Nate: So on the same level as the obsession you have with my shorts? Or when I’m only wearing my shorts?
Me: Almost. It was not easy when you were on my table yesterday, and Ryan and Jesse were there.
Nate: They commented on how much of a mood you were in. You played it well. They think you hate us.
Me: Not far off.
Nate: You need to tell me who it was who made you hate footballers.
Me: He’s playing against you this weekend.
I wasn’t going to say anything to Nate about Levi. He’d asked me a couple of times in the last week, once over texts and once when he’d come into my treatment room to have me work on his shoulder again.
The texts had carried on being flirty. He’d sent me a selfie taken through a mirror where he was shirtless and pulling down on the short shorts he’d worn for yoga. His happy trail was leading me down to where the goods were almost on display. As he’d mentioned in the next message, he’d been thinking about my yoga pants.
I’d spent the rest of the night thinking about what was in those shorts and all the good it could do inside me. I’d toyed with texting him to tell him what I was doing, but I hadn’t had the guts. I didn’t think Nate was playing with me, in fact, I was absolutely convinced he was genuine with flirting, but I wasn’t sure enough to put myself on the line by suggesting anything actually happened.
Nate: Is it LeviStatham?
Me: Please don’t say anything. It was years ago.
Nate: I won’t. But if he ends up with an elbow in his face or ribs today don’t be surprised.
I smiled because I couldn’t hide it. It had been a long time since anyone apart from my brother had defended me. Or taken revenge.
“Who’s texting you?” Genny peered at me from over her magazine. She was actually taking time away from her laptop or phone.
We were on a coach on the way to the game, the first in the run up to the busy five game period. Autumn was a stupidly busy time in the footballing world, with games packed in.
“Nate.” I didn’t bother trying to lie. She knew we’d been texting, and so far she’d made few comments other than mentioning about feet. I was convinced Genny had a thing about feet.
I’d also become more suspicious about who Genny was seeing. There had definitely been two times in the last week when she’d hooked up with him, and the day after each she was in the sort of mood that only came with an orgasm induced high. Neva and I had come up with a list of possible suspects, but none of them were overly strong candidates.
“What’s he saying?”
I knew I was blushing. “He’s being flirty about my yoga pants.”
“You do have a great arse in them. I’m surprised that none of the other players have tried it on already.” She was back looking at her magazine. “But that’s because they’re scared of you spraying deep heat on their penises if they piss you off.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Why do you think Nate isn’t scared?”
“Because Nate has more emotional intelligence than half the squad put together and actually thinks before he speaks. He isn’t stupid, Amber. I just wish he’d give lessons on how to not make a twit of yourself to some of the others.” She put down her magazine.
“What’s happened?”
Genevieve shook her head. “Jesse. He’s usually the perfect player. The consummate professional.” She gestured with her hands in a dramatic fashion. “Until he’s not.”
“What’s he done?”
“Been pulled for speeding and tried to argue his way out of it with the police officer who stopped him. He wants to try and get out of the points, because he’s already got three on his licence, and this will be another six, but I’ve told him no. He’ll have to suck it up and be a good boy until they come off.”
“Because another three points and he’ll lose his licence.” I knew Jesse was a petrol head. His posture in his cars was also terrible, giving him a bad back every so often. Naturally, he didn’t accept this.
“He will. And he’s not going to try and argue his way out of it and make himself look above the law, that won’t help him with these endorsement deals he’s on the verge of getting.” She shook her head. “I love Jesse to bits, but sometimes he needs to actually grow up rather than pretending to be grown up.”
I thought of Nate, who had grown up. He’d had to, now very much both parents to his children.
“What’s that thought that’s just gone through that pretty head of yours?” Genny leaned forward across the table that separated us. We were a few minutes away from pulling into Goodison Park.
