Page 85 of Full Court Crush

“Pipsqueak?” Clara asked, confused, looking between TJ and Amelia.

“Amelia once told me she was fed up of being called ‘Perfect Preston’…so I came up with a new nickname. It didn’t catch on.”

“Mainly because Amelia would punish anyone who used it, with extra shuttles or being the kit carrier for the month.” Evie laughed.

“You can do that?” Clara asked.

“Technically, no…but Coach Grant loves me, so,” Amelia shrugged with a grin.

“I only get away with it because she can’t boss me around.” TJ laughed.

“So, Clara, you were saying?” Evie prompted, clearly trying to get the conversation back on track. Clara looked to Amelia for approval, but before Amelia could nod or shake her head, Evie continued talking.

“Look, either I get a childhood story, or I show Keira the text messages Amelia sent me after they first met in the park.” Evie held up her phone in front of her and unlocked it.

“No way.” Amelia’s hand whipped across the table as she snatched the phone out of Evie’s hands. Everyone around the table chuckled. Keira raised an eyebrow at Amelia.

“Clara, please, save me,” Amelia jokingly whispered.

Clara folded her arms and tapped her finger on her chin, pretending to be thinking.

“Ah, I got it. One time, when I was almost eight, I got chewing gum stuck in my hair.”

“Oh god.” Amelia buried her face in her hands.

“Mum tried to get it out, but it was hopeless, so we went to the hairdresser for a new, much shorter haircut.” Clara paused, the others clearly wondering how this would become a funny story about Amelia. But Amelia knew.

“So I come home from the hairdresser, and Amelia, who was mad that our hair didn’t match anymore, stomped off to her room. She came down half an hour later, having hacked at her hair with a pair of scissors, saying it looked just like mine. She was six.”

The entire table erupted into laughter.

“Mum went spare, having to make a second trip to the hairdressers on the same day. Look, I’ve still got the photo.” Clara pulled out her phone and showed everyone the picture of a printed photograph. She and Amelia stood next to each other with matching short haircuts, grinning.

“I can’t believe you’ve got a copy of that on your phone!” Amelia said, both exasperated and delighted.

“It’s one of my favourite pictures.” Clara laughed, then continued more quietly. “It’s the first time I knew you’d always have my back.”

Clara smiled at her, and Amelia returned it, basking in the prism of light that was having her sister back in her life. She looked around the table at her family, her chosen family, and Sonia, who she hoped would become part of her chosen family, and a warmth washed over her.

“Right, sorry to cut this party short, but I have a meeting I gotta get to,” Sonia said, rising from her seat.

“A meeting? With who?” Keira asked.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Sonia laughed. Keira opened her mouth as if to ask more, but Evie spoke.

“We have to go too, actually.” Evie slowly scooted out from the opposite side of the booth. “We’re going over to my parents’ this evening for film night.”

“Film night?” Amelia asked.

“Mum is complaining that, since I’m not training, she never sees me. So, film night.” Evie gave a shrug. “I think we’re watching Jurassic Park.” Keira laughed. TJ handed Evie her coat. Clara also got to her feet.

“Not you, too?” Amelia asked.

“What? No, I’m just jumping in their seats. Seem’s odd otherwise.”

“Oh,” Amelia said. Clara chuckled as she and Josh slid into the opposite side of the booth.

“Bye, guys,” Keira said, as the remaining trio waved off the others.