“Craig is a good mate though. I just hate his wife.”
“Who else will be there? Because if it’s just Craig and Marla I might be coming down with the flu,” I laughed.
Hayley was listening to the whole conversation with considerable interest.
“Who’s Marla?” she mouthed.
“I’ll tell you later,” I mouthed back.
Lucas laughed too. “Most of the team will be there, so there will be plenty of buffer. But it’s not just Craig who’s hassling me about meeting you. I think most of the lads don’t believe that you’re real.”
“I guess I’d better show them otherwise then.”
“So I’ll pick you up around seven thirty? Training is until six tonight.”
“Sounds good.” I was going to meet his teammates. The thought made me nervous. I got the sense this was a big step for us. For our relationship. It was up there with meeting the family.
“Okay, I’ll see you then. And Morgan—”
“Yeah?”
There was a moment of silence. “Never mind. I’ll see you at seven-thirty.”
What was he going to say?
I didn’t get to ask because we hung up after that.
“You’re going to Craig Denham’s house tonight?” Hayley squealed.
“I guess so.” I put my phone back in my bag.
“I’ve had a crush on him for years. I hated when he married that woman.”
“That would be Marla,” I added.
“And you don’t like Marla,” Hayley surmised.
“Not really. I met her in London. She’s a total bitch. And she’s way too touchy feely with Lucas. I may have to take her eyes out if she tries that crap tonight.”
Hayley cackled in delight. “Oh, a cat fight! Please bring me! I want to see!”
“Well, if anything every happens, I’m pretty sure it’ll turn up on the internet anyway.”
IWAS NERVOUS.
Really nervous.
Lucas and I arrived at Craig Denham’s enormous house a little after nine, even though we were supposed to be there at eight. I hadn’t been quite ready when Lucas showed up at my house. I had more than a little trouble figuring out what to wear. Lucas hadn’t been clear on the dress code.
“Is this alright?” I had asked him when I let him in. I had chosen a dark pair of skinny jeans and an off the shoulder sweater. I was trying to be dressy casual but I wasn’t sure I had succeeded. I left my hair down and wore a little makeup. I had seen the way the other WAGs dressed and I knew that I could never be up to that standard, but I hoped I didn’t look too bad.
Lucas had cupped my face and kissed me softly. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Morgan. Always are.”
My legs had gone weak and I felt a fluttering in my chest. “I know I’m not as pretty as Marla and her friends—”
“Don’t you dare compare yourself to that lot. Everything they are is fake. Fake tan. Fake tits. Fake nose. They wouldn’t know real if it bit them in their fake arses. You are everything they’re not. And that’s a compliment,” Lucas had said sharply.
“I can put on a dress,” I offered, still feeling like I was seriously lacking in the looks and wardrobe department.
