Chapter 40
CHAPTER 40
JESSY
I am so nervous. It’s as if the air in this room is supercharged with destiny and I’m fearful of what that means for me and Granthaven.
I’m guessing Luke is about to tell me he’s giving up. It’s all too difficult and he will be heading home now his ankle is healed. I’m not stupid and realise it’s probably for the best. Morgana won’t want to live here. I doubt he does too because they take Granthaven on face value and haven’t experienced the magic of the place.
Luke inhales and then exhales sharply, his fingers clenched in his lap, revealing he’s anxious and my heart sinks as I whisper, “It’s okay, Luke. It really is.”
“What’s okay?”
“Your decision.” My voice catches as I whisper, “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“Leaving!” He shifts, so he is sitting astride the bench, effectively staring into my eyes and I flinch as he reaches out and turns my face to his and I note those damn eyes melting any barriers I have clumsily tried to erect against him.
“Of course I’m leaving, Jessy.”
My heart sinks.
“I was always going to leave because my career is in Manchester.”
“I see.”
I lower my eyes and his soft husky voice wafts around my soul as he whispers, “But I’m coming back?”
“For one year, as in the terms of the will.” I nod my understanding. “It’s okay, Luke, you don’t have to explain.”
“I do, Jessy, because, well, that wasn’t why I asked you to wait behind.”
“Then why?” I’m curious and his eyes burn into mine as he says in a low voice, “I have a confession to make.”
“A confession?”
He nods. “Morgana.”
Oh holy hell, he’s about to ask my opinion on how best to propose, or ask me to buy her a meaningful gift for him to place under the tree. That’s what this is.
“What about her?”
My throat is dry and I wish there was a mulled wine lurking when I needed it, or some of that brandy would be good right now.
“She’s not really my girlfriend.”
His words float around my mind like strangers gatecrashing the party because they don’t belong here. It takes me a moment to register what they mean, and I stare at him in surprise, noting the twinkle in his eye as he watches me.
“I don’t understand.”
I’m so confused, and he shocks me by lifting my hand and holding it gently in his and whispering, “Morgana’s real name is Anna Morgan. She was a model who met Steven at a function he attended and they started dating.”
“Steven!”
It’s as if the mist is clearing because things are making a lot more sense now.
“Morgana wasn’t born, but Anna was interested in pursuing the life of an influencer. She wanted to be with Steven and it presented her with the perfect opportunity to build her brand.”
“But why pretend to be your girlfriend? I still don’t understand that part.”
“Because I was struggling to fend off the women who wanted their shot with me and to exploit it for money and fame.”
“It must have been tough. You have my sympathy.”
I roll my eyes and add, “It must have been soul destroying being the object of unwanted desire.”
He laughs and his eyes twinkle, causing me to shift awkwardly on the bench. This is so unfair. He is just too attractive for his own good and my own sanity.
“So, Steven came up with the whole fake relationship thing. It kept the women away from me and gave Morgana the perfect platform on which to build her empire.”
“It does kind of make sense.”
I must agree and he whispers, “But I don’t want to pretend anymore.”
I’m in shock as his meaning is clear. He has fallen in love with his best friend’s girl and is going to ask for my advice.
There can be no other reason why he asked me here, away from the crowds, so we can work out a way to remove Steven from the picture and get him the girl.
“I see.”
I attempt to act concerned, as if I understand and, of course, he can ask me anything. It’s what friends are for, after all. Mind you, if being a good friend is stealing your best one’s girlfriend, I’m better off alone.
“You want my help?” I ask, and he raises his eyes.
“Your help?”
“In splitting them up so you can call her your girlfriend for real.”
“NO!” He stares at me in shock.
“Of course not.”
“Phew, that’s a relief.”
I laugh with embarrassment and then shrug. “So, what do you want, Luke?”
“You, actually.”
It’s as if the world stops spinning and takes a quick break because nothing makes sense anymore. I must have entered a parallel universe and am now somebody else entirely, and I stare at him with confusion.
“For what?”
He says awkwardly, “For, um–”
Before he can finish his sentence, the door crashes open and Steven rushes in, holding up his hands and saying quickly, “Luke, you’ve got to call the club. It’s urgent.”
“Why?”
He appears agitated and I don’t blame him because the expression on Steven’s face isn’t good.
“But–” He stares at me with a hopeless expression and I stand, shrugging off whatever this was and say with determination, “Take the call, Luke. We can talk tomorrow.”
“But–” He stands as Steven points to the open doorway.
“They’ve been trying to reach you and they want a conference call with both of us. It sounds important.”
Luke huffs with frustration and says apologetically. “I’m sorry, Jessy. Maybe give me a moment and I’ll walk you home.”
“Just go, Luke.”
Steven heads out of the door and with a frustrated sigh, Luke follows him, leaving me a lonely figure watching them go, wondering why fate is so cruel sometimes.
I sit back on the bench and think about the past few minutes. I understood the look in his eye. He is interested in me and it was as if all the confusion disappeared and life took on new meaning.
Now he’s been summoned back to real life, and it throws up one huge problem. If Luke and Morgana split up – in the eyes of the world, I could be the one held responsible. Luke will struggle between the two worlds and Granthaven will become a huge burden that also comes with emotional baggage.
When you are faced with getting everything you wanted, and a man stares into your eyes and trusts you with a secret that not many people know about, it means a lot.
My first thought is one of euphoria. Luke is interested in me. Jessy Potter. I’m not dreaming that. It was in his eyes and yet my heart is heavy because I accept it will only end in heartbreak for me.
I stand and walk slowly to the door, my head spinning with what I’ve learned. Could it work between us? The famous footballer and the graduate who knows nothing of real life?
Deep in my heart, I don’t believe it can and if I am going to stand any chance of recovering from the after effects of that, I should shut this down before it’s even begun.