Chapter 33 Mia
MIA
“COME ON, ARLINGTON!” Char roars beside me, jumping up and down in her red and maroon jersey. “FUCKING SMASH ‘EM!”
“LET’S FUCKING GO!” I chime in, and Char bursts into laughter beside me.
“We’re going to scandalise everyone up here,” she says breathlessly, and I look around with a smile.
“We’re just true fans, and they’re all posers.”
The lead-up to this final game was brutal, fraught with awful headlines in the press, and judgement on all those stupid sports shows hosted by washed-up old football players. Everyone wondered if Arlington would be able to withstand all the pressure, all the rumours, and go on to win the season.
But to everyone’s surprise, the fans rallied.
Somehow, Joanne Murray’s scathing takedown of Mary and Harriet on the morning show had gone viral, and that had turned the tide of approval.
The fans rallied behind the club, and behind Dom and me.
Every post on social media was filled with comments supporting us, supporting the players, wishing us all nothing but the best.
And the players loved having Dominic down on the field with them. Barry had felt his toes were being stepped on, but had relented. He didn’t really have a choice. Dominic blossomed down there on the field, and the lads were playing better than ever.
They were proving it tonight. Bradshaw didn’t stand a chance.
Ezra blocked every attempt at a goal, and Adedayo and Everest scored three goals between them in the first half. The buzzer rings, signifying the end of the first half, and the Arlington fans cheer loudly.
“Oh, thank fuck, I need a piss,” Char says loudly, drawing displeased looks from the people beside us. “Come on, don’t let me walk through there on my own.”
She pulls me through the stands and into the box, down the corridor to the ladies’ room.
Char leaves me to go and find an empty stall, and I check my make-up in the mirror. The door opens behind me, and in walks Joanne Murray, looking the picture of elegance in a green coat, her hair in a French roll, large diamond earrings dangling from her earlobes.
She smiles at me warmly in the mirror, and I turn to face her.
“Hello, what are you doing here?” I ask.
“I used to be an Arlington supporter, before I married the enemy.” She cocks her eyebrow and smirks. “Call it, returning to my roots, I suppose.” Her smile drops a little, and she reaches out to pat my arm. “I’m terribly sorry about what happened with Archie. That must have been very scary.”
“It was. But I guess it makes the divorce a little easier now.” I smile weakly, and Joanne chuckles.
“Well, I hope this isn’t insensitive of me to say, but congratulations.
” She sighs and shrugs. “I know we don’t know each other all that well, which is something I hope changes.
But I wanted you to know I’m very proud of you for leaving a man who didn’t deserve you.
Unlike me.” Her face falters a little. “I stayed far too long.”
“But you had kids, it’s completely different.”
Joanne shakes her head, a tight smile on her face.
“Because I had kids, I should have left. We like to think children are adorable little fools who’ve no idea what’s going on.
But they see everything.” Her gaze drops from mine, and she adjusts the sleeve of her coat.
“My kids knew for a long time that I wasn’t happy, and I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself for that.
But I was frightened. I didn’t know what being without Peter would mean for me.
” She lifts her eyes back to mine, her smile warming.
“But you, you know who you are. And you’re much better off without Archie Graves weighing you down. ”
My cheeks flush with heat and I shrug. “Don’t know how it’s all going to work out though. The press are certainly having a field day with it all.”
“Oh, the press.” Joanne waves a manicured hand through the air.
“They’ll be on to the next juicy story in about three days’ time, don’t you worry about them.
We’re only interesting to them while we’re performing.
Just live your life and they will get bored very quickly.
” She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “I am happy for you though, and Dominic is a good man.”
“I thought you hated him on account of your PA?”
Joanne lifts her eyebrows. “Well, in hindsight I do think he was right to avoid a commitment to her. She was a bit of an idiot. I’ll send you her cooking channel, you’ll see what I mean.
” She pats my arm before turning to leave.
“I’ll send round some things for your new flat, darling.
My new line is fabulous, green that matches your eyes, it’ll be stunning. ”
“Could you come round maybe?”
Joanne stops and slowly turns back to face me. “Come round?”
I suddenly feel like a little girl, wanting the older cool girl at school’s approval.
I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “Well, yeah. You know, my new place over in Kensington, I need to kit it all out, and you have such good taste. Plus I think I owe you a cuppa after what you did for me on the morning show.”
Joanne’s face lights up in a smile, and she nods. “I’d love that.” She gives her shoulders a shake and leaves with a wave. “I’ll call you!”
Char comes out of the bathroom and fixes me with a wide smile. “And who were you chatting to?”
“Joanne Murray.”
“Ooh, made a new friend, ey?” Char asks as she washes her hands.
