Cocky Notes: A Hero Club Novel

by Leesa Bow

  Out of breath, I murmur, “I love you, Macy.”

  Her lips caress my cheek until they make their way to the lobe of my ear. “I love you, too.”

  Two hours later, we’re eating prawns and lobster at a Glenelg restaurant, an area fondly known to the locals as The Bay.

  “Gah, I hate the smell of my fingers after peeling prawns.”

  I chuckle. “It’s a smell I quite like.” I wink at her. “So, toss me yours to shell.”

  “Gladly.” She watches as I peel each crustacean, dip it in the sauce, and place it in her mouth.

  “It’s… easy.” I hold her gaze.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t like doing it.” She opens her plump lips, and I lean across the table and plant a kiss on her lips before giving up the prawn.

  “I’m referring to you and me. We’re a good fit despite being apart for weeks.”

  She tilts her head to the side. “I know.”

  “One night. It’s what you asked.”

  Her brow pulls tight. “I did.”

  “What now?”

  She picks up the glass of Mojito, toys the straw with her tongue before her plump lips close, and she sucks. Damn, she is sexy. She finishes the cocktail and sets the glass down, then meets my gaze. “What do you want? A day or two? A month… year?”

  “It’s not up to me.”

  “It is up to you.” She sits back in her chair and glances sideways after raising her voice a notch. “Do you want to be with me?”

  “I want nothing more than to be with you every day for the rest of my life. Only it’s not so easy. Or fair. And I don’t want to get into an argument with you here about how much I love you.”

  “So, what? We write on the napkins and pass them to each other?”

  I fold my arms. “That’s not even funny.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be. I asked you a question. It’s a simple yes or no.”

  “Simple?” I raise my brow. “If so, we wouldn’t be discussing it now.”

  “Exactly, because there shouldn’t be anything to discuss. Yes or no?”

  I let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, Macy. It’s always been yes.”

  She removes the napkin from her lap and places it on her plate before standing.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Leaving.”

  “We haven’t finished eating.”

  “I’m leaving enough room for dessert. It’s all about balance. Life’s about balance.”

  “So, where are you thinking for dessert?”

  She walks around the table and stands up on her toes, so her lips are near my ear. “Your place or mine?”

  Standing on the balcony, I finish the glass of water and place it on the table. Moonlight flickers across a dark ocean, and circles of light dance in an attempt not to be swallowed up by midnight water. It’s here I find answers, although tonight I’m rethinking some things.

  I promised her a couple of months to see where we lead as a couple. It’s enough time for me to make some medical appointments and for Macy to be sure. I’m not allowing to her to rush into this decision lightly. What’s bothering me is asking her to leave her father, and I also want to believe we have a future together in Melbourne.

  Out here, with every new thought, I’m wondering if Melbourne is where I truly belong. I close the sliding door and head back into my bedroom, to my bed where Macy’s sleeping.

  “Are you okay?” she whispers, the moment I climb in beside her.

  “I am now.” I kiss her forehead.

  “Now?” She lifts her head.

  Pulling her into my arms, I hold her knowing this is how I want to spend my nights. “Yeah, I just realised something.”

  “What?”

  “I really like Adelaide because you’re here. And if the club offers me a viable contract, I guess I’m not going anywhere.”

  She pushes up to her elbow. “You’d do that for me?”

  I ease her over my body, so she’s lying on top of me. “I love you… and want to be with you.”

  “You know over the past couple of weeks I’ve thought about Melbourne and getting a job there, starting a fresh new life. Dad and Bernadette can visit me anytime, and I could come home in between visits.”

  “You’ve thought about moving?”

  She nuzzles my cheek with her nose. “Uh-huh,” she says sleepily.

  “Jesus, why did we waste those weeks apart?”

  “So, you could write me love notes.”

  Epilogue

  MACY

  Eight Months Later

  Oliver places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry to see you go. If you ever decide to come back to Adelaide, you’ll always have a job here at Lombardi’s.”

  “Thank you,” I croak. “I really appreciate you saying so. But we have a few hours until we close, so don’t say anything else to make my mascara run.”

  “What time are Reef’s friends coming for your farewell?”

  “Most are travelling before preseason training commences or with families if they live interstate. So, I think maybe four teammates, Georgia, my dad, and Bernadette, and the Lombardi staff, so not many.”

  “Enough for the drinks to be on me.” He smiles when I throw my arms around his narrow waist.

  “Thank you. You’re the best.”

  He chuckles. “I’ll head out back and check Dominic has appetisers ready to go.

  “Oliver…”

  He turns and waits.

  “I want to ask about Harry…” I know Oliver well enough he won’t make the situation rosy for me.

  He gives me a nod. “I’ve always trusted your judgement. When you said Harry is a reliable worker, I didn’t doubt you. And he is. He does everything we ask of him. As a matter of fact, I’ll be offering him more hours.”

  I can hardly contain my excitement. “I’m so thankful Harry is going to be okay.”

