It wasn’t until after dessert when Nate’s name was mentioned again. It was Neva who brought it up, not even giving me the side eye before she started.
“If you’re not interested in Nate, Amber, then I heard Leila Downey is.” She gave me a wide, slightly smug smile. “She cornered me in the café the other day, asking whether Nate was ready to move on.”
Leila was our tame reporter. She was really nice usually, and was happy enough to present club news in a positive light, as long as we threw exclusives her way. I could also see Leila being interested in Nate. She’d spoken to him a few times since Chan had died, and she’d always been incredibly sympathetic.
“Are you sure she wasn’t just after a story?” I tried not to glare at Neva. “She’s a reporter.”
“She might’ve been, but she’s said a few times about how attractive Nate is.” Neva fluttered her eyes. “And he has big feet.”
“And we know what big feet mean.” Genny folded her napkin neatly. “Big shoes.”
“Really big shoes.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going there.”
Neva chuckled. “But you’re not denying that you fancy him. At no point tonight have you denied finding him attractive.”
I stared at my almost empty cocktail glass. “He’s gorgeous. His body is incredible. But he’s a footballer, and one with kids. It’s a no go.”
“No one says you have to marry the man, Amber.” Genny gestured to the waiter for another round of drinks.
That was the problem. Nate was the kind of guy I’d imagined Levi to be: kind, considerate, hot as fuck. Only Nate might actually be that guy for real, and then I’d have to walk away.
My taxi dropped me off at the same time as my phone pinged with a message. I found my keys first, heading inside and then locked up behind me, before routing round for my phone. It was standard for Neva, Genny and I to text each other as soon as we got in so we knew we were home safe, so I was sat down on my sofa with some surprise when I saw who the message was from.
Nate.
I was sensible enough to only have the name of the person texting to come up on my phone’s home screen, so if any of the team saw my phone in my treatment room, they couldn’t see what any message might say. Footballers were quite often nosy, not having a great deal during the day to keep them occupied other than training and gaming, so they could be absolute swines for gossip.
I opened the message, wondering why on earth he was messaging me at almost eleven o’clock on a Sunday evening, ignoring that my heart was racing with anticipation, and racing fast enough to make my vision feel blurred.
Nate: Hey Amber, it’s Nate – not sure if you had my number or not. Just wanted to say thank you for seeing me this morning. My shoulder feels so much better. Hope you had a good meal out.
I re-read it five times and tried to steady my heart-rate. Why was he texting me at this time? Why was he even thinking of me? What I’d done this morning was part of my job, nothing more.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard, my brain whirring with how to respond. It took another ninety seconds of indecision before I closed the message and dialled Genny.
“Is everything okay?” she said as she answered. “Did you get home okay?”
I remembered I hadn’t texted to say I was back. “It’s fine, I’m at home but Nate’s just texted me.”
“Okay. Why’s he texted you?” She sounded amused. “Booty call?”
“Don’t be stupid–” I stood up and headed to the kitchen, feeling the need for a cup of tea. “He just said thank you for helping him today. That was all.”
“If that was all, why are you ringing me to tell me he texted you?”
I could’ve sworn I heard a man’s voice in the background.
“Because I don’t know what to text back.” Or rather I didn’t know what I wanted to text back.
“How aboutyou’re welcomeoranytime? Or do you want him to respond to whatever you say? Because that’s verging on booty-calling.” She was laughing now. “Which I thoroughly approve of.”
“What if I put ‘You’re welcome. Are you remembering to do the stretches?.’? Then he’s got the option of responding or not.” I had a plan.
“I agree. Send that. Text me with what he puts.”
“You don’t want me to phone you back?” I was grinning now. “Is that because someone else will be keeping you occupied,Genevieve?”There was definitely someone else in her apartment with her.
