“I’m sure you do.” The daggers I shot back were melted by her glare of ice.
“There’s so much on social media now about fad diets and how to hack your health – we know a lot of it is consumerism and the pressure to look a certain way,” Guy folded his arms and looked like he was about to jump on his soap box. He and I had enjoyed many conversations about how diets and health lifestyles were sold, made over-complicated in order for companies to gain financially, when actually, it wasn’t as scientifically complicated as they made out. Unfortunately, will-power and motivation weren’t for sale.
“Agreed.” I nodded, happy not to regurgitate our last conversation on this.
“So as a focus, we want Jude to front a campaign about healthy eating and lifestyle habits, with you as support. Potentially you could be involved and front it alongside him, which might be a good way to promote women working in the sports industry, or you could just support with the technical knowledge. Ezra in our marketing team will oversee things and Gill in the education department will advise and sort the links with schools out.” Genny sat back, tucking the pencil she’d been tapping behind her ear.
I shot her another glare, knowing it would make no difference whatsoever. We’d had a conversation a few weeks ago where I’d been having a rant about social media, the use of filters and how they were exacerbating poor self-esteem and unhealthy relationships with food in young people – or even older people.
I’d also talked about using the club’s platform to educate around healthy eating habits without just focusing on the footballers, so there was no argument I could have around this.
“Sounds good. I take it you want Jude to lead on it? Give him something to focus on?” I gave Guy my best smile.
He nodded. “That’s part of it. I also think it’s what we should be doing as well. Jude can still focus on his rehab and recovery as well as having this project. I appreciate you still have a job to do as well, and I don’t want to significantly increase your workload.”
“I actually think work in the community’s included in my job description.” I had done bits before, but not for a while because I hadn’t had the capacity, especially with the growth of the women’s team.
“Excellent.” Guy slid off Genny’s desk. “I’ll leave it to you and Jude to touch base. Ezra has this project on the top of their priority list, so you’ll hear from them too. I’ll catch both of you later.”
He strode out of the office, not even looking back.
“I fucking hate that man,” Genny said, while he was definitely still in earshot. “If he wasn’t such a brilliant manager I’d be campaigning to get him out of my face permanently.”
I didn’t say anything. Amber and I had long since come to the conclusion that Genny and Guy were having hate sex on the regular. Both were single. Both were married to their jobs. Both were gorgeous in their own ways. I’d seen them argue passionately, launch things across the room – although not at each other, and I’d also seen the steamiest glances exchanged.
“How not okay is Jude?” Because Guy wasn’t my issue right now.
Genny shrugged. “He gets himself, you know? Having the ADHD diagnosis has made him understand why he did some of that stupid shit when he was younger. But the hyper-focusing is part of it too and the obsessive tendencies. He’s kind of got that obsessing over getting better quicker under control, but when he said he needed something else – I felt pretty proud of him.”
“So he’s not in a bad place, he could just end up there easily?”
Genny nodded. “That sums it up. And he mentioned wanting to work with you. He’s interested in the nutrition side of it and we both know he’s always been pretty easy for you to work with in terms of eating right.”
“Mainly because he’s always been so upfront about cheat meals, which meant it was easy to build them in. Me telling him off was a game – you know that, don’t you? He liked the idea of being naughty and he got that thrill from it. Or he’d do extra in the gym or go for another run and get a win there.” Jude’s psychology once he’d had that diagnosis had been easier to unpick, mainly because he’d been able to join the dots himself. I didn’t always think that a diagnosis was helpful, as for some people, it could be traumatising to receive a label, but for others it gave them a reason and broke a cycle of self-blame.
“I get that. He’s always been honest. That made it easier for me when he did cock up and the media found out about it. I knew exactly what had happened before they found out so we could usually fix it.” She eyeballed me again. “Are you okay with working with him? It’s not a babysitting job – he doesn’t need that. This could actually be fun.”
“It’s fine. I can work with this.” This being the concept and not actually Jude. “Jude mentioned me?”
She nodded. “He did. Any problem with you two? I know you don’t usually socialise.”
I took a deep breath. “No problem at all.”
Jude: We have the same project.
Me: We do. I hear this is your idea. Where do you want to start?
Jude: Meet me at Kitty’s Café? Can you do this afternoon?
That didn’t surprise me. Once he had an idea, he had to follow up on it – urgently. He’d been like that most nights when we’d been together, super focused on me, determined, a perfectionist. Each time he’d made me feel like I was the very centre of his world at that moment and I’d basked in it.
It was the same way he focused when playing football. It would be the same for this project.
Me: I can do this afternoon. I have a session with Nate at one, so how about two?
Jude: Perfect. I have a ton of ideas to go through. I think I’m on the right lines with them.
Me: Sounds good.
