A Whole New Ball Game

By Lauren K McKellar

She thought she had her future sorted, but life has other plans...

Get the reference, get the job, get out of here: I know what I want. What I've always wanted. What I've been raised to want. The only thing standing between me and my dream overseas nursing job is a reference from my boss – and a very special little girl in the hospice care where I work who I just can't say goodbye to yet.

The last thing I need is Sawyer Benson, the AFL legend and an arrogant smile, coming in to visit the kids at the hospice and interfering with my life.

But when Emily tells me that girls can't play football, I know that I have to prove to her that girls can do anything they want. So Sawyer and I strike a bargain. I'll play his girlfriend when the camera's on, and off–camera he'll train me up for the Women's Aussie Rules league try–outs. Together we'll show Emily that girls are brave and strong and can do anything they dream of.

I still know what I want. I can walk away from footy and go back to my original plan. Football and arrogant smiles can't be my future.

Can they?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781489269270

Lauren K McKellar

Lauren McKellar grew up in a beachside town north of Sydney, Australia. A self-confessed nerd, Lauren spends every spare second she has writing books and hungrily devouring new releases from her favourite authors. With a passion for Young Adult and New Adult fiction, she especially loves stories that are real and flawed. Lauren is a magazine editor and freelance fiction editor. She juggles her time between editing, writing, and going for long walks on the beach with her partner and their two puppies. She loves to meet new people, so feel free to chat with her on Twitter, Facebook, or on her blog.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sawyer

I was used to getting tackled. Getting thrown on the ground in the middle of a match that left my body bruised and battered, near breaking point.

Every muscle would ache—my arms, my chest, my legs—but I could unequivocally say that I’d never taken a beating quite like this one.

‘And that is why your relationship didn’t work.’ Kristy lunged for the ball, slamming it in my direction.

‘Because I never won at tennis?’ I returned her volley.

She ran to the far side of the indoor court, twisting her body back and—slam! The ball went flying in my direction once more. ‘Because you never won at tennis. But more because you wanted children and she wanted holidays in the Maldives. Because you kept trying to fix her problems.’

I stretched to return the ball, but it bounced out of my reach, teasing the net behind us. ‘Your serve. And what’s wrong with fixing someone’s problems? Isn’t that a good thing?’

‘Not always. Sometimes, us women just want somebody to listen.’ Kristy bounced the ball up and down, her tennis racket at the ready. ‘Anyway, you’ve been over for a few weeks now, and that still doesn’t answer my question. Who are you gonna take to the awards night?’

‘Maybe I’ll go stag.’

‘Stag?’ She laughed. ‘You’re one of only five nominated for Player of the Year. You have to take a date.’

‘Maybe Braden and I will go together. He’s single.’

‘Braden is forever single. He’s also a serial flirt, gets his dick out at the drop of a hat, and—’

‘And he’s my best friend.’ I narrowed my eyes.

‘Point taken.’ She flashed me a grin, bouncing the ball one last time.

‘Maybe my little sister will set me up with one of her sexy frie—ugh!’ I grunted, straining to return her power serve.

‘No!’ The ball slammed back at me. It bounced once on the court then went straight into the dead zone, a curveball I didn’t see coming.

I held up my racket in defeat, smiling. ‘Looks like you win again.’

‘That would be all points to me, game, set and match.’ Kristy crowed, her hands above her head. ‘This is why I am the sportier sibling.’

‘You know I’d kick your arse if we were playing football.’ I collected her racket, placing it with my own to the side of the tennis court.

‘Maybe so. But I kick your butt where it counts—here on the tennis court, and in the relationship department.’ She sighed as we leaned against the nets, taking a moment. ‘Listen, I know I’ve said it before, but your heart was too big for Ava. You need someone who cares about the things you care about. Not someone who’s only interested in shoes and how good her hair looks when the camera cuts to her on the sidelines.’ She framed her hands around my face like she was capturing me in her viewfinder.

I batted them away. ‘There was more to Ava than just shoes and hair.’

‘Yeah.’ Kristy raised both eyebrows, deadpan. ‘There was clothes, and make-up, and let’s not forget her obsession with a certain piece of jewellery.’

I sighed. ‘It never would have worked, would it?’

She shook her head. ‘Nope. She wanted the ring, but she hated kids. You love children. You like to fix her problems, and she felt you were interfering. You were at an impasse, and she wasn’t willing to make a move to meet you in the middle—which is where you needed to meet.’

