The things we can't control

Chapter twenty

I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredths time today. "Gracie, stop that now." Evie says and takes my phone. "They said they would call us today." I whine and let myself fall back onto the grass. "And they will call. You just have to be patient."

"Easy for you to say." I groan, turning to look at her. She's looking down at me and her blond hair is gently moved by the wind. The sun is right behind her head, giving her hair a golden glow. She honestly looks like a goddess and I can't look away. I'm sure everyone who cares to look, could see how much I adore the girl in front of me from a mile away.

At first Evie smiles down at me but then her smile fades away and she turns to gaze into the distance. "I'm sorry for how I acted before you went to camp a while ago. It was honestly so fucked up and I want to apologise for hurting you." Slowly I started to sit up. I was a little stunned that she actually apologised, I mean good, she should, but with everything that happened it seemed kind of far away and meaningless. Just two weeks ago we thought Evie broke her neck and would never walk again.

"I'm just happy that your okay now, Evie. I actually wanted to talk to you the day of the accident but then you were in the gym and ones I was there, well, you know." I didn't even want to think about that day again. "So it's all forgotten." I said and smiled, trying to lift the mood.

But Evie shook her head. "No it's not forgotten. Just because something happened to me doesn't excuse the way I was hurting you before. I strung you onto the rollercoaster that was and honestly is my live and you don't deserve that." She explained and I realised that she is right. It wasn't okay how she behaved towards me and I shouldn't let myself be treated like that. "You're right. I accept your apology but I should also apologise because I also said some things that were pretty harsh and I didn't want to hurt you either." She looked at me, nodded and smiled, letting me know that she also accepted my apology.

Then my phone started ringing. I jumped up trying to figure out were it was. Evie quickly pulled it from her pocket and handed it to me.

"Hello?" I asked out of breath.

"Hello, is this Grace Preath?" The voice on the other side asked and I nodded, soon realising that they wouldn't see me nodding.

"Yes, yes, this is her."

"Okay, perfekt miss Preath. We would like to tell you, that you were selected to represent the US Women's National Team in the 2023 Women's Word Cup."

I nearly screamed but instead send Evie a big smile and released a breath of relive with it. "Oh my god, thank you so much. This is the most amazing news ever." I finally said.

The women on the phone laughed and congratulated me once more before she explained that she had to call some more people today and had to go. I said my goodbyes and stared at my phone. Then I slowly turned to Evie who promptly engulfed me into a tight hug.

"You did it Gracie! Your going to Australia!" She squealed into my ear and thats when I started to realise that I actually would play in the Women's World Cup. "Yes, oh my god, Evie. I will play in the freaking World Cup."

Once again the hug lastet way to long to be just friendly but I wouldn't destroy our friendship for the second time. Evelyn isn't ready to realise that there might just be more than just friendship between us.

Or at least that was what I thought because the next thing that I felt was a soft kiss on my neck and then on my cheek. "I'm very proud of you, Gracie." She whispered while she pressed another quick kiss to the corner of my mouth. My heart jumped out of my chest and I nearly groaned when she stepped back and looked into my eyes, both hands on my cheeks.

"What was that, Evie? You know what that makes me think, right?" I asked her quietly, not knowing what I should put into that gesture. Evelyn Hansen is a total mystery to me.

"That was me giving into my thoughts and it was freaking scary." She whispered, still staring into my eyes. "I would really like to kiss you now and I won't freak out this time." Did I hear that correctly, she wants to kiss me?"

Her face moved closer to mine but I couldn't quiet believe it so I pulled away a little just before our lips met. "Are you sure?" I whispered, needing the reassurance. "Yes, I promise." She said and finally our lips met in a gentle, yet powerful kiss.

This time Evelyn didn't pull away and broke my heart into a thousand little peaces. No, this time we kissed for what felt like a lifetime and only broke apart once the cold from the night made us shiver.

I laughed a little not being able to comprehend this day. "What's so funny?" Evie asked, also with a smile in her voice. "I just can't believe all the things that happened today." Evie smiled and gave me another kiss. "Well believe them. Because you are going to Australia and I did in fact get my shit together and kissed you. And you kissed back, might I add." I sighted and pulled her into my side. "Does this mean that I actually have a chance?" Evie nodded but kept looking into the pastel coloured sky. "A very big one, Gracie, very big." I chuckled and breathed in her perfect smell. The only thing that could make this year better at this point would be a World Cup win.

***

"Come on!" I screamed at Alyssa as the Swedish player got ready to take her shot. She needs to save that. She needs to save us. This is definitely not how I envisioned my World Cup experience to go. This would not be it.

The Swedish player took her shot and we all held our breaths as it sailed through the air, right onto the goal. And then Alyssa was there, but the power of the shot was to much and she lost her grip and then got it again. She did it, didn't she? This was not a goal.

We all waited for the official decision and when the referee signalised goal and win for Sweden, I just sank to the floor and started crying. This couldn't be real. We were not even in the quarter finals. Never before in the history of the National Team haven't we reached at least the quarter finals. How could we come home like this.

I felt someones hand on my arms and then Alex pulled me to my feet. "Come on, baby Preath. There will be a next time for you."