‘We’ve got friends in the right places,’ said one of the women who rolled her eyes at her friends.
‘I’m glad it’s finishing up soon. This is the last day. I’m looking forward to things getting back to normal. Much as I have enjoyed watching the competition, I do get a bit fed up with these celebs hogging the greens.’ He chuckled.
‘Do you like the nine-hole course?’ said Jess. ‘I believe it is a favourite for juniorsandseniors.’
He looked at her blankly, clearly unaware that she was making a dig. ‘And where are youladiesoff to after Troon?’
‘To St Andrews and then to London for a few days.’
The golfer took a sip of his coffee, which left a ridge of foam on the top of his lip, and then proceeded to tell them where they should visit in St Andrews and London.
Jess caught Bella’s eye and shook her head as the man continued on his monologue of the best restaurants he thoughtthey should go to in London and how they should really take care when using the underground. It was a fine example of mansplaining at its best.
‘Anyways,’ he said, standing and crumpling up his coffee cup in one hand.
Bella half-wished that the coffee would dribble down his lemon polo-shirt.
‘Nice chatting. Enjoy the rest of your trip, ladies.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’d better be off.’ And with that, he strode away.
‘What a tool,’ said Jess.
‘Completely,’ agreed her friend and the other one sniggered.
Bella couldn’t help but laugh, which then made the other women giggle again and soon they were all holding their sides. ‘What a total eejit,’ she said.
‘I love that word.Eejit,’ said Jess repeating it back to her. ‘No need to hang off the bench any longer,’ she said and moved up to make more space.
‘Aw, thank you. But I should really head off myself now. But thanks for that. It was most entertaining.’
‘I know, right? He was so condescending. No wonder golf gets a bad name with sexist bores like him. Did you see his face when I said we all played off scratch? Which we don’t by the way,’ she said conspiratorially to Bella. ‘Well, Rhona does,’ she said, pointing across to her friend. ‘But I couldn’t help winding him up.’
‘It was great to watch. Thanks for brightening up my day,’ said Bella, who knew very little about golf. It was a sport that held zero appeal. ‘I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.’ Bella hesitated for a minute. ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking but where is the best place to see some of the golfers in the competition?’
‘Do you have a ticket?’ asked Jess.
Bella wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Of course, she needed a ticket.Why didn’t she think of that?Her cheeks flushed as she shook her head and she shuffled her feet awkwardly.
‘It depends on who you want to see,’ said Jess kindly. ‘The younger ones will get mobbed by the hordes when they come off the course. But there is a bar in our hotel where we have seen a few the last couple of evenings, say from around four o’clock. The guy from the eighties American rock band.’
‘That hideous English TV presenter,’ said her friend, pulling a face. ‘Piers something or other. He was arguing with a footballer last night. Though I almost don’t blame him. They were both as obnoxious as each other.’
‘And the guy who was in that boyband, GFC or something . . . he turned to acting.’
‘Do you mean the Get Fresh Crew?’ said Bella.
‘That’s the one. Luke . . . Giles. He’s quite easy on the eye, if you get my drift. Though will be positively ancient to a young thing like you.’ Jess gave a dirty laugh.
Bella’s eyes widened. Luke Giles.Bingo.
‘It’s a bit quieter and less showy than the hotel they’re all staying at,’ said Rhona, telling her the name of the place they were staying in.
‘Thanks so much,’ said Bella, and she smiled gratefully as her mind started to race. Glancing at her watch she realised she had quite a long time to hang about. In fact, she had a number of hours to kill. But hopefully she would get a chance to talk to Luke and the wait would all be worth it.
Chapter Eight
Luke was extremely glad he had Andrew with him, a very patient caddy, who didn’t mind the numerous flunked shots and lost balls. When they were both searching for yet another lost ball in the rough, they were distracted when they heard a kerfuffle on the fairway. Looking over they could see that one of the team — the former Premier League footballer, Warren — was having a full-blown tantrum after slicing his shot. He slammed his club to the ground and actuallystampedon it. Then he screamed. Luke and the caddy made eye contact and both grimaced. If it wasn’t so ridiculous, it would be very funny. In fact, Luke couldn’t help but chuckle. He just hoped for Warren’s sake that nobody had caught any of it on film. It wouldn’t enhance his tattered reputation one bit. Especially after the torrid year he'd had. Earlier that year, Warren had been caught in a compromising position with a popstar who was very much not his wife, and her popstar rival to boot. It was all very complicated and a bit clichéd. But the tabloids absolutely loved it and Warren’s ongoing games off the pitch provided them with plenty of material to write about.
Luke certainly wasn’t perfect, but he had hoped he had learned from the mistakes he had made over the years — and there had been several that he wasn’t proud of when he was younger. But Warren still seemed as arrogant as ever despite his private life having been splashed across the press. Or maybe because of it.