I nodded. It was strange, the arguments you could end up having.

I’d thought Ava and I were solid—rock solid—until, after one long evening of too much wine, she’d told me that she didn’t want to have kids. Not ever.

The news had thrown me. All thoughts of the ring she’d been eyeing in the window at Tiffany’s had vanished.

Perhaps coincidentally, she’d vanished just as quickly.

‘Relationships are about compromise. Not about one party making a major life change just to make the other happy.’ Kristy put her water in her kitbag and slung it over her shoulder.

We reached reception and signed our names out on the roster.

‘Hey, bro. Mind if I grab a photo?’ the guy behind the counter asked.

I shrugged. ‘Sure.’

Kristy took his phone and stepped back, snapping a few shots while I chatted to the guy (a Killers fan), asked him who he thought would win the finals (go Killers), and discussed his fantasy league Aussie Rules team (involving Braden, and me as star fullback).

Finally, we shook hands, I signed one more autograph for his mate, and Kristy and I made it to the parking lot unscathed.

‘The dramas of starting at a new indoor sports complex.’ She shook her head. ‘Hopefully you won’t have to do that every time we play.’

‘I don’t mind.’

‘Well you mightn’t have anywhere better to be, but I have two little men at home just desperate for some love and affection, and I am not the type to let that need go unanswered.’

‘Your dogs are pretty damn cute.’

‘They are indeed.’ She opened her car and rifled in her bag as her phone sounded. ‘Hang on a sec, I’ll just get—’

Her face turned white.

Her mouth opened in an O.

‘What is it?’

She didn’t answer. Instead, she showed me her phone, the screen shot of a news article that had just come through in her text messages.

Playing the Field.

The headline was brutal, but not as much as the photo underneath.

The photo of Ava, my ex, locking lips with another man.

Locking lips with my best friend.

What the hell? Braden and Ava?

‘Sawyer …’ Kristy’s voice was sad as she turned to toss the phone in the car.

I shook my head, stepping away. Why would he do that? Why would she do that? And while we spent a year together, how long had she been eyeing off my best mate?

I was gonna kill him. Simple as that.

I took one more step back.

Right into the path of an oncoming car.

Chapter 2

Zoe

‘Happy Tuesday!’ Aubrey shuffled through the crowded pub, slinking past men in suits and women in A-line skirts, her two pots of beer wobbling dangerously.

I took my glass in appreciation, clinking it against hers. ‘Happy Tuesday.’

‘That was some game, huh?’ Aubrey ran her glass over a spot on her forehead, wiping away the imaginary sweat.

‘Oh, stop! You look perfect every time we play, and you know it,’ I teased, reaching a hand out and gesturing to her straight hair, still so sleek as opposed to my own frizzy mess. ‘Me, on the other hand …’

‘You have this whole natural glow thing going on,’ Aubrey declared, and I laughed, taking another sip. ‘Seriously, though. The way you played tonight was amazing.’

‘Thanks.’ It had felt great out there under the lights. It might have only been a casual Tuesday-night Aussie Rules comp, but giving my all in that game of football, sweating out the stress of work—it never failed to leave a smile on my face.

‘I’ve just hired a personal trainer. I want to get better at the game, help us reach finals this year.’

I looked at my friend in admiration. ‘Really?’

She nodded. ‘I know I don’t have that natural talent you seem to, but this guy trains some of the pro players.’

‘Wow.’ Go Aubrey! She was levelling up, taking our Tuesday Night Warriors team to a whole new level.

‘He said he’d give me a discount if I had a friend do it with me …’ She batted her eyelashes.

‘Sorry, Aubs, but it’s not going to happen.’ I’d have loved to, but I couldn’t commit. ‘Not with my plans for work so up in the air.’

‘I know. But it was worth a shot.’ She took a sip from her drink, and we settled into comfortable silence for a moment or two. ‘Speaking of work, how is the centre?’

‘Same old, same old.’ I winced. ‘Not entirely true. Tomorrow, they’re bringing in a bunch of Aussie Rules players from the men’s league.’

‘Ha! Not James?’

‘Not James.’ Thank Christ. ‘But you know what they’ll be like. A bunch of guys strutting around the place, thinking they’re heroes. Spouting lines like women can’t—’

‘—play AFL,’ we finished in unison, and I rolled my eyes.

