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A week later, Carter walked along the path between the bunk rooms for the last time.

His bag was heavy, slung over his shoulder, and the sky was way too sunny.

Camp was over. He’d o?cially been here for three weeks, one of those completely without Indy.

If a commentator was judging his weekly performances, they’d definitely call this last five days his best yet and he was sure they’d say the reason was a lack of female distraction, something Jonathan would undoubtedly agree with.

But the truth was that Carter had thrown himself into training to distract himself from thinking of her.

He blocked everything out, and the only thing his new tactic hadn’t helped with was his conversions.

His mental preparation was blocked by thoughts of lying in the grass with Indy, kissing her in the sunshine.

‘Can you believe we’re actually going home?’ Ethan said, coming up beside him. ‘It’s almost like we’ve been in a different world while we’ve been here and going home’s like facing reality again. Don’t you think?’

‘Yeah, I do. It’s going to be an adjustment.’ From Indy’s world to his own.

‘Was that your manager on the phone this morning?’

They’d reached the bus and Carter threw his bag in the underneath compartment and waited for Ethan to do the same.

‘It was. Tom was giving me a sponsor update before I got back to consistent phone reception. I’ve been dropped by two, but they weren’t my main ones.

Everyone else is secure and I’ve got some ad campaigns to do when I get back. ’

‘Nice one. Must feel good leaving here knowing you’re solid with your sponsors and your team.’

Carter looked around at his teammates as they crowded the bus. Beau stood with Dodds by the door, as if anyone else would dare take the back seat from them. Isaac and some of the rookies stood nearby, tossing a football, while others made the trek from the bunk rooms with their luggage.

‘Yeah, it’s much more than I’d hoped for at the beginning of camp. I just wanted to get through it, you know? But I’m leaving with respect for standing up to Aaron and Beau, plus a great mate.’ He nudged Ethan, who grinned back.

‘Me too, friend. I’m so keen for the season ahead.’

Jonathan gave a blast on the whistle around his neck. ‘Gather round, gentlemen, and listen up.’

They all shu?ed forwards, and Carter caught the eye of Nova, who was standing next to Jonathan. He nodded at her, but she didn’t return it and he couldn’t blame her. She probably thought it was his fault she’d lost her best worker.

‘Right, a couple of announcements before we board the bus and head for home,’ Jonathan said.

‘On behalf of the entire Scorpions club, I’d like to thank Nova and her crew here at Windale Mountain Station for hosting us.

The food has been amazing, the facilities next level and your team very accommodating.

We can’t thank you enough for having us for so long. A round of applause for the team.’

Carter clapped along with the rest of the men.

Nova gave a little nod of acknowledgement. ‘You’re all welcome. Travel safely, have a great season and we hope to see you again.’

Carter wasn’t sure she meant that. She stepped back under the verandah with Janet and Theresa. Mara and Emery were standing a few metres away, Blossom the baby dear snacking on the plants in the garden near them. There was a giant Indy-sized hole between them.

‘Secondly, the coaching staff and I met online last night with Jeff, our CEO, and the team back at the club. As most of you are aware, Isaac Stringer has decided that he will be retiring at the end of the season.’ Jonathan paused for the applause and catcalls that rang out.

They were really well deserved. ‘We’re very lucky that Isaac has agreed to again step into the role of captain for his final season. ’

Carter cheered with everyone else. Isaac waved a hand over his head.

‘We’ve decided to do something a little different for the Scorpions this year and appoint a co-captain. We think it’s the optimum time for Isaac to mentor a new captain to walk in his footsteps and thankfully, he’s agreed.’

Carter swore he could’ve heard a pin drop with the silence that fell over the group at Jonathan’s announcement. Jonathan motioned for Isaac to join him and the captain stood at the front of the group.

‘To be honest, I doubt any of you will be appropriate for the role,’ Isaac said, making them laugh again. ‘But luckily they’ve given me a few weeks to stalk you all and decide who’s worthy.’

Carter’s attention wandered as Isaac listed the assets they were looking for in a potential team leader.

Would he miss Indy less once he got on the bus?

When he wasn’t surrounded by reminders of her?

He held onto the hope that it might hurt less but doubt hovered in the shadows.

Indy was on the mountain, in the sunshine, the grass, the light breeze that tickled the leaves.

All of those things would be in Sydney. Despair filled him.

She might be in all those things that surrounded him, but he wasn’t connected to them, just like his connection with her had been severed the moment she decided not to tell him where she was.

Emery had stood firm despite him asking the same question every time he’d seen her.

She’d only shaken her head. After he boarded the bus, he wouldn’t even be able to ask her where Indy was. Should he try to find her on his own?

Ethan elbowed him in the ribs as applause broke out again when Isaac left the front of the group.

‘Great camp, guys,’ Jonathan said before pointing to the bus. ‘Let’s go home.’

Home. Without Indy. She didn’t want him to find her. Didn’t love him. Somehow, he had to accept it and move on.