Page 39 of Five Things I See in You

“How did the meeting go?”

“I’ll tell you later. Right now, we need to celebrate. You’re in the final,” she says.

Chapter 24

Jordan

Four twenty in the morning.

I’ve been sorting papers at the kitchen table since before four. Copies of my statement in a folder with corners worn soft from being opened so often. Too much coffee to have any hope of sleeping.

I leave the overhead light off and use only the lights above the counter. If Noa wakes up, she’ll think I just came out for water.

The board opened a preliminary investigation. At first, I clung to that word. Preliminary. Now it only means they haven’t decided what to do with me and my career yet.

I gave my first statement four days before the semifinal. I answered every question honestly, though I didn’t volunteer anything they hadn’t asked for.

The meeting on game day was a formality. Confirming dates and submitting additional documents. The final hearing will be after the championship game. They agreed to postpone it.

Noa asked me about it when we got back from the semifinal, sitting on the living room couch.

I told her it was an administrative matter involving the club. Some paperwork that still needed sorting out. Technically, it wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t the truth either, and I struggled to meet her eyes as I said it.

I don’t think she believed me. But I can’t worry her before the biggest game of the season.

When I return to the bedroom, she shifts to make room without quite waking up. I lie beside her, and she drapes an arm around my waist.

She plays the final the day after tomorrow, so I stay still until her breathing settles again.

***

On the day of the final, I arrive at the stadium with plenty of time to spare, but the stands are already almost full. Callum is wearing an Emeralds scarf and a jersey with his sister’s number on the back. Mireya checks the seat numbers and leads us down the row. With the game being played so close to Seattle, the stands are a sea of green.

“Here.”

I sit between them. I spent most of the drive wishing the game would start. Now that kickoff is almost here, my stomach is in my throat.

Everyone stands as the players emerge from the tunnel.

Noa looks toward us and raises a hand. I don’t realize I’m digging my nails into my palm until I notice the marks a little later.

The first goal comes in the twentieth minute. A free kick at the edge of the box, a failed clearance, and the ball in the net.

We’re down 1–0.

“There’s plenty of time. Everybody stay calm,” Mireya says, though her bouncing right leg suggests she isn’t so sure herself.

Callum leans forward with his elbows on his knees. I watch Noa adjust her ponytail, speak to a teammate, and return to her position.

Zoe ties it up soon afterward from a corner, meeting Jade’s delivery with a powerful header. She raises her fist toward the bench and runs to celebrate in front of the fans before her teammates can catch her.

Mireya screams beside my ear, and Callum grabs my shoulders and shakes me as if I’d scored the goal myself.

Hades is on her feet by the bench, shouting instructions at Iris.

We reach halftime tied. Callum gets some water and explains his theory that we should be winning three-nil by now.

“Or losing,” Mireya counters. “Their striker slipped when she was one-on-one with the keeper.”