“Jesus.” He blinked again.
“Are you all right? Do you need a break? Sub?”
“What?” he asked, sitting up. “No, I’m not coming off. I can take the free.”
I grinned at him, more relieved than I would care to admit, but wondering how much of it was his damned pride. I pulled up his top and pressed a hand to him, checking for injuries and furiously ignoring the incredible body I was touching.
Get a grip…not of him…mind out of gutter, focus now, fantasise later…
“Lily, what are you-“ he winced and I knew I’d found a sore spot.
I pressed a little harder, but nothing felt broken – says the girl with minimal first aid training. “Do you want the medic to come and check you over?”
He took my hand in his and stopped my poking. “I’m fine, Lil. Little dazed, but fine.”
I was totally still staring at his abs while I held up his shirt. I heard him chuckle, but felt a tad mesmerised.
I passed that up? Of course, because…because…I’m sure there was a good reason at the time.
“Lil, everyone’s staring,” he whispered, taking my other hand and leaning towards me.
“God, sorry…” I finally looked into his eyes and felt like I was going to melt a little, which was so far from getting a grip. “You sure you’re okay?”
He seemed to search my face, his eyes tender but his expression guarded. “Your concern is flattering, but I’m fine. Let me take my free.”
“Yes, right, good.” I hopped up and gave him space to do the same. “You’ll be pleased to note you got taken down just inside the penalty box.”
Austin looked down, then back at me, a grin spreading across his face. “Excellent.”
“Right, he’s fine,” I said to the referee, who blew his whistle and the teams dispersed.
I veered towards Liam as I walked off the pitch. “You watch the trouble you get your team into, Liam. They won’t forgive you if you get them sent off.”
“Lily, it’s not like that. I-”
“Save it.”
I hurried off to take my place next to coach, not wanting to see the look of dejection on Liam’s face, or hear the apology in his voice. The guy was a master manipulator, I could see that now, and I wasn’t about to let myself fall for his ‘pity me’ act.
I whooped with the others as the referee gave all three players a yellow card.
The two teams took their places and Austin faced off against their keeper. He found me, nodded and winked before he took the shot. It curved perfectly into the top left corner of the net and I knew what that look had been; ‘this one’s for you’.
Be still my beating heart.
No, it didn’t mean anything, we were just friends, he was just grateful… For what? I didn’t know.
My stellar assistant coaching? Ha! That was laughable.
“Four boys fawning over you,” a voice beside me said and I jumped, “and you’ve barely been here three months.”
“Cass, I wish I could say it was a pleasure,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the game.
“You don’t refute it then.”
I laughed. “I didn’t realise it required refuting. But, I shall if it makes you feel better.”
“What is it about you, Lily?”
Something in her voice made me pause and look at her. “Pardon?”
“What is it about you that makes people just fall at your feet?”
I turned back to the game. “I haven’t seen anyone falling at my feet, Cass. Seb latched onto the first…well, second person he saw. Liam Anders is a perpetual flirt. And I don’t know who else you could be talking about. Nice, Jax! Give him an opening!”
“Do you really not? Or, are you too…well, I don’t actually know what word suits it best? Modest? Or, vain?”
“Cass, if you have something to say, just say it. I don’t have time for your bullshit.”
“I’m only here to give you a warning; you hurt either of those boys and I will hurt you.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Neither Austin or Williams deserve their heart broken. And, I will certainly repay the favour if you hurt either of them.”
“Wow, I mean, I knew you were a bitch, Cass. But, this? Hunter has no interest in me beyond friendship, no matter what you chose to spread around the school and beyond. As for Austin, we understand each other, and you can be assured no heartbreak is going to occur there.”
“You return his affections?”
“Who said anything about affections, Cass? Austin and I are friends; nothing more has been offered or accepted.”
“And Anders?”
“What about him?”
“You heeded my warning about him?”
“No, I did not heed your warning about him. I’m not stupid enough to fall for the likes of him.” Of course, you’re not, you liar. “I didn’t need some half-baked, insincere warning from you.”
“But, you know what sort of guy he is?” Her tone now was at odds with her previously, angry one. She sounded…worried about me.
“What does it matter to you what happens between me and Liam? For that matter, what does it matter to you what happens to me at all? Hunter and Austin, I get. And, seriously, you can believe me when I say nothing is going on with either of them, neither will it. Me and anyone else, though? You can piss off where that’s concerned.”
She stammered for a moment, then turned on her heel and walked away. Stormed away may have been more appropriate.
The game finally finished with Netherfield winning five-two. The Military College boys looked bummed and more than a couple of them seemed to yell at Liam. My guess was that Liam had told them they’d get Austin red carded and that would set them up. Such a shame Austin’s temper was less volatile than Liam’s.
Still, the teams shook hands as they were supposed to. I watched the Netherfield boys wander towards the rest of us, laughing and jostling each other in the high that was their most-deserved win.
A tall, blonde figure ran over to Austin and threw herself on him. I laughed at both the annoyed shock on his face and at the fact that Fleur had felt so insecure about him she’d actually run.
