Shots on Goal

I am already regretting taking this trip. First, the wheels on my suitcase fall off, then my roommate decides to abandon me and head off to California with her boyfriend instead, and now my car dies. If I didn’t miss my mum so much, I’d be heading straight back to my dorm and hibernating for the summer.

Sighing, I call recovery and dump my car on the side of the road, they can deal with that. I’m not waiting hours for them to show up in the blistering heat, I’ll walk if I have to. Fortunately, I have just enough cash to get a taxi to mums. As I fight with my suitcase the taxi driver is less than impressed and impatient to head to his next fair. He grunts at me the entire drive, guess neither of us are in the mood for talking right now and I’m quite happy to sit in silence for the rest of the ride.

“Mum? You in here somewhere?” Dropping my things at the door I follow my nose towards the smell of freshly baked cookies, just as her head pops around the door, wiping her hands on her apron.

“My baby girl! I’ve missed you so much Belle.” She engulfs me in a hug only a mother could give. “How have you been? How’s classes? Are you eating enough? You look like you’ve lost weight sweetheart.” She peppers me with the usual questions I get every time I come home, I secretly I love it.

“No, I’ve been starving to death and only your cookies will save me. You really should send me more care packages mother. I barely survive out there on three fresh meals a day. It’s terrible.” Laughing at her as she swats me with the towel.

“Oh shush you, you drama queen. They’ll be done in a few minutes, you can survive another day. Now, tell me all about what you’ve been doing whilst you’ve abandoned me. What if I fall and break my hip? Whoever shall save me then?” She places the back of her hand on her forehead.

“Who’s the drama queen now? I’ve missed you mum, so much. Classes are great, we have to submit a presentation soon on capturing the different aspects of sport. I should be able to get some good photos. I’ve asked the coach at the centre if I can come to practises and snap some pictures of the guys.”

“That’s great sweetheart, I’m so proud of you, Asher too. Put your things in your room and we can go out for a boozy brunch. At least you won’t judge me for having a few cocktails. You have one cocktail at lunch and suddenly everyone thinks you’re an alcoholic. The women in this town are such gossips.” She laughs shaking her head as she cleans up the kitchen.

A few hours later and I’m basically carrying her home. “Mum? Did you leave the door unlocked?” I question, laughing as she stumbles up the steps. “No, why would I do that? Well maybe, maybe I’ll make a new friend.” Jeez, maybe she shouldn’t have had that last cocktail. I forgot how much of a lightweight she is. Nothing looks out of place or like there’s a serial killer waiting to ambush us, so I creep inside, shoe at the ready.

“You know she can’t handle too many cocktails, despite what she says.” I squeak and throw my shoe in the direction the voice came from. “Ow pop fart, calm down it’s me!”

“Asher?” Leaving mum to wobble her way through the door I take a running jump at my brother and try to squeeze his head off like I did when we were little. “What are you doing here knucklehead?” We wrestle, both trying to get the better of each other. In the end the giant meatball sits on me and declares himself the champion.

“Get off me! You weigh like a thousand pounds.” Despite being adults, we still act the same as we did when we were growing up. He was my best friend and protector. I suppose he still is in some ways, always trying to warn me off guys and telling me none of them are good enough. He’s only a year older but refuses to accept that I can make my own choices when it comes to my love life. He tells me it’s because he’s a guy and knows exactly how they are.

“Mum said you were coming home for the summer, we’ve got a break before training, and I wanted to see you, mum too. I missed you pop fart.” He laughs at my eyes rolling.

“You do realise I’m twenty-three now and have been able to say pop tart correctly since I was two right.” My hands cradle my hips as my eyes narrow at him. I know he’ll never stop calling me that, it’s gone on long enough now that me telling him to stop and him refusing is just a part of it.

“Suck it up buttercup, just like you call me knucklehead, you will always be pop fart. Let’s save mum before she decides the hallway is a good place to take a nap.” The rest of the evening is spent full of insults and catching up with each other, just like old times.

“Isabella, get your butt out of bed for breakfast or I’ll send Asher in.” Ugh, no thank you. Knowing that knucklehead, he’d probably jump all over me and give me a wet willy, my ears cannot take a poke from his wet finger. Trying to tame my curls first thing in the morning is next to impossible so I shove them all up in a messy bun. After dragging myself to the bathroom I shuffle my way into the kitchen with my eyes closed, heading straight for the coffee machine.

