10. Nicole
NICOLE
It’s been a month since we moved into Lockheart’s mansion.
A month of sexual tension that just won’t quit and a month of seeing exactly what Lucky has missed out on.
I’m not talking about material things, like the new Heath Hamstead kit or the very expensive football boots personalised with his name on them Owen got for him.
I’m talking about seeing them playing together.
Watching his dad encourage him, teaching him and just hanging out with him. Being the male role model he’s missed out on for five years.
Guilt gnaws away at me every time I think of the time they lost. I’m grateful it’s the summer holidays and Owen has a break from football so they can spend as much time together as they can cram in.
Lucky idolises Owen, so watching them together with Owen being relatively stress free, it makes my heart happy.
He’s still doing a lot of training, he wants to be fighting fit for this season, but it’s not to the same level of time as when they have matches.
I can tell he’s worried about the rumours this will be his last season, but he still doesn’t like to talk to me about football and the team too much.
He opens up for our ‘interviews,’ and then, as if his mind reminds him I’m a journalist, he stops again.
I want him to trust me, but I can’t push him.
The douchebag editor really did a number on him, and even though he knows it wasn’t me, the betrayal is still raw.
It’s hard to retrain your brain into thinking differently when it’s had six years to fester away.
I’m hoping these articles will show him exactly what type of journalist I am.
Help him to build the trust in me further. Show him I’m ethical and not a hack.
I read over the headline for the first instalment, and smile.
LOCKHEART - THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGACY
It’s important I capture not only the sportsman, but also the man behind the sports.
No one’s ever had a chance to see him like that before, and I want to show the world the side I see—the kind, caring, generous side—without pissing him off too much and making him feel vulnerable again.
It’s why I printed it off for him to read before I submitted it to my editor.
He didn’t ask me to do this, but I wanted to give him final say about what’s being put out there about him.
I’m more nervous about him reading it than anyone else.
His opinion means a lot to me. To know I’ve changed his mind back to what he used to think about me would be the best outcome for all of us.
My phone chimes with a notification and I grab it from the kitchen counter. My hand trembles as I scroll over the message.
Unknown
Time’s up.
I slam my phone onto the marble countertop and hold on tightly to the edges as I try to regulate my breathing.
I thought I had more time. Obviously not, I mentally scold myself.
They’ve gotten impatient. Probably been to the house and know we aren’t living there.
I quickly dial Teresa’s number and wait for her to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey, T, how are you?” I force my voice to sound casual, and I’m surprised when it obeys.
“I’m grand. Is Lucky okay? Your wee voice sounds all high pitched and shaky.” Fucking Teresa and her super sleuth skills. And fuck my voice for betraying me after all.
“Lucky’s fine. Just wondered what the news was?” Cursing myself silently, I pace back and forth in the kitchen.
“Hmmmm I believe ye, I do, even though thousands wouldn’t.
It’s been all go go go over here.” My heart lurches in my chest but I wait for her to finish before panicking.
“Do ye remember Terry in number twenty? Well he was spotted coming out of Marlene’s house in the middle of the night.
Now, I know for a fact, Marlene’s husband was working the night shift that night and Terry's wife was visiting her sister in Peterborough. But I also knew her husband was coming home early from his business trip, so I waited by the window for the sparks to fly. T’was a fair craic so it was.
” Her cackles bring a smile to my lips even though I’m riddled with anxiety.
“If you knew he was coming home early why didn’t you warn Marlene?” I should be asking if any strange men had been at my door, but I also want to know why she has it in for our neighbour.
“She reaps what she sows. Wants to be nasty to my little Lucky when he’s playing football, I’ll forget to tell her the old hubby is coming home early to surprise her.”
“Teresa, did he tell you he was coming home early or did you suggest he should?” I know this woman and her scheming, and I also know she would do almost anything for her Lucky too.
“I may have suggested a nice romantic evening would spice up the old bedroom department, but he had the ultimate decision to make.”
A groan slips out as she chuckles in glee. “T, you just wrecked two marriages all because she wouldn’t let Luck play ball. You see how ridiculous that is right?”
“I did nothing of the sort. Cheating ruined their marriages. In fact I deserve a wee gift of some kind from the cheated on parties for helping rid them of their rubbish.” My loud tut has her giggling and she casually changes the subject away from her indiscretions.
“Anywho, why did ye really call? And don’t bullshit me, I can smell it a mile off. ”
“Fine. Any visitors at mine?”
I can hear the growl through the phone and know she’s gritting her teeth in annoyance. “He left ye with his debt again? I swear if I fecking see him I’ll save those goons a job. No one’s been here. Have they contacted ye? What did that handsome man of yours have to say about it?”
“Nothing. And he won’t say anything because it’s nothing to do with him. And he’s not my anything.” My voice is stern and quick to the point. I don’t want him bailing out my dad. That’s a me problem, not a him one.
“But he would get rid…”
“No, T. No. Not a word.”
She sighs down the phone and begrudgingly agrees to keep it to herself. After making her promise to let me know if anyone shows up, I hang up knowing I need to stall for time with these loan sharks, but not able to think of a viable reason. Instead I text them back.
Me
Fine. I’ll meet you at mine tomorrow at lunchtime.
I don’t know how I’m going to cover the fact I’m about a thousand pounds short. I’ll just have to hope and pray they send someone who struggles with numbers.
I chew furiously on the inside of my cheek, desperately willing my brain to come up with a quick fix to my money problem, but coming up blank.
I bring the search engine up on my phone and type in quick cash loans, but the interest rates on those are through the roof.
I know it’s reckless and irresponsible to take one out, but I also know I’ll be rejected anyway.
My credit score is hopeless, again thanks to my dad.
“You okay?” Owen’s deep husky voice makes me jump, and I slam the phone onto the counter top and swivel on my heels.
“Yep. I’m fine.” My voice comes out in a high pitched squeak that makes his eyebrows join together on his forehead and I smile to try to reassure him that I'm okay. Based on the scrunched up fierce expression on his face, I don’t think I succeeded.
I quickly backtrack out of the kitchen and head toward my bedroom.
Close proximity with Owen Lockheart will only lead to me spilling all my secrets to him, and I really don’t want him to think he has to rescue me just because he's Lucky’s dad.
I’ll figure something out. I always do. I’ve always had to.