Always You

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Always You Page 25

by Tiara Inserto


  This field was a labor of love.

  Blake’s image could join this army of captains. He would be a good fit for all the right reasons. He played hard and smart. He was liked not just by the fans, but also by the players. It was a hard position to fill, but Neela knew he was ready for it.

  He was a good man, and he was waiting for her to be brave enough to listen to her heart again.

  The clouds were barely moving; their shapes vague and unidentifiable. The sheep in the adjoining paddock had begun to bleat. No one was about. Moments like these were what she used to seek when she wanted a break from her scheduled life. No drama, no worries.

  But now she knew a different type of peace. It came from being with someone who never demanded, and who, at that moment, was probably throwing his body against another man for the sake of a small oval ball.

  The first match of the season. How was he playing? She had always watched before, both as a fan and as a fellow athlete. She knew her reluctance at turning on the telly was to avoid seeing him again, but it didn’t matter. His face, his voice, his smile—they were going to be part of her life forever.

  Neela sighed. She had given herself credit for leaving Kyle and finally taking a stand against him. But once again, she doubted herself. From what Clarissa had said, everyone was able to see what she wanted to ignore.

  She addressed the captains. “I want to love him, but I’m scared.”

  The captains stared back, unimpressed. She knew three of them personally and had learned one thing: who they were on the field was because of who they were off the field.

  She was one of them. She was a champion, and she played fearlessly. It was the only way she knew how to play. It was time to face the questions she didn’t want to ask or answer.

  She pulled out her phone and scrolled to the phone number she hadn’t wanted to delete. She knew it’d be too late for him to see a message now; he wouldn’t check his phone until long after today’s match was over.

  Neela: I’m thinking of you today. Good luck!

  As soon as she pressed “SEND,” her heart felt lighter, and she smiled. Having Blake Stanton in her life, even if it was only for a little bit, was worth the risk. Her happiness was worth the risk.

  Neela got on her bike and started the engine. There was a local pub nearby with a TV that would probably be showing Blake’s match ‘live.’ She decided she’d watch the rest of it from there, then head out to the townhouse to wait for him.

  She didn’t know if he’ll want to see her, but she could at least be honest with him about her feelings. They both deserved that.

  The pub was surprisingly full, and everyone’s attention was focused on the large screen taking up most of the far wall. She made her way to the bar, where the last people she’d expected to see were two of the men whose images she had just seen painted on pieces of wood in a field full of sheep.

  “Neela? What are you doing here?” Mitch Molloy emerged from the dark end of the bar.

  “I was on a ride. Why aren’t you at the stadium? I would have expected that they’d have seats with both your and Connor’s name engraved on them.”

  “They do, though they’re written with textas,” Mitch replied with a grin. “It’s a tradition Con and I started after retiring. Just two mates having a drink on the first day of the season. Join us?”

  “I don’t want to interrupt.”

  “Rubbish. The second half is about to start. Blake’s having a beaut of a game. Playing smart, but also playing...”

  “Like a man on a mission,” Connor finished. He moved up a seat, nodding to the now-vacant barstool.

  Neela sighed. She hadn’t been looking for company, but it was hard to say no to either Mitch or Connor, never mind both of them at the same time.

  As the players returned to the field, the commentators repeated what Mitch had said. Blake was having a phenomenal match. He looked fit, fast and fierce, and his tight uniform showed off all the hard work he’d put in at the gym during the off-season. This wasn’t the easygoing fella she’d seen over the summer; this was the next captain of the current world champions.

  The match itself was well-contested, and the ball moved swiftly from end to end. A misstep happened, and the other team took advantage of the gift that had been offered to them. While Blake was playing out-of-his-mind rugby, it was still a team sport. He couldn’t make up for some of the new players showing their nerves or a misread play or a bad pass.

  With five minutes left, Neela saw a change in the line leaving Blake suddenly vulnerable. She knew the opposition would take advantage of the situation, and she stood up abruptly, willing Blake’s teammates to close the hole, to protect their captain. Blake couldn’t see the large lock coming at him. She grabbed Mitch’s arm as the players collided.

  “No!” Her voice joined the other yells of warnings and disbelief.

  Then the pub went silent as the camera panned out from the figure lying on the field. Jason Williams, the vice-captain, was waving to the sidelines frantically.

  “He’s not moving,” she whispered.

  Mitch threw some money on the counter. “Con, find out what you can. There’s only one hospital they’ll take him to from the stadium. Message me with any updates. I’ll take Neela.”

  She wasn’t going to argue. She needed to be there for Blake, like he had been there for her at the pub, at the airport, at her father’s anniversary celebration. And facing Kyle.

  “Did you ride here?” Mitch asked. “Con can take your bike back to my place. I’ll wait as long as you need and drive you home.”

  She pulled the keys to the bike out of her jacket pocket. “It’s sticky when you shift from...”

  Connor took the keys. “Neela, I’ve been riding since I was seven. Not much out there I can’t ride. No worries. Go. Take care of your man. He’ll need you if it’s as serious as it looks.”

  “I don’t think my helmet will fit you.”

