Offside Hearts: Crossing the line

BEAN

on around her waist, ready

people left in it, and c

ether, but I'm going to have to leave yo

not a problem, I'll be fine by

into the changing room to switc

wed father. She knew how hard it was for him to make ends meet, a

grabbed her backpack, and col

oe said, hurrying

he had barely reached the bus stop when the loud growl of a motorbike fi

bled over a large stone by the roadside and lost

out a sharp cry, gr

, but he didn't stop. In his head, he

from the helmet and hissed in pains. "I ho

arely see her face, he only saw her throwing her han

mirror at interval ti

round, since there was nothing else to do

raying she arrived on time or

father in the sitting room, wearing an

at job. Why are you just getting home at this hour? You are a y

e taken a taxi home, but she couldn't get one, so

sorry, Chloe. I appreciate the effort, but this has to stop. You can't keep coming home thi

, leaving Chloe standing there

Tears welled in her eyes as her gaze dri

red by a sledgehammer flooded her memory, a

om to check on her, adjusted he

nged, freshened up, and lay dow

she always did and her name sat

mmediately........ It was

her eyes an

he gave in and opened it, she skimmed

early annoyed that she was

p texting me?" she finally replie

back, but before his reply could

She tossed and turned for a long

•

zed with a different kind of nig

ng a lighter open and shut while the crowd arou

hen someone in the crowd threw open a bet between Ronnie and a r

t wait to crush you t

nothing. He was willing to gi

!" Javan yelled, pumping the crowd up.

met. He revved the engine with pride and eased

e really was, where he came from, whose son he was. No one

and this garage was the only

stle, signaling the start, and both ri

raised both hands, then

willing to give an inch as th

leaving the audience murmuring in confusion, before swervi

m, Ronnie surged ahead, refusing to

to close the gap, but Ro

last desperate push, then, without warning, he

ath him. Thrown off balance by the sudden stop, R

sed while his supporters chanted around him, "I'm the

ded on the floor as Ronnie boo

rowd

" Ronnie snarled, grabbing him by the

laugh, "Do whatever it

s eyes bloodshot. Javan tried to swing back, but another pun

g down his lip, and still managed a smug, triumphan

ou!" Ronnie yelled,

his way between them, hauling Ronni

n, clearly satisfied. He had wanted this r

against Logan's grip, "Enough! Can't

re near settled. He took a brief glance at the

ted after him, "This isn't over! I