CHAPTER 12 #2
“It's so peaceful here,” I said, gazing out to the tranquil mixture of locals and tourists, yet my mind drawn elsewhere.
“You haven't said much about Joe.”
Even his name made my skin crawl.
“I'm here for you. Once I knew you were involved, I understood the consequences.”
I shot him a glance.
“I wasn't having a pop, Sasha.”
I relaxed. “I know, sorry.” I ran my fingernails through my hair and accidentally caught my sunglasses on my head. “I'm just all sixes and sevens about it, but it could've been worse.”
“I'm glad to see you're rationalising the situation, but how so?”
I rolled my eyebrows. “He wasn't going to keep quiet forever. I expected him to say something sooner or later. And he only said I'd been unfaithful, not with who.”
DeShaun signalled the waiter for two menus.
“He kept your name out of it,” I added. “I'm glad. The relationship was over long before you came along. He just wouldn't accept it.”
“I don't like you getting the abuse you've got online.”
I shrugged. “I've been hated before.”
DeShaun stared at me.
“What?”
“You're fucking beautiful.”
I was about to tell him to fuck off, then I felt my face melt into a smile. It was broken when my mobile lit up.
“Don't answer it,” DeShaun said.
“It's Kyle.” I lifted it. “I have to.”
He nodded.
“Hello.”
“Afternoon, ma'am,” Kyle said.
I put it down to my paranoia that I sensed a little joy in his voice, as if he enjoyed the fact I'd been humiliated. “What's up?”
“It's not good here. I got talking to Rab. He refuses to play another game for the club.”
“Fuck.”
“My sentiments exactly. Do we threaten to sue him?”
“No, Kyle, just agree to terminate his contract. I can sort the paperwork from here.”
“You sure, ma'am?”
“Yeah, perhaps it's for the best Broxburgh's seen the last of the McDonalds.”
“Okay.”
“Any good news?”
He hesitated.
“Kyle?”
DeShaun reached out to my legs, stroking them.
I knew the last thing we needed was to be seen together in public behaving like this, but it felt so good, needed in fact, and I figured what were the chances we'd be recognised here of all places?
“No good news, ma'am. In fact, morale's pretty low with the players. There's a consensus among them the club's turned into a big circus.”
I dropped my sunglasses to my face when a passer-by glanced first at my legs, then at DeShaun's hands.
“Look, Ms Liu,” Kyle continued, “why don't you extend your stay another few days? Give Saturday's match a miss.”
“Are you serious?”
DeShaun dug his thumbs into my thighs.
I bit my lower lip.
“Ma'am, I think it'd be best for the club and the players if you stay away, just this once, so the focus can be on the pitch. I mean no offence.”
“Uh-huh.”
“We're on a winning streak. I want it to continue. But I need your agreement on this. The last thing I want is tension between us right now.”
“Mmmmm.”
“Ms Liu?”
“Yes, Kyle,” I said, almost snapping. “I can spend another couple of days doing this.”
“Doing this?” he asked.
DeShaun grazed my crotch.
“Sitting in the sun, Kyle.” I closed my legs tighter together.
“Okay, ma'am. Well, I guess that's everything. Wish us luck for Saturday?”
“Good luck, Kyle,” I said, and ended the call.
DeShaun was grinning.
“I just lost my appetite.”
“You sure? Something else wrong?”
I took hold of his hand, removing it from my crotch. “Take me back to the apartment.”
“Yeah?”
“I need to suck your cock,” I whispered. “And forget all my troubles.”
I was sat on the balcony of the apartment in a white negligee and high-heels, sipping coffee and wishing we didn't have to fly home the next day.
I was tempted to change flights again, to extend the trip by another few days, but tomorrow was Sunday and I had to get back to the day-to-day running of the club eventually.
The longer I stayed away, the worse I made myself look.
DeShaun was out for a light jog, trying to prove he was fit again. I'd assured him it wouldn't be long, but he said his shooting boots were itchy.
I adjusted my buttocks on the pillow I was sat on. My rear was so very sensitive, it'd never been stretched so much in such a short space of time this week. But it'd been worth it. Every second of intimacy with my man had been to treasure.
I flicked my wrist to check the time on my gold watch. It was embarrassing. I missed him even when he was gone for 20 mins.
I looked at the time again and tried to factor in the difference to Scotland.
Babygirl, I recalled DeShaun telling me when we first arrived, there's no time difference. I'd pretended to accept that, but inside I'd wondered what would this American know about European time. Oh, how I was glad I'd kept my mouth shut when I found him to be right.
It was 4:45pm here and at home. On a Saturday.
I retrieved my phone from the kitchen where I'd left it on charge, then lay face down on the bed with the window open to let air at my ass.
I browsed to the latest scores in League Two and saw Broxburgh 1-0 Annan Athletic. A further click revealed Lachlan Williamson had scored in the 7th minute.
One by one, the rest of the scores in the division changed from latest scores to results.
I watched Broxburgh's like a hawk, knowing we needed to be taking 3 points from every game right now if promotion was to be more than a pipe dream this season.
“Come on, boys,” I said aloud.
Then it changed.
But not to result.
Broxburgh 1-1 Annan Athletic.
And then it changed to result.
I found out later that our replacement goalkeeper, McInnes, had gifted Annan a last minute equaliser.
DeShaun retrieved my carry-on bag from the overhead locker.
“Thank you,” I said, reaching to take it from him.
“I'll carry it for you,” he insisted.
“Such a gentleman.”
“Momma made sure I was.” He turned as the passengers ahead started to exit the plane. “As did all the other families who raised me.”
I touched his arm.
We left together, walking side-by-side through a tunnel into Glasgow Airport and towards the Arrivals area.
“DeShaun, thank you for everything this week. I really appreciated you in every possible way. You've been a rock. I can't thank you enough.”
“Don't mention it, Sash, you did give me the time off after all.”
I smiled. “Sorry, I can't hold your hand with everything that's-”
“Don't worry about it.” He looked ahead. “I'll be straight in to see Hilary tomorrow. I think I'm ready to go back into training.”
There was no doubt the team needed him. “Whatever they say, you have to respect. If they say you're not ready, you're not ready.”
“Believe in me, babygirl, I'm ready.”
I wasn't going to argue with my man, but he was still 2-4 weeks off his expected return date.
We collected our baggage and placed them on a trolley before turning to leave.
I was already shivering at the prospect of Scottish weather.
“Sasha, d'you remember what you said to me that first night in my hotel room?”
I felt my face redden.
“About how you felt?”
It reddened deeper.
“That you were falling in love?”
I was now the colour of beetroot.
“With me?”
“Uh-uh,” I said quietly, all too aware my words had been swept under the carpet ever since.
“I probably could've picked a more romantic time to tell you this, but the feeling's absolutely mutual.”
I felt myself overcome with a dizzying buzz and an abundance of happiness. “Really, DeShaun?”
“One hundred percent, Sasha.” He looked at me with those beautiful eyes. “I'm in love with you.”
I wanted to jump into his arms right there and then, although our legs took us further towards the exit.
“I have done since-”
A camera flash went off in our faces. Then another. And another.
“Sasha, DeShaun!” shouted a voice.
“DeShaun, Sasha!” yelled another.
Our path to the exit was suddenly blocked.
“Is it true you two were having an affair behind Joe McDonald's back?”
“Sasha, why'd you destroy true love?”
“DeShaun, did you betray your manager?”
“Will you ever play for Broxburgh again?”
“Sasha, what d'you say to those who're demanding you sell the club now?”