And that was that. Nothing more was said. And Rhys did end up dating her brother for about eighteen months.
“And Mexico – what the fuck were you thinking, Ro? I get you were on holiday, but you’ve been too much in the media. You’ve had your face everywhere. Fucking a girl on a sun lounger isn’t classy, mate.”
The microwave pinged.
I pushed the glass away. He had a point. The media loved a story about WAGs, footballers wives and girlfriends. Some magazines would devote whole pages to them.
“Please tell me only alcohol was involved.”
“Only alcohol was involved. I still don’t touch anything else. You know that.” Rhys’ dad had been a user. Coke had been his drug of choice.
He nodded. “Good. I just needed to hear it.” He sat back down, coffee to his liking. “You need to manage your mouth with Dee. There’s been a ton of shit about how you treat women after what Jade said, and those photos.”
“I know. I will.”
Somehow.
Maybe with superglue.
CHAPTER2
Dee
I droppedthe bar from a little too high and laughed. My teammate, Izzy, shook her head, her own set of reps done.
I had another eight to ten to do. Deadlifts, which of all the strength training we did, weren’t my favourite. It was fair to say they were down there at the bottom of the list.
“Aren’t you at the summer school tomorrow?” Izzy sat down on the bench, patting her face with a towel.
I nodded, giving myself a few more minutes before starting the final set. I’d rather run a half marathon than do strength training, preferring pounding the pavements to being stuck in a weight room at the campus gym. “Nine-thirty start, so I’m going to be here at seven.”
Izzy shuddered. “That’s far too early.” She slung the towel round her neck. “Glad it was you who drew the short straw.”
I shrugged. “It’s only for two weeks, and I’ll get bored if I’m not doing something other than half a day of training.” I was down to work at the summer soccer school for eight- to fourteen-year-olds, particularly with the girls, as part of Manchester Athletic’s work in the community. I’d done it last summer after I became the team’s captain, and I’d offered to do it again this year.
We had almost four months between the end of the season and the start of the next, the women’s league starting a month after the men’s as we had fewer fixtures. Some of us worked during that time, picking up PT jobs and bits here and there, because women’s football didn’t pay anywhere near what men’s did, but it was better, especially for those of us who played internationally too. This past couple of seasons, my salary had increased, meaning there was nothing to do additional over summer other than get a few weeks away.
After that, I was bored. So, the kids’ summer school was an ideal opportunity to do something, as well as raising its profile.
Izzy shook her head. “You’re a saint for volunteering. How was Ibiza, by the way? You didn’t say.”
I got back into position to start lifting again. “It was good. Tobias was amazing.”
“Did you end up babysitting himallthe time?” Izzy managed a glare as she started to stretch off.
I started the set of reps, focusing on pushing with my legs rather than using too much of my back. We were given a workout plan for over the summer to keep us fit for the start of pre-season training, which started properly in another three weeks. I’d gone slightly heavier with the weights for this today, wanting to try and push myself in the areas I knew I was weakest. Last season I’d had some criticism for being too light on the ball, and it had gotten to me, so I was determined to try and increase my strength.
The bar didn’t bang as heavily down to the ground this time. I stood up, rubbing my palms together, and looked at Izzy. She was still waiting for my answer.
“Most of it.” Pretty much all of it, in fact.
She didn’t shake her head, but her expression told me exactly what she was thinking.
My sister was all about herself. As usual.
“You look well. Tanned. I wish I could tan.” Izzy inspected her pale arms, frowning at them. She was all limbs and red hair, with the sort of complexion that only went pink in the sun.
I only needed to take a walk outside in slightly sunny weather and I looked like I’d spent two weeks in the Mediterranean, courtesy of having an Italian grandmother on my father’s side, not that I knew either of them very well.