‘If they’d seen you run that ball on the field tonight, they wouldn’t dare waste their breath.’ She shook her head, then took a deep breath. Her smile turned to a frown.

‘What is it?’

She grimaced, sipped at her beer.

‘Just tell me already!’

‘Okay.’ She pursed her lips before meeting my gaze. ‘Speaking of professional players, my brother …’

I tensed. ‘Go on …’

She reached across the table and took my hand. ‘Zoe, he’s engaged.’

Engaged.

The man I once thought I’d marry was engaged.

I took another long sip of beer. ‘That celebrity agent?’

She nodded. ‘Melina. Yeah.’

‘I guess it makes sense,’ I said. ‘She can fit in with his lifestyle. She can be whatever he needs.’

And I couldn’t.

I wanted to back then, six years ago when we were high-school sweethearts with the world at our feet.

I deferred my university degree, gave up my plane ticket to Africa when James got selected to play for Perth last minute. I put my career on hold for the love of my life.

Only for him to decide he had two great loves of his life—football, and me. And there wasn’t enough room for us both.

‘She’s actually pretty great.’ Aubrey made face. ‘Sorry. I am on Team Zoe, all the way, but—’

‘James is your brother.’ I shook my head. ‘You need to support him. Be happy for him. I am.’

‘Really?’ she asked.

‘Really.’ It wasn’t a lie. ‘Besides, I have news of my own.’

‘You do?’

I nodded. ‘Mm-hmm. I had my final interview with Nurses Abroad today, and they’ve approved me. All I need is one last reference from my place of employment, and I’m outta here. Africa, here I come.’

‘Zo, that’s so exciting!’ Aubrey’s glass slammed on the table as she grinned. ‘This is that volunteer thing overseas, right?’

‘Well, not entirely volunteer, but minimal pay, yes. It’ll be my chance to make a difference with underprivileged children. To help those who need it most.’ To do what I wanted to do when I first finished school, when I put my dreams aside for someone else.

Never again. I’d never put my dreams aside again.

‘That is amazing.’ Aubrey looked at her half-empty glass. ‘This calls for a second drink. Champers?’

‘I don’t know …’

‘You’ve wanted this forever, and you finally have confirmation that you’re going to work for peanuts in a small community where it’s stinking hot and you have limited medical supplies?’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Sounds like cause for a drink to me.’

‘Fine, but just a spritzer. I have to drive.’

‘Spoilsport.’

I laughed as she went to the bar. Finally, things were working out.

I took my phone and opened a new email.

Dear Mum,

Guess what? It’s finally happening!

I just need one more reference from work then I’ll be headed to Africa to work in a hospital.

Can’t wait to make you proud.

Love,

Zoe

I tucked my phone in my jacket pocket. I’d miss my friends. I’d miss Tuesday-night Aussie Rules. I’d miss the patients at work.

But sometimes, you had to make sacrifices. My mother was proof enough of that.

I couldn’t wait to get out of this town and finally get what we wanted.

***

An hour later, Aubrey and I said our goodbyes, and I walked into the dark parking lot across the road from the pub. Taking out my phone, I flicked the torch function on, searching for the familiar red Corolla in the many aisles of vehicles.

Finally, I found it and hopped in. What a night. The high of winning our game of Aussie Rules. The news about my job application.

James is getting married.

It didn’t matter. He couldn’t stop me getting what I wanted now, and that was all that counted.

I turned the engine over and reversed out of my spot, headed down the dark aisle. They really should get better lighting in this place. It was a danger to anyone and—

A man stepped into the path of my car.

I slammed on the brakes.

Too late.

Chapter 3

Sawyer

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ A small ball of fire and fury launched at me. ‘Are you insane?’

‘I …’ Where had that car even come from?

‘Sawyer! Are you okay?’ Kristy raced to my side, helping me to my feet. Huh. I’d fallen over.

Ava and Braden are together.

‘No, he’s clearly not okay. He needs some form of head check because he walked into my car,’ the woman seethed.

‘Back off, lady!’ Kristy commanded. ‘My brother just received some particularly upsetting news, and you ran into him.’

‘I—he …’ She faltered.

I looked across at her. Her skin seemed porcelain white in the headlights. Her thin frame shook as she pursed her lips together. ‘Hey.’ I shrugged Kristy off, stepping closer to the woman. ‘Why don’t you sit down for a second?’

