Page 29 of Full Court Crush

“Sorry, I just worry.”

“I know, sweetheart, and I’m saying you don’t have to.”

“What would we do without you, Uncle Frank?”

“Probably have a lot less puzzle books cluttering up your house.” He laughed. “I hope the game goes well.”

“Thank you. Love you, bye.”

“Love you, too, bye bye.”

Keira ended the call, and closed her eyes, pressing the corner of the phone to her forehead. The pool of unease in her stomach was making her queasy. She took a deep breath and set her shoulders, then headed back to the team bus and climbed the steps. The warm, stuffy air had an undercurrent of excitement for their first away game of the season. Keira prayed the air conditioning worked as she navigated down the narrow aisle, seeking solitude near the back of the bus. She dropped into a cool leather window seat and put her smaller travel bag on the seat next to her to deter any company. The bus rocked slightly as more people got on board. Keira resolutely stared out the window, but when Amelia sat down in the pair of seats across the aisle from her, she couldn’t help but glance in her direction.

“Everything alright?” Amelia asked, turning in her seat. Back to the window, she put her feet up on the aisle seat next to her. She wore the full Blizzards tracksuit, the club logo emblazoned across her chest. It suited her. Keira had to drag her eyes upward.

“Yeah, all good.” Keira gave her a smile.

“That seemed like quite an intense conversation you were having.” Amelia tilted her head to the side.

“Just…” Keira looked around out of habit “…checking in on my dad. He’s staying with my uncle. I wanted to make sure they were all sorted.”

Amelia smiled. “You’re such a good daughter.”

“Pfft, I don’t know about that. I’m just doing what anyone would do for family, right?”

Keira saw a dark cloud flash behind Amelia’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant. Keira wanted to ask, but reminded herself it wasn’t her place. Flirting at the team social was one thing, but she knew it would be different if they got too close on an emotional level. It would become harder to resist the gravitational pull trying to drag Keira out of orbit and into Amelia. Keeping things professional was safer.

Out of nowhere, music started playing, and it only got louder as the rest of the team boarded the bus. Keira peered over the seat.

Lucy was up front, a giant speaker on her shoulder, awkwardly dancing along to the loud music as she navigated down the small aisle. The bus engine also rumbled to life.

“Really, Adams?” Amelia shouted above the din, but she was smiling and shaking her head as she grabbed the headrest in front of her and pulled herself to standing. Several members of the team joined in Lucy’s valiant but not quite on-key attempts at singing.

“First away game of the season! Gotta set the tempo!” Lucy replied in the break between the chorus and the verse. She sauntered further down the aisle, encouraging more players to join in.

“The game isn’t until tomorrow.” Amelia sighed and sat back down.

Keira chuckled. She was grateful Lucy decided to sit several rows in front of her. She wasn’t sure she would tolerate that amount of energy for long.

“She’ll probably be asleep by the services,” Amelia said with a sigh. Keira wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure Keira or herself.

Keira followed the rest of the team into the hotel lobby, stretching her sore neck from side to side. Lucy had thankfully fallen asleep before they made it as far as Birmingham, and Keira had followed suit around Sheffield.

“Right, remember you lot, dump your bags then get out here. We’re ordering pizza.”

“Are you paying again, Coach?” Lucy asked.

“Not a chance. And don’t wander off, Adams,” Coach Grant said, sounding exasperated. Lucy was already halfway towards one of the shops that had something glittery in the window.

“Honestly, it’s like corralling children.”

“Iamyour child, Mum,” Evie added, laughing.

“And I’m Coach Grant to you, at least until after pizza. C’mon, help me get everyone checked in.”

Keira looked around the large glass atrium while fiddling with the straps of her bag. She glanced again at the front desk, then got her phone out of her pocket and gave her dad a call.

“Hey, just checking in,” Keira said when he finally answered. She heard her aunt and uncle laughing at something in the background. “What’s so funny?” she asked.