Chapter 11
‘Third door on your right. The instructor will be in once everyone has arrived.’ A perky redhead flashed me a professional smile, gesturing down a well-lit hallway.
Giving her my thanks, I hiked my workout bag higher up my shoulder and walked in the direction she’d pointed.
I woke up that morning, brain fizzing with the previous night’s events, when my phone buzzed with the notification, reminding me of the introductory yoga class I’d signed Fallon and me up for.
I only had an hour. After a record-breaking shower and scrounging my closet for anything that resembled yoga pants, I’d hightailed it downtown.
Two steps into the gym, I started to loathe Past Rosie, who thought getting sweaty in a room full of other people, trying to channel my inner Zen master, sounded like a good idea.
The only bright spot was Fallon. She texted me last night to tell me they were home safe, and she’d see me at yoga—not before she also sent me another image of a Disney character followed by upper thigh?
I sent several middle finger emojis in response.
Trudging down the hallway, I spotted the aerobics room off to the left.
The second I spotted pink hair tucked away in the corner of the large studio, I let out a loud squeal and sprinted across the room.
The few women who had also arrived early to warm up, startled at the noise.
A few soft grumbles of disapproval sounded.
I didn’t give a fuck. Dropping my bag and mat to the ground when I was a few feet away, I all but leapt into the air, throwing my arms around Fallon’s shoulders, squeezing her as tight as I could.
A soft grunt punched from her chest. ‘Oof, jeez, woman.’ Fallon laughed, reaching around my waist and hugging me back just as violently.
‘It’s been over a week, you cow. Next time you’re away that long, you’re taking me with you,' I muttered into her hair.
We shook side to side, soaking up the comfort and familiarity each other gave.
It struck me how lonely I had been without her this past week. My stomach did an uncomfortable twist.
‘Deal.’ The smile in her voice as she said that nearly made tears crest in my eyes. I pulled away before I completely embarrassed myself and turned into a weepy mess in the middle of yoga.
Swiping a finger under my eye, I stepped back, holding her by the shoulders.
‘Your payment for leaving me is joining me in contorting ourselves at odd angles in front of a room full of strangers.’
Her head fell back on another soft laugh. ‘I accept my punishment.’ Navy yoga pants hugged her curvy body, showing her midriff in a matching sports bra that made her look like a goddess.
‘You look hot.’ My eyes dipped down her body, taking in her entire outfit. My old band T-shirt and black leggings paled in comparison to her expensive-looking set.
Fallon’s cheeks flushed. ‘You think?’ She brushed a hand over her tummy, looking down at her biggest insecurity.
‘I bought the set while we were away. Oliver loves it, but his opinion can’t be trusted.
’ She waved her hands in front of her tits, which looked spectacular thanks to the push-up bra.
‘He was only staring at these when I tried it on.’
For as long as I’ve known her, Fallon struggled with people commenting on her weight, making their opinions known and, at the same time, making her feel worthless.
I’d watched her fight to claw back her sense of self-worth from her fucked up family, and seeing her wear something that a year ago would have made her heave if I’d suggested it, made me want to cry and pop champagne all at the same time.
‘Trust me, you look hot as fuck, babe.’
After another quick hug, we unrolled our mats, flopping cross-legged onto them and faced each other. We had at least five minutes before the class was officially supposed to start.
‘You never told me why yoga?’ she said, glancing around the room to ensure we wouldn’t be overheard. We were tucked in the far corner, safe from wagging ears.
Stretching my legs into a V, feeling the pinch in my hamstrings, I winced. ‘I don’t know. Fitness and shit.’ When she stared at me for a long moment, I blew out a hard breath and said, ‘It was the first ad that came up on Instagram.’
A wry smile twitched on her lips. ‘It’s probably a good thing, I could do with some stretching.’ Her voice dipped low. ‘Oliver’s stamina is insane. I get bow-legged every couple of days.’
‘Ah, so the myth of the boyfriend dick is real?’
‘Oh, yes, it’s very fucking real.’ The smile across her face was so free, emotion clawed up my throat.
In the weeks after the memoir was published and Oliver and Fallon’s relationship became public, journalists had picked at them constantly.
The press couldn’t wrap their tiny cluster of brain cells around the fact that the world’s greatest footballer, who had the abs and arrogance to match, could fall in love with a woman who was bigger than a size zero.