“Lily!” I heard Hunter and saw him jogging towards me.
“Hunter! Great game!”
He picked me up and spun me around, and I giggled, holding onto him tightly; I knew better than that he’d drop me, but my survival instincts were strong.
When he stopped spinning me, he didn’t let me go. We were both flushed and laughing as he looked down at me. I’d never noticed before just how stupidly tall he was. And, I mean makes-you-giddy tall, in a good way. Neither had I noticed his eyes. I mean, I’d noticed his eyes, they were a ridiculously pale blue. But, I’d never noticed how sexy they were all lit up with laughter, his dark lashes framing them, his almost black hair falling over his forehead.
“Lily, I…” He grinned at me.
I wasn’t surprised those eyes made girls swoon left and right. One day, a very lucky girl was going to get to look into those eyes for the rest of her life. But, that girl would never be me, I realised.
Don’t get me wrong, Hunter was actually everything a girl should want in a guy – if he stopped hiding the real Hunter away from the world – but, when I looked up into his eyes, I was looking for something else. Even if I didn’t know what that-
“Williams, photo!” I heard Austin yell.
And, it hit me. When I looked up into Hunter’s very desirable eyes, I was looking for a hint of grey in them. I was looking for eyes that turned the colour of a stormy sky when I teased him or flirted with him, eyes that were more blue when they looked at his brother, eyes that didn’t laugh quite as much but were so much…just more when they did…
“Lily-”
“Williams!” Jax called, interrupting whatever Hunter had been about to say.
Hunter made a face. “I’ll see you later.”
I s
miled up at him. “That you will.”
He kissed my cheek ever so lingeringly then hurried off. I touched my cheek, it suddenly dawning on me that perhaps everyone wasn’t so wrong after all.
“No…”
I felt horrified. Not at the idea Hunter liked me exactly, that was flattering and kind of lovely. I was horrified that, if it was true, I’d let it happen.
Still, he hadn’t said anything and I would just have to find a way to make it not true. For his sake, if not mine.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Austin
I watched Williams jog over and ignored Jax’s elbow. It seemed, though, he wasn’t about to let me ignore it.
“You should do something about that,” he said.
“How many times do I have to tell you, it’s none of my business?”
Jax scoffed. “I saw the way you two looked at each other when she came running on after you got taken out.”
“You make me sound like the damsel in distress and she my gallant knight.”
“Nothing wrong with the guy being the damsel now and then.” Jax shrugged.
I looked at him. “You have a very strange notion of the world, brother.”
“Jesus boys, line up like you’re not a bunch of three-year-olds with no idea what a straight line is,” Lily laughed and started directing us about.
I spared a quick glance for Fleur; the only way I’d been able to disentangle myself from her was to plead team photo duties. Thankfully, it had stopped whatever was about to occur between Williams and Lily, too.
“Come on, come on. Smile!” Cass said, pulling faces.
We took a couple of serious and a couple of fun shots and were ready to do the whole trophy thing.
“Lily, get in there!” Cass suddenly yelled.
The whole team agreed and Brickwell jumped up from kneeling in the front row to grab her.
“No, no, I don’t-”
“Shut up and look pretty,” Lucas said.
“She doesn’t need much help with that,” Gerald laughed.
Lily blushed and took a place in the middle of the team. I imagine her tiny frame looked almost lost among us. Cass snapped away. As the boys stood up, I grabbed Lily’s waist and hoisted her up. The rest of the team followed suit, holding her up, and Lily laughed as we cheered for her.
“Okay, okay. You big burly boys have me at your mercy,” she squealed. “Now, put me down and go get your damn trophy.”
The team lowered her until I was the only one holding her. She gently touched the side of my face, staring into my eyes as she smiled. I wondered what on earth was going through her mind. Having her that close to me, I sure as hell knew what was going through mine.
“There they are,” she said, more to herself than me.
“There what are?” I asked.
She blinked and her cheeks flushed. “Nothing. Just the way your eyes change colour. Just…” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, go get your trophy.” She leant up and kissed my cheek before pushing away from me.
“Aye aye, Assistant Coach,” I chuckled, saluting her.
“Don’t you tease me,” she said, looking stern.
I sobered. “Never.”
A look passed over her face too quickly for me to recognise. I nodded to her and went to join the team.
We were given our trophy and had more pictures with it, and Coach and Lily, who was picked up sideways by the boys in the front row and laid across their knees.
Then, we were left to our own devices. A few of the boys jogged around the pitch, singing, as they carried the trophy around, others were celebrating with friends and family. The referee was nowhere in sight, but someone else was. I walked over to him.
“I think you and I have unfinished business, Anders.”
He grinned. “Do you think Lily would be pleased to see us fighting over her like your aunt’s dogs over a scrap of meat?”
Oh, I was so ready to bash his smarmy face in. “You’re calling her meat?”
Anders grin was anything but friendly. “No, you’re right. Slut would be more appropriate.”
I shook my arms out. “You watch what you say about her, Anders. We both know you’re just bitter she didn’t choose you.”
“I would say by the look of her in Hunter Williams’ arms, she didn’t choose you either. Or, do the two of you share her?”
