I rang Ryan before she was out of the room, not expecting him to pick up. I knew today was a training day, but it didn’t start until ten. He was still living near the ground, so unless he’d gone in early and his phone was away in a locker, I could probably catch him.
He answered on the second ring.
“Hey. You okay? I thought you had that interview?”
My heart gave a little skip that he’d remembered. I’d only mentioned it before the night before last, when I’d been several cocktails in, and he’d remembered.
“I have. My publicist met me at the hotel.” I groaned. “Ryan, the girl on the hotel reception had photos of us…”
“Please tell me there wasn’t a camera in the bedroom?” There was humour in his voice, which settled my pulse some.
“In reception. They’re quite nice pictures, honestly. But the press have them.” I inhaled. “Jas – my publicist – asked for the details of your agent so we can co-ordinate a statement.”
There was silence.
“Ryan, I know you run under the radar, and I’m so sorry that this…”
“It’s not your fault, Otter,” he interrupted. “It was going to come out at some point. I’ll send you Rhys’ details.” He quietened again. “What are we going to say?”
“What do you want to say? There are the usual clichés:we’re getting to know each other; it’s early days– I don’t know, Ryan. What do you want the media to think this is?” What did he want me to think this is? I knew I was about to find out.
“How about we’re dating? I know we’re keeping this casual, but why don’t we keep it simple too, and just say we’ve been dating for a few months and we’re enjoying each other’s company, or something like that?”
I heard clunking and then a whirring in the background.
“Are you making a smoothie?” I was so easily distracted.
“Yeah. This one has spinach in it. How’s what I’ve said? Will that work?”
“Spinach? Yes, it will work. The statement, not the spinach.” I was doing that thing where I panicked with my words, which I was doing because he wasn’t being weird about the whole thing, which I hadn’t planned for.
He laughed. “Otter, the thing I’m trying to work out now is how to deal with my teammates when they find out I’ve been seeing you. Are you okay about this? I mean, shouldn’t you be seen with some other actor or someone good for your career? Especially at the moment.”
“I’ve never aimed to be in the gossip columns. I’ve only been linked with a couple of other people, and both of them have been fake.” I knew I needed to hurry the conversation and get to my interview. “If we control the statement well, and I’ll mention something about us in this interview today, then we can keep it low key. We don’t want to be watched.”
“Okay. That sounds good to me. I’ll send you Rhys’ number and I’ll speak to Genevieve.”
“Who’s Genevieve?”
He laughed. “She runs the club. And controls the PR. Who did you think she was?”
“Your secret girlfriend and you were giving her the head’s up.”
His laugh this time sounded louder. “Otillie, why do you think I have a secret girlfriend? Apart from that I suppose I kind of do. The non-serious type.”
“I think the photos have just thrown me. I didn’t expect it. Not there, in some small town. I thought we’d get away with it.” I was also starting to realise the depth of some of the feelings I had. “I’d best get to this interview. What time do you finish training? This interview should take a few hours. I should be done for about two, I think.”
“I’ll be done with training then. Call me when you’re done. Go enjoy your interview.”
“I will.”
We said goodbyes and hung up. A text came through seconds later with his agent’s details, and then another with the number for Genevieve. Jas reappeared with a mug of tea and a kind expression.
“What did he say?”
I relayed back the conversation. Jas nodded, had me send over the contact details.
“Are you happy with that sort of statement? Because the photos will probably hit the media anytime soon and we’re all going to be asked.” Her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to read something that I hadn’t said.
