The Long Game (Long Game, #1)(14)

And much to my utter and complete dismay, that comment ignited a very passionate debate about sparkly paranormal creatures and… superheroes I didn’t know shite about.

So I stood there, wondering how advanced kids were these days while the headache settled in. Jesus. I was—had been—a bloody footballer. A small-town kiddie team wasn’t my place. I could barely get them to run a proper drill. I was here only because I had promised Josephine, and she’d caught me at a low moment. I’d had plenty of those lately. I just wished I’d had a goddamn coffee before practice. With that maniac who claimed to be moving in next door disrupting my routine, I hadn’t had time to grab one on my way out.

I closed my eyes, unsuccessfully trying to drown the growing chatter, and counted down from ten for the second time today. Then, I brought my fingers to my mouth and whistled.

The prattling came to an abrupt stop.

They all turned toward me.

“Juniper,” I said, pointing at the short-haired girl.

Her eyes grew wide. “I haven’t said anything. I can’t get in trouble for not saying anything.”

I clenched my jaw, wondering if I’d been too harsh. I tried to soften my expression and tone. “Come here, please. At the front of the group.”

Juniper looked as skeptical as she was flustered at my request.

María braved a question. “Does this mean you’re going to tell us your zodiac sign?”

“How could this—” I stopped myself. “No. It means that I’m going to fetch Josephine. And until I’m back, nobody will leave this field and Juniper will be in charge.”

Juniper immediately complained, “But I’m nine years old. I can’t be in charge.”

“Neither can I, kid,” I muttered. And I apparently looked old enough to belong to a different century.

But I couldn’t do this today, not without caffeine. It was my one indulgence in life. My one vice after a life of discipline and strict regime. Josephine was the sole provider in town, and I knew she was around the practice facilities because she’d mentioned something about some visitor coming in. I’d beg her for a coffee if I had to.

“But we should be at practice,” Juniper countered. “And I’ve never led a practice before.”

I turned around, broke into a jog, and shouted over my shoulder, “Then try to improvise. I’ll be right back.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Juniper throw her hands up in the air, her gesture of despair turning into a… jumping jack.

“Jesus,” I muttered, watching half of the girls imitating her. “That—”

The words died at the end of my tongue as I collided against something.

Someone. Someone soft and warm. My arms reached around whoever was plastered against my front and my gaze dipped down. A mass of light brown strands was lodged on my right pec.

We stepped back from each other at the same time, recognition hitting me the moment a pair of big brown eyes met mine.

“You,” Adalyn seethed.

“You,” I grunted back.

“Well, if that’s not the most adorable meet-cute,” Josephine said. Her hand fell on my arm in a friendly pat. “Cam, this right here is my newest friend and Green Oak resident, Adalyn. She’s—”

“I know who she is,” I deadpanned.

Adalyn’s eyes narrowed.

Josephine let out a chuckle. “Oh, well. I didn’t realize you two had met.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her moving closer to Adalyn. “So where are you staying, Ada? Can I call you Ada? You were about to tell me before Cam all but plowed into you.”

“I…” Adalyn’s throat worked, a strange emotion flashing through her face. “I’d rather you called me Adalyn. And I’m staying at the Sweet Heaven Cottage.” She recovered from whatever that had been, pinning me with a glance. “For however long I want. Because that’s something I can absolutely do.”

I gave her an unimpressed look.

“So that’s why you know each other!” Josephine squealed. “You two are neighbors. How wonderful is that, huh?”

“It’s just marvelous,” I muttered.

Josephine nodded. “Oh, it really is. You get to share the lodge and work together with the team. Yay!”

Both Adalyn’s and my head whirled in Josephine’s direction.

The woman held her hands in the air. “Oh Lord, why are you two looking at me like I just kicked a puppy?” No one spoke. Josie clicked her tongue. “All right, I see there’s some unattended… tension here. So let’s take turns.” An easy smile parted her face. “Adalyn, you go first.”

“Miss Moore,” Adalyn started.

But Josie let out a laugh. “Oh dear, please, there’s no need for such formalities. I know I introduced myself as the mayor, but it’s a volunteer role in a place this small.” She lowered her voice, “Plus, I’m not even thirty and formalities make me feel ancient.” I watched Adalyn blink at the other woman, before she pressed with another bright smile. “So? You were saying.”

“Yes, um,” Adalyn hesitated before shoving me aside with one arm and stepping closer to Josephine. I scowled at her profile. “There has to be a mistake of some kind. We are not working together with the team. He can’t be involved with the Green Warriors, because if he was, I would know about it.”