“I think you might have some birds in that nest of yours pop fart.” I don’t bother opening my eyes, just give the finger to whichever direction I think he’s in. Bloody idiot.

“Yep, I can definitely hear some chirping coming from in there.” My eyes spring open at the familiar voice, it can’t be. Please tell me I’m still dreaming and I’m not stood in the kitchen in just a t-shirt with him here. I don’t even have a bra on for God’s sake. Turning, I see that I am most definitely not dreaming and are in fact stood in front of my high school crush in my pjs, bed head and nipples on show.

Oh. My. God. Kill me now. This is my worst nightmare. I once crushed on Cole for as long as I knew what it meant. I’ve not seen him in years though, each time Ash came home he never brought him with him. He’s even more mesmerising than he was back then, he’s changed so much.

He’s filled out and gotten even taller, now sporting a short beard instead of the clean baby face he used to have. Sitting here dripping in designer clothes, whilst I look a mess. “Erm, hi?” I croak, clearing my throat I try again. “What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too Tink.”The way he still calls me that sends butterflies fluttering around my stomach. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me, causing goosebumps to erupt over my skin. He drags his eyes over my chest, as he realises I’m not wearing a bra his eyes darken.

“I invited him pop fart, he’s going to be staying in the spare room until we have to head back for training. It’ll be just like old times.” It’ll be fine, we’re all adults. I don’t think of him like that anymore, why would it be a problem? My reaction to him being here is just surprise that’s all.

“Cool. Where’s mum?” Surprisingly my voice comes out steady and not like I have a marching band in my chest. This is going to be a long summer. I’ll just stay out of his way, and he can stay out of mine, he’ll probably be down at the hockey rink with Ash most days anyway. Everything will be fine.

“I’m here. Eat up, foods getting cold. Cole dear, it’s nice to see you again. You mustn’t stay away so long next time, I keep buying groceries as if you two boys are still here every day.” Mum laughs and jokes with them both as I shovel food that I can’t taste in my mouth, desperate to escape. “Belle, let’s head down to the beach after breakfast, we can have some girl time whilst these two stink up the house.” She sticks her tongue out at them as she waltzes out the kitchen, me right on her heels.

Mum has never been one of those mums that you can’t approach, she acts like just as much of a child as we do. She’s always there if we need her and most of the time she’s the one who’s getting into trouble. I remember one time she dragged me out for cocktails and ended up in grinding with some boy toy around my age. It was the most mortifying thing I’ve ever seen, I still don’t think I’m over it. I called Ash mid gag and like the overprotective knucklehead he is he came and saved me from dying of embarrassment. Mum thought it was hilarious.

***

After a sweaty day sunbathing, I’m in desperate need of a shower. “We’re having takeout, I can’t be bothered cooking after today. Go and shower sweetheart and then we’ll order something. I fancy Chinese I think.” I wonder where the guys are, I’m guessing they’re at the rink, which means I need to jump in the shower now before they get back and take forever in there.

Just as I’m walking out of my room Asher walks out of his, we freeze looking at each other for a few seconds before we both race for the bathroom. “Move knucklehead, I’ve got sand in my butt, I need a shower first!” I elbow him just as he nudges me to the side with his giant hockey hips.

“I don’t think so, I’ve been at the rink all day, I stink. You’ll have to wait.”

“I swear to God Asher I will cut tiny hole in all your hockey gear if you don’t let me wash the sand out of my butt crack. Do you know how irritating it is having your butt cheeks chafe? It hurts dude. Move it!”

“No way! I will suffocate you with my armpit if you don’t let me go first. Not going to lie pop fart, you’ll likely die.”

“Let the poor girl shower man, she needs to take care of her backside. She’s obviously not a fan of having a sore arse.” Cole cuts off our arguing as he leans on the doorframe to his room, his eyes locked on me and a dirty smirk plastered across his face. Making it clear that his comments meant something else entirely, causing my face to heat. I take the opportunity to elbow Asher as I stand on his foot, rushing into the bathroom and locking the door.

“Oh my God. That was mortifying,” I whisper to myself, wishing with all my might that he hadn’t overheard that. I wash myself several times trying to rid the evil between my cheeks, when I’m finally satisfied, I hop out and head to my room. Except before I get there, I come face to face with Cole.