  “Someone here will have a spare. Go!”

  She didn’t remember much as they drove. She just wanted Blake to be okay. She needed him to be okay.

  When they reached the hospital, Mitch steered them to the waiting area. Despite being surrounded by a group of rugby and medical professionals, Walt Stanton’s eyes met hers as soon she entered the room. He broke away, his hand reaching for hers.

  “He’s all right. Just banged up,” he said, but Neela could hear the concern in his voice.

  “It’s his shoulder, isn’t it? The right one. The way he took the hit...”

  Walt’s lower lip trembled. “Complete rotator cuff tear.”

  Neela shook her head. He just earned the captaincy. This can’t be happening.

  “Do you want to see him?” Andrew appeared next to Walt.

  “I haven’t said a word to him in weeks.”

  “He’s hurt badly, but I think you should see him.”

  She faced Andrew. “I left him.”

  “You’re here now.” Andrew took both of Neela’s hands in his. “He loves you, Neela Smyth. He was crazy about you when you were kids, and he’s still crazy about you. And I think you being here tonight is because you have equally strong feelings for him.”

  Everyone seemed to know. “You too?”

  Andrew angled his head slightly, a half-smile on his lips. “Mum laid it on you thick, didn’t she?”

  “She used the word ‘heartbroken.’”

  “For once, my mother didn’t exaggerate.” Andrew put his arm around her shoulders. “But he’ll wait for you until you’re ready. He won’t like it, but he will. He’s the poor sod who’ll hold on to something until he gets it. So, you take your time. He’s not going anywhere. But since you’re here...”

  Neela nodded. “Where is he?”

  “Follow me. I’ll get you past the scary nurse.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Andrew opened the cream-colored door without knocking and indicated that Neela should walk in. “I’ll be right outside if either of you needs me,�
� he said softly.

  Neela looked in tentatively. It was a private room, dimly lit and eerily quiet except for occasional beeps and clicks from the machines. Blake was lying in bed, his head turned slightly, his eyes closed. The top half of his body was elevated and bare; his right arm was held in place with bandages.

  “Blake?” she asked tentatively.

  His eyes opened instantly, and surprise spread across his face. “Neela?” He tried to scoot farther up on his bed, grimacing as he adjusted his body.

  “No, don’t,” Neela pleaded. “I’ll come over. That is, if you’re okay with me being here.”

  The dimple appeared.

  “Darl,” he began “The thought of you entering my room while I’m half-naked and asleep has kept me awake for many nights. If you’re not a dream, you better come over.”

  Neela laughed softly, relieved to hear the humor in his voice. “You must be okay then.” She pulled a chair close to the side of his bed, aware that he was watching her every move.

  She reached for his hand, and he held on tight. He let out a sigh as he caressed the top of her hand with his thumb. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too.”

  His eyes searched hers. “It’s not looking good. This one’s really serious.” She nodded as he continued, trying not to react to how vulnerable he looked. “I’m not going to be captaining anytime soon.”

  “That’s not important. You getting better is.”

  “I might not be playing at all for a long time. They’re talking months at the very least, and that’s the best case scenario.”

  “Oh, Blake.”

  “You and I both know it was only a matter of ‘when.’ It’s not a game without the hits.”

  She tightened her grip on his hand. “Whatever happens next, I’m here.”

  He breathed deeply, looked to the ceiling before he met her eyes again. “I’ll keep waiting as long as there’s hope, even if it’s the smallest of possibilities. But I need to know. Do I— we—have a chance?”

  “I hope so, Blake Stanton. Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you since I left Andrew’s apartment.”

  He stared as if in disbelief before a wide smile spread across his face. “I’m not sure how much drugs are floating inside me right now, but that’s the best thing I’ve heard today. All week. All month. I hope this also means you’re here to release me from the promise you asked me to keep.”

  “Which one? Not to call me or not to kiss me?”

  “Both?”

  She stood up and sat on the edge of his bed. Gently cupping Blake’s cheek in one hand, she lowered her face to his and closed her eyes. When their lips touched, an explosion of awareness engulfed her body. A sigh escaped as she deepened her kiss, focusing on how well her mouth fit with his. She drew one hand down, reaching behind Blake’s neck to bring him closer. Her other hand snuck lower, slowly, tracing the finely etched body that was now hers to touch and explore.

  She’d started as the initiator, but he met her persistence with demands of his own. And she complied.

  When she moved away, she was breathing hard. Blake didn’t let her go very far and placed her hand on his chest. “Feel what you do to me? I love you, Neela Smyth. And I hope this means you are absolving me from my promise not to kiss you again. Because after that one, I know this is one promise I won’t be able to keep.”

  She recognized the emotions in his eyes. They’ve been there for a long time.

  “Darl, there’s no need to cry just because a man says he loves you,” he said softly, gently wiping away tears she didn’t know were there.

  “I just never thought it could be you,” Neela said.

  Blake raised her hand to his lips. “Ten minutes ago, I started to wonder if I’ve lost my dream of captaining the National Team. You being here makes me think that if that’s the case, maybe I’ll have something to replace it with, that there’s something to look forward to.”

