Chapter 7 Joelle
JOELLE
London in late August is unpredictable. One day it's sunny.
The next it's pouring rain. Today it's somewhere in between.
Gray skies. Drizzle. The kind of weather that makes you want to stay in bed.
But I'm already at the training facility, have been since six.
Preseason is in full swing. The team has friendlies coming up, and half of our players are carrying injuries. Which means I'm busy.
"All right, Jamie, let's see how that hamstring feels," I say. Gesturing to the treatment table.
Jamie groans. "It's fine, Jo. I can play through it."
"Like hell you can. Get on the table," I demand.
He grumbles but complies. I work through the tightness in his leg. Feel the knot and apply pressure.
"Fuck," he hisses.
"Told you it wasn't fine."
"Can I play in the friendly this weekend?"
"Depends. If you rest it today and tomorrow, maybe. If you push it in training today, definitely not."
He sighs. "Coach is going to kill me."
"Coach will be fine. He understands. He'll be more pissed if you tear your hamstring completely. That's a six-week recovery. Your choice."
He nods. "Fine. I'll sit out."
"Good." I smile.
I finish the session and send him off with ice and instructions. The rest of the morning is a blur of ankle taping, shoulder assessments, ice baths, and stretching routines. By lunchtime, I'm exhausted. I grab my phone and check my messages.
Three texts from Polly.
Polly: Wine tonight when you get home.
Polly: Please say yes.
Polly: I need to talk to you about something.
That sounds serious.
Jo: Yes. I'll grab a bottle on the way home.
Polly: You're a lifesaver.
I stop at the shop on the way home and grab two bottles of wine and some crisps. Polly is already there when I walk in, still in her work clothes, her blazer discarded on the couch, heels kicked off by the door.
"You look ... different," I say.
"Different how?"
"I don't know. Excited? Stressed? Both?"
She grabs the wine bottle from my hand. "Both."
I hand her a corkscrew. "What happened?"
She pops the bottle open, pours two generous glasses, and takes a long drink.
"I got headhunted."
I blink. "What?"
"A football club. They want me. Head of Social Media and Fan Engagement."
"Polly, that's amazing!"
"I know. It's a massive step up. Better pay. Better title. Bigger platform." She sits on the couch. "But it means leaving the rugby team. Leaving you."
"We'd still live together," I reassure her.
"I know. But we wouldn't work together anymore. No more lunch breaks. No more venting between meetings."
I sit beside her. "What club?"
She names it. One of the Premier League teams. Big. Well-known.
"Pol, that's huge." I'm so excited for her.
"I know."
"Are you going to take it?" I ask her.
"I don't know. They want an answer by next week." She takes another drink. "It's a great opportunity. Career-wise, it's a no-brainer. But the rugby team has been my home for five years. The guys are great. It feels safe."
"Safe isn't always what we need," I tell her, taking a sip of my wine.
She looks at me. "I know. This feels big. Like really big. Life-changing. But I just can't believe they think I'm good enough for the job."
"Babe, you are fucking amazing. Do not doubt yourself."
"Aw. Thanks." She smiles.
"When do they want you to start?"
"I have to give two weeks’ notice. Then they'd want me to start. The season has already begun, so sooner rather than later."
"Do it," I tell her.
"Yeah. You think so?" She refills both our glasses.
"Yes. And you already know you want to."
She sighs. "I hate that you're right."
"You're going to take it."
"Yes." She grins excitedly.
I wrap my arms around her and give her the biggest hug. "I'm so fucking proud of you. You are going to take the soccer world by storm."
"Football," she corrects me.
"Yeah. Yeah." I chuckle as we clink glasses.
My phone buzzes.
I glance at it, there’s a message from Collette.
Collette: OMG. Call me NOW.
I frown. I hadn't noticed my phone was on silent. Shit, what is going on?
"What is it?" Polly asks.
"Collette. She’s freaking out about something." But before I can call my sister, another message buzzes through.
Collette: FUCK! *Inserts link*
I open the link she sent.
Fuck.
Breaking News
Devils Owner Bill Reeves Caught in Affair with Ex-Player's Fiancée.
Photos. Dozens of them. Bill Reeves and Kitty at dinner in Capri. His hand up her skirt under the table. Ew. WTF. Her laughing and oblivious that this is all being recorded.
"Oh my god." I gasp.
Polly leans over and looks at my phone. "Holy shit. Is that Kitty? Who's the old guy?"
"The guy she cheated on Pierre with."
"Him?" Polly questions.
I nod. "He's a billionaire and the team's owner. Oh, yeah. And he's married," I explain to her.
"The team owner?" Polly remarks.
"Yep."
"Fuck. That's messed up."
I nod as I scroll through the articles. They're everywhere. Sports news. Gossip sites. Social media is exploding. Everyone knows now.
"This is going to explode," Polly tells me.
She's not wrong. My phone rings. Collette.
"Hey," I answer. "I'm putting you on speaker. Polly is here."
"Hey," Polly greets my sister.
"OMG, Polly. Are you seeing this?" she asks.
"Jo showed me."
"It's everywhere, Jo. The photos. Bill and Kitty. Everyone knows now."
"How's the team handling it?" I ask.
"Complete meltdown. Players are furious."
"At Bill?" I ask.