“How’s your cheeks?” His teeth scrape across his bottom lip trying to contain the smirk I know wants to escape. He knows he embarrassed me earlier and is loving that he’s making me squirm now. Well enough of that, I’m a grown arse adult and if he wants to talk about my arse, we’ll talk about it and see who has the last laugh.

“Great now, what do you think?” I drop my towel at his feet and sway into my room, leaving him speechless with his mouth wide open, staring at my bum as I walk away. “Close your mouth Cole, you’ll catch flies.” I tell him over my shoulder, chuckling under my breath. Bella 1 – Cole 0.

Riding the high of my tiny victory, I don’t even care that I was naked in front of him, it was totally worth it. I snuggle down on the sofa with mum as we try and decide what to eat. As she rings our order through, I flick through the streaming channels and pick a movie to watch. The best part of being back home? Unlimited girl time with mum.

Halfway through, we’re both stuffed and unable to move, barely having the energy to lift our heads when dumb and dumber walk down the stairs like a herd of elephants. “We’re heading out, don’t wait up.” Mum makes some noise of acknowledgement, and I just wave him away. Not before noticing Cole’s eyes laser focused on me and my bare legs. “Come on man.”

After we’ve gotten over our food comas and watched a few other movies, I head to bed, sitting in the sun always makes me tired and I pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow. I jerk awake a few hours later seriously needing to pee and burst into the bathroom without thinking. Coming to a sudden stop when I see Cole in the shower, steam rolling around the room. I’m not even sure he’s realised I’m in here.

Taking the chance to get a good look at him whilst I can, I’m not sure where to look first. He stands with his strong back towards me, water running down the line he has in the middle. His heads hung between his shoulders as he leans on one arm against the wall. He has the most biteable backside making my mouth water and thick thighs that are big enough I could ride.

He lets out a low groan, which is when I realise his other arm is wrapped around what I can only imagine being something magnificent. Knowing I really should leave, but staying anyway, I watch like a horny perv. His breathing gets heavier as he speeds up, making me wish I was somehow involved. His head tips up to the ceiling as my name leaves his lips in a breathless whisper, painting the tiles as he sags in relief.

Panicking I forget all about peeing and race back to my room, I don’t want to get caught, especially not now. What the fuck was that about? Did I imagine it or did he really just jack off with my name on his lips? He’s never looked at me any other way than his best friend’s sister, well apart from when I dropped my towel. Yeah, that must be it. That’s the only logical explanation I can come up with as to why he was moaning my name.

Does he feel something for me other than someone he can mess with? Would he do anything about it? Would I want him too? What would Asher think? He’s so protective he’d go mad and more than likely end up in a fist fight with Cole. My brain spins with questions I’ll never get answers to.

Officially freaking out I pace the length of my room. I can not start crushing on him again. It took me too long to let him go, I have a good thing going on at school, the freedom to come and go as I please, free to bring whoever I want back to my dorm without Asher interfering. I will not get sucked down this rabbit hole again.

I toss and turn the rest of the night, barely getting any sleep. I’m awake before anyone else is up. So, I gather all of my equipment and leave mum a note telling her I’ve headed to the trails to snap some pictures and be alone. I need space, I need to think.

Setting my camera up I snap pictures of the sun rising, watching as it kisses each part of our lazy town. Looking down at the picturesque images I’ve managed to capture I feel a sense of peace wash over me. Behind the camera is where I belong. I love taking pictures of anything and everything, but my passion lies within sports. When the athletes don’t know you’re snapping away and you get those intense, natural shots, the ones where you can feel the emotions through the images. The desperation to win, the excitement when teammates score or the devastation when they lose.

All of it sucks me in and gives me immense satisfaction, knowing I can show the world how they feel in that exact moment with one picture. I sit for a while in my quiet surroundings, thinking. I decide I’m going to pretend I never saw Cole in the shower. What an awkward conversation it would be anyway. “Oh hey, yeah sorry I barged in on you whilst you were showering. Nice arse by the way. Quick question, why was you moaning my name? Oh great. Thanks.” Yeah, I’d rather just ignore it all.

Packing up I head back home, hopefully they’ve gone to the rink, and I can hang out with mum some more. Actually, I’m going to take her for her nails, she does so much for everyone else and nothing for herself. It’s time I fixed that. I message the knucklehead and tell him that he needs to get himself back home before dinner and get cooking mum something nice, I’m taking her out and he needs to pull his weight.