Though Erin supposed it was her own fault. She shouldn’t have accused Lia like she did—but her mouth had opened without much thought. And then raw pain had flashed across Lia’s face; Erin had done damage. It sat heavy in her chest, and Erin didn’t know why. It wasn’t like it was the first time she’d upset a teammate.
Everyone else noticed Lia’s mood. As they milled around the reception area waiting for the other teams to finish, Shanice shot Erin a look that was clearly accusatory.
Erin bit her tongue. It was Shanice’s fault for forcing them together into that room. It should be Adrianna she was admonishing, for gossiping about her fellow teammates. At least Alex had been quick to shoot Adrianna down.
“Anyone want to grab a drink?” Shanice asked once the final team—sheepishly, after failing to escape within the sixty minutes—finished.
With the mandatory part of the proceedings over, Erin shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“I’m going to bow out as well,” Lia said.
A few of the others tried to persuade her to stay, but Lia was unmoved.
“I’ll walk you home.” Cerys slid her arm into the crook of Lia’s elbow.
“No, you should stay. Have fun. I’ll be fine.”
Cerys didn’t look convinced.
A whispered argument that Erin couldn’t hear ensued, but the end result was Cerys disappearing into a bustling central Manchester with the rest of the team while Lia and Erin turned toward the nearest tram stop.
They walked in silence, and Erin should have been content with that, but it wasn’t for good reasons. She could practically hear Lia overthinking as they came to a stop on the same platform. Ten minutes before the next tram. Wonderful. “I really am sorry.”
Nothing.
“It must be difficult.” Erin should probably keep her mouth shut, but she couldn’t stop talking.
Lia’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. “You don’t think it’s further proof that teammate relationships are unprofessional?”
Erin shrugged. “It’s not your fault.”
“Well, I’m taking your stance from here on out. It’s not a mistake I’ll be making again.”
“Does the rest of the team know that? Because you’re the talk of the town, you know.” More than one of their teammates had gushed about how pretty Lia was, how kind Lia was, how funny Lia was. Erin was sick of hearing about it.
Lia’s cheeks flamed red. “I am not.”
“Oh, you are. You’re shiny and new—I’ve heard more than one person say they’d be interested in you once you’re over your ex. Adrianna, in particular, has made it obvious that she’d be first in line.”
“I don’t know what I find harder to believe—that that’s true, or that you’d know if it was.”
Erin tucked her hands into the deep pockets of her woollen jacket. “Just because I don’t talk much doesn’t mean I don’t listen. People say a lot of things around me. Presumably because they don’t think I’m paying attention.”
“So you know everything? Is that it?”
“Not everything. I’m not that conceited. If I were, I’d be saying it was me they were all after.”
Lia laughed—it was the first time her face had cracked from the frown etched onto her face all evening.
Erin didn’t know who was more surprised—her or Lia.
“Thanks. I needed that. It’s been a rough couple of days.”
Erin had seen enough headlines to know that. Their teammates weren’t the only ones speculating on the identity of the mystery player and the suspicious timing of Lia’s move away from Wanderers.
“I can imagine.”
The lost, kicked-puppy look returned to Lia’s face. Erin was overcome with the sudden and inexplicable need to make it go away again. “I happen to know a good way to blow off steam that might make you forget about it, if you’re interested.”