  After Reef and I rekindled our relationship, I wanted to show him I was not the same person, so I started working at the shelter on the nights he trained and when Dad stayed at Bernadette’s. Sponsorships were being sought to help suitable homeless persons get back into the workforce. I managed to secure barista training, along with some hospitality training, and then approached Oliver to sponsor Harry. He’s been working two days a week for three hours a day for over a month to adapt, staying at the shelter and not on the streets.

  I lurch myself at Oliver and wrap my arms around his neck, careful not to mess his man bun. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me, and knowing Harry is going to be okay.”

  Oliver pats my back. “It’s fine, Mace. He’ll be fine here with us. We’ll look out for him.”

  I ride the happiness high for the next two hours, and when Oliver closes Lombardi’s at eight for my farewell, the smile hasn’t left my face.

  “You think she’d be sad she’s leaving us…” Oliver says to Dad, “… but she won’t stop smiling.”

  “I am sad I’m leaving,” I butt in. I rest my head on my dad’s shoulder, and he pats my back.

  “You’re going to miss everyone, my girl, like we’ll miss you. But the change will be good for you.”

  “I told her she has a job here anytime if she’s ever back on a visit,” Oliver tells Dad. He holds out his hand for Dad’s empty beer glass.

  “Just one more,” Dad says and hands it to him. He turns to me. “Because it’s a special occasion.”

  Georgia walks over with her wine glass and loops her arm over my shoulder. “Don’t expect me to say g-goodbye because it’s not.” Her voice cracks mid-sentence.

  “I know.”

  “I want only the best for you… anyway. I’ll come visit every chance I get.”

  I give her a warm smile. “You better.”

  “And you better check out the best nightclubs.” She takes my empty wine glass to refill.

  Shit. Tonight is going to be tougher than I imagined.

  Reef waltzes through the door with Hunter, Brody, Davidson, Liam, and Marcus,
who all squish me with hugs. Oliver loads their hands with beer glasses.

  Reef waits until last to give me the strongest of hugs. “How you holding up?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “We trust you to take care of our wingman,” Hunter says, bumping us apart. “We’re going to miss you both.”

  “I’ll see you on the field soon enough, brother.” Reef clinks his glass with Hunter’s. “See how you feel about me then.”

  They chuckle, and his other friends push him in the shoulder in banter until he stumbles. “Hey, hey,” he says, balancing his beer and doesn’t spill a drop.

  He’s going to miss his teammates. To the point, he mentioned only to me that he might return to play in Adelaide again one day because it also feels like home.

  “Hold up.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone and grins at the screen. “Hey,” he answers. “I’m handing you over to her.” Reef hands it to me on loudspeaker.

  “Hello.”

  “Macy, sweet cheeks.”

  I smile at Reef. “Hey, Chance. How are you?”

  “I’ll be better when you get your sexy ass to Melbourne so I can hang out with you.”

  “Oi,” Reef interrupts.

  Chance chuckles. “Knew he’d be listening. Seriously, Mace, I wish you all the best. Enjoy your night, and I’ll see you in Melbourne in a couple of weeks.”

  “Thank you. How’s your knee? Are you back in the team?”

  “Training my arse off. Not quite ready, but hopefully after Christmas, I’ll get my shot.”

  “I’m crossing everything for you. I already have your guernsey and badges on a scarf.”

  Chance lets out a hearty laugh. “Tell me you have more of my merchandise than Reef’s?”

  “Maybe I do—”

  “Because you send it to her,” Reef says loud enough for Chance to hear.

  Chance chuckles again. “See you soon, Mace.”

  No sooner do I give Reef back the phone than he tings a knife against his beer glass to gain everyone’s attention. “Firstly, I want to thank you all for coming to have farewell drinks with Macy. I’m sorry I’m taking her from you…” he nods to my father, “… but I promise it’s not forever. I’ve promised her father I’ll bring her home when we are married.”

  I gape at him and hold up a bare ring finger.

  “Put a ring on it,” Hunter shouts, and Reef raises his glass in response.

  “Something I won’t be doing in front of an audience, especially you bastards, no offence. Mr Reynolds… you’ll be the first to know.” Reef smiles at my dad, lowers his gaze, and dips his chin. He peers up at me with pink cheeks. God, I love this man. “I’m excited to start a new phase of my life in Melbourne with Macy…” he holds my gaze mid-sentence, “… but before we leave, I have a surprise. Macy, can you come here?”

  This is not like Reef. I make my way to his side. “What are you doing?” I whisper.

  Reef wraps his strong arm around my waist and pulls me closer to his side, kisses the top of my head. “I asked Macy to finish a week earlier than planned because I’d already booked our flights to Paris. So, I want to thank Oliver for approving her leave.”

  Everyone has a chuckle, but my mouth is still open, comprehending.

  “Paris?” I murmur.

  His hand reassuringly squeezes my side. He turns away from our small audience and looks down right into my eyes as though we’re the only ones in the room. “With your father and Bernadette. We’re all flying business class… it’s better for your dad,” he says in a lowered voice.

