottles, and spare gear lay strewn across the grass. “Maybe you’d get it if you had even a single ounce of coordination.”

“Oh, I’m coordinated,” Tiana mumbled. “Just not with—balls.” She made a disgusted face, and Sam burst into laughter.

When she looked up, she saw Jess looking at them from the sidelines, offering a small wave.

“Hey,” Sam said with a smile as they approached.

Jess smiled back at Sam before her gaze moved to Tiana. “Are you playing too?”

“Mm definitely not,” Tiana replied, scanning the field. “I’m just here for the free and—” Her gaze trailed over a woman with tattoos and short cropped hair as she walked by. “Very—hot—entertainment.”

Jess shot Sam a mildly surprised look.

Sam smirked, shrugging as she dropped to sit in the grass beside her.

“Hey,” Liz called, jogging toward them with a wide grin. “Was wondering if you’d actually show. I thought maybe you’d wuss out.”

Sam gave her a half-hearted glare as she began lacing up her cleats. “Someone had to come keep you humble.”

Liz’s grin grew, and she could almost see that same twelve-year-old best friend in her once again. And for the first time since they’d seen each other, it felt good. A reminder of the good times they’d shared.

And that, maybe, they could have those good times again. Eventually.

“You wanna play mid or forward?” Liz asked, leaning forward in a deep stretch.

“What are you playing?”

Liz lifted her head, and Sam immediately recognized the competitive glint in her eyes. “Whichever one will be defending you.”

Sam smirked to herself. That was the answer she’d been hoping for. “Midfield.”