“I am so looking forward to hitting you again.”
“She’s just another slut, like Amanda.”
Through the haze of anger that descended on me, I was vaguely aware that Anders’ preening was more hesitant than usual and I caught the thought that he might have actually liked Lily, before I was lost in a cloud of red.
My fist crashed into his face and I was pleased to see the smarmy look on his face shatter. He was quick in recovering, though.
“You’ve been training hard,” he remarked as he pushed me to the ground. “Needed to work off all that unfulfilled frustration?”
I grunted as he kneed me in the side. “Yes. Unlike you, Anders, I don’t force myself on unwilling bed mates!”
I threw him over and punched him in the gut.
He just chuckled. “I’ve found it’s amazing how girls regret being so easy after the act. The more eager before, the more regretful after. And Amanda was so very eager.”
“You say her name again, I dare you!”
“Oz!” I heard Jax and Lily yell.
“Here she comes, to give you another lecture, no doubt.”
I grinned down at him and his self-satisfied grin disappeared.
“You right, Austin?” Lily asked.
“Fine, Lil. Thanks for asking.”
“Righto, then. Carry on.”
“Lily?” Jax cried, obviously surprised.
Surprise was definitely the expression covering Anders’ face.
“What?” Lily asked, innocently.
I looked to her and saw her arms crossed, looking like she was just watching us at football practice. Jax looked to me, incredulous.
“I take it, this is your doing?” Jax asked.
Anders squirmed and I held him down harder. “Stop moving,” I said before turning back to Jax. “What’s my doing?”
“This,” he said, pointing at Lily.
“I’m sorry, are you going to beat the living daylights out of him, have a pleasant discussion while you straddle him, or shall we be on our way?” Lily asked. “Personally, I’m not really into violence, but I’ll make an exception to see Liam bleed. However, if you’re not going to hit him again, can we go? Because I’m getting cold.”
“See?” Jax said, still pointing. “That.”
I looked down at Anders, who was looking at Lily with something too close to longing for my liking. Maybe he had actually fallen for her? Who was I to say his motives hadn’t been as much fuelled by annoying me as they had a legitimate attraction to her? Still, I could rest easy in the knowledge she was free of him.
I leant down so my mouth was next to his ear. “You go near her again and I won’t only be giving you a headache, Anders. If I never see you again, it will be too soon.”
Sitting up, I smashed him once more in the face and got up. “All right, then. Let’s go inside.”
Lily looked down at Anders, a disgruntled look on her face. “And that’s nothing that you don’t deserve,” she said, stepping around him daintily.
She looked to me and opened her mouth, but stopped as Williams came up and put his arm around her. I saw a flicker of annoyance, then guilt, then apology cross her face as she looked at me.
Interesting.
“Are we having a group beating on Anders session?” Williams asked and we watched as Anders got up and walked away scowling.
“No, we are not,” Lily replied, shrugging out from under Williams’ arm. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. You boys are all in serious need of a shower. And, I have a date.”
“With who?” Williams and I asked at the same
time.
Lily laughed. “Really guys? With Anne and a large cup of something warm, if you must know.”
I don’t know about Williams, but I breathed a sigh of relief.
I knew it was stupid to hope there was any chance for me and Lily, and I wasn’t going to push it. But, neither was I going to entirely give up hope that she’d started to see me differently in the last week.
The mental ravings and fathomless logic of the lovelorn, ladies and gentleman.
“I will see you boys,” she hugged Williams, “later tonight, no doubt.” She hugged Jax. “And I hope you all smell a damn sight better than you do now.” She gave me a smile before hugging me.
“Lily!”
She still had her arms around me, so I felt her cringe at the sound of Gemma’s voice.
“If you haven’t seen me by dinner, send a search party, yeah?” she whispered in my ear.
I gave her a squeeze and laughed. “Will do.”
She threw a look and a wave to Williams and Jax before being accosted by Gemma.
“Kate and I just saw Liam! Did you know-”
Lily rolled her eyes in my direction and I hid a laugh. “Gem, why don’t we…” I didn’t hear what else she said as she steered Gemma away.
“Please don’t tell me two of the Brewers are still hung up on that wanker?” Williams asked.
“It seems that way,” I replied, watching Lily meet up with Anne and Marie while Kate and Gemma looked in a fuss before they rushed off. I shook my head.
“Be thankful one of them isn’t an airhead,” Jax said.
“She’s anything but,” Williams said, then cleared his throat as though he hadn’t meant to say anything, let alone in such a telling tone.
I kept my mouth shut, feeling like I’d agreed enough with Williams on Lily’s finer points for one day.
“She’s right about one thing, though, we do need to shower. And, we should probably ice your hand, brother,” Jax said pointedly.
I looked down and saw a few cuts and bruises. “Yeah, true.”
We headed back into the building and I resisted the urge to look back to Lily as we went.
“Party in Rosings tonight to celebrate?” Williams asked.
“You bringing out your stash?” Jax asked.
Netherfield Prep (Austen Reimagined: P&P #1) Page 24
