Swirling around she clasped her hands in front of her. This was the first time that Charlotte was seeing me fully and based on the way her face creased to look like a punched quiche, I guessed she didn’t approve of my chosen attire. They were the only clothes I had left in my overnight bag when Oliver dropped me off. Grey jogging bottoms with a mysterious stain on the pant leg that was almost definitely marmite, and an oversized t-shirt that Oliver had jokingly brought me when we started working together, with his team's emblem on it.
The only reason I was wearing it was because it was soft and comfy. It wasdefinitelythe only reason.
Due to the fact that in my haste the other night I had completely forgotten to bring any make up, I was bare faced, a hormonal spot beginning to pop up on my chin leaving it bright red, and my hair that had been in the same bun for two days.
Against the flawless beauty of my sister, I resembled a cow pat smushed into a once pristine field.
The funny thing was, when I’d been with Oliver I hadn’t given a second thought to my looks. I hadn’t fussed over not having any makeup to cover my spots or that my clothes wouldn’t get me into a fashion show anytime soon. He hadn’t paid any attention to it, he’d seen straight through the surface and sawme.
‘Sorry, why are you here?’ I repeated, pushing the door closed and folding my arms across my chest.
Charlotte looked slightly taken aback at the bluntness of the question, but I was in no mood to pad my sister's ego.
‘Can’t I check up on my little sister?’
I narrowed my eyes, ‘Youcan… but I wasn’t aware you even knew where I lived.’
A smile so fake it looked painful cracked Charlotte's lips. ‘Yes, well, I know we’re not exactly close, but we are family-‘ She left the sentence hanging, like there was an obvious end to it.
‘Yeah, we are family, but you’ve never just popped round to see me.’ I felt the need to point it out.
’No time like the present.’ A flash of white teeth and Charlotte turned around, heading towards the kitchen, leaving me staring after her wondering what the fuck was going on.
45
OLIVER
My flat felt empty without her.
Everything looked dull—boring. It was as if all the colour got sucked out of the place the moment she left.I hated it.
I’d refrained from messaging her after she told me she had a lot of work to catch up on.
I was trying to be good. Trying to give her space. The problem was I didn’twantspace. I wanted to be around her all the time, whether we were talking about the book or random things, even opening up about my mum… everything felt easier with her around.
I felt capable.
Shit.What the fuck was happening to me? I didn’t go all gooey eyed over a girl. I’d never felt this way with Ashley. I’d never felt like a part of me was missing when she wasn’t around. In fact, most of the time we weren’t together, I could forget she existed. I didn’t realise how unhealthy so much of our relationship was. I played my own part in it. Ignoring the obvious red flags in favour of having an easier life.
But I’d never had a problem pushing women from my head. Fallon… she was consuming me.
Every thought I had somehow led back to her.
Don’t call her.Donotcall her.
I twirled the phone around on the desk in front of me, staring at the blank screen. Evening sunlight streamed in through the open curtains, creating patterns on the wooden floor.
How did Fallon become the epicentre of my universe? So. Bloody. Quickly.
Football used to be the thing that got me out of bed every morning. It was my focus—what I needed to breathe. The ache that had made a home in my chest since I got suspended, I barely noticed anymore. I used to wonder who I would be without football. I was Oliver Blake. The world knew who I was, they trusted me to get the job done—to score goals and be the best fucking player on that pitch.
And the person I wanted to talk to most was the one person who couldn’t care less about my career.
She just wantedme.
What the fuck was I supposed to do with that?
The phone I’d been staring at for the past half an hour buzzed in my hands. My heart leapt into my throat. I blew out a breath when I saw the caller ID. I needed to chill out.