  “I’m just so scared to open my heart again. I don’t know if I can be the person you need to be with.”

  “You just be the person you want to be,” Blake said. “Whether it’s the best rugby player New Zealand has ever seen or the girl who won’t share her Choc Cherry with me. I love you. I just do. I always have.”

  Neela hesitated to speak again. Her relationship with her dad made her question whether she could be loved for who she was while her time with Kyle had conditioned her to second-guess her feelings. There was no rational decision behind being with Blake, except for one.

  She loved him.

  Could she do it? Could she trust her heart once again? Making decisions with her head had brought her professional success, and it’d kept her emotionally safe. But was a safe life the one she wanted to live?

  It wasn’t how she played rugby.

  Neela reached into her jacket pocket and opened her palm. “I’ll share my Choc Cherry with you.”

  Blake laughed, then groaned. He let go of Neela’s hand to find a more comfortable position. “Darl, that’s almost as good as a proposal, you know.”

  “Would you want that?”

  Blake's smile grew wider. “A kiss, a Choc Cherry and now we’re talking about marriage?”

  “Don’t you think we should go on a real date first?”

  Blake grinned. “I have it on good authority that your brother has a large amount of money riding on us getting engaged.”

  Neela smiled, but it was replaced with a frown a few seconds later. She wanted him to know first. “I’ve filed for both protection and restraining orders. I did it on my own, Blake. You helped me get there.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m proud of you, darl. That must have been hard.”

  “It was once, but after seeing him go for you, I couldn’t take a chance that he’d do it again. To me or anyone else I care about.”

  “When it becomes public knowledge, we’ll face it together.”

  “You’ve never left my side, even when you didn’t know the full story. A lot of others would have.”

  “I’m now damaged goods, Neela, while you’re the princess-in-waiting, poised to be part of a team that will make history,” Blake said softly. “I don’t know what’s in front of me.”

  “Are you scared?”

  He studied her then shook his head. “No. No, I’m not.” He smiled gently. “With you next to me, I can face whatever comes with this injury. The idea of losing you scared me more.”

  “Oh, Blake.”

  “The last six weeks have been hell, but I’d do it all over again if it means we’d have this moment. It’s always been you, Neela. No one else. Always you.”

  She reached for his face with her free hand and caressed his cheek, finally resting her thumb on his bottom lip. “I love you, Blake Stanton. And I’ll take you in whatever shape you’re in. If you’re willing to stick by a confused and ill-tempered rugby player, how can I not plan for a lifetime together?”

  “A lifetime? I’ll take that. The answer is yes.”

  “That’s still not a proposal, Blake.”

  “The answer is still yes.” He pulled her close.

  She welcomed lips that extinguished the last of her fears. There were none left when she was with him. She was her mother’s child, strong and brave. Now that she’d found someone who believed in her, she was stronger and braver than she’d ever been.

  “Yes, Neela Smyth. When you’re ready to get married, it’ll be yes. Always.” Blake kissed her lightly on her nose. His dimple appeared again. “Besides being madly in love with you, my mother would kill me if I said no. You know she has the names of our children already picked out. What do you think of the name ‘Corey?’”

  EPILOGUE

  Nine months later

  She looked at Andrew. “That’s it?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. You’re now in debt for the rest of your life.”

  Neela was about to smile but bit on her lower lip instead.

  “He may be mad for about a mi
nute. He’ll get over it,” Andrew said.

  “I’m not worried about him being mad. I can handle that. It’s a lot of money, Andrew. I owe you.”

  “You’ll pay me back. Just get my name off that loan after the honeymoon, eh?.”

  “It has a library. I had to get it.”

  “It is a pretty impressive wedding present.”

  “He bought me your car, Andrew. No way was he going to get me the better present.”

  Andrew laughed. “You two are so competitive. I’m going to enjoy seeing my little brother in this relationship.”

  Rieann popped her head into the dressing room. “Will you hurry up?”

  Neela stuck her tongue out at her sister. “Everyone is supposed to wait for the bride, anyway.”

  Rieann made a face, then looked to Andrew. “And you need to get out of here. Your mum thinks you haven’t shown up. She’s pretending to swoon.”

  Andrew rolled his eyes and held out both hands for Neela.

  “Are you sure you want to marry into this family?”

  She nodded. “Absolutely.”

  Andrew leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “You look beautiful. Blake may faint when he sees you. Now, let me have the paperwork back. I have a pretty envelope that Lulu decorated to put in your suitcase, so it’ll look like a proper present.”

  Neela took one last look at the picture of the house she had just bought and smiled widely.

  They had been babysitting Jayne and Lulu at the Molloys’ one evening when Neela saw the marketing flier sitting with some other mail on the dining table. Just a street away from Mitch and Liana’s house, the house’s location was the initial attraction. Then, while Blake was away, she went to one of its open inspections and knew instantly that it was supposed to be theirs.

  It needed some work— Blake was going to have a fit when he saw the oven— but one room was perfect. The rumpus room had large windows that showcased the Canterbury Mountains, making the room airy and bright.

 

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