Page 31

The rope tied around Carter’s waist had stopped irritating him at least two hours ago.

It’d been there since the crude knock on the door at four that morning, when the coaching staff had told them to line up outside their doors then tied them all together with a rope that would legitimately reach the moon.

The rope was prickly and coarse and had rubbed an angry red mark into the skin around his middle despite the training singlet he was wearing.

The whistle blew. Carter set off at a jog, keeping Ethan and Isaac on either side of him in his peripheral vision.

They kept the line. The whistle blew again before they’d reached the twenty-metre line, and the team started jogging backwards.

It blew for a third time, and they switched to forwards again.

Carter’s calves were burning with the constant changes and the sun beating down on them was torturous.

But he kept going just like every other man he was tied to.

Besides, the physical pain matched the mental anguish that had kept him company since he’d walked out on Indy last night.

He should’ve just told her about Beau, and Aaron, and everything else, but he’d seen nothing but red when she’d repeated Ray’s words about the drama he’d apparently started.

If the training staff thought he was at fault for the grand final loss, then he was o?cially screwed.

He may as well pack away his black and teal and pull on the Vikings colours—if they even wanted him.

What was he going to do if he couldn’t play football?

Fuck.

Indy was the only good thing going for him right now and he’d stuffed that up too.

By the time the team made it to the other side, there wasn’t an inch of Carter that wasn’t covered in sweat.

Jonathan stood at the end of the run and gave two short blasts on his whistle, letting them finally stop.

The trainers ran water bottles down the line and Carter guzzled a few mouthfuls and squirted his face.

He winced as the water hit his cut. All Indy had done yesterday was show that she cared and he’d shoved it in her face by getting angry and refusing to answer.

Damn, she’d undoubtedly rebuilt all her walls.

He’d knock them down again and vow to never give her a reason to put them back up.

‘Well done, gentlemen,’ Jonathan said, clapping his hands. ‘You’re finally starting to look like the wall of Scorpions I want other teams to fear.’

Carter’s relief was short-lived when none of the training staff untied them.

He shot more water in his mouth. They’d had to endure the whole day tied together and he o?cially knew more about the toileting habits of his teammates than he’d ever wanted to.

The station employees had failed to hide any of their laughter when the team had lined up for breakfast and lunch, then awkwardly sat in a weird configuration.

Indy hadn’t even looked at him. Again. It was bad.

‘We’ve got one more exercise before you’re untied,’ Jonathan continued. ‘Follow Ray.’

The rope tugged Carter back across the field, but at a walk.

‘Where do you reckon we’re going?’ Ethan asked over his shoulder. ‘Dangle us off the cliff for the last person to pull back up?’

Carter chuckled then remembered Beau was one of their anchors. ‘Depends who the last person is.’

Ray led them towards the track that would take them to the top of the mountain but swerved around the old shearing shed at the last moment. The wooden structure held good memories for Carter, memories that strengthened his determination to make things right with Indy.

Beau’s laughter rang out from the beginning of the line and Carter scowled.

He’d felt sick last night when he’d turned from the buffet table to see Beau flirting with Indy.

Was he into her? She was gorgeous, but his.

Not that Beau would know that. Or did he?

Did he know how Carter felt about Indy and was doing it to torment him?

But how the hell would that have happened?

‘Oi, Ethan,’ he hissed.

‘What?’ The big guy slowed his pace a little and Carter pushed forwards so they didn’t have to shout.

‘Have you heard Beau say anything about me and Indy? Or any other whispers?’

‘Nothing, but you know I’ve got an ear out and will tell you if I do.

’ He shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t worry about your secret coming out.

I saw Beau saying goodbye to his girlfriend on Sunday, and trust me when I say that the farewell was a lot frostier than the greeting.

He’s probably just flexing his flirting muscles while they’re on the outs. ’

Carter nodded. ‘That’s pretty normal for them. Maddie’s one of the Scorpions’ cheerleaders and she and Beau have been on and off for years now.’

