Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: The Hundred And Eighteenth Minute

"Are you done with your half of the setup?"

"Hmm?" I ask my colleague absently, eyes glued to my tiny phone screen.

"Are you done with your half of the setup?"

Patience's sharp tone makes my head snap up and look at her. Her brows are lifted, her eyes pointed, her arms crossed over her chest. "Yes. Everything's done. Galley's secured, equipment's checked, trolleys are loaded. I'm just waiting for the match to end."

Patience's disapproving stare bounces from my face down to my phone and then back again before she slips past me to the galley.

Rolling my eyes, I slide into the nearest seat and carry on watching on the SuperSport app — the quarter-final second leg, seven minutes into the first period of extra time. The tie is level at one-all on aggregate. Nil-nil at FNB in the first leg, one apiece here in Luanda tonight. Whoever scores next ends it, and if nobody does, it goes to penalties. Win, and we're into the semi-final, one tie away from an African final.

"How are they doing?" Andi falls into the seat next to mine, but before I can answer, a deep throaty moan slips out of her. "Yoh, these seats." She melts further into the leather. "No wonder the boys all pass out the second they get on the plane. These seats are ridiculous."

"Extra time," I tell her, wishing I could laugh along with her right now, but I'm far too stressed. "Seven minutes in. Next goal wins it."

My index finger ghosts over the skin of my thumb, wishing I had my gold ring there to spin.

"How's Zondi doing?" Andi's whisper is as quiet as it can be.

"He's doing well. He's played a hell of a lot of minutes tonight, though."