Chapter 17
Jade
Jade had spent the last two days learning the layout of the venue, and the quickest routes to some of the nearest hotels where most of the players were staying.
She had learned that she and Will had been accommodated within the hotel where most of the players without their own physical therapists were staying. It made a lot of sense.
It had been agreed that she and Will would stay close to the hotel unless told otherwise between certain hours of the day. The venue’s physical therapy team would handle any issues during matches and practices unless they needed additional help.
Will had received a phone call from Nathan and was in his room while Jade was reserving a table for them to eat dinner later that evening.
Per their contract terms, they were never fully off duty.
There were a few people ahead of her, so chances were, it would either be room service or takeaway delivery for their dinner.
She rang her brother, Evan, while she waited.
“Hey hot shot, how’s life?” He asked her.
“Oh, you know, hanging around a fancy hotel waiting to book a table for dinner. How are you doing?” Jade replied.
“I can’t believe this is your life just now. I’m happy for you. I’m good! Toni and Willow are over for dinner, which as you know means Toni’s cooking and I’m trying to keep Willow and Sophie out of trouble.” Evan laughed and Jade could hear his girlfriend in the background.
“Don’t believe a word of it, Jade, he’s the one that causes the trouble, as you well know!” Toni shouted to be heard.
“I’m sorry I’m missing Willow’s school play. She was so excited about it.” Jade said.
“I know you are, but honestly, she’s getting a bit overwhelmed with how many people are going. You know she’s not used to it, but she’ll be ok.” Evan added softly.
Willow’s Dad had never been around much, and he left to work across the country last year and hadn’t contacted her since.
Toni didn’t have any family, so it had just been the two of them.
Willow was a great kid, with an old soul for a 7-year-old.
She and Sophie got on like sisters already, and Jade wouldn’t be surprised if Evan and Toni ended up married down the line.
They each had complicated backgrounds, but their blended family had fit right in with the rest of the Foster Clan.
“You'd better send me photos or videos or whatever you can, ok?” Jade sternly told her brother.
“I will, I’ll take photos when she comes out still in costume, and I think there’ll be a link to the video the week after,” Evan explained.
“Good! Now, how’s Sophie doing?” Jade asked about Evan’s daughter.
“Same as always,” he chuckled, “she somehow managed to convince Cleo and Ivy that she and Willow need to be involved in the wedding planning while you’re away. So that’ll be fun.”
Jade laughed hard. She knew if her niece had it her way, their wedding would be the gayest, rainbow everything, unicorns and glitter covered, event of the year. “I may need to send some apology flowers to them then.”
“More like a few bottles of bourbon, given the fact I had to buy three different wedding magazines on my way home from work today for the girls as inspiration.” Jade could just imagine the eyeroll and Evan putting his face in his palm.
Just then, Jade’s phone rang in her ear. She checked the caller's ID, and it was the venue contacting her.
“Look, I’ve got to go, work’s calling. Chat soon.” Jade quickly hung up before Evan could reply, and accepted the incoming work call.
“You’re needed at the Royal Heights Hotel, room 537. Discretion is paramount.” The voice on the line said.
“I’m here already, I’ll be at the room in a few minutes,” Jade replied, and the call swiftly disconnected.
This feels like some secret agent stuff, kinda liking it!
Jade arrived at the requested room door and knocked. As was contracted, she held her access pass up for the occupants of the hotel rooms to view through their door’s peephole. Seconds later, the door opened, and she was invited into the room before anyone said a word.
The first to talk, was a tall, fair-haired man who looked to be in his late 40s. He was on his phone, and the clothes gave him away as either a manager or an agent.
He covered the mouthpiece of his phone and spoke in a hushed tone, “Sorry, just wait a minute,” he tilted his head toward a door at the back corner of the room, “she’s in the bathroom,” before resuming his frantic call.
The second man she came across was similar in age, dressed in sports gear, with a shaved head and designer stubble. Must be a coach of some sort. He was scrolling on his phone and didn’t look up.
A few minutes passed before the bathroom door opened, and Jade’s stomach plummeted to the floor while her heart raced in her chest.
Blonde ringlets pulled back into a messy bun, white fitted sport t-shirt hugging her strong frame, blue leggings that were nearly a perfect color match for those eyes that she’d dreamt about for the past two months.
April.
Their eyes met, and the mixture of emotions that swiftly made their way across April’s face in what felt like a single second was dizzying.
Jade saw the shock of recognition, the happiness at them meeting again, the panic of her team in the room finding out, pleading not to be outed, and above all, the pain that had required Jade to be called in the first place.
Jade flickered her eyes toward the two men in the room, both still completely engrossed in their phones, then back to April whose face now resembled flat-out fear at either of the men suspecting anything.
Jade’s heart broke a little for April, taking in her shallow breathing and glassy eyes, so she sent her a quick sympathetic smile with a nod before speaking.
Jade took a short step forward and halted as the look of fear that had been on April’s face as she looked between the two men in the room again, then back to her, morphed into absolute terror.
Taking a slow and calming breath, hoping her eyes would convey the understanding she had of the situation to April, she lifted her hand slightly in greeting.
“Hi,” Jade began in her professional work voice for the benefit of the two men in the room with them, “I’m Jade Foster, and I’m one of the off-site physical therapists for the tournament. I got a call that I was needed in this room.”
It was fractional, but she noted April relax at Jade’s professionalism.
“Hi Jade, I’m April Walker. Thanks for coming,” she could hear the panic in her voice, but could see the twinkle in her eye, “I need your help with my shoulder.”
“Why don’t you tell me what happened, and I’ll see what we’re dealing with?”