⚽ Before the Whistle Blows
Grief brought Rory home. Football brought her back. Love might just keep her there.
Aurora "Rory" Davis has always belonged on the pitch. Scouted at sixteen, a rising star for Orlando Pride, and now, her dream call-up to the World Cup for Team USA.
But when her mum passes away, Rory's world comes crashing down. Football feels meaningless, grief is consuming her, and stepping back onto the field seems impossible.
Until a second chance appears-an unexpected spot on England's squad. With her best friends Ella Toone and Alessia Russo by her side, Rory takes the leap. But playing through heartbreak isn't easy, and every day is a battle between who she was and who she's becoming.
Then there's Leah Williamson-captain, teammate, and the one person Rory never saw coming. Sharing a room with her brings late-night talks, unspoken feelings, and walls Rory isn't sure she's ready to break down. But Leah has her own scars, and when she pulls away, Rory is left more confused than ever.
Love. Loss. Family. Football.
Before the final whistle blows, Rory has to decide if she's ready to let someone in again-or if some games are meant to be played alone.
Three best friends, one captain, and a love story written between heartbreak and the beautiful game.
-Regular scheduled Uploads, multiple times a week.-
"You know, I made a promise to myself a year ago that I'd never fall in love again." Niamh spoke as Leah tilted her head to position her ear at Niamh's mouth to ensure she could hear her words.
Leah chuckled and looked down at the floor before manoeuvring her neck back up to look at Niamh's round, green eyes, gazing, as they mirrored Leah's blue ones.
"Oh yeah? How's that going for you?"
-------♥︎
When broken-hearted, Niamh, moves back to her childhood town of Milton Keynes after a messy altercation with the ending of a relationship, she vows to never love again. But after football sensation, Leah Williamson, continues making regular appearances at Niamh's family cafe, could it spark something inside of her and change her outlook on loving forever?
social media x real life
start date: 12/08/22
finish date: 01/06/24
#1 in women's fiction🥇
*there is no mature content other than language and alcohol consumption throughout the story*
i DO NOT own any of the lionesses, Williamsons/Bakers, I DO, however, own Niamh, her family and any additional characters alongside their storylines :)