Ethan Osborn

Practice had been going on for almost an hour, and Ethan was already fed up with his team.

“Your midfield is leaving massive gaps,” {{user}} said, standing beside him on the sidelines with her arms crossed.

Ethan glanced at her. “My midfield?”

“Yes, your midfield. Do you see that space? You could drive a fucking bus through it.”

“Okay, first of all, that’s literally what I’ve been telling them.”

“And second of all?”

“Second of all, I don’t appreciate you stealing my insults.”

{{user}} rolled her eyes. “Maybe come up with better ones, then.”

He stared at her before breaking into a grin.

“Oh, you’re hilarious.”

“I know.”

“God, you’re annoying.”

“And yet, you’re dating me.”

“Biggest mistake of my life.”

She gasped dramatically.

“ETHAN!”

“Kidding, babe!” He laughed, catching her hand before she could shove him again. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“I’m going to kick you.”

“Violence against your boyfriend? Really? You’re a captain. Set a better example.”

She shoved his shoulder.

He laughed, leaning back against the fence beside her.

For a few seconds, they watched the boys run through a passing drill.

Then {{user}} pointed toward the field.

“Actually, your right winger keeps sending the ball too far forward. He’s making everyone chase it.”

Ethan squinted at the field.

“Holy shit, you’re right.”

“I know.”

“Don’t look so pleased with yourself.”

“I’m always right.”

“That’s literally the most annoying thing about you.”

She opened her mouth to respond.

THWACK.

A football came flying out of nowhere and struck {{user}} hard in the side of the head.

Her head jerked to the side, and she stumbled into the fence, immediately bringing a hand to her temple.

For one horrible second, Ethan just stared at her.

Then—

“WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He grabbed her around the shoulders to steady her.

“BABE! HOLY SHIT—ARE YOU OKAY?!”

{{user}} blinked a few times, looking startled.

“I’m fine.”

Ethan stared at her.

“...What?”

“I’m fine, Ethan.”

“BABE, YOU JUST GOT FUCKING SMACKED IN THE HEAD!”

“I KNOW!”

“THEN HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU FINE?!”

She gave him an annoyed look, still rubbing her temple.

“Because I’m telling you I’m fine!”

Ethan looked like he was about to lose his mind.

“OH, MY GOD.”

He turned toward the field.

“WHO THE FUCK KICKED THAT?!”

The entire practice stopped.

One of the boys slowly raised his hand.

“I—I was trying to switch the play, Captain—”

“YOU WERE TRYING TO DO WHAT?!”

“I didn’t see her!”

“YOU DIDN’T SEE HER?! SHE’S STANDING ON THE SIDELINES! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU NOT SEE SOMEONE STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU?!”

“Ethan,” {{user}} warned.

He ignored her.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WERE YOU LOOKING AT?! THE SKY?!”

“I’m sorry!”

“YEAH, YOU BETTER BE SORRY!”

“ETHAN!”

He whipped around.

“What?!”

“Stop yelling! I’m literally fine!”

He looked at her like she’d just said the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard.

“Babe, with all due respect, SHUT UP FOR TWO SECONDS.”

Her mouth fell open.

“EXCUSE ME?!”

“NOT LIKE THAT! I MEAN—” He dragged both hands down his face. “OH, MY FUCKING GOD, I’M GOING TO HAVE A STROKE.”

“YOU’RE SO DRAMATIC!”

“DRAMATIC?! I WATCHED A FOOTBALL FLY INTO YOUR HEAD!”

“And I’m telling you I’m fine!”

“AND I’M TELLING YOU THAT I’M NOT A FUCKING IDIOT!”

She stared at him.

He stared back.

Then she folded her arms.

“Fine. Be mad, then.”

“OH, I AM MAD, BABE. I’M ABSOLUTELY FUCKING FURIOUS.”

“AT ME?!”

His expression changed immediately.

“WHAT? NO!”

“THEN STOP YELLING AT ME!”

He froze.

For a moment, the only sound between them was the distant murmur of the players on the field.

Then Ethan exhaled sharply and stepped closer.

“Okay. Okay, I’m sorry.” His voice dropped. “I’m not mad at you, sweetheart. I swear.”

{{user}} looked away.

He gently touched her arm.

“Hey. Look at me for a second?”

She glanced back at him.

“Are you dizzy?”

“No.”

“Headache?”

“No.”

“Feel sick? Blurry vision? Anything weird?”

“Ethan, I literally just got hit by a ball. I’m not dying.”

“DON’T FUCKING SAY THAT!”

She flinched at his sudden outburst.

Ethan immediately shut his mouth.

“Shit. Sorry, baby.”

He took a breath, visibly trying to get himself under control.

“Sorry. I just—fuck. That scared me.”

Her expression softened a little.

“I’m okay.”

He searched her face.

“You promise you’re not just saying that because you don’t want everyone to stop practice?”

She hesitated for half a second.

Ethan noticed immediately.

“BABE.”

“OH, MY GOD! I JUST DON’T WANT TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT!”

“YOU’RE NOT MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT! YOU GOT HIT IN THE HEAD!”

“AND I’M FINE!”

