Chapter 30 Anna #2
We’re three-quarters through the second half when Liam gets the ball and a defender comes flying in for a tackle, mistimes it, and Liam goes down. Hard. Everyone collectively gasps, rushing to their feet to get a better view of what’s happening, but my stomach drops because he isn’t getting up.
Finn jerks beside us, his little hands clutching the seat in front of him. “Da!” His voice cracks as his wide eyes lock on Liam’s motionless body on the pitch.
“Oh God,” I whisper, my hand flying to cover my mouth.
Zoey reaches over to soothe Finn, who’s unable to tear his gaze away, fighting back tears. Without thought, I turn to him, dropping to my seat and ushering him over.
“Finn,” I say, getting his attention. He doesn’t hesitate as he pushes past Zoey and Roman toward me.
“My da,” he murmurs. “He’s hurt.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. He’s going to be okay,” I say, ruffling his hair. “It’s all part of the game.”
I hope.
My eyes stay glued to the pitch, where medics are now sprinting out with a stretcher.
Crap.
“What’s happening?” Finn hiccups, watching the chaos unfold before us, and I rub his arms soothingly.
“The medics are just going to check on him and help him off the field if he needs it. Your dad’s being really brave, just like you are now,” I say, forcing calm into my voice while my insides twist with worry.
“He can’t be hurt. I can’t lose him too,” he says, his voice thin as he averts his gaze.
My heart fractures. “You won’t lose him, hon. He just took a bit of a tumble,” I say.
The medics crouch over Liam and my pulse pounds like a gavel. Fans start to whisper as, ever so slowly, Liam sits up.
“Finn, he’s sitting up! See?” I say, nodding to the pitch.
Finn leans into me as Liam waves off the stretcher. He winces as he tests his ankle, but he seems fine. The roar that ensues rattles the whole stadium. Even the other team clap and cheer as Liam slowly gets to his feet.
“He’s okay!” Finn shouts.
I squeeze Finn’s shoulders gently, my eyes stinging. “Told you,” I whisper.
Liam glances toward the stands. When he clocks us—me comforting Finn—his jaw sets. I can’t read him. I can’t tell if it’s anger, confusion, or something else entirely. When I turn my head, I find Roman and Zoey studying us too, their expressions tender.
Carefully releasing Finn, I sink back in my seat to watch the rest of the game.
They won. Of course they won, they were on fire. I’m not a sports enthusiast, but even I could tell they were going to wipe the floor with Eastbourne Green.
I take a sip of my cosmopolitan then weave my way back toward Roman, Zoey, and the kids, balancing the two Cokes I ordered. They’ve settled into a far corner booth while we wait for the team to join us. I slide into the booth, sitting at the edge.
“Liam just messaged. Said he’ll join us as soon as he can,” Roman says, slipping his phone in his pocket.
We’re at a bar across the road, teeming with fans who have gathered to celebrate the win. I wasn’t going to join the others, but Zoey and Finn insisted I come, so here I am.
A deep, rough voice spills from the TV speakers behind the bar and my eyes shoot up to the screen to find Liam and one of his teammates, Jack, being interviewed.
I can’t tear my eyes from him as the reporter fires off questions about his ankle, shoving the microphone at his mouth.
He answers with an easy smile, assuring everyone that he’s fine, that it’ll take a lot more than a couple of knocks to sideline him, and that damn dimple flashes again.
When he shakes out his damp hair, I squeeze my thighs together in response.
“Hi, everyone,” a voice purrs. “Enjoy the game?”
I turn my head to find a tall blonde woman leaning casually against the barrier of our booth. Her glossy hair falls past her ribs and her features have already caught the attention of most men in the bar. Next to her stands a younger brunette, maybe mid-twenties, with kind eyes.
Everyone’s hellos ring around the booth.
Her brows pull together when she notices me and she thrusts out a manicured hand. “Hi. I’m Danielle. Liam’s agent.” She jerks her chin in the brunette’s direction. “This is my assistant, Stacey.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Anna,” I reply, shaking her hand before turning to Stacey. “Hi, Stacey. It’s really—”
“That’s enough. You can run along now,” Danielle spits at Stacey, then she flashes me a smile so fake it’s almost cartoonish.
Stacey blanches, managing an awkward wave as she stumbles back and scurries off. The poor thing. I’ve only just met Danielle but I can’t imagine how awful it would be to work for her.
“Anna’s my teacher! She came to see my da,” Finn says proudly.
Danielle’s brows shoot to her hairline. “Oh?” she says, fixing me with an appraising look. “A friend of Liam’s, are you, Hannah?” Her voice takes on a sugary-sweet tone but nothing about it seems friendly.
“It’s Anna,” I correct her. And yeah, something like that.
Melody spills her drink across the table and Zoey and Roman jump into action, mopping it up with napkins.
Danielle leans close, her voice dropping so only I can hear.
“Liam has lots of friends,” she says, her syrupy tone making my skin crawl.
“Though I must admit, you’re not his usual type.
Not that it matters. I doubt I’ll be seeing you at one of his games again. ”
Is she insinuating that he brings other women to his games?
“Excuse me?” I say, recoiling.
“Please.” She scoffs. “You think you can keep a man like Liam satisfied?”
“We’re friends,” I reply through gritted teeth.
“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.” She eyes me up and down. “I was his friend just a few months ago too.”
A chill sweeps through me. Danielle straightens up, her face transforming to a friendly mask.
“Well, I must dash! Lots of people to catch up with. Roman and Zoey, it was so fabulous to see you again.” She looks directly at me, her eyes narrowing.
“Great to meet you, Hannah.” With that, she spins on her Christian Louboutin heel and glides away, leaving me feeling like total shit.
Of course, I know Liam’s slept with other people, but I didn’t expect meeting one of them to hurt this much.
Hold on… if Danielle’s here in London, does that mean he slept with her once he moved?
Did he lie about me being the only one in London?
Am I just a temporary fill-in? I know we didn’t want to label this thing between us, but I didn’t think it meant I was just a convenient substitute, keeping his bed warm until someone better came along.
Shit. Is that what I’m doing?
I think of how gently he held me on Monday. How tender his touch was as he bathed me. Does that mean nothing? Do I want it to have meant more? Am I volunteering to break my own heart again?
Well, screw that.
I have way too much self-respect to get involved with someone who lies again. I know we aren’t a couple, but after agreeing to be exclusive while this is going on, I have no interest in being one of however many in his rotation of “friends.”
Why the hell would he invite me tonight?
And to think I was starting to actually care for him. If Liam wants to play games and parade his conquests in front of his cousin and snooty agent, he can be my bloody guest. But he can play that game alone.
After making up a polite excuse, I grab my bag and head for the exit—much to Finn’s dismay—my heeled boots clacking sharply against the floor. Danielle catches my eye as I pass and wiggles her slender fingers in a little wave, her smile victorious.
Because I’m mature, I flip her the bird before flinging the door open and marching out into the rain.
She and Liam can go fuck themselves.