Page 46 of Kicks

“Quick, you’d better go and start your warmups,” Billy said. “Knock ’em dead, kiddo.”

She hugged him and raced off to the pitch. Billy watched her go for a second. If the coach did come good with a try-out, what would that mean?

He shivered, despite it being a warm summer’s day. Change was coming at him rapidly. He wasn’t sure how that made him feel.

There wasn’t a great deal he could do about it. He wandered down to the edge of the pitch where parents tended to congregate. Rain, hail or shine.

Then his heart skipped a beat. There stood Eddie. He looked incredible in an orange Hawaiian shirt and brown shorts.

Billy felt very self-conscious in his sensible blue polo shirt and blue shorts.

“Hey,” Eddie said.

“Hey, yourself. Don’t you look different off duty?”

“Oh, this old thing? I just threw it on.”

The two teams would be warming up for a while. Billy gestured to the only bench that hadn’t been grabbed by parents.

They sat.

“I don’t come here enough,” Eddie said. “To the park, I mean. It’s nice. We have one near our flat. It’s not as good as this.”

Billy detected a hint of nerves coming from Eddie. That intrigued him.

“Thank you for bothering,” Billy said.

“You’re welcome. My flatmate Scott is having a cleaning frenzy. My other flatmate, Tyler, has already been conscripted. I’m glad of a reason to escape.”

I wonder if they’re all as handsome as him. Wow.

“I’m happy to have been of service.”

Billy scanned the field. He saw Crystal staring at him. She beamed and held up two fingers.

“What does that mean?” Eddie asked.

“A stupid bet I’ve had with her. If she scores one goal, I take her for a pizza. If she scores two, you have to come with us. Honestly, she’s being ridiculous. You don’t have to.”

Eddie crossed his leg, his hand brushing against Billy’s thigh. This did make the hairs stand on end.

“Let’s hope she scores two goals then.”

Crysal took the biggest bite out of a slice of pizza.

“Do you mind?” Billy exclaimed.

She chewed happily.

“Three goals. That’s bloody impressive,” Eddie said. “You’re good.”

Crystal swallowed her mouthful of food. “Thanks. Did you see when I went down the wing. That rotten bitch tried to yank me back.”

“Less of the bitch.”

“Billy, we talked about this.”

Billy caught Eddie’s eye. He was clearly getting a kick out of watching them banter.