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Page 125 of The Striker (Gods of the Game 1)

It was strange, butpeoplewere strange.

The stipulation also meant we worked hard to recruit good players every summer. Better players usually meant more goals. Unfortunately, it was hard when the match took place during the offseason when everyone was on holiday.

“I don’t suppose you know anyone who can fill in?” Finley asked. Lines of stress bracketed the sides of his mouth. “I know it’s a big favor to ask at the last minute, but the new football pitch took a big chunk of our money last year. We need the extra donation match from SB.” SB stood for Secret Benefactor. Not a creative nickname, but it did the job.

“I don’t know.” I racked my brain for possibilities. “I want to help, but most of the players I know aren’t in…” I trailed off.

There was one defender who was in town and uninjured—oneverygood defender who made Simon look like an amateur (no offense to Simon).

No.My pride quashed the seed of possibility before it fully blossomed. There was no fucking way I’d askhimfor help. I’d rather chop off my leg and serve it to him on a silver platter.

Then I looked at Finley’s pleading face, and I thought of all the kids his organization helped. Teddy had been one of those kids, which was how I found out about Sport for Hope in the first place. Besides London, it had chapters in Holchester, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Before Teddy’s mother remarried and his family moved next door to mine, his parents had struggled to put food on the table. Sport for Hope was the one that’d provided him with the resources to play football in a semi-professional setting for youths. Without them, we might’ve never bonded over the sport.

I joined the Sport for Hope tournament after Teddy died and stayed involved since. It was part atonement for my role in his death and part way to honor his memory. I couldn’t screw it up.

“Forget SB,” I said. “I can more than match the ticket sales.”

Finley’s expression crumpled into a scowl. “You say that every year, and my answer is the same every year. Absolutely not. You already do more than enough. I’m not taking advantage of you like that.”

I knew he would say that, but I had to offer.

“Don’t try to pull some secret shit with me either,” he added. “If a big, anonymous check comes in from anyone other than SB, I’ll know.”

Bloody hell.Finley was stubborn as hell, but his convictions were what made him a great leader.

Pride battled guilt for dominance. Was I going to fuck over Finley and the kids because I couldn’t set aside my rivalry for one weekend?

“I may know someone,” I finally said. The admission tasted bitter on my tongue. “I can’t guarantee he’ll agree to play, but I’ll ask. If he says no, we’ll have to sub in Ricky.”

Finley and I winced in unison. Ricky was their operations coordinator. He was a nice guy, and he played football in a local amateur league. He just wasn’t good. At all.

The last time he subbed in for a player, he accidentally tripped one of his teammates and scored for the opposing team. Twice.

“Please,” Finley said. “You’ll have our gratitude forever.”

After I ended our video call, I leaned back and stared at my office ceiling. The damn defender. I couldn’t ask him directly. He’d shut me down before I opened my mouth.

I would have to go through Scarlett, which was tricky considering he didn’t know about us yet. We’d decided to tell him in person together, after he officially returned to London.

But Scarlett and I had been training together all summer. It would make sense for us to develop a friendship, so her asking him a favor for me wasn’t inherently suspicious.

The clock ticked toward eight.

I was running out of time.

Fuck it.I bit the bullet and called her. I hated interrupting her girls’ night, but I didn’t have a choice.

“Hey, I’m sorry to bother you, but I have a time-sensitive favor to ask,” I said when Scarlett picked up. “Any chance you could convince your brother to play in the charity match tomorrow?”

CHAPTER 32

SCARLETT

I didn’t know how, but I did it.

Well, okay, Ikind ofknew how—a guilt trip, a group photo of cute kids wearing their Sport for Hope-provided football kits, and a promise to let him choose our next four dinners in a row worked wonders in getting Vincent to sign up for the charity match.




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