Page 14 of Full Court Crush
Amelia returned to the intercom and tried security again, but still got no response.
“What now?” Keira asked.
“I’ll have to call Michelle.” Amelia sighed. She returned to pacing while the phone rang. Keira couldn’t make out what Coach Grant was saying, but the bout of laughter when Amelia said they had been locked in was crystal clear.
“She’ll come and let us out. She’ll be about twenty minutes.” Amelia ended the call and carried on pacing. Keira watched her, for a while, but it only made her more on edge.
“Can you sit down? You’re making me nervous,” Keira asked gently. Amelia froze in place, eyes widening as Keira drew attention to her anxious movements.
When she joined Keira sitting on the table, she couldn’t seem to sit still. Keira was very aware of the other woman’s proximity.
“Are you claustrophobic or something?” Keira asked, Amelia’s distress distracting her from her own worries.
“What? No, not really. Why?”
“You just seem a bit stressed.”
“I’m fine.”
“Just like your ankle was fine after I knocked you over?” She raised an eyebrow. Something definitely bubbled under Amelia’s attempt at a calm exterior.
Amelia sighed. Keira didn’t think she was going to get an answer, but after a long moment of silence, she spoke.
“I just…I don’t like making mistakes,” Keira had to strain to hear her, despite how close they were sitting.
“We got locked in, it happens.”
“Yes, but now we’ve dragged Michelle back out. I don’t like being an inconvenience.”
The pain in Amelia’s voice made Keira’s heart break. Astute, confident, on court Amelia had somehow been replaced by someone smaller.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Keira smiled kindly. “I’m sure Coach Grant won’t see it as an inconvenience. She’ll probably like having a funny story to tell at team dinners.” Keira chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, but somehow, Amelia shrank further.
Placing a hand on Amelia’s back, Keira tried to reassure her. Suddenly they were back in Heath Park, the sun sparkling in Amelia’s eyes, and Keira nearly snatched her hand away. Amelia’s tense, toned muscles were easily noticeable through her t-shirt. The sensation distracted her, and she almost missed what Amelia said next.
“I know everyone else makes mistakes, but I can’t. Not as a doctor and not as captain. How can Coach Grant rely on me if I can’t even leave the building on time?” Amelia scoffed.
“It’s not ten yet. They locked up early.”
“Oh.”
Amelia exhaled, relaxing a little. Keira both reluctantly and relievedly removed her hand. They lapsed into silence. The only sound came from the vending machines humming in the hallway. Keira rubbed the palm of her hand with her thumb.
“You know it’s not healthy to worry that much, right?” Keira asked gently, “and that you don’t have to be perfect at everything?”
“I know. That’s what the GP said when he prescribed anti-anxiety medication.” Amelia laughed derisively.
“Is it working?”
“I wouldn’t know. The side effects of my old one were unmanageable. I’ve not been taking this one long enough to know if it’s working yet.”
Amelia fiddled with her necklace. The small pendant with two precious stones set into a silver infinity sign drew Keira’s gaze.
“What about you?” Amelia asked. “You don’t exactly seem comfortable either.”
“Nah, I’m fine.” Keira said, trying for flippancy. The space between them expanded with her untruth, as her intrinsic need to be indestructible destroyed the tendrils of trust growing between them. Amelia looked hurt by Keira’s obvious lie. She immediately felt guilty, especially after Amelia’s own honest vulnerability. Keira clenched her hands into fists and took a deep breath.
“My Dad’s not well,” she started, her words tumbling out abrupt and staccato. “Cancer. I don’t like leaving him on his own for too long.” Her voice cracked as she stared at the floor. “But I’m trying to give him more space. He regularly reminds me that he’s not a child that needs constant supervision.”