But they fit together. Even though I struggled with the fact that I had to share my best friend, it was clear to anyone who bothered to look twice that they were disgustingly in love.
‘Every time I trawl through to buy books, I see your name in big letters. It’s still at number one, babe.
’ After a huge red carpet was rolled out for the book’s release, Oliver and Fallon had gone on countless morning shows and talked about it.
Like most things in life, Oliver was effortless, but I saw the nerves in Fallon whenever the camera was on her.
Her face flushed at the mention of the book. ‘Yeah, the reception has been great.’
‘Because your writing is phenomenal.’
She gave me a look. ‘I think it has more to do with the shirtless guy on the cover.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Please, those abs only go so far. It’s all you.’ I leaned forward and cupped her rosy cheeks. ‘You’re amazing.’
Her smile was wide for all of two seconds before it dropped like shattered glass. ‘Shit, I have something to tell you.’
I sat back on my mat, eyeing her carefully. ‘Okay.’
The colour usually staining her cheeks paled, and she took some deep breaths.
Each one had my heart rate speeding up in worry.
She held up her hands. ‘And I don’t know how you’ll react, but I would appreciate the Rosie who found out I was dying my hair pink and grabbed the bottle of dye and helped me out, not the current one who is scrunching up her nose. ’
I brought a hand to my face, smoothing out the wrinkle. ‘Sorry, but you’re freaking me out. What is it?’
Taking a deep breath, she ran a hand through her tousled locks. ‘Oliver… he, uh—’
My stomach dropped. That motherfucker. I reached out to grab my phone from my bag. ‘Say no more, I’ll call mum, and we’ll bring the entire coven to rain down hellfire on the football twat.’
She snatched the bag from my hands, blowing out a harsh breath. ‘No. Jesus, he’s not done anything.’ She paused, lips thinning. ‘Well, not really…’
My hand darted to the bag she held hostage on her lap, ready to yank it from her grip. ‘His legs will be removed from his body forthwith.’
Her head dropped between her shoulder blades. ‘For God’s sake, he doesn’t need to be mutilated.’
‘If he’s hurt you—’
‘He’s asked me to move in with him,’ she exclaimed, then slapped a hand over her mouth.
The anxiety churning in my gut vanished. It took a moment for her words to register, but once they had, my lips parted in a shocked smile. ‘Babe, that’s amazing!’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘Really?’
I noticed her shoulders sag in relief.
I frowned. ‘Were you really that nervous to tell me?’
She gave a soft shrug. ‘Kind of.’
I reached out and grabbed her fingers, un-peeling them from my bag. I shoved it to the side before intertwining our fingers. ‘Why? I’m happy as long as you’re happy. Always. That’s never changing.’
To be honest, I expected it sooner rather than later.
‘I know.’ She nodded firmly. ‘But I also know you still don’t trust Oliver.’
I blinked in surprise. Fallon flashed me an empathetic smile. ‘It’s okay. I know you don’t trust people easily, especially men.’
She placed a hand on my knee when she felt me stiffen. ‘And I know why.’ Her voice dipped low. The weight of her words caused my muscles to coil tighter than a spring.
Her brown eyes pinched in understanding.
She was the only person who really knew why.
But even then, she could never fully understand.
She hadn’t lived through what I had, and thank God for that.
It’s an odd thing to say, but I felt so much gratitude that she didn’t get it properly.
Because that meant that no one had hurt her so much, they’d warped her view of the world.
A swarm of ugly memories clawed into my head, closing my throat and stopping me from saying anything.
She continued, ‘And I guess I was worried you’d tell me it was too soon or not to go through with it.’
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and placed my hand on the back of her head, bringing our faces close together. Her eyes swam with unshed tears, and it tore at my heart that she thought I’d be anything less than supportive.
‘Are you happy?’ I asked quietly.
The smile that pulled on her lips told me everything I needed to know. ‘Yes. Really fucking happy.’
Warmth spread across my chest at how beautiful she looked. ‘That’s all I care about. Who gives a shit if it’s too soon or too early? You’re the one in your relationship, not anyone else, so fuck what they think.’
She let out a watery laugh and leaned forward to kiss my cheek. I took the opening and wrapped my arms around her neck, falling into her lap, curling up like a cat, and breathing in her soft vanilla scent. Taking no notice of the other women in the room, probably staring on like we were lunatics.