Page 27 of Full Court Crush

Once in the kitchen, Amelia made a beeline for the pop bottles. She went to pick one up, but Evie put her hand on top of it, preventing her. Evie raised an eyebrow, and Amelia rolled her eyes.

“What now?” Amelia asked.

“You and Keira are looking pretty cosy.”

“Yeah, probably because that’s how you planned it.” Amelia called Evie out on her scheming.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Evie said, sounding innocent. Amelia scoffed. “Fine, I just…know what you’re like. I thought you could do with a little push in the right direction.”

“Right, according toyou,“ she scolded. “Not necessarily what’s right forme. She’s on the team. I’m the captain. Feelings can’t happen.”

“So you admit there are feelings?” Evie prodded.

Amelia turned to face her fully and ran her hands down her face.

“Why are you pushing this?”

Evie took Amelia’s hands in her own and squeezed them gently.

“Because I love you and I want you to be happy. And sometimes…” she paused, as if trying to come up with the right words. “I think you get in your own way. Plus, I was right about Jenna and Hayley, and I’m aiming for two for two.”

A retort built up in her throat, but Amelia bit her tongue. Evie was one of her closest friends; she knew her better than anyone else. Her words deserved at least some consideration. Her memory betrayed her at that moment, deciding to call up examples of when she had put rules and expectations before her own happiness. She had nearly specialised in a different field because of what her parents expected. She’d applied for a place at the university her father went to, despite hating the idea of living in London. She’d found her way to her own happiness eventually, right? Even if it took months of anxiety and self-doubt. Amelia squeezed Evie’s hands back, then let them go.

“Just…keep an open mind, okay?” Evie asked, smiling softly at her.

“Okay.” Amelia exhaled deeply. “But stop pressuring me, okay? I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.”

“Deal.” Evie nodded. “C’mon, let’s get back.” Evie grabbed some of the drinks and left the kitchen.

Amelia gave herself a minute — long enough to eat a couple of the leftover cookies — then followed.

The half-time entertainment was visible on the television screen, while the Blizzards sat around discussing the various WNBA teams and who they were supporting. Their animated voices bounced off the walls with theories and predictions. Amelia carefully stepped over some of them to deposit more drinks on the table and swiped another cookie. Then she returned to the sofa, which was currently empty. Evie and TJ were doing the rounds with a bin bag and a sweeping brush. Amelia had no idea where Keira had gone. Her seat seemed colder without her there.

She has been a die hard Suns fan for years. She had covered her university accommodation in orange and navy blue, sticking homemade posters of her favourite players to the walls, despite the rules against sticky tack. Most of the rest of the team were neutral, just happy to be watching high-quality basketball.

Keira returned and sat back on the sofa. She left a little space between her and Amelia.

“What about you, Keira?” Lucy asked. “Who’s your team?”

“The Liberty,” Keira said instantly. “My best friend plays for them.” Amelia’s head whipped round in surprise.

Suddenly, all eyes in the room were on Keira.

“What?”

“No way!”

“You kept that quiet.” Sofia said.

A proud grin spread across Keira’s face.

“Yeah, Sonia and I played together for a couple of years in college, until she transferred to a better school. She spends most of the time on the bench these days, but I watch whenever I can.”

“Wait. Your best friend is Sonia Munroe?” Sienna almost squealed.

“Yup.”

The team peppered Keira with questions, and she basked in the attention, coming out of her shell more in those five minutes than she had all season. Amelia leant back in her seat, content. The last of her fears about new teammates upsetting team chemistry drifted away. She tried to ignore the gnawing in her stomach, reminding her there were other ways that new players could upset team chemistry. Or, more accurately, other ways onespecificnew teammate could, if Amelia let her guard down. She pulled out her phone to give her mind something else to focus on. She did a quick search on social media. Finding Sonia Munroe’s account, which was full of basketball-related content, she pressed the follow button, joining a few thousand others. Sonia herself only followed seventy-six.