Chapter 24
24
I’m on the sofa, a quarter of a bottle of wine in, when WhatsApp buzzes:
Sorry, took a while to get hold of her. All sorted. Monica’s PA will get a call in the morning saying there was a problem on their end and the dates are fixed
20.17
Thank you, I do really appreciate it
20.19
Was that grateful enough, when Tony’s probably saved my job?
Apparently yes, because next there’s a string of YouTube links to Tony’s greatest free kicks, top ten assists, etc., etc., followed by:
Some passing porn for you. Let me know if you need a helping hand xxx
20.28
That properly makes me laugh, which is saying something after today. And I shouldn’t have had a drink when I’m tired and still a bit weepy. That’s what I’m blaming it on anyway, when I reply:
Believe me, you’ve already given me everything I need
20.33
Then I’ll definitely be dreaming of Genie. But I do that every night tbh. If you change your mind, call me xxx
20.35
The whole way to work, I can’t stop thinking about that text. I’ve tried telling myself it’s no different from how we’ve joked around before. But it is. And Tony’s car’s already in the car park and I’m all hot and prickly. I can’t do this, not yet. But he’s already bounding across the tarmac, shouting, ‘Morning, beauty.’ God, everything about him is extra glossy. The second he opens his mouth, he’s going to tease.
Except he doesn’t. He stops dead in front of me and says, ‘You look nice. Very boss lady.’
That’s exactly the look I was aiming for when I went for a pinstriped blazer and black, high-waisted jeans. Which helps me manage to start walking in with him, instead of running off to hide. And it’s how, when Tony looks at me out of the corner of his eye and asks, ‘So, how was your night?’ I can manage to reply, ‘Fine, thank you.’
‘Is that all? Cos I’m scheduled with the analytics boys this morning.’
‘Are you?’ My voice remains admirably monotone.
‘I am. So, if what I sent you yesterday didn’t hit the spot, let me know what does, and I’ll have ’em pull the clips.’
I cover my eyes. ‘Don’t.’
‘Don’t what?’ he asks, exaggeratedly innocent.
‘Tease.’
‘Who says I’m teasing?’ He dips his head, trying to see my face. ‘Hang on, are you blushing?’
‘Urgh, yes, a bit.’
Tony laughs like he’s been holding it in for a while. ‘I don’t see why. I mean, when Sky said ’bout your midfielder thing…’
‘Skylar told you?’
The grin is extra toothy. ‘So what if she did? I mean, it’s a touch unusual, but it’s not like weird. So long as it’s just appreciating nice passing, or whatever. If it’s OBV stats and xGs that are getting you all hot under the collar, then yeah, OK, you’ve got a problem.’
‘Actually, sorry, Tony, but could we not?’ My voice is tight.
He side-steps away. He must think I’m such a child. ‘Course. Sorry.’
‘No, I’m sorry. It’s just, if someone heard us. After yesterday…’
His face becomes ultra-serious. ‘Oh, yeah. I didn’t think.’ He glances up and down the empty hallway. ‘But have you got a sec for a quick chat?’
‘Umm, come in.’ I push open my office door and let it close behind us.
I go to pull a chair across to my desk, but he holds his hand up. ‘Nah, this won’t take a minute. I just thought, you’ve cleared stuff up for me a bit, ’bout where I stand, so I ought to do the same back.’
I prepare my face to hear that he’s only looking for a casual fling, something to keep him occupied until things are back on track with Angharad.
He rakes a hand through his hair, turning it into more porcupine than pompadour. ‘So what you told me, about babies, was that to warn me off, after I’d said about wanting kids?’
‘Um, no, I…’
‘OK, good.’ His face changes from earnest to exaggeratedly casual. ‘Cos just as a like general thing, I’d be a hundred per cent up for adopting, if I was with the right person.’
I couldn’t be more astonished if he’d pulled a white rabbit out of his training jacket. ‘I have literally no idea what to say to that.’
He smiles as he shrugs. ‘Then don’t say nothing. Just keep it in your back pocket. And I’d better go hit the gym, or the fitness guys’ll be wondering where I am.’
I’m at my desk, staring into space, when Katia walks in.
She sees my face and laughs. ‘What’s up, Genie?’
I give myself a shake. ‘Oh, nothing. I just had a… a surprising conversation with Tony.’
Katia’s grin is mischievous. ‘About a night away?’
‘What?’
She looks mortified. ‘Oh, sorry. It’s none of my business. I didn’t mean to…’ Her voice fades away.
‘No, Kat, it’s not that. I’ve just got no idea what you’re talking about.’
Her eyes widen and for a second, her mouth’s frozen, lips parted. ‘I must’ve misunderstood. Sorry.’ She starts fussing in her bag. ‘But, um, Genie, you might want to check Tony’s diary? For after tomorrow’s game.’
My stomach’s heavy. I change the subject, but the minute she’s at her desk, I pull up Tony’s calendar. Tomorrow night’s blocked out as personal. Underneath, there are the details of a London hotel booking. It’s in Player-Care tangerine, so I guess Katia set it up. Not that I’m going to ask. I can’t think of anything worse than Katia feeling sorry for poor desperate Genie. I mean, could I be any more deluded? I was honestly starting to believe the great Tony Garratt cared about me.
It’s obvious now. Management hate players travelling back separately from the team. Tony must’ve made hand-on-heart promises that he’d be back in time for the post-match recovery session the next day. And with Tony, it won’t be a family thing. It’ll be a woman. And the hotel fits. Men, even ludicrously well-paid men, don’t spend that kind of money unless they’re out to impress. And at that price, it’s someone highly desirable. Someone like Angharad.
But it’s not like Tony and I owe each other anything. I wouldn’t mind, or OK, I’d mind, but I wouldn’t be quite so hurt, if he hadn’t said what he did about adopting. Dangling that in front of me was cruel. I was already panting after him, he didn’t need to tempt me with false promises. So, when Tony texts me from the team bus, I ignore it. And when I get a call, right around when they’ll be settling into their pre-match hotel, I ignore that too.