Yoshi appears next to me, and Carlos takes the seat next to him. Yoshi offers me his soda. “Are you sure you don’t want some? It’s Coke, your favorite.”
“Just a sip.” I drink a little and give it back to him.
Yoshi adjusts his glasses and throws a glance my way as if he wants to say something, but he doesn’t. Our eyes meet.
“Raquel, is there something going on between you and that Hidalgo guy?”
“Apolo? Of course not, he’s just—”
“I don’t mean Apolo, and you know it.”
“No, of course not.” Why am I lying to him?
Yoshi opens his mouth to protest, but the referee blows the whistle, starting the game. I smile at Yoshi and turn my focus to the match. The beginning of the game is really lively. Carlos whistles with excitement. “Did you see how hard he ran to get that pass? That guy is really good.”
Ares is playing well, which doesn’t help me. All I want to do is scream like a fangirl every time he gets close to the goal.
Dani hits me with her elbow. “You have good taste. Not only is he cute and smart, he’s good at sports.”
And he is also very good at sex.
I want to say it, but I just smile. Nearly halfway through the first half, Ares is running with the ball, approaching the goal. Everyone in the stands is standing up, cheering him on. But then the goalie comes out and runs at him, crashing into Ares with a thud. A scream of horror leaves my lips as I see Ares on the ground, writhing in pain, with his face in his hands.
Without thinking, I jump to my feet and almost run to him, but Dani grabs my arm and stops me, reminding me of the situation between us. Marco helps him up, and a couple of the other players half carry him to the edge of the field, near the bleachers. I grow even more alarmed when I see blood coming out of his nose.
The announcer comes over the speakers again. “It looks like there was a big collision between the striker and the goalkeeper. The referee gave a yellow card, but the Panthers are not happy.”
The trainer passes Ares a rag and he takes it, wiping away the blood. His blue eyes meet mine, and I can’t help but try to ask him, moving my lips in the hope that he understands the question despite the distance between us, “Are you all right?”
He just nods.
I sit back down, relieved. Yoshi rolls his eyes, and Dani gives me a knowing look. I notice that Apolo isn’t in his seat.
“He ran the other way when you got up,” Dani explains. “I think he’s making sure his brother is okay.”
“That was a really dirty move,” Carlos says.
Yoshi takes a sip of his soda. “I agree.”
Apolo returns, and his face is red but not with grief. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so angry.
Dani squeezes his shoulder comfortingly. “He’s going to be fine.”
Apolo says nothing, just clenches his fists at his sides and sits back, taking a deep breath. I think it’s extremely cute that he cares so much about his brother. The game continues, and the tension between the teams is palpable. The Panthers are angry. Ares continues to play, checking his nose from time to time. There’s no more blood, but I imagine it still hurts.
Poor thing.
No, poor little nothing, he broke your heart.
Get it together, Raquel.
It’s almost the end of the first half when the best play of the match begins. The midfielder makes a long pass to Marco, who, after outwitting two opposing players, passes it to Ares, who runs to receive it at the side of the goal. Everyone climbs to their feet in excitement. Ares kicks the ball diagonally and it goes into the goal from the corner at an impressive angle.
“GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAL!” the announcer’s voice booms.
We all jump and scream like crazy. The place is going to explode.
“In your face, you fucking goalie!” Apolo shouts, surprising us all.
Ares runs with his arms stretched in the air, celebrating the goal. As he approaches the stands, he grabs the edge of his shirt and lifts it up to reveal something written on his stomach.
Witch.
I stop breathing, bringing my hand to my mouth in surprise.
The announcer speaks. “Wow, it looks like the scorer is dedicating his goal to someone. Who is the lucky witch?”
Ares’s gaze meets mine, and he smiles at me before being embraced from behind by all of his teammates in celebration. My heart beats wildly and threatens to burst out of my chest.
Ares Hidalgo is going to drive me crazy with his confusing signals.
Correction: he has already driven me crazy.
TWENTY-FOUR