Page 21 of Full Court Crush

At least something good came from this ambush.

Chapter 8

Keira

Keirashovedaforkfulof scorching hot instant noodles into her mouth while she loaded a game and started a video call to Sonia. She was still huffing and breathing around the noodles when Sonia picked up.

“You alright there, Morgan?” Sonia’s tinny voiced laughed at her through her headset. Keira coughed and took a sip of water from her bedside bottle before answering. Sonia chuckled.

“All good,” she rasped.

“How’re you feeling about the game today?” Sonia asked, looking quizzical through her phone screen.

“Alright,” she said, focusing on setting up their game. “It’s a good team, with good coaches, and Amelia is a good captain — “

“But not as good as me, right?” Sonia interjected.

“Obviously.” Keira laughed. “Though, she’d have to transfer to another team in a couple of years to really live up to your name.”

“Ouch.” Sonia mockingly put her hand on her heart.

“But, yeah, she really cares about the players. She’s always cheering us on. She works damn hard and pushes us harder, but she knows how to have a laugh. She’s helped me work on a few things —”

“I bet she has.” Sonia wiggled her eyebrows.

“Not like that.” Keira’s cheeks heated.

“Oh, youdolike her.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. Your face said it for you.”

Trust Sonia to go straight for thejugular.

“If I liked her, it wouldn’t matter, anyway. She has made it very clear she doesn’t date teammates.” Keira ignored the pang of regret that flashed in her stomach. “Plus, I’ve got abittoo much going on right now to even think about dating.“ Keira looked pointedly at the phone’s camera.

“You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry,” Sonia said. “But seriously, Keira, how’re you feeling about your first game?”

She sighed. She was feeling so many things it was hard to tease the individual feelings apart. If she concentrated, she could make out the strongest feeling: dread. It throbbed in the back of her mind like a nefarious pulse.

“Okay, fine. I’m nervous. What if I play badly and they bench me? What if there’s no chemistry?”

What if they revoke my contract and I can’t look after Dad?

“What if a meteor crashes and wipes out the court?” Sonia chuckled. “There is no point in worrying about things you can’t control. You’ve put the work in. You’ve got this. You’re ready.”

Keira took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then nodded. Sonia was right. Dwelling on the negative possibilities would only make them more likely to come true. “Thanks. Now are you ready…” She started the game with no warning, catching Sonia off guard, “to get your ass handed to you?”

“Oh, you’re on, Morgan.” Sonia laughed.

The pair played video games for a couple of hours, until it was time for Keira to start getting ready. Sonia wished Keira good luck, and Keira shut down the console. She stared at the now blank screen where Sonia’s face had been; what she wouldn’t give for a hug right now. As always, she’d laid out her kit and charged her headphones the night before. Before she knew it, her jelly-like legs carried her downstairs.

She walked into the living room, immediately clocking her dad’s empty lunch plate. The slight adjustment in his treatment seemed to have the added benefit of making him less tired and nauseous.

Credits rolled on the television screen, and her dad began trying to navigate to one of the other apps.

“I can never work this bloody thing.” He huffed. “I’m trying to make sure I can get to the livestream of your game.”