Passion on the Pitch: A Contemporary Sports Romance

by Maya Hughes

  “I’ll take a beer,” Aedan said with a chuckle. Aunt Aoife was always free with a bevy.

  “What kind? I’ve got Yuengling, Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Heineken, and Stella.”

  “You running an off-license or a bar out of this place Auntie?”

  “Well you know, I’ve got to have options for my guests when they stop by. Between bridge group, over 50s rugby club, and the Irish dancing group, I should probably get a liquor license for this place.”

  “So where are the others?”

  “Oh, you mean my so-called children?”

  “Yeah, I thought they would be down here.”

  “Seamus is working on a project over in Seattle until mid-week. Bryan is back in Boston trying to sell the house, and Siobhan has finals coming up, so she’s locked herself in the library and refuses to come home. I think she’s staying at her new boyfriend’s house. She doesn’t think I know about him. I told her you would be here, but as you can see, she’s not here, so remember this when you start giving out tickets to the new season.”

  “Don’t worry; I’ll keep it all in mind. When you said they were all out, I thought you meant out for the day. I’ll have to send them all a message letting them know what a load of crap it is that they would miss their long-lost cousin’s return to the States.”

  “You be sure that you do. Two people laying on the guilt at a time is always helpful. The roast is just about finished.”

  “Just what I needed—a nice Sunday roast dinner on a Saturday. Do you need any help?”

  “Oh please, from you?”

  “I’ll have you know I’m quite the cook,” he told her indignantly. “With only three hours of training per day during the season, and being on the worst diet ever, I had to learn a few tricks or I was going to murder my taste buds with shite.”

  “Well in that case, you can work on the potatoes and the stuffing.”

  “On it.”

  They spent the evening talking about this premiership season, the training Aedan would be doing, and the World Cup. When they got to talk of Kate, Aedan let his aunt know they broke up.

  “Good. She just didn’t seem like the right kind of girl for you.”

  “She didn’t?”

  “Of course not!”

  “So, who’s the right kind of girl for me?” Aedan couldn’t smother the grin that broke out across his face. Aunt Aoife was a tell-it-like-it is woman and he always enjoyed her candidness.

  “One that can make you laugh, doesn’t mind giving you a piece of her mind, and doesn’t walk around like she’s got a stick up her arse all the time.”

  “Aunt Aoife!” Aedan gasped in mock shock.

  “Oh hush, like you haven’t heard me give out to your cousins about their lady friends. I swear it would take a miracle for you boys to bring home an actual normal, nice woman. Couldn’t find one if your life depended on it, the lot of you. Always looking for something shiny instead of something solid.”

  “Well I’ll have you know—I did meet someone.”

  “Ya did? Why am I just now hearing about this?”

  “It’s new. Very new. She’s pretty great. I think you would really like her.”

  “Really now? Well tell me all about this ‘pretty great’ woman.”

  “Her name’s Jessica Montgomery, she’s an actuary, she’s lived in DC for a while now, and has a way of putting me in my place and making me laugh all at the same time.”

  “Now I need to meet this woman. What does your mum think about her?”

  “I haven’t actually told mum yet. I only met her last night.” He said sheepishly.

  “I’m getting the scoop before Eileen. She’ll be so jealous," she said rubbing, her hands together gleefully.

  "I can’t wait to tell her.”

  “Aunt Aoife you can’t tell her! She’d kill me.”

  “Hmm, be sure to make it worth my while to keep these lips sealed, then.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Ten games this season—two tickets each—and you have to get that cutie Deano give me a lap dance,” Aedan spit out some of his beer all over the table.

  “Aunt Aoife!” She gave him a smug look as she handed him a tea towel to clean up his mess.

  “What?” she asked, trying to look innocent.

  “Five games, one ticket and a kiss on the cheek.”

  “Seven games, two tickets and a kiss on the lips.” She smiled at him her eyes twinkling. Truth be told, he would have given her tickets to as many games as she wanted, but he knew she loved the challenge.

  “Fine. Seven games, two tickets each, and a kiss from Deano. You know he’s been after you anyway since you baked him those cinnamon rolls last season. I’d like you to meet her before I head back. James was trying to get me to come back this week, but I told him I had to spend time with my favorite aunt.”

  “Yeah, sure—you just don’t want to be around that muppet any longer than you have to. I don’t know why you don’t drop him. He’s only out for himself.”

  “He is, but it’s in his best interest to make sure that he gets me the best deals, and he doesn’t bother me too much, so I’ve let it run.”

  “I know you know about all this stuff, but I don’t trust the little weasel.”

  “Of course not Aunt Aoife.” Aedan took the last gulp from his beer. “And on that note, I’m going to hit the road.”

  “I don’t know why you won’t just stay here. You know there’s room.”

  “I refuse to get into another drinking match with you, and you know that’s what would happen if I stayed.”

  “Not my fault you can’t hold your liquor,” she mumbled under her breath.

  “As I was saying, no drinking matches, and I know you’ve got a parade of suitors strolling through here. Wouldn’t want to block any of those gentleman callers who want to stop over for a visit.”

  “Aedan! You shut it, you little pain in the arse!”

