Falling for you | Sam Kerr

Chapter 8: Aunty Sammy said

Firstly, thank you for 300 reads! I honestly didn't even think anyone would read this, so it means a lot!

The song for this chapter is "People watching" by Conan Grey ⚽️🎵🤍.

IVY
After managing to collect herself, Ivy stood at the gate (trying her best not to appear too frazzled- she was being closely watched by fans and paparazzi alike) as she messaged Gorry.

Katrina, having helped arrange her West Ham transfer, was now attempting to get the plane arrival time out of Ivy. She knew it was probably just so she could pick Ivy up, but something inside her was terrified that Gorry wanted to interrogate her- Katrina had truly become one of her closest friends, and Harper was like a sister... could she stand loosing them too?

The plane touched down in rainy London a few hours later, and anxiety welled up in her chest like rain into puddles. She would have to face this eventually...

Sure enough, Mini was waiting for her with Mini-Min (Harps) and Clara. Harper, to Ivy's slight comfort, was wearing a "Valdez" jersey.

"Dezzy!" Mini-min squealed.

That was Sam's special nickname for her... Ivy wondered briefly where Harper had learned it, before being interrupted by a massive bear hug.

"Hey Harps," she replied, smiling warmly down at the little blond wrapped around her torso, before nodding at Clara and Katrina. "I like the jersey."

"She got the jersey for Christmas, and she must have picked up nickname from the team" responded Clara- they had only met once, but overall Ivy thought they had gotten on quite well. Would that have changed now?

The toddler continued, chatting about how Auntie Sammy "said Dezzy a lot." Could her heart shatter any further? The past few days apparently wanted to test how far it could be crushed before becoming irretrievably broken, and Ivy was scared she was reaching the limit.

"Hey Harps, let's leave Aunt Ivy for now ok? Mum has to talk to her for a bit."

Harper reluctantly left, and Ivy, even more reluctantly than the toddler, turned to face Katrina.

"Look Mini, if this is going to be a lecture can we save it for later? I know I deserve it, but I can't deal with another person telling me how shitty I am."

It may have sounded harsh, but at least it was out of the way. Ivy meant it: she truly couldn't bear one more argument, not today at least.

"I wanted to pick you up so we could talk, not so I could tell you off. I've heard Sam's side, and now I want to hear yours. I love you enough to owe you that Ivy, no matter what- and it might not feel like it, but the team loves you too. They're just... a bit shaken, and you can't exactly blame them."

Mini waited for a reaction, and upon none, continued. "Cmon, Harper's waiting, and so is your bed."

"I'm fine to stay at a hotel Mini."

"Bullshit. We have the house, and the space, and the toddler who wants to see you- stay at ours, at least for a while." Ivy could almost hear Mini saying internally " At least until this is sorted out," but she agreed, and so they walked out to the car together.

GORRY
Ivy was so anxious she might as well have combusted from fear- her fingers, a bruised mess, were combing through her glossy hair which was now frizzy from the vigorous brushing.

The Mum instinct had kicked in immediately upon seeing the girl, and it had taken everything not to give Ivy a massive, Harper-style hug. She hadn't wanted to overwhelm her at the time, but Gorry had a feeling a hug would be necessary during their next conversation....

She smiled over at Clara and tried to relax. Her stress would just be negative for the two "kids" bickering in her backseat.

This whole thing was incredibly difficult for Katrina: she loved Sam, and would kill for her in a heartbeat. Hearing that she had been hurt, again, was sickening. But on the other side, Gorry knew Ivy. She knew this was more than just "falling out of love" as Sam believed had happened.

If she had to play cupid for Kerrdez to continue, she would do it. Gorry was a tactical player for a reason... it was time to employ those skills, especially considering what Sam had just told her.

IVY
The trio had gone out to grab takeaway.

Luckily, apart from a house tour there hadn't been any other conversations. It lingered like a heavy mist though, and Ivy knew it would happen eventually.

Until then, she would bake. Baking was truly the only thing she had left. Something didn't feel right this time though.

Ivy's favourite part of baking had always been giving other people the creations; seeing their faces light up with joy, and knowing you had created it. The joy of making others happy was the best lesson her Mum had taught her.

Would her Mum be happy now? Knowing her daughter would give up love for "the best?" She knew the answer, but it didn't matter. It wasn't like her Mum was ever coming back.

Ivy tried not to, but her brain reminisced on the good times; The sweet pastries Sam would bring her, and her grin as she convinced Ivy to try each flavour in the bag, or the way she would chose the same song for karaoke (Love story, Taylor Swift), and point to Ivy at the line "it's a love story, baby just say yes" every time, without fail.

What more would she have to lose? What more did she even have to lose? The worst part was, if she could sacrifice everything but keep Sam, it would be done in a heartbeat. But Ivy wouldn't be selfish enough to think anyone would want her problems- after all, that's all she was- a problem.

That was her place in life, and Ivy would be resigned to it for Sam. Anything, for Sam.

GORRY
The smell of burnt chocolate was nauseating, even managing to overpower the pizzas Harper was proudly gripping.

"Mama, what's the smell?" Harper asked, and Gorry tried her best to explain, simultaneously taking in the sight before her: Their kitchen had definitely been slightly cleaner before they left, and Ivy certainly hadn't been reduced to tears.

"I'm so, so sorry, I don't know what I did wrong!" Ivy blabbered, apologising again and again, before Gorry finally pulled her into a hug.

"It's ok, I promise. I think you're struggling to make everything work right now Ivy, and this is proof of that."

The girl cried harder. "I just miss Sam."
This was an incredibly quiet whisper, but it was all the confirmation Gorry would ever need- Operation Kerrdez was still on.

IVY
After a rigorous cleaning of the kitchen, another hug or two from Harper, and the removal of her burnt cookies, Ivy finally sat at the kitchen table clutching a tea and staring at Gorry.

Gorry sympathetically smiled back, waiting.

The words began to spill out of her mouth, in such quantities that Ivy herself was left shocked and slightly breathless.

They sat there for what felt like hours, Ivy talking and eventually reducing herself to tears again. Mini hadn't attempted to interrupt, and thankfully Clara had taken Harper to the park- Ivy didn't want Harper seeing her like this.

Finally, Mini spoke.
"Firstly, you need to get it into your head that the things that happened were never your fault. Dominic, the match, the online hate, Sam's bad choices, none of it. Most importantly, you aren't, and never were, a burden."

"Now," she continued, "if you tell Sam I told you, she will murder me, so please don't, but.. Ivy, she wanted to propose. She asked your Mum's blessing at the graveyard, bought the ring with the team, planned out the entire thing with us. If that doesn't say everything, especially considering how much Sam struggled to trust after Mewis, then I don't know what will."

What the hell had Ivy done?
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That marks the end of the eighth chapter with 1380 words. I hope you enjoyed reading, and as always, feedback and suggestions are welcome 🤍