  I turn to Dad, and he smiles warmly and nods. Tears welling, I turn back to Reef. “You’re amazing and so damn secretive.” I poke his stomach—a hard wall of muscle.

  Reef pulls me into his arms and kisses me hard, not caring about the cheering around us.

  “Why Paris?” I ask when we come up for air.

  “The city of love? Thought it was an obvious choice.”

  Seventeen Months Later

  We pass each other in the ladies’ room.

  I don’t look her way, and she barely gives a sideways glance.

  I expected nothing more, and I’m relieved not to have to speak to her.

  Part of me is sad my own mother has chosen this path, and we’ll never be friends.

  I don’t have time to dwell for the walls echo with cheers and screams of excitement. Electricity buzzes in the stands above, and I rush to get back to my seat. The line to the restroom was long and it stole valuable time from Reef’s game.

  A grand final.

  A dream come true.

  They’ll win as the game is almost over, and his team is up by ten goals.

  Regardless, I want to enjoy every minute and share in his dream.

  Dad sits beside me, along with his wife, Bernadette. They were married in Paris, and I’ve never seen Dad happier. Reef had booked flights every six weeks for them to watch him play. Chance managed tickets to the occasional soccer game for him, so he is living a sports fan’s dream.

  I take my seat between Dad and Chance. Georgia sits on the other side of Chance.

  “What took you?” Chance asks.

  “A bloody long queue.”

  Georgia leans forward and mouths, “Are you okay?”

  I nod, mouthing back, “I’ll tell you later.”

  She frowns at me before settling into her seat.

  “He kicked another goal,” Dad quips.

  I smile, pride bubbling up inside me. “Is that four?”

  “Yep.” Chance grins. “And you sat me next to woo-hoo girl.” I laugh because Georgia is very vocal at Reef’s games. “He is going to be celebrating hard tonight.”

  “A pity you’re leaving in the morning.”

  “Yeah. If I thought they had it in the bag, I’d have made my flight a week later.”

  Chance has finished his soccer contract. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to play another game, and still, he’ll continue to be paid through posters and merchandise because he became a legend of sorts. Famous for his beautiful face and that arse. His father sadly died twelve months ago. His mother and Adele have moved to the US. He’s going to visit them and contemplate moving there as well, especially since the public split from Piper.

  “He’ll miss you. We both will,” I tell Chance.

  “Yeah, well, in a few years, you two will be lost on a remote island if Reef gets his way.”

  I wait for the ball to go out of bounds before responding. “Not lost. He’s planned every detail.”

  Reef never received a positive result for his tests, so it’s unlikely we’ll have children. I’m okay with it as I have him. And we both agreed to adoption if we change our minds. Something I’m not pushing for now as we have an adventure awaiting us. Then, we’ll reassess. The best part is we can have fun trying, and Reef is not known to give up on anything. Including me. I smile thinking of how far we have come.

  First, Reef wants to travel the world, find remote exotic places for us to explore, only when I finish my social welfare degree. He wants to absorb other cultures and experience life—together.

  We’ll fly back home and see our families in between countries, for he knows how much I’ll miss Dad. Only now I’m reassured by Bernadette looking out for him, and he couldn’t have picked a more loving wife.

  “Re-ef,” I scream along with ninety thousand other fans when he explodes from the pack with the ball firmly in his hands and sprints along the boundary line. One bounce, two, then he plants the ball on his boot and kicks it toward the goal. Dakota leaps from within the goal square, fully recovered from his ACL reconstruction and takes the mark.

  The stadium booms with applause. Fans are out of their seats cheering, knowing the siren will sound any second, and this will possibly be the final goal of the game. I smile because I’ve gotten to know Dakota since Reef was traded to the same team as him, and they are playing together for the first time since high school. They’ll be premiership players together.

/>   The siren sounds before Dakota kicks the ball. So, he lines up in front of the goal and sends the ball sailing through the centre of the white goalposts. I scream along with everyone else.

  “C’mon,” Chance says, grabbing my hand. “I’ll take you to the fence so he can see you.”

  Chance leads me down the stairs, and the security guard allows us on the oval inside the gate. Reef runs over to his teammates, all in a massive pile-up of players as they celebrate the win. The club song sounds over the speakers, and the players are ushered to the centre of the grass for a presentation. While they wait for a makeshift stage to be trolleyed onto the field, some players walk over to the fence and hug their families. Reef is called away to give an interview with a reporter, and I’m nervous he won’t see me.

  The moment he finishes, Chance waves out and calls his name.

  Reef jogs toward us with the biggest smile on his face and drags us both into a bear hug. We laugh with him as his sweat is smeared over my face and arms.

  “Congrats, mate.” Chance pats his back.

  “I’m so proud of you.” I kiss him on the cheek.

  Reef releases Chance and takes me in his arms, kissing me hard.

  “You did it,” I say when we come up for air.

  “No, we did it,” Reef emphasises. “You and me.”

  “Together,” I say whole-heartedly.

  He leans his forehead against mine. “Forever.”

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