Page 103 of Game on, Love

It was the moment just before we’d fallen asleep. She was wearing this look, the one that told me she was in a haze of peace, satisfaction and sleep in her eyes as she smiled warmly, and I realised that none of this mattered if I didn’t have her. As long as she looked at me with that look, it felt like I could breathe again and finally be on the pitch again. Not because I’d found my way back to what I’d lost but because I’d found my way to something that mattered in a way I’d never known before.

Raina.

“King, you ready?” Becker asked; he was England’s pacer and stood at the end of his run, eyes fixed on me with laser focus. I had played with him before and knew his weaknesses and strengths like the back of my hand, so the only thing left was to focus.

One breath in. One breath out.

I nodded as the calm spread through me and tapped the bat against the ground.

Becker began his run up, hurtling the ball towards me and without hesitation, I stepped forward, meeting it with a clean, deliberate drive cover.

I watched the ball fly towards the boundary, my veins thumping with satisfaction as the umpire signalled a four.

The next few overs, I was in my element. It wasn’t just a physical battle but a mental one, too, as I let my instincts guide me as I read the deliveries with precision. Knowing when to block, when to drive and when to cut. From the sweat on my brow to the frustrated look of the fielders, it was a reminder that I fit here, but it no longer was theonlyplace I belonged.

After one final classic cover drive shot that went up in the air, I was ready to call the match a success. Raising my bat briefly in acknowledgement of where the selectors sat, I felt at peace. I had given it my all, and no matter the outcome, I knew I would be satisfied.

Walking off the pitch, I tugged off my helmet just as I caught movement at the edge of the stands before I felt a tug in my chest.

I frowned.

Raina had left as early as me this morning, having to be in the office for a restructuring meeting, and for a second, as I looked in that direction, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But as she waved at me lightly, and the rush of a tide crashed over me, I knew it was her. She looked as good as she did this morning, not a single thing out of place but there was a soft glow on her face now as she walked over to me, and it made my heart skip a beat.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, a grin spreading across my face as she reached me.

She shrugged, as if her being here was the most natural thing. “Surprise?”

There was a teasing glint in her eyes, but there it was: the quiet peace that lingered on the edges and made my heart thud with a rhythm that matched hers.

And I didn’t think, I just acted.

Forgotten were the gloves, the helmet or anything else as I closed the distance and placed my lips against hers. And just like each time, our lips grazed each other in a familiar way before everything else slotted into place. It was soft, gentle and perfect in every way as the world around us faded. She responded to the kiss in the same way she always did as her lips parted, and she leaned into me, her hands finding their way to the back of my neck. The kiss deepened naturally in an urgent but certain way like it was the first time.

When we finally broke apart, I kept my forehead pressed lightly to hers as our uneven breaths mingled between us.

“I thought you had a meeting,” I murmured, my voice low.

She smiled, pulling back. “I did, but it ended with enough time for me to get up here.”

“Should’ve told me you were coming.”

“And possibly distract you? That was a hell of a cover drive, by the way.”

I groaned, lowering my head as I stole another kiss—shorter this time as she couldn’t help herself from laughing.

“How are you going to cope when I’ll be discussing your matches with you on a regular?” She asked, a soft laugh still hidden in her voice.

“I don’t know,” I responded, honestly, my voice strained. I couldn’t help it. I already knew I was done for her, but hearing her speak my language like it was the most natural thing to her made me painfully hot for her. It wasn’t just that she was a finally enjoying being part of my world, but it the fact that it made me feel seen in every way. Lowering my head, I whisperedin her ear. “But I think we’ll just have to come up with different ways to practice me getting used to it.”

I felt her skin warm up as I placed a kiss on her cheek before pulling back. “I think that can be arranged.”

TUGGING MY BAG ONmyshoulder, I left the locker room and scanned the area; when I went overhead, two hushed but strong, familiar voices echoed in the air. Frowning, I followed them, and as I got closer, it was Sean’s voice that was clearer.

“Look, distractions come in all shapes and forms. You might be great and all, but he has a lot going on and he’s about to possibly go on a tour for two years straight. I’ve already heard back that he’s set to be in the ODI and T20I squad, and with this, he’s about to get loaded on with more. All I’msuggestingis you cut your losses short before it messes with his head.”

What the fuck?

I stepped into the hallway just to notice Raina’s expression as it shifted. Gone was the soft look she had worn as I left her to go take a shower. Instead, her eyes were sharpened in a way that made me proud but, at the same, a little worried for Sean.