“Try not to think about it too much.”
I wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible.
Genny was in her favourite hiding spot, which meant she had a ton of work to do and didn’t need a queue of needy footballers asking her for the most basic of stuff. Genny’s problem was that she found it quicker to do things for them rather than telling them how to do it, which meant they never learned.
So when I found her in the laundry room – where the clean kit and towels were stored – I felt bad, because I was going to add to her list.
Toby needed to see me come home after going out somewhere. He needed to have that experience of me coming back. Understanding that was the only way I wasn’t going to feel guilty for leaving him for an evening. He knew Genny; he trusted her and he got that Genny was one of my best friends. She’d happily stay at mine to look after him, as long as I coughed up the gossip, which so far I’d vaguebooked her on.
“It’s my favourite footballer.” She glanced up from her laptop. “Tell me the season has been postponed for two weeks so I can get all of this done.”
“I can’t tell you that. I’d like to say I wish I could, but I can’t wait for it.” I sat down on a pile of towels. I’d face the wrath of the laundry team if they found out.
Genny shook her head. “What do you think of Ryan O’Connell?”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “He’s a bit of a mystery.” She studied whatever was on screen. “Does he have a girlfriend?”
“I have no idea. Izzy tried it on with him but didn’t get anywhere.”
“Standard.” Genny frowned at the screen again. “There’s a photo that could be him with some woman who looks familiar.” She squinted. “No idea.”
“Where’s the picture from?”
“Someone on social media took it and tagged Ryan in it. It could be anyone though.” She closed her laptop. “How did the meeting with the social worker go?”
I filled her in, giving the key details and a few of my worries about why Joanne would get in touch. The nerves I felt weren’t to do with Joanne though. I was desperate to blurt out that I was going on a date with Rowan, only part of me worried about what her reaction would be. A few weeks ago, I’d found him irritating and everything I disliked in a man. That had changed. I’d been wrong with what I thought about him.
Now I was giddy and excited about a date with him, only I didn’t want Genny or anyone else to pour cold water on what I felt right now, and tell me he was a player and he was just teasing me. I wanted someone to be excited for me, and possibly tell me what to wear.
“The main thing is Toby’s okay. You take the rest as it comes.” She leaned forward and studied me. “Your lips are swollen.”
I reached up and touched them, remembering the kiss, wishing it could’ve been continued. “Can you babysit Toby one evening? I know you’re really busy but…”
Genny sat up and beamed. “Do you have a date?”
I nodded, not sure of what to say without blurting everything out.
“Who? It’s not Ryan O’Connell, is it?”
I shook my head, and her grin grew evil. “It’s Rowan! Tell me it’s Rowan!”
Another nod. “It’s Rowan.” I touched my lips again. “I know I’m not his type, not really, I’m nothing like his ex, and I doubt it’ll be anything serious, and I don’t want anything serious but…”
“Dee Dee, stop waffling.”
I stopped waffling.
“You’re gorgeous and talented and kind and fun. Why wouldn’t you be his type?”
“Because I’m not blonde and I don’t have big boobs.”
“And you think Rowan’s only bothered about how someone looks?”
“Jade…”
“Jade was him hoping he could settle down so the media stopped speculating on who he was dating all the time. They kept digging into his personal life. Has he told you about his family?”