Carter was jerked back by his waist, cutting off the conversation. Beau didn’t know about him and Indy. It was a small relief, one he’d gladly take.

Carter walked into the empty paddock behind Ethan before lining up next to him. They were facing a dam. He looked down the line. Some of the guys wore excited grins, probably thinking they were going swimming. But Carter knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

‘Fellas, listen up,’ Ray said, standing next to Jonathan, who wore a suspicious grin. ‘It’s time to cool off.’

A few cheerful shouts and whoops rang out.

‘But to get there you have to maintain your line through the mud and swim across the dam together. Then we’ll untie you.’

Ethan raised his hand.

‘What, Gray?’

‘Is this paddock really empty?’

Jonathan chuckled. ‘It is now.’ He nodded to the left.

Carter looked over the heads of his teammates to see Indy and the others loading sheep with the biggest balls he’d ever seen onto the back of the truck they’d taken to Denarlie. Rams.

‘So maybe it won’t just be mud you’ll be stepping in,’ Ray said with a shrug.

Grumbling replaced the cheers.

Isaac clapped his hands together with a shout. ‘Boys, I want this fucking rope off me, so let’s get it together and fucking do this. This is a strip job.’

Carter glanced back to where Indy was working as he quickly rid himself of his singlet, shorts, shoes and socks.

Soon the whole team was standing there in their budgie smugglers.

He’d been ready for this and had on his bright green pair.

Isaac wore a sunglasses-required yellow and Ethan had joined in with a highlighter-pink pair.

All the way down the line, the boys wore bright colours.

Laughter came from the training staff as cameras came out.

A wolf whistle pierced the air, drawing everyone’s attention to the women.

Nova had her fingers still in her mouth and all of them were grinning as they stared, Indy included.

Although Carter couldn’t see exactly who she was looking at from the distance, he believed it had to be him and he stood a little taller.

‘Let’s go!’

‘Into the mud, fellas!’

‘Keep the line!’

‘Yeah, or they’ll make us do it again.’

‘Let’s do this!’

They charged towards the mud and sank immediately.

The squelching was loud, the mud cold, and Carter had to shift his mind from the nasties that might enjoy life in this environment.

Thankfully, there weren’t any mud crabs in the mountains.

Or so he hoped. His breathing deepened with the exertion of pulling out one leg at a time, only to have it sink again with the next step.

‘What the fuck!’ Isaac growled as he grabbed at the mud with his hands to pull himself out. ‘This isn’t mud, it’s bloody brown super glue.’

Carter laughed but continued the battle until a shout for help came from his other side. Ethan was so deep in the mud it was almost touching his budgie smugglers.

‘Man down,’ Carter yelled. He held out a hand to grasp Ethan’s as Matty grabbed his other one.

They yanked him forwards so hard, Ethan flew out of the holes he’d made and landed on his front.

Carter landed on his bum. Matty was on his behind too, wearing what Carter guessed was a matching surprised expression.

They laughed hard, the men around them joining in.

Ethan rose off his stomach and started crawling through the mud on all fours, looking like a muddy, oversized toddler. But he was making better progress.

Carter swapped a look with Matty. ‘Everyone on your knees and crawl!’

The yell was passed down the line and laughter followed them as they headed for the water.

Finally, they reached the dam and waded deeper into the murky water.

The top of the water was disturbingly warm but as wading turned to swimming, the coolness was a welcome relief.

Carter kept his mouth shut and his head high as he froggy kicked to the other side.

Surprisingly, they were all still swimming in line. Maybe the rope had worked.

Climbing up the opposite bank, Carter slapped Isaac on the back while Ethan gave a loud cheer.

‘We made it!’

‘Now get this fucking rope off us!’ the captain yelled, and Carter laughed.

Stretching out his back, his gaze sought Indy’s, but she was no longer watching.

The women had loaded the rams and were securing the truck.

As much as he wanted to forget the shit situation he was in, as much as he should be worrying about his future career options and the game he loved, he wanted him and Indy to be all right more.

He was going to make it up to her, even if it took all night.