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Slowly, more boys show up, bundled in their jumpers and trackies. They begin warming up with some stretches, bear crawls, and staggered catches, and my itch for the game sparks like an inferno inside of me.

Is this what it will be like back in London? Only worse because it’s my peers?

“Sorry, Coach.” Another kid yells out as he runs past us, dropping his bag at my feet. Campbell offers him nothing more than a grunt, studying his clipboard.

“What? No punishment burpees?” I ask.

“I think you and Liam did enough burpees for another five years of kids.” I laugh, dropping my head. My knuckles run along my chin at the memories of all the shit we used to get into that would make us late for practice. It was usuallygirls we were busy making out with. I was willing to be late and Liam was willing to skip it all together. “Well, what’d you come down here for, KB?”

“I uh—” I look out over the pitch once more, and the autumn breeze picks up. My eyes flutter closed and for the briefest moment in time, I feel like myself again. I feel like the kid who learned who he was on this very pitch. The young boy who fell in love with this sport. With my feet planted firmly on the roots of where I’d grown, the memories and the feelings whirl past me in a blur. There is no way to explain it other than it just feelsright.“I’m in.”

“Good lad.” He pats my shoulder.

I open my eyes just in time to see him walk past me.

“That’s it?” I yell after him. I’m over here fighting for my life over this decision and he gives me a pat on the back. A simplegood lad,and he’s on his way.

“Come in early on Monday so you can fill out some paperwork!” he calls over his shoulder. A few heads turn in my direction, confusion etched on their faces.

What the fuck have I agreed to?

I’ve been staringat my ceiling for what feels like an eternity.

It’s ten p.m.

I hung around the main house most of the afternoon, hoping to run into Taylor, but to no avail. When she didn’t show up for dinner, I realized just howmuchI had been wanting to see her. I turn over onto my side—I can’t wait to be able to crush my right shoulder with my weight again.

The moonlight seeps through my open windows and Iblame it for my inability to fall asleep, when really, it’s thoughts of Taylor that have me tossing and turning.She’s on vacation and probably just exploring. Of course, she’s back, nothing exceptThe Saloonis open right now. Would she go back toThe Saloon? I told her I wanted to see her today. She said she just wanted to be friends. You shouldn’t be this concerned about her. If she wanted to hang out, she knows where I live.

I flop onto my back, looking at the clock again. 10:08.

Fuck.

I rip the blanket from my body, throw on a T-shirt and jeans, shove my feet into my boots, and jog up to the main house.

The Inn is silent.Only the soft glow of a lamp from the common room provides any light. I cringe with each creek up the stairs and hold my breath as I make my way down the hallway. I knock on the last door in the hallway, the one tucked in the corner at the end. I listen for any sign that she’s home but there is no movement, no sounds. I’m about to leave when the door is yanked open.

Taylor stands in another one of those cropped tank tops, this one black, and the same oversized sweatpants she wore the first night we hung out.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Hey.”

“You said that,” she teases, fighting a smile.

“Right.” I scratch the back of my head, suddenly unsure of what my plan was when I decided to come up here. She stays silent, doing me no favors. I run a hand over my mouth before I clear my throat. “I wanted to make sure you ate.”

“I did.”

“You did?”

She dips her head, but not before I catch the smile on her face.

“I found a farmers market today. Cute little craft tables, and homemade soaps.” She leans against the door, one socked foot propped up on her ankle and her big green eyes twinkling up at me. “The best part was every other table had some kind of food. I probably ate enough for an entire rugby team.”

My dick should absolutely not be getting hard over the way she said ‘rugby’ but here I am subtly shifting in my pants.