‘I don’t need to sit down. You should sit,’ she said, but her voice was shaking.

‘Sometimes accidents can scare us. I think you’re experiencing a slight case of shock.’ I kept my voice calm, level, just like I used to when Kristy and I were little and she was having one of her panic attacks. ‘Here.’

I opened the back of my ute, peeling away the cover and tapping at the carpet interior. ‘Just for a few minutes. Just until you get your bearings.’

The woman opened her mouth as if to protest again, then took two tentative steps over, hoisting herself onto the edge. ‘Thanks,’ she whispered.

I opened the cab, grabbing one of the towels from the seat and pressing it to my nose. Yep. Linen-scented. Must have been one of the clean ones.

Handing it to the lady, I walked back to Kristy’s car, gesturing to the driver’s seat. ‘Your chariot awaits, and your noble sausage dogs need you.’

‘Are you hurt? Is anything sore?’ Kristy pressed, tugging at my arm.

‘I’m fine. Nothing hurts.’ The car barely tapped me. I’d just been so off balance on the inside that it didn’t take much to send me to my knees.

A memory flashed in my mind. Ava’s hands on either side of my face after the whistle blew at the match that sent us to the top of the ladder mid-season. ‘You did it, baby!’

‘Not without you.’ I kissed those soft lips, relishing the taste. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’

My body jolted forward. Braden wrapped his arms around the both of us.

‘I fucking love you guys!’ He smacked a kiss on my cheek, then one on Ava’s. ‘You’re bloody perfect!’

I’d thought he was talking about the game, the winning play I’d set up, but maybe he meant her. Maybe it was all so much more than it seemed.

‘Listen, Sawyer, let’s both go. She’s the one who made a mistake here, and—’

I turned to my sister, placing my hands on her shoulders. ‘And she’s freaking out. The least I can do is help her calm down before she gets back behind the wheel.’

‘But what about when she recognises you?’ Kristy whispered. ‘She’ll try take you for all you’re worth.’

I looked over at the woman sitting on the tray of my car. Long brown hair was tied high above her head. A baggy grey jacket hung about her slim frame, tight black pants encasing her legs. Legs … legs for days. Full lips were parted just slightly as her eyes, black in the dark of the parking lot, focused on her Corolla that looked as if it had seen better days.

She looked like she could use the money, sure.

But she didn’t seem the type to try and take me for a ride.

And I’d sure met a lot of that type.

‘I’ll see you next week.’ I opened my arms to give Kristy a hug goodbye.

‘Don’t you dare put that sweaty body near mine.’ She shoved at my chest, then scowled at the lady in my ute, raising her voice for a parting shot. ‘Just remember, I saw the whole thing.’

‘Bye, Kristy.’ I waved her off.

‘Call me,’ she mouthed as she hopped into her car and drove away.

I walked over to the ute, taking a fresh water bottle from my kitbag and handing it to the woman before sitting beside her. ‘Feeling better?’

‘Yes. Thanks.’ She took the water and unscrewed the lid, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. ‘Sorry for shouting at you before. I think you’re right—I was in shock. I—’

‘It’s okay.’ I shrugged.

We sat in silence for a few moments. A car roared past on the main road. A whistle blew from the sports centre behind us.

‘You playing?’ I asked, jerking my head in the direction of the mega complex.

‘Yeah. Aussie Rules.’ She shot me a small smile.

Does she recognise me? ‘Huh. What position?’

‘Mostly in the centre,’ she replied. ‘I like to attack.’

I bet you do. ‘Ah, see, that’s why I’m a fullback man. I like to protect what’s mine.’

‘You play?’

Nope. Clearly didn’t recognise me at all. ‘Yeah. Pretty regularly.’

‘Cool. Maybe I’ll run into you here again then.’ Her jaw dropped. ‘Oh, God! Hopefully less literally, next time.’

I laughed. ‘Hey, I said it’s okay. I’m not hurt. You’re not hurt.’

‘Henry’s not hurt.’

‘Henry?’

‘My car.’

‘Huh.’ I grinned. ‘That’s different.’

‘You don’t give strange things names?’ she asked, shooting me a smile, and shit, she was beautiful. That smile—it lit her whole face. She should smile like that forever.

Whoa. Back up, Sawyer.

The