Page 33 of Matched (LSU #5)

I ’d never experienced anything like this outside the one Glevum match I’d been lucky enough to attend when I was a kid.

The noise from the crowd was immense, despite the fact that the stadium was less than a third full.

As the players jogged out of the tunnel and lined up on the pitch, the sound intensified, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

My gaze fixed on Nate straight away, standing tall and strong in his blue LSU football kit, his dark hair ruffled by the breeze. He looked so good.

I knew his full concentration would be on the game, so I wasn’t expecting him to spare a glance in my direction, even though he had a rough idea of the section I’d be seated in. But I was wrong.

His head turned, just slightly, and I watched, my breath caught in my throat, as he scanned the rows of spectators. When his gaze connected with mine, my heart stuttered, and for a second, it felt like the world stood still, and we were the only two people that existed.

Just a second. A second before the noise filtered back in, Nate had turned his focus back to the pitch, and I was left there with a fucking life-changing epiphany.

I didn’t just like him.

I didn’t just want him to be my boyfriend.

What I felt for him and what I wanted went far deeper than that. So deep, it scared me. Because I knew that everything between us was coming to an end.

I was still reeling when the match began, but I managed to lose myself in the game I loved, where the guy who meant everything to me played his heart out, throwing everything into it.

My heart was in my throat every time the ball landed in our end of the pitch, but the defence did a great job of keeping Plymouth from scoring.

Whenever Nate touched the ball, I got a bit of a lump in my throat, proud and happy for him, and weirdly emotional.

A cross from Travis to Preston, who launched straight into an overhead kick, sent the ball flying into the top-right corner of the net.

The goalie didn’t even stand a chance, and our section of the stadium went wild, jumping up and down, screaming and cheering as the players celebrated on the pitch.

It was still early in the game, but we were ahead, and that was the boost we needed.

Plymouth equalised three minutes later, but those of us in the stands kept up the morale for our players, singing and chanting and shouting encouragement.

Two minutes before the end of the first half, Ander scored a goal with an amazing header.

He raced down the pitch, holding up his hands in a heart shape towards Elliot, who smiled wider than I’d ever seen him before.

Half-time flew by in a blur, and then we were back. Plymouth’s team was just as determined as ours, and their determination paid off with a free kick, followed by a brilliant goal by one of their forwards, right over the outstretched fingertips of our goalie.

2-2.

There were still another twenty-three minutes to go. We could do this.

During a quick break in gameplay when the ref was sorting out a dispute with one of the Plymouth players, the LSU coach conferred with Travis.

A minute later, he substituted Damon for Bennett, who blew Niccolò a kiss as he jogged onto the pitch.

The Plymouth team also made a substitution, and then the game restarted.

Seven minutes to go.

Six.

Five.

Levi tackled the Plymouth midfielder, booting the ball to Finn, who shot it straight to Liam before anyone could get close. Liam ran to the left, darting out of the way of the defender coming for him, and kicked the ball straight at the goal. The goalie dived for it…and missed.

We were back in the lead. 3-2. The roars were deafening as LSU tasted victory. We just had to hold out for a little longer.

Four minutes to go. The Plymouth team made another substitution, switching out one of their defenders for an additional attacker, throwing everything they had into equalising the score.

Three minutes.

Two.

One.

The assistant ref held up a board indicating there would be two minutes of added time.

All the players crowded onto our end of the pitch as Plymouth made a last-ditch attempt to score. Then the unthinkable happened. They got a corner kick in the final minute of added time.

They couldn’t score. Not now.

It was like time stood still as their player kicked the ball towards our goal, Plymouth and LSU players all surging to meet it as it curved across the pitch.

Then there was Nate. Messy hair curling in the heat, body glistening with sweat, and his football shirt plastered to his chest, he rose above the others, launching himself into the air, and headed the ball away from the goal.

The whistle blew three times, and it was all over.

LSU supporters stormed the field, a mass pitch invasion, and I was swept up with them, running faster and faster until I reached Nate. He didn’t even pause for a second, yanking me into his arms when I reached him, his mouth coming down on mine.

Wrapping my arms even more tightly around him, I kissed him again and again.“So. Fucking. Proud of you.”

“Charlie. Charlie.” He kept saying my name over and over, burying his head in my shoulder, his body trembling with adrenaline.

Drawing apart to take a breath, I met his gaze, his eyes sparkling and his mouth curved into a heart-stopping smile.

“Hi,” I said, the word coming out a little choked. I was fucking overwhelmed by the rush of feelings sweeping over me.

“Hi.” Nate lifted his hand, rubbing his thumb lightly over my jaw. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Me too. You did it. You won.”

His smile widened before dropping. “Charlie. We kissed .”

Oh, fuck. Fuck . “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever be sorry for that. Ever. Maybe no one saw—” He paused, scanning the people around us.

“Forget that. People saw, including my sister.” His jaw tightened, but then he sighed heavily and leaned in to kiss the tip of my nose.

“Okay. Don’t worry about it. It’s time I told the truth, if you’re okay with that. ”

“The truth?”

“The truth. That I have a crush on Charlie Brooks.” He gave me a boyish grin. “I dunno, I was worrying about having to explain things, and I know Sophie will have questions, but I feel so fucking high after winning, and I have you here with me… I feel like I could take anything on.”

I really fucking hoped his positivity was contagious.

Despite my fears, I was tired of hiding.

I was so proud of him, and I wanted everyone to know.

“Yeah. I’m okay with people knowing.” Neither of us mentioned the fact that he was moving away, but maybe for now, we could tell the truth and pretend at the same time.

Pretend this didn’t have an expiry date.

“Good.” He brushed a quick kiss over my lips. “Travis is waving at me. I think we have the trophy ceremony now. Don’t worry, okay? We can sort everything else out later.”

“You finally got your trophy.”

He laughed. “I seem to remember you being the trophy-obsessed one. Keep trying. You’ll get one, one day.”

“Wanker. Go on. Go and get your shiny trophy.” Before he could step away, I wrapped my fingers around my wrist, bringing his hand up so I could kiss his knuckles. “I’m seriously proud of you, Nate. You deserve this.”

The smile he gave me was everything.