“I think I have, yeah.” I shake my head with a smile. “She’s going to come round and help me with the flat, bring me some things from her new line.”
“A new friend and an interior decorator, you lucky duck.” Char throws an arm around my shoulders. “It’s really all coming together for you, innit. Now we just need these boys to win this game tonight and everything will be perfect.”
Back in the stands I look down at the field, making out Dominic on the sidelines in a black suit, talking to Jordan and Troy, gesturing to the goals.
“Look at him, in his element,” Char says. “Best decision he’s ever made if I’m honest.”
“He’s like a different man now that he’s back down there.”
Char chuckles and gives me a nudge in the ribs with her elbow. “Bet the sex has been incredible.”
I nudge her back, a little harder than she did, and she giggles.
“The sex is always incredible, as you well know. I give you enough gory details, don’t I?”
“I cannot look at his beard the same way anymore, believe me.” Char laughs out loud as I shove her hard. “You get so touchy, you Northerners.”
“I asked him to move in with me.”
Char’s jaw drops and her eyes light up. “You didn’t tell me that!”
“I just did, you daft cow,” I say with a roll of my eyes, my cheeks flushing even though I have no idea why. “It just sort of happened, the other night, he was sitting in my flat, and it were raining, and he were wearing this slouchy knit jumper.”
“Ooh I can picture it now.” Char leans closer. “Was he wearing his glasses and looking so very serious while he was reading? Classical music playing? Glass of wine in hand?”
“Sure was.”
Char throws her head back with a strangled gurgling sound. “That is so fucking hot. Please take a picture next time.”
“Anyway, I just asked him, why don’t you just live here?” I shrug, looking back down at the field. “We’re both so busy it’s not like we’re living in each other’s pockets.”
“But it does mean you both have someone to come home to.” Char tucks her arm around my shoulders, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I am so bloody happy for you, babes. This is exactly what you deserve.”
I sit with that feeling of happiness and contentment as the second half of the game starts below. It’s a strange feeling, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get entirely used to it. But I’m willing to try.
The second half heats up quickly, with Bradshaw scoring a goal that sets off most of the stadium into a symphony of Boo-ing. And Ezra and Ricky into another bloody fist fight that Dominic himself ends up breaking up.
He’s the picture of control, pointing at both of them and giving them a stern talking-to that’s honestly kind of sexy.
Char chuckles next to me but says nothing.
Despite the setback of Bradshaw’s goal, the team rally and the stadium explodes when Adedayo scores the final goal of the game with seconds to spare.
Char and I spring to our feet, cheering and screaming madly with the rest of the stadium.
“FOUR-ONE!” Char screeches, throwing her arms around my neck and jumping up and down. “FOUR BLOODY ONE!”
Over Char’s shoulder, Dominic pops up on the screen, in slow motion at the moment Adedayo scored. His face lights up with pride, his mouth wide in a cheer as he throws his hands up. He’s right where he’s meant to be.
The families of the players are invited to come down to the field, and Char and I eagerly head down behind the usher.
“I’m so glad you’re here for Jordan tonight,” I murmur to Char as I squeeze her hand.
She gives me an indulgent smile. “Me, too. We’re all heading out to celebrate after this, yeah?”
“Yeah, Troy’s got a bash going at his restaurant and then afterwards we’re all headed to Amaro.”
“Ooh, fancy!” She skips along excitedly beside me as we head down the long corridors, through the open tunnel doors and out onto the field.
It’s surreal from down here.
The crowd is so loud, it’s a constant, long hum of cheers and shouts. Banners wave wildly, and flashes go off in every corner. It’s electric and awe-inspiring.
Char runs across the field to Jordan, jumping into his arms as he laughs. Ricky’s surrounded by his family, who cover him in kisses and don’t let him go. Someone has wheeled Ezra’s elderly grandmother onto the field, and she’s looking up at him like she’s about to burst into tears.
Adedayo’s mother actually is crying, holding her son’s face as he smiles widely.
Only Troy is on his own, watching us all happily.
Char spots him too, and waves him over to her and Jordan.
Jordan wraps his teammate in a hug, and they break out into a loud cheer and start singing the team anthem.
The other team members hear and join in, and within seconds the whole stadium has cottoned onto it and is singing along.
Dominic spots me and smiles widely, barreling across the field towards me and gathering me in a fierce hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” I tell him.
“I can’t believe we won!”
“I can!” I press my lips to his, and camera flashes go wild.
This is our first public kiss - the first one with our knowledge, I guess - and it sets off a thrill in my stomach. It feels real now. Public. Out in the open. And there are no Boos, no hissing, no cans being thrown our way as people display their disgust.
The crowd goes crazy and cheers even louder.
Maybe things really are going to be alright.