“I actually like the sound of that.” I did. It was the sort of image I wanted, even if my teammates would rip the piss. “The fee could go in the baby’s fund.”
There was another grin from my agent. “Okay, let’s go through the rest of this. We’ve got a couple of deals coming to an end, so I’ve got them to update me. One’s for your boots, so this is a big one. They’re worried about your injury, so I’m going to need something from your medical team to say you’re on the mend.” He carried on going through each deal, the waiter dropping off olives and breads with oils, that I’d probably miss.
For the first time, I felt like I was really listening to what Bert was saying, asking more questions about the income and commitment, pulling up my accounts on the tablet that I’d brought and considering my overall wealth.
It didn’t take a genius to work out why.
This wasn’t going to be just about me anymore.
It would be about my child.
And Neva, if she’d have me.
It was past lunchtime when we finished, a new boot deal, a meeting with a brand of men’s cologne that I liked, a couple of interviews and a few other bits tied up. Plus advice that I hadn’t thought I needed.
“Your determined, Jude. You’re a hard worker. And you’ve grown up. Don’t doubt yourself – you’re not just your father’s son, although there’s a lot to be proud of there, you’re your own man, and he’s a good one.”
I was thinking about those words when my phone vibrated, Neva’s name showing up. I opened the message, and grinned, glad Bert wasn’t around to try to read it.
Neva: Fancy some afternoon delight? Can you get to mine in half an hour?
Me: I can get there sooner. And get you there sooner.
Neva: Seriously? He’s still going to work after last night and this morning?
Me: He’s already half working. It’s how life’s going to be from now?
Neva: We’ll find a steady rhythm. I’ll leave my back door on the latch and wait upstairs for you.
Me: We’re taking about your home’s back door – not your *back door* on your person.
Neva: Yeah, that back door’s kind of pointless at the mo. Nice try though.
Me: I prefer the front door anyway. See you in twenty.
It didn’t take me that.
CHAPTER13
Neva
NOVEMBER
I didn’t expectto get pregnant overnight, or even in the first month. To be honest, I was thinking it’d be more like six months, but that didn’t stop the disappointment when my period started in November, the smear of blood in my underwear – caught by surprise again – yanking out the tears, even though I was at work and hated anyone seeing me as being vulnerable.
By now, Genny, Jerrica and Amber knew what Jude and I were trying to do. No one had asked too many questions about it or tried to put me off – the pregnancy thing that was. They seemed to understand it, although the lack of interrogation did make me wonder if they were scared of asking, or they’d worked something out that I hadn’t.
There had, however, been a gazillion questions about the size of Jude’s dick.
By questions, I meant an inquisition.
Was it the same size when it was hard – that was Amber, who’d seen it enough times at work.
Could I get my hand round it?
How much energy did it take to get it working because it was so big?
Did he have to refrain from sex before a match day because of his recovery time?
