Chapter 29
Marcus
Ican’t believe I just told her the Tabitha story.
I have literally told no one. Why would I?
It’s fucking embarrassing. I lied to Kai the next day, saying she was the best fuck I’d ever had.
He would’ve never let me live it down and brought it up at every opportunity.
And why do I think Lily would be any different?
Honestly, I don’t think she will be. But there is something about her that makes me open up, and for some unhealthy reason, I can’t lie to her.
I know this isn’t the last I’ve heard of Tabitha and Cinnabun from her; she’ll enjoy teasing me with that nugget of information.
But if she has some ammunition on me, then I need some on her.
“You’re not getting away with this, Chambers. Spill we have—“ I check my watch, “two hours before we need to be at the stadium, and we need a shower. Maybe we could save time and have one together.” I glide my hand around her waist, pulling her toward me, but she wriggles out of my grasp.
“Nope, not happening.”
“Fine.” I chuckle. “Embarrassing story about your worst date now, please.”
“Okay, well, I’ve had many. Carl being one, but he wasn’t the worst.”
“He wasn’t? That man was a dick.”
“There are plenty of them, and I seem to attract them.” She gives me a pointed look, and I just shrug it off. “Well, I had been speaking with Barry—”
“Wait, he was called Barry?” My brow knits. “How old was he?”
“He was only a few years older than me, and through the app, he was charming, so yes, I agreed to a date with a man called Barry.”
“Okay, so you and Baz met on a dating app. Very progressive of you.”
“Thank you.” She presses her palm to her chest.
“And you agreed to meet up.”
“Yes. So, we agreed to meet for drinks. I was a few minutes late, well, actually like half an hour, the trains were running late, but I’d messaged to let him know.
When I got there, Baz, as you’ve so kindly called him, had already hit the beers pretty hard.
Apparently, I give off a vibe that makes men nervous. ”
“You are pretty intense.”
“But scary enough to drink your own body weight in lager?”
“To some, maybe.” I grin across at her while popping a patatas bravas in my mouth.
“Not sure if I should be proud or worried? But I’ll process that later. Anyway, according to Barry, he was already pretty nervous to meet me, and because I was late, his anxiety had spiked, so when I got there, he was already swaying on his bar stool.”
“I think I know where this is going.”
“Do you? Because when I told Jade and Trixie this story, their jaws literally hit the floor.”
“So, he didn’t just get drunk, make a fool of himself, throw up in the bar, and you sent him back in a cab?” I question.
“I wish.”
“Oh boy.” I lean back in my chair as I watch her intently. “Please, continue.”
“Thank you. He was swaying on his stool, and I managed to hold a conversation with him for a while, but he kept drinking. And I’ve just met the man, so I couldn’t exactly tell him to slow down.
I’m not his mother. I was on the verge of texting the girls the SOS message when Barry stumbled off to go to the toilet.
I waited for nearly fifteen minutes for him to come back before a server came over and asked me to follow him.
I thought it was odd, but I followed him anyway.
I was brought into the staff room where I came face to face with Barry, who was holding a bloody towel to his head. ”
“I’m sorry, did I hear you right? A bloody towel?”
“That’s right. Apparently, our good friend, Baz, had gone to relieve himself, but thanks to the amount of alcohol running through his body, fell and smashed his head on the urinal, knocking himself out.
The server found him face down on the tiles covered in blood with his dick hanging out.
” Her finger circles my shocked face. “That’s the face Jade and Trixie had,” she screeches. “See, I told you.”
“That’s…” I struggle to find the words to explain what I’m feeling. “I actually have no words. How did you move on from that?”
“Same as you. I cry myself to sleep when I think about it.”
“That’s pretty bad. Did you speak to him again?”
“I took him to A&E, made sure he was okay, and then we both blocked each other on the app, agreeing never to speak of the evening again, and I deleted my profile for good measure.”
“Okay, I think you win. That’s pretty bad.” I cringe.
“Not sure this was a competition I wanted to win, but I’ll take it.” She checks her watch. “Think we need to leave question time for now. If we don't get a wiggle on, we’re going to be late.”
I’m running through my questions for Jenna and getting myself up to speed on her stats, which are insane—I don’t think some male players have reached some of these highs—when Lily walks in with Leanne and Niall.
Lily’s speaking a thousand words a minute, and her hands are flying everywhere as she speaks before she picks up the script next to me and sits down at the desk.
“So, Jenna’s in her dressing room right now, and we’ll bring her through for your interview.
It will be recorded and not live, so we can edit and make sure we get exactly what we want.
” Leanne addresses us both. “After the interview is done, we’d like to take a few candid shots of you playing out on the field with her Lily.
” I chance a glance at Lily to check she’s okay.
Her legs are bopping, and she’s drumming that pattern on her thigh again, but I know she won’t want me to grasp her hand with Leanne and Niall here, so I have to pivot.
“So, while this one is fangirling and getting her ass beat by her idol, I’ll be doing what exactly?” I’m playing the cocky card, hoping she’ll bite, and her anxiety, that I can feel radiating off her, will subside if she has me to spar with.
“You can be our ball boy, Diaz.”
There she is.
Her body physically relaxes as she smiles that wicked smile at me.
“I think I could teach you both a thing or two. It’s been a while since I’ve had two women—" I focus on nothing in particular on the script, hoping to rile Lily up with my comment, before I return my gaze to hers and smirk. “Sorry, two players to coach.”
“You’re such a dick.”
“Insults need work, you’re slacking.”
