Page 48 of Well Aware

Nettie gestured for Magnolia to take it, who immediately shook her head.

The two had a discussion, then Magnolia was reluctantly walking up to the line and waited for the ball to be dropped.

It was a shit call, and an even shittier situation.

The ball was dropped, and like we fucking knew it would, the ball went to the keeper.

The keeper picked it up and booted it.

“Goddammit.”

Except, Nettie was there to receive the ball in Magnolia’s spot.

See, what Nettie knew was that this exact thing would happen, and she was the fastest player on the field.

Magnolia dropped back to an onside position and waited.

Nettie out-dribbled every player on the field, and she and Magnolia worked in tandem in the next two moves, one-touching it back and forth until there were the two of them standing in front of a wide-open goal.

Magnolia shot and it bounced off the keeper straight back to her feet.

The keeper dove for the ball, but Magnolia kicked it up over the keeper, did a flick of her foot, and the ball rolled into the goal.

The stadium went wild.

All I could do was smile.

“I like her,” Court said. “She has a cool head on her shoulders.”

“Wonder if that ref will be fired,” I mused.

“Yes,” Iris added in her two cents.

I grinned.

She had the cutest voice.

I also loved that she was so adamant.

That ref did deserve to lose his job. Especially after that call. And if a four-year-old could see it…

I hoped my sister’s money would get him some schooling, because he wasn’t going to be working as a ref ever again. Not if I had anything to say about it.

Also, based on how pissed Court looked, the man was literally fucked.

Magnolia finally made her way back to the center back and had a laughing word with the goalie before doing a squeal of excitement with her.

“Mama’s loud,” Iris called out.

I looked down at her. “Aren’t you Ms. Talkative today?” I teased.

She nodded but didn’t comment.

I loved hearing her speak.

It was so rare, I felt like I was given a huge gift.

I returned my gaze back to the game, my focus solely on number thirty-three in the back.