First Touch: Shot at Love

By Amanda Lista

Every journey begins somewhere. Adrian dos Santos's begins in the streets of Tepico, Mexico City, more specifically on the soccer field. Ever since he was a small boy, he had been playing. Over the years, honing his craft at the game, he found himself a spot at Cruz Azul, a Mexican football club that plays in the top division of Mexican football, Liga MX. Even after all his success though, he still felt something is missing. What could it be?
One day he was surprised to find he has been scouted and traded to Chelsea football club in London, a premier league that will greatly advance his career. Hesitant to leave his family and the only city he's ever known, Adrian knew what he must do. 
Arriving in London was an absolute culture shock. There was a brutal immediacy to the city Adrian was not familiar with. On his first night in town, he goes out with a few teammates from the Chelsea club. The last thing he wants is to come across as antisocial! He meets Peter, a friendly, hospitable man along with a few others that are not so sure Adrian is the right "fit" for the team. After a few drinks at a local pub, Adrian slips out and again, feels that same feeling that something is missing in his life. If it's not successful in his career in soccer, what could it be? Cue Phoebe, a slender, graceful woman who owns a hair salon in town. Immediately, the two sense something between them, and Adrian invites her to club Chelsea's first game. 
During the opening game, Adrian, unfortunately, is benched. Yet after an injury on the field, he is put in where he ultimately shoots the winning goal. Half of him is filled with that familiar feeling of success while another part of him feels that he did it for Phoebe. At the same bar where they met, Adrian and Phoebe celebrate with the team. After getting some air, Adrian shows Phoebe how to juggle a soccer ball until a trip of the feet brings them closer than they ever have before. 
Adrian couldn't be happier, though he begins to worry about how he is going to balance his budding relationship with Phoebe and his commitment to club Chelsea. His closest friend Peter and even some old teammates from back home advise him to stay away, but his heart is telling him otherwise. Adrian doesn't have time to dwell on these thoughts though, because one morning before practice, assistant coach Ian, who has always had it out for him, tells Adrian he's been traded. Suddenly, his entire world is turned upside down. 
Will Adrian fight to continue playing with Club Chelsea? Will he have to go back home and forget about Phoebe? Will Phoebe potentially lose the love of her life?
Every journey begins somewhere, but Adrian's is far from over.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Lista
• Release date: Jul 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393544623

Book preview

Chapter 1

Adrian dos Santos’s legs were starting to get cramped as he sat in the small middle seat of an airplane bound for London, England. The passengers’ seat in front of him was nearly smacking him in the face. He hated how scrunched up his feet were. Shifting around, Adrian was careful not to nudge the older white gentleman by the window who was dead asleep. He hadn’t even said hello when Adrian walked up to his seat to say hello. Adrian feared he would be getting a lot of those in the coming months as he adjusted to life in London’s culture. The woman in the aisle seat next to him was dressed in formal business attire. A rose pin was secured to her jacket. Adrian raised an arm to turn on the air conditioning. He noticed the woman glancing at his taut, muscular arms out of the corner of her eye.

Ok? asked Adrian.

Is what ok? The woman’s cheek was flushed red. She had been caught staring at Adrian red-handed. 

The...uh... Adrian looked up at the nozzle.

Oh! The woman laughed, lightly slapping Adrian on the arm. She blushed harder when she felt how every part of Adrian was in shape. "Of course it’s ok if you want to turn on the air conditioner."

I’m sorry, Adrian said, shaking his head. My English is not good.

It’s fine, giggled the woman. "Air conditioner is such a weird word."

The woman’s stomach dropped. She realized how lame she sounded. The woman asked where Adrian was from.

Mexico City, Adrian said. "Very different than London, I imagine.

Wow, the woman said. Exotic. For what exactly?

Memories of Tepito, a barrio located in Colonia Morelos in the Cuauhtemoc borough of Mexico City where Adrian grew up, entered his mind. Tepito was always considered one of the more dangerous neighborhoods, which is why Adrian’s parents, who were very poor warehouse workers, were forced to live there. Adrian, along with his three other siblings, all slept in the living room and one of the main reasons why he was never home. He could still taste the dust of the streets, hear the gunshots from gangs in the dead of night, and the hollering arguments from the drunken neighbors. It wasn’t all bad. There were the stars in the sky at night and occasionally, they could hear the live music at the bars if the musicians weren’t too drunk to play.

Above all else, the one thing Adrian loved was the soccer field behind their apartment. He played the moment he got out of school. Since the neighborhood was so terrible, no one was ever there except the locals and his friend. Without that field, Adrian had no