"At Bill. At themselves for defending him," she explains.
"Shit."
"Thank God my last day was last week. I do not want to be dealing with this right now." She chuckles.
"Wait, what?"
"I resigned weeks ago. Right after I got back from Italy."
"You did? I knew you were thinking about it, but ..."
"Yeah. After everything that happened with Pierre and Bill? I couldn't stay. I gave my notice the day I got back."
My chest tightens. "You never told me."
"I'm sorry. It's been crazy. But the Mavericks offered me a job. Social media coordinator. I accepted."
"You're moving to New York?"
"I leave in three days, Jo. I've been packing all week. This ..." she pauses, "... this just confirms I made the right decision."
Polly's eyes are wide.
"Three days?"
"Yeah. Pierre is sending a plane for me."
"What about ... South Dakota? Any regrets leaving it?"
"None. After everything with Bill and the scandal, I couldn't stay."
"Lettie, I'm sorry ..."
"Don't be. I'm looking forward to my new life in New York and living with both my brothers again. We're going to have the best time."
I'm not convinced, but this is her call. There isn't anything I can do from halfway across the pond.
"Are you okay though?" I ask her.
"I am. It sucked at first. But now? Watching this team implode from the outside? I'm so glad I left when I did."
"How bad is it really?"
"Bad. Players are requesting transfers. The locker room is apparently a war zone. Bill's lawyers are scrambling. Michelle is taking over as CEO. He got voted out."
"Michelle? His wife?"
"Yeah. She found out about Kitty from the photos like everyone else. She's furious. And she's got the board backing her."
"Good for her."
"Right? Anyway, I have so much to do. It's come around quickly," she tells me.
"I'm happy for you, Lettie. Really."
"Thanks. That means a lot." She pauses. "You should visit. Once I'm settled."
"Of course. If I can fit it in."
"I'm serious. I miss you. We all miss you. Pierre would love it. As would Felix and Mom."
Thanks for the guilt trip. "We'll see. I'll try my best."
"I'll hold you to that. Love you, sis."
"Love you too." She hangs up.
Polly is staring at me.
"Your sister is moving to New York?"
"Yeah."
"In three days?"
"Yeah."
"And she never told you she quit?"
"Apparently not."
"Fuck."
"Yeah."
We sit in silence. Polly refills both our glasses.
"That's a lot to take in, and it's not my family," she says.
"It is." I take a rather large gulp of my wine.
My phone buzzes again, Mom this time.
Mom: Have you seen the news?
Jo: Yes.
Mom: Those photos are everywhere. Poor Pierre.
Jo: I know. Collette just told me she's moving to New York.
Mom: I know. She called me last week. I'm glad she'll be with her brothers.
Last week. Everyone knew but me.
Jo: Me too.
Mom: How are you, sweetheart?
I stare at the message. How am I? I'm fine. My life is fine. Work is good. The flat is good. London is good.
Jo: I'm good, Mom. Don't worry.
Mom: I will always worry. I am your mother. I love you. Call me this weekend?
Jo: Will do. Love you too.
I set my phone down.
Polly is watching me. "Are you okay?" she asks.
"Yeah. Just ... processing."
"Your whole family is moving to New York."
"Not all of us."
"Just most of you." She smirks.
"Yep."
"Do you miss them?" Polly asks.
I nod and take a sip of my wine.
"Would you ever move back there?"
"My life is here," I tell her.
"That's not what I asked." Polly pushes.
"I miss them. Yeah. But I also have a life here in London. I love my job. I have amazing friends." I stare at her. "What more could I want?"
"A wise woman told me once that safe isn't always what you need."
"That woman should mind her own business." I chuckle.
The next three days blur together. Work. Training. Preseason prep. Collette texts me updates as she packs.
Colette: Last box packed. Can't believe I'm really doing this.
Collette: Flight is tomorrow morning. Pierre is sending the jet at 8 a.m.
Collette: I'm nervous and excited and terrified all at once.
Jo: You're going to be amazing. They're lucky to have you.
Collette: Thanks. Miss you.
I'm lying in bed when my phone buzzes.
A photo.
Collette, Pierre, and Felix at what looks like a private airport. All three of them, smiling.
Collette: They met me at the airport!
I stare at the photo. My family. Together in New York. Pierre looks happy, relaxed, like a weight has been lifted. Felix has his arm around Collette's shoulders, and Collette is beaming. They look like a family. And I'm here, in London, thousands of miles away.
Jo: So happy for you. Send pics of the apartment!
Collette: Will do. Love you.
Jo: Love you too.
Felix: Don't worry about Lettie. We've got her.
Jo: I know you do.
Felix: We miss you.
Jo: Miss you too.
I set my phone down. A single tear falls down my cheek.
I roll over onto my back and stare at the ceiling.
Why is this affecting me so much? I've always done my own thing, separate from my family.
I'm lonely. The thought hits me like an arrow to the heart.
I'm lonely. I've never needed a partner before.
They've always seemed more hassle than they're worth.
I have Polly, Hazel, and Tate. We always said if we were into women we'd be perfect together.
But alas, we are not. I don't need a man in my life.
I'm an independent woman. But ... it would be nice to have someone to cuddle every now and again.
My mind wanders to Emmett, the last person I cuddled in bed. Damn, he was a good cuddler.
Urgh.