Sam Kerr + Kristie Mewis - Sportsmanship

8. Already Best Friends

(Sam)
I sweep my hands up over my ears, smoothing out any loose strands of hair in my signature low ponytail as I glance down at my phone. The clock seemingly stuck on 11, ticks away slowly as I wait for her to message that she's landed. The timing couldn't have worked out better after Kristie finished her game in the Netherlands and she met up with her bestie Steph to travel to London to see her sister Sam play. Although I know she's only staying for a week, I'm grateful that her schedule has lined up with my break so we can make the most of spending our time getting to know each other in person while she's here.

I'm even more grateful for Millie letting me borrow her car to pickup Kristie and Steph, I haven't bothered to buy one since moving here yet. Earlier in the week, I'd arranged for drinks with the Chelsea girls, waiting until it had just been Millie, Erin, Fran and I to tell Millie about Kristie. If I'm honest the drinks had helped, Erin finally paid up for the drinks she owed me! Millie had been shocked initially and upset I hadn't talked to her earlier, but she understood we hadn't wanted to hurt her or Rachel until we knew if we were likely going to be more serious. In typical Millie fashion she had then wanted to know every detail, as did Fran and Erin, the girls roasted me all night me for getting into a long distance relationship. They relented when I agreed to bring Kristie out for drinks one night while she's here in London with me.

To say I'm excited to finally touch and hold Kristie in person for the first time would be an understatement. I adjust my jacket, lifting my mask down to take a sip of my coffee, as I see a message come through that they've landed. Time now felt like it was racing forward, as did my heart, pumping harder and faster as the moment drew closer. I made my way into the airport to wait for Kristie.

(Kristie)
As Steph and I stand at baggage claim, I let out a frustrated sigh at how long it is taking with Covid protocols, my impatience growing as the hours have finally turned into minutes until I can see Sam in person.

Steph: "Do you need to take a deep breath Kratch?"
Kristie: "No I don't need to take a fucking deep breath!"
Steph: "You sure about that?! Can't have you being grumpy when you see S-A-M-M-I!"

I hear the teasing tone in her voice as she winks at me. To humor her I make a deal of taking a big deep breath in before blowing it in her direction. She reaches out and nudges my arm, sticking her tongue out as I playfully nudge her back. Jeez we must look like children to everyone else waiting around for their luggage. After what feels like an eternity we finally collect our bags and make our way towards the arrivals area, my eyes scanning and searching desperately for a sign of Kerr.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, the saying about butterflies in your stomach when you're nervous to meet someone is bullshit, this is far more agonizing, we're talking a tickling feeling. Not the nice gentle kind, no, the visceral and suffocating kind that leaves you exhausted but also wanting more. Steph snaps me from my pondering thoughts, as she points out we're walking in the wrong direction. She turns around just ahead of me and I see her face change. Before I can begin to turn around, I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I spin around, met with Sam's beautiful big brown eyes and wild grin lifting the corners of her mask. Standing before me in an oversized grey hoodie layered with a black puffer jacket, camouflage track pants, white socks and Nike shoes peaking out from under her trackies, I watch as she moves her hand from my shoulder and runs her hands through her hair above her ears, a nervous habit of hers that I absolutely adore. Eager to break the distance between us I move to take a step forward before I feel Steph shove me hard from behind, sending me off balance and careering into Sam.

(Sam)
I hadn't hesitated when I noticed Steph and Kristie still heading in the wrong direction as I walked faster towards them, Kristie and Steph had been totally oblivious to their surroundings, neither noticing my presence. I had debated in my head how to approach Kristie as I drew closer, settling on reaching out for her shoulder not wanting to startle her. Regretting that choice as she turned around to face me I instinctively swept the loose strands of hair away from my face, noticing how her eyes poured over me. Unsure if I'd just totally ruined the moment, Kristie took a step closer, only for Steph to shove her in the back toward me. Reflexively I reached out to catch Kristie, her body now pressed against mine, the smell of her hair and perfume filling my senses.

Desperate not to overthink things, time seemed to stand still as I pulled her closer to my body for an intimate hug, my hands resting around her shoulder and waist. Leaning closer, I moved in to whisper into her ear:

Sam: "Just so you know if we weren't wearing masks I would totally have kissed you by now"
Kristie: "I don't just kiss my friends Sammi"
Sam: "Are we just friends?"
Kristie: "Already best friends..."

I look into her eyes again, searching for more answers as we finally pull apart, both of us grinning wildly at one another. I head over to give Steph a big hug, a look of amusement still on her face after her little interference. Reaching past them I take their luggage trolley and usher us in the right direction, as Steph links her arms around Kristie and they trail behind me chatting. I hear their conversation as we walk, you can hear Steph from a mile away:

Steph: "So how was the hug?"
Kristie: "Apart from being shoved in the back?!"
Steph: "Oh please! You both needed all the help you could get!"
Kristie: "It was the most electrifying hug I've ever had...and her whisper in my ear..."
Steph: "You do love an accent"
Kristie: "It's not just her accent...although I love that too"
Steph: "God you two are falling hard for each other. Do I need to keep helping you both actually interact together tonight?"
Kristie: "I couldn't think of anything worse!"
Steph: "Ah you wound me! At this rate I should be charging for my matchmaking services"
Kristie: "Ha you flatter yourself too much!"
Steph: "Are you going to have fun tonight?"
Kristie: "Have you let Sam know we've landed?"
Steph: "Don't ignore me Kristie!"
Kristie: "I'll message Sam and let her know we're on our way"

I smile to myself at Kristie's description of our hug, and that she likes my accent, she's never admitted that before. Kristie and I load the car with their luggage as Steph clambers into the back seat. Kristie climbs into the passenger seat at the same time as I slide into the drivers seat, our hands brush past each other as I put the car into gear, neither of us really moving our hands away from the centre of the car.

Summoning all my courage I reach my hand further out, placing it gently above her knee and thigh. Unsure how Kristie will respond, I'm surprised when she traces her finger on the back of my hand sending shivers down my spine, before she intertwines her hand and fingers with mine. We both blush bright red, as I glance in the mirror to see Steph videoing on her phone and losing it in the backseat. I shoot her a death stare and focus my attention back on the road. I can't wait until we finish dinner at Sam's apartment and I can spend some time with Kristie - alone.

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Stay with me folks, don't want to rush the build up of Kristie and Sam together. Long weekend here in Aus so will hopefully write the next chapter tomorrow. Let me know what you think, open to thoughts and feedback and please vote so I know if you're liking the story so far :)
P.S. Let me know if there's any Aussie slang I need to fix
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