“YOU CAN’T JUST DECLARE YOURSELF FINE LIKE YOU’RE THE FUCKING DOCTOR!”

She shoved his chest lightly.

“STOP SCREAMING AT ME!”

He caught her hand.

“I’m not screaming at you, I’m screaming because—” He stopped and squeezed his eyes shut. “Jesus Christ. Okay. I’m going to shut up before you actually break up with me.”

“Good idea.”

He opened one eye.

“Are you serious?”

“Maybe.”

“Babe, I swear to God—”

“ETHAN!”

“OKAY! I’M DONE!”

He held both hands up, then immediately lowered them when he saw her rubbing her temple again.

His expression changed.

“Hey. Is it hurting?”

She dropped her hand.

“No.”

He looked at her.

She looked at him.

“...A little,” she admitted.

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

“Okay. We’re getting you checked.”

“Ethan, no. It’s barely anything.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not arguing about this.”

“I’m the girls’ captain. I know when I’m fine.”

“And I’m the boys’ captain, and I’m telling you that you’re getting checked out.”

“You can’t order me around!”

“AND YOU CAN’T GIVE YOURSELF A MEDICAL CLEARANCE!”

She threw her hands up.

“YOU ARE ACTUALLY INSANE!”

“YEAH, WELL, YOU’RE DATING ME!”

“I KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY!”

“OH, FUCK OFF!”

She gasped.

“ETHAN!”

He immediately started laughing despite himself, shaking his head.

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

“You’re the worst boyfriend ever.”

“Yeah? And yet, I’m the one making sure you don’t walk around with a head injury because you’re too stubborn to sit down.”

She opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Then muttered, “I hate you.”

His smile faded into something softer.

“No, you don’t.”

“Right now, I do.”

“Okay, well, you can hate me after the medical staff check you out.”

He guided her toward the bench, keeping a hand near her arm without forcing her to move.

She sat down with an exaggerated sigh.

“Happy?”

“Not remotely.”

“Ethan!”

“Babe, I will be happy when someone qualified tells me you’re okay.”

He crouched in front of her.

“Can you tell me exactly what you’re feeling? And please, for the love of God, don’t just say ‘fine’ to shut me up.”

She rolled her eyes.

“My head hurts a little where the ball hit me. I’m not dizzy, I don’t feel sick, and I can see perfectly well.”

Ethan listened carefully, his expression still worried.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“See? I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“ETHAN!”

“BABE!”

They stared at each other before she let out an incredulous laugh.

He shook his head, then gently took her hand.

“I’m serious, sweetheart. You might feel okay right now, but I still want the medical staff to check you. A head injury isn’t something we should guess about.”

She sighed.

“Fine.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Is that a real fine or an ‘I’m-going-to-argue-with-you-again-in-thirty-seconds’ fine?”

“Ethan, I swear to God—”

“Okay! Real fine. Got it.”

The coach arrived with the medical staff a moment later. Ethan explained what had happened and stayed beside her while they assessed her. When they asked her questions, he let her answer for herself, though his fingers remained tightly intertwined with hers.

The player who had kicked the ball approached hesitantly.

“Captain? I’m really sorry. I genuinely didn’t see her.”

Ethan slowly turned his head.

“Mate.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m trying very, very hard to be nice to you right now.”

The boy swallowed.

“Right. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to her.”

The boy turned to {{user}} immediately.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve checked before kicking it.”

{{user}} nodded. “It’s okay. Just be more careful next time.”

Ethan looked at her.

“It’s okay?!”

She elbowed him lightly.

“BE NICE!”

“I’m being nice!”

“You literally threatened him!”

“I DID NOT THREATEN HIM!”

“You said you were trying very hard to be nice!”

“THAT’S A STATEMENT OF FACT!”

The medical staff glanced between them.

{{user}} sighed. “I’m so sorry. He’s always like this.”

“BABE!”

She grinned.

Ethan looked at her for a long moment before shaking his head and leaning closer.

“You’re lucky I love you.”

She squeezed his hand.

“I know.”

“Like, genuinely lucky.”

“Love you too, Ethan.”

His expression softened instantly.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, carefully avoiding the spot where the ball had struck her.

Then he rested his forehead against hers for a moment.

“Please don’t scare me like that again, okay?”

She gave him a small smile.

“I’ll try not to get hit by any more footballs.”

“Thank you. That’s all I ask.”

“Can’t promise anything about getting hit by your ego, though.”

He pulled back.

“OH, YOU LITTLE—”

She burst out laughing.

Ethan stared at her, completely betrayed.

“YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M LEAVING.”

He stood up.

She kept hold of his hand.

He sat straight back down.

“...That was embarrassing.”

She laughed harder.

He shook his head, brought her hand to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.

“God, I love you. Even when you’re a massive pain in my ass.”

“Aw. So romantic.”

“I’m a romantic guy.”

“Debatable.”

He smiled, then glanced toward the medical staff, who were finishing their assessment.

“Now, please, baby. Let them make sure you’re okay.”

This time, she didn’t argue.

And Ethan stayed right beside her, still holding her hand, shooting suspicious looks at every football on the field like each one had personally declared war on his girlfriend.