“Okay, you two need to stop. We don't have the cameras rolling, and this shit is gold.” Leanne bounces on her heels from her spot behind Lily. “Right, focus, get your questions ready. I’ll go get Jenna.” She spins on her heel, Niall following, tapping away on his iPad.
“Oh, and we need more of that, but for the cameras, please. Your fans love it.” She grins at us wickedly before she slips out the door.
“You ready to interview your idol?”
“As I’ll ever be.” She smiles softly at me as makeup comes in to touch up her already perfect face and hair while she reads her script.
I’ve always been in awe of her when we’ve done these sections together.
How she pulls that switch and focuses solely on the person she’s interviewing or analyzing during a section.
“Have you got some questions for Jenna? How did you want to approach this?”
Someone’s fussing with my hair and my shirt collar, and I really don’t want it.
I turn to the girl and smile. “Thanks, but I think I’m good.
” Returning my gaze to Lily to answer her, I say, “Honesty, I think you need to lead this. I might take the piss, but I bet you could write that woman’s biography.
” She puts her script down as the makeup team leave, so it’s just the two of us.
Reaching up and moving my hair off my face, she straightens my collar. “You really should’ve let that girl tidy you up.” Her hands retreat, but I grasp them.
“I didn’t want her hands on me.” She looks up at me through hooded lashes, and her body edges toward me.
The door to the studio flies open, and we break apart.
“Here we are.” Leanne’s voice booms through the space.
I’m starting to think this woman was sent to cockblock me.
“Marcus. Lily. This is Jenna.” We both stand and move around the desk, but I let Lily lead, and she shakes Jenna’s hand enthusiastically.
“Hi Jenna, it's so lovely to meet you.” Lily is trying to remain professional, but I sense she’s losing her shit on the inside.
“Likewise, Lily.” Her face morphs into a huge smile as she shakes Lily’s hand, her blonde ponytail swaying with her movements.
“I’ve followed your career, and it was a damn shame when you got injured.
I was sure I would’ve been handing you my record for most international goals. ” Lily’s cheeks pinken at her comment.
“Thank you, that means more than you could ever imagine.” She seems to forget that she’s still shaking Jenna’s hand. “Oh, Jesus, I’m sorry.” She drops her hand and then gestures to me. “Sorry, this is Marcus Diaz.”
Jenna gives me a coy smile. “Ah, the other member of the double act. Nice to meet you, Diaz.”
I take her hand briefly. “Pleasure is all mine.”
“So, how are we going to play this?” Jenna turns to Lily. “Interview first, get the boring bits out of the way, then we whoop this man’s ass out on the field?”
“Sounds perfect,” Lily replies.
Sitting behind the desk, we position ourselves ready for our directions.
The camera crew is rushing around, and Leanne is directing everyone to where they need to be.
“Okay, guys, let’s get this going.” She claps her hands.
“We need to wrap this up quickly, I have a date with a very hot businessman in…” she checks her fancy watch, “five hours and I need a blowout and manicure before then, so no screw ups.” She sits in her chair behind camera one and runs her fingers down the script.
“And if this goes well, after tomorrow's game, drinks are on me.” She says it so nonchalantly without looking up from her script.
Niall, behind his trusty iPad, motions for everyone to get started.
“I think I may have fallen a little bit for Leanne,” Jenna whispers to Lily.
“Same,” she whispers back, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I might try and crash her date.” Both women giggle while I now have images running through my head that I don’t need right now. Those three together would be ridiculously hot, and I’m not sure I’d survive it.
“Okay, guys, cameras are ready, audio is ready. Let’s do this,” Leanne commands.
“Welcome to EBS’s coverage of The European Cup.
With me, Lily Chambers, and Marcus Diaz.
” Lily speaks directly to the camera. “Before we get to the lineup and the upcoming opening match between Spain and Croatia, we’ll be speaking with Jenna Dillan.
Former City and England striker and the leading goal scorer at international and club level.
” The camera pans to Jenna as she smiles and nods at Lily. “Welcome, Jenna.”
“Thank you for that lovely introduction, Lily. I’m happy to be here.”
“Now we’ll be discussing the lineups and getting your viewpoints on these as you’ll be with us on tomorrow's show as well, but I would like to know a little bit more about you, and I have a few questions from some fans.”
From fans? When did she get a chance to get those?
“Of course,” Jenna says.
“Outstanding. This is just what we needed. We’ll get it all edited once you’ve done your session outside. Also, the fans' questions, Lily, genius,” Leanne gushes. “Oh, and Diaz, thanks for smiling and looking pretty.” She claps me on the shoulder as she saunters off, giggling.
“Ah, Diaz, the boss thinks you’re pretty.” Lily mocks next to me as she straightens in her seat and Jenna laughs from across the desk.
“Babe, he is pretty to look at.”
“Thank you, Jenna. It’s about time someone with taste appreciated me.”
“You don’t need your ego inflated any more.” Lily’s eyes never leave the piece of paper she’s scribbling notes on.
“I also said someone with taste, Chambers,” I quip.
“Jesus Christ, why did I agree to this job?” Lily rubs at her temples.
“You can’t help but want to be near my inflated ego.” I lean in, invading her space.
“I’m sorry, guys, but I need to leave before the sexual tension between you two sets this studio on fire.
” Jenna stands, straightening her skirt.
“I’ll catch you both on the field when you finish whatever this—“ she motions between us.“—is. But don’t rush on my account.” She laughs as she leaves the studio.