  As she walked Aedan to the front door, she gave him a big hug and a Tupperware full of leftovers. I want you here at least a few more times before you leave, and don’t forget to bring your new lady friend with you.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and a big hug.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll try to come visit with her later this week.” Aedan stepped out into the cool night air.

  “And give me your fixture list and let me know which matches you’re getting me ticket to, so I can plan my schedule.”

  “Why don’t you let me know which dates you have available, Ms. Social Butterfly, and I’ll get you tickets.”

  Aunt Aoife grabbed Aedan in another bear hug. “You know I love you, Aed.”

  He hugged her back just as strongly, “You know I know you too Aunt Aoife. I’ll give you a ring tomorrow.”

  9

  Although Jess, Sam, and Meg all worked within eight blocks of each other in the city, the chances for a lunch date for any of them were few and far between. It always seemed like two of the three were either under the work crunch from hell, or traveling. But it seemed that once the ladies heard about Jess’s new male friend, they were making time get the lunch date in as soon as possible.

  Sam guilted Jess to the nth degree that she hadn’t gotten the full scoop from Meg and didn’t want to talk about it just over the phone. So, even though she was in the final sprint of her big data modeling for a huge client, Jess carved out the time to see them both while carb-loading on a delicious sandwich and soup during her Sunday suck-day of work.

  Speaking of one of the devils, Sam wandered into the restaurant looking at her phone so intently that she walked right into the hostess stand. Jess and Meg both saw her and laughed as she made her way over, rubbing her hip.

  “That stand just jumped out of nowhere.” She sat down in the chair across from Jess and made a big show of putting her phone in her bag before putting it on the floor.

  “Oh, now we know this is a big deal. Sam actually put her phone away for this lunch—not face down, not in her lap, but in her purse
on the floor.” Meg always harped on Sam for not being present and always having her phone welded to her hand.

  “I need to get the details of the night I missed out on. It doesn’t sound like I was missed, but that’s apparently a good thing. So, spill it. Spill it now!”

  “Spill what? Work is good, the data modeling is going great, and I should be able to wrap it up by the end of this week. And I’m pissed I’m working on the weekend.”

  ‘Damnit woman, you know that’s not what I’m talking about. I want to hear all about the guy."

  “You mean Aedan?”

  Sam scooted her chair closer. “Yes, I mean Aedan.” Just then the waiter appeared and Sam huffed as he asked for their drink orders. Meg and Jess already knew what Sam would order—the goat cheese burger—and they had already checked the menus, so they went ahead and placed their food orders as well.

  “OK, now that that’s out of the way, you need to dish. Give me all the details about Aedan.”

  “He’s from Ireland, visiting here for a few weeks. His aunt lives over in Alexandria. He’s an excellent cook, he loves Netflix binges, and he’s really sweet.”

  Meg and Sam both aww’ed. “He’s only here for a few weeks?”

  “I know; it really sucks, but I’m planning on just going with the flow and being chill about it.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not like we haven’t all been there. So, when do you see him next?” Meg said grabbing one of the rolls out of the bread basket.

  “We’re going out tonight to the concert in the botanical garden. I thought it would be fun, plus it’s free, so I figured it would take the pressure off. He paid for all the drinks and the taxi on Friday night, and I felt bad, so I wanted to show him we don’t have to spend a bunch of money when we hang out.”

  Why do you feel bad? Does he not work?” Sam grabbed one of the rolls and started adding butter to it before taking a couple of bites.

  “He works. He said he plays soccer back in the UK. I’ve heard about what some of the DC United guys have to do to make rent in the off-season, so I figured I just wanted him to know he doesn’t have to spend money to impress me or anything.”

  “I’m pretty sure soccer players make a bit more over in the UK.” Meg chimed in as she chomped on some more bread from the bread basket.

  Jess wrinkled her nose. “Could you open your mouth a little wider? I can’t quite make out all of your molars.” Turning back to Sam, she just shrugged. “Maybe he’s making more, but he doesn’t exactly strike me as a cocky, loaded athlete. He was super sweet—even made me croissants for breakfast. Real, actual, from-scratch croissants.

  “You’re shitting me!” Meg choked, spewing some of her chewed bread onto Sam’s arm, who promptly wiped it off and shot Meg a glare that promised retribution.

  “I shit you not,” Jess answered, ignoring the exchange.

  Sam scooted a bit away from Meg. “I certainly want to meet this guy then. And now, for the actual reason Meg and I are here—how was he in the sack?”

  “Ugh, not you too!”

  Just then, the waiter appeared table-side with their drinks in hand. Saved by the server! He put down the drinks and Jess gulped part of hers down.

  “Don’t think this is getting you out of spilling the details.”

  Jess dug in her heels. “You know I don’t kiss and tell.”

  “You know that I’m going to get chewed out for not answering my phone for a whole sixty minutes during what should be my day off—or at least my lunch break off—so you better start talking,” Sam grabbed the butter knife and jabbed it at Jess.

  “Come on Jess, give us something! We’re dying here; the drought has been hard and long.”

