Erin hesitated.
No doubt sensing Erin was about to say no, Maisie scampered over and spoke to Erin in a whisper. “Please? You heard what she said the other day. I bet she’s lonely. And she only lives one floor above!”
Erin should have known that when Maisie spotted Lia exiting the lobby of their building the other day, it would spell trouble. “Maybe she likes being on her own. Is my company alone not enough for you?”
“I see you all the time.”
“Ouch.”
“You know what I mean.” Maisie’s lips curved into a pout. “I really like her, and I never get to see her.”
“Fine!” Erin supposed there was no harm in it. Less harm than Maisie sulking the rest of the day if she said no. “Lia, you’re more than welcome to come over if you like.”
Throwing her arms around Erin’s waist, Maisie hugged her tight. It was almost enough for the sacrifice to be worth it.
“Are you sure?” A disbelieving frown creased Lia’s eyebrows.
Erin shrugged. “What’s the harm?”
* * *
Lia was in Erin Finch’s apartment. Lia was inside Erin Finch’s apartment.
Over the course of the evening, she’d pinched herself several times, unable to believe that it was happening. And yet she’d eaten a pizza—made from scratch by Erin herself—sitting opposite Erin while Maisie had talked their ears off and Gerrard the black cat had wound around their ankles.
Erin’s apartment was the same layout as her own, all sleek lines and monochromatic decoration, practical but not necessarily homey. Lia’s favourite part was all the photographs of Erin, Maisie, and presumably the rest of her family scattered around the place, the only personal touches on the walls.
“Can we watch the football?” Maisie asked in the kitchen as Lia helped Erin load their dishes into the dishwasher.
Lia loved the black granite countertops. They matched the kitchen island they’d eaten at, Erin favouring it to the wooden dining table tucked into the corner of the open-plan room.
“Sure. You go and put it on,” Erin said.
Maisie scampered over to the large TV.
“Go and join her.” Erin slid the last plate into the dishwasher rack. “It won’t take me long to put this on.”
Unwilling to argue—Lia didn’t want to do anything to risk the delicate truce they’d found themselves in—Lia left the kitchen and made her way to the black-leather couches pointed toward the TV. She made to settle on the opposite one to Maisie, who clearly had other ideas.
Maisie patted the space to her left. “Sit with me.”
As she did what she was told, Lia pretended not to notice Erin’s pursed lips when she joined them, sitting on Maisie’s other side. Gerrard was quick to jump into Erin’s lap, purring contentedly as Erin scratched his ears. Deciding it was safer to focus elsewhere, Lia turned her attention to the game.
She was grateful it was England and not Wales. She didn’t know if she could handle watching her teammates play, knowing she couldn’t be on the field to help them. How did Erin do it? And not just watching it now—but also every Albion game from the stands. It must be torture.
Not to mention the European Championships she’d missed. The one England had won without her. By the time it next came around in four years’ time, Erin might not be playing. Lia couldn’t imagine how difficult that must be. No wonder her mood had been so icy. Lia doubted she’d have handled it much better.
Before long, despite wanting to watch the game, Maisie’s eyes drooped. Erin opened her arms and Maisie leaned into her. Erin’s fingers combed gently through Maisie’s hair until she was fast asleep, and Lia wondered how often they curled up like this.
Lia never dreamed she’d be allowed to see Erin this way—so open and vulnerable.
Erin must have noticed her looking; her brows creased into a frown. “What?”
Shit. Lia scrambled for something to say that didn’t come off as creepy. “Just thinking about how hard it must be for you to watch this.” Lia jerked her head toward the screen. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“I’ve had a few months to get used to it.” But bitterness crept into Erin’s voice. “Plus, this could be my future. I might never get called up again.”
“You will.” Lia had no doubt about that.
