‘Water? Seriously? You’re with the big boys now. Have a drink. It’ll put hairs on your chest.’ His eyes roam across the front of my top. I changed out of my hoody into a royal blue shirt for dinner, I’m only grateful it has a high neck.
‘I don’t drink when I’m working,’ I tell him, biting back a flicker of annoyance that I have to justify myself in the first place. Would he question me like this if I was a man? I knew working in a male dominated environment might pose its challenges, but I hadn’t expected those to come from the other physios. Has he never worked with a woman before?
‘We clocked off hours ago.’ He eyes his watch pointedly. ‘You’re not one of those goody two shoes, are you?’
Stuart has no idea that according to my family, I am in fact a goody two shoes. I can’t help wanting to do the right thing – most of the time. Accepting this job was the most rebellious thing I’ve done in my life.
‘Enough, Stuart.’ Aiden’s voice is low with a distinct warning.
‘What? I’m just saying. If she’s going to be hanging out with the boys she’ll have to fit in.’
‘She doesn’thaveto do anything,’ Aiden reminds him.
I shoot Aiden a look which I hope conveys my gratitude as the restaurant door opens. Like the tide controls the moon, my head instinctively twists, pulled by the invisible force that entices me towards Ollie Quinn. Eddie, Nathan and Marcus stroll in as if they own the place. Ollie is at their heels. Marcus greets one of the waitresses with a bear hug. Eddie flashes her his megawatt grin; the one he reserves for the hardcore rugby fanatics. Ollie offers a brief smile, his eyes scanning the room like he’s looking for someone. When they land on me his head jolts away as if he’s been electrocuted.
From the way he jumped from, ‘we’ve got an incredible connection’ to barely glancing at me all week, I can only assume he’s pissed off with me for not telling him I was Eddie’s sister. His stare never lingers long enough for me to amass anything from those enormous intoxicating eyes. Obviously I didn’t expect any special treatment from him, or Eddie for that matter, but a hello, an acknowledgement, or even a hint of support would have been nice.
The waitress leads them to a table ten metres away from ours and I will myself to look at my colleagues instead of Ollie Quinn’s ridiculously fine backside in low-hanging jeans and an Ireland jersey.
‘So, what are you? The black sheep?’ Stuart asks what everyone is clearly dying to know.
‘I am now, by the look of it.’ I swallow down the hurt rising up my throat. I’ve always been Eddie’s little sister, the one he wanted to protect and mind. Suddenly, it’s like I’m no one to him. I’d even take a hair ruffle at this stage. It’s killing me almost as much as Ollie’s silence.
‘Families.’ Aiden pats my hand in a fatherly gesture and takes a sip of his pint.
Though I’m listening and even occasionally partaking in the conversation at my table, I have one ear strained to hear what the boys are talking about. They seem to be analysing a previous match, between mouthfuls of their dinner. They certainly have an appetite between them. Mam always warns Eddie to ring if he’s bringing his teammates home so she can make enough food to feed the five thousand.
Stuart orders his fourth pint of the night. Aiden declines another, retiring to his room to FaceTime his family. Bidding us goodnight, he pushes his chair back and leaves me alone with Stuart.
‘I think I’ll head back to my room too.’ I push my own chair back and fake a yawn.
‘You’re joking?’ Stuart splutters, banging his empty glass down on the table. ‘We’re heading back to Dublin after training tomorrow; it’s practically Friday night around here. Let’s make the most of being put up in this five-star hotel for free.’ His eyes delay on mine long enough for me to gather he doesn’t just mean he wants to make the most of the hotel bar. A shudder crawls across my spine. Glancing at Eddie, I’m sure he’ll swan over any minute and do his big brother routine. Not for the first time, I might actually appreciate it. But no, he sits with his back firmly towards me, engrossed in conversation and his dinner.
Stuart clicks his finger at the waitress again – this time she doesn’t attempt to conceal her sigh.
‘She’ll have a glass of red wine, please. Actually, bring the bottle.’ A firm nod of his head confirms the choice he makes for me. I open my mouth to protest but she’s already gone, apparently not wishing to be near him any longer than necessary. I’m with her one hundred per cent. Though if I up and leave now, I’ll never have him as an ally, and with my own flesh and blood turning his back on me, I could do with at least one on this team.
Tiny hairs raise on my arm, arousing a suspicion I’m being watched. I glance up, in time to see Ollie’s eyes dart away. His pursed lips are enough to express his disapproval.
What was I thinking taking this job? It would be bad enough being the only woman in an environment where I’m welcome, but here, aside from Aiden’s occasional kind smiles, I’m under no illusion most of them would rather someone else got the position. Anyone else, by the look of it.
The waitress returns with the wine and places the bottle on the table in front of me. Stuart pours me a huge glass. Still unable to say no, I raise it to my lips. Pressing it against them, I barely swallow enough to taste it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Ollie stealing a glance at us again. The second I look, he looks away again. It’s infuriating. Hell, I understand Eddie’s reaction. I anticipated it. But I didn’t expect Ollie to be so pissed off with me. Stupidly, I’d hoped our bizarre, intense connection might have allowed us to be friends, seeing as we clearly can’t be anything else. Or maybe Eddie sets rules on that now too. His friends haven’t always been the best behaved in my presence.
‘Are you listening to a word I’m saying, Amy?’ Stuart leans across the table, his words slurring slightly.
‘Of course I am.’ I’m not. Truly, I haven’t got a clue what he’s wittering on about, but if I was a betting woman I’d say himself, because it seems to be his favourite subject.
‘So, what do you think?’ He wiggles his straggly eyebrows at me in a way I think is supposed to be suggestive, but comes across as creepy. ‘Shall we take that bottle upstairs?’ He nods at the wine on the table and my eyes roll into my head.
‘Stuart, you’re a great guy and if we didn’t work together, who knows what might happen.’ I cringe internally at the thought before building my case. ‘But I’m sure your contract stipulates the same as mine: there are to be no relations between employees. It’s a sackable offence.’ I can’t think of a clearer or more inoffensive way to get through to him.
‘I knew you fancied me.’ A smug look crosses his face and his chest puffs out like a pigeon. ‘I’ve been getting vibes from the second you walked through the door. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.’ His index finger taps the side of his nose and his accompanying wink is outright lecherous.
Yuck. If it keeps him off my back, I won’t shatter his delusion tonight.
‘I’m going to bed. I really am wrecked. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ This time when I push back my chair, he doesn’t stop me.