  “Fine, fine, you badgers! I will tell you this. I wasn’t exactly able to walk at my normal pace these past couple of days. Being with Aedan was an experience unlike any that I’ve had before and it’s really going to suck to go back to ‘unsatisfying’ after this.”

  “Who says you have to?” Meg piped up.

  “He’s leaving in two weeks; I’m not going to get my hopes up.”

  Sam laid her hand on Jess’s hand. “We’re not saying you should either, but he sounds pretty great as it is. I mean, he baked for you. That’s some serious stuff.”

  “We’re just saying—don’t immediately shut things down just because it’s only going to be two more weeks. Maybe it won’t be. You must have about three months’ worth of vacation saved up at this point. Who says you can’t make a little trip over to the UK to visit sometime soon? Think about it, sweetie.”

  Just then, a giant tray of food arrived at their table side holding their mains courses.

  Jess thought about it. She was worried that she was getting ahead of herself—not because of anything Aedan had done, but because of her own past. He had been great; this was the first time that she wasn’t completely second-guessing everything with a guy, and that was a bit scary. Were they just supposed to click like this so well from the beginning? As she ate her food and the girls chatted about what else was going on in their lives, she checked her phone. An unread message was there waiting for her.

  A: Looking forward to tonight. Can’t wait to see what you have planned.

  J: Just make sure you don’t have any drinks today; need to keep those kidneys nice and healthy. How do you feel about ice baths and how attached are you to your kidneys?

  A: Nut! :)

  10

  Aedan put his phone down on the sideline bench and ran out onto the pitch. James had made arrangements for Aedan to come and practice with DC United. It was a bit unusual, as the off-season was short and any kind of practice was discouraged, but James thought it would be good for his profile and Aedan just wanted a chance to kick around a ball for a bit. There was a chance once his Premier League career was over that he could pick up a lucrative contract with an American team for a season or two like Beckham had done.

  The guys on the team were really welcoming. Aedan felt kind of like a big brother because of the way they were all crowding around him and asking a ton of questions.

  “What’s the best part about playing football in the UK?” asked one of the team members. He was a tall, lean guy with a mop of hair that looked so heavy that it was a wonder his neck could even hold it up. He was warming up beside Aedan, swinging his leg back and forth, bringing it higher and higher with each kick.

  “I haven’t really played anywhere else, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but I’d say the energy of the crowd. When they get chanting and singing it’s like the whole stadium is a living organism filled with an energy that’s hard to contain. But still nothing like South America. They have to be some of the most intense fans I’ve ever seen.” Aedan began doing the same warm-up. A shorter, stockier, brick shithouse of a dude started doing side lunges on his other side.

  “What do you think is the biggest difference between the way football is seen in the US versus the rest of the world?” the shorter team member asked.

  Is football even seen here in America?” Aedan chuckled.

  The guys groaned. “Yeah, we know. It’s like we’re invisible.”

  “That’s probably the biggest difference. So many people here seem to just see it as a kid’s sport. No one really takes it seriously because there isn’t big money in it.”

  “Trust me, we know all about that. We all dream of a Premiership contract, but hey—as long as we’re doing what we love to do—that seems like a reward enough. At least until it’s bill time, then I think we all wonder what the hell we’re doing.” Greg laughed as he started in on his lunges.

  “You never know where life will lead you. A few Americans have made it over. Who knows? The next ones could be you guys,” Aedan said, trying to give them a pep talk.

  “It would be pretty sweet. I can only imagine what it must be like,” Mike said grabbing a couple of balls from the mesh bag at their feet. “Thanks for coming and working out with us today; it’s going to be real fun, but don’
t think we’ll take it too easy on you.” Mike said giving him a playful nudge on the shoulder.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Being on the pitch and working out with the team was doing wonders to reinvigorate Aedan. Running alongside them and training with them had him excited about getting back on the pitch with his teammates.

  With more than thirty weeks per season, long stretches of time off were coveted by all football players. Sometimes you just get sick of the traveling, training, and not actually being able to play as much as you like, but this training session was making him miss all his teammates, fans, and playing in a big way.

  Some of the players had some amazing skills and a few he knew could cut it in the Premier League. It must be weird for them to be competing without the fanfare, although he did imagine that it made it a lot easier to have a life out of the spotlight. There were a couple of team photographers there. Aedan was sure that was James’ doing, but he didn’t mind. They stayed off the pitch and weren’t in his face. Not like the paparazzi who would be circling looking for a story, trying to find out if he were leaving Chelsea, and just why he was in the US. A nice team photo op that may bring a little bit more visibility to the DC team was the least he could do after the afternoon of fun they provided him.

  He promised some of the guys he’d arrange for some tickets to a match this season, if they made their way to the UK. He hoped that they would; it was refreshing playing with guys who just did it because they loved it, not because they were hoping for international stardom.

  After an hour on the pitch running around with the guys and another hour in the gym and he was on the way back to his hotel. He was smiling partially because of the training session, but mainly because Aedan knew that in just a few hours he would be seeing Jess again. He’d never had a woman get under his skin this quickly before. He was practically jogging the last few blocks to the hotel. He’d had a quick shower before leaving the stadium, but he needed to go through a few things in the hotel room before their date, and shave before she picked him up. It was going to be a spectacular night!