Two hours, twenty minutes and one possible speeding fine later, I abandon the car outside Eddie and Emma’s. Inside, my friends greet me like family. Their sympathetic smiles reflect a genuine sincerity. Their respect and acceptance means everything to me, especially because it’s something my own brother never afforded me.
Eddie might be the team joker, but when he’s serious, no one in their right mind should cross him. Marcus has the biggest mouth but also the biggest heart under that hairy chest. Nathan’s the youngest but in some ways the most mature by far. Callum’s retired from the pitch but now takes residence in the commentator box. And rugby’s not the only thing he comments on. After three rounds of poker and three neat whiskeys, he’s the first to broach the subject.
‘What age are you again, Ollie?’
‘Twenty-seven.’ I take another swig from the crystal tumbler.
‘And exactly how many women have you slept with?’ Callum sits forward and places his empty glass on the table in front of him.
‘What is this? Fucking truth or dare? Or are we all about to whip out facemasks and our pyjamas while we bond over who we might kiss at the next school disco? Please!’ I can barely conceal my disgust. What a thing to ask!
Marcus guffaws and Eddie slaps the table. Nathan is the only one who remains silent. My love life is a constant source of speculation from the press, mostly because they have never been able to dig up any dirt on me. Most of my single teammates have had kiss and tell stories printed in the tabloids about their sexual conquests or drunken exploits. Not me though. Anita might be a lot of things, but she’d never sell me out to the press. Apart from anything, she couldn’t hack the attention it would bring herself.
‘I’m serious, man.’ Callum remains undeterred in his quest to embarrass me. ‘How many?’
‘What difference does it make?’ Draining my glass, I hold it out to the host for a refill. Eddie silently obliges; you could hear a pin drop in the room. It seems everyone is dying to hear the magic number.
‘Come on, I’m trying to help you here.’ Callum’s tone is gentle. As a married man and father of two, I’d usually take his advice quicker than most. But this isn’t the easiest thing to admit to my peers.
A sigh whooshes from my chest. ‘There’s only ever been Anita.’
‘What the fuck, man?’ Eddie’s the first to voice the words but judging by the raised eyebrows in the room, the rest of the lads are equally surprised.
A shrug rolls from my shoulders and I knock back the refill Eddie supplied before replying, ‘It’s always been her.’
Meaningless sex never interested me, not when I knew what it was like with someone I cared about.
‘Dude, you are a world famous sports star, the world is your oyster. Do yourself a favour and explore it. There are a million beautiful women out there to have a bit of fun with, go and spread your wings. Instead of thinking of this as the end of the world, try treating it like the beginning. It’s exciting!’ Callum’s advice flows smoothly from his tongue.
‘I’m not the kind of guy that picks random women up in a bar.’
‘You won’t have to.’ Eddie sniggers. ‘Go out with Callum for a night and they tend to throw themselves at you. I speak from experience.’
Emma’s head pops round the door at that precise second. ‘Those days are long gone, Romeo. I’m heading to bed. Ollie, the spare room is made up down the hall if you want to stay.’ She shoots me a sympathetic smile before closing the door again.
‘Seriously though, Ollie, you need to have a bit of fun. The entire time we’ve known you, you’ve been this brooding skinhead, constantly checking your phone on the off chance that Anita wants you. You look like Vin Diesel but where she’s concerned you’re like Ross fromFriends. She never put you first. I hate saying it, but she’s not good enough for you. A woman that makes you choose like that…’ Eddie shakes his head, disgust crinkling the lines across his forehead.
Marcus pipes up. ‘He’s right. Shelly would never make me chose between her or the rugby. It’s wrong, man.’
‘Sow your oats, man. While you can.’ Eddie nudges me.
‘I’m more of a one woman kind of guy.’
‘Which is perfect, when you meet the right one. Until then, have fun finding her.’ Eddie shrugs.
I might not agree with them, but they do have a point. Every time Anita called, I always ran to her. Not anymore. Now she’s been with my brother, there’s no going back – even if they weren’t engaged. This time, it’s truly over.
I need to move on. For good. Perhaps the only way to do that is with someone else? Or several someone elses. Anything to obliterate the memory of Anita from my brain and from my body, even if it goes against everything I’ve stood for.
I drain my glass again. ‘Who’s coming out? This rookie needs wingmen.’
‘We all are.’ Callum nods in support and Eddie fist-pumps the air. Grabbing my suit jacket, I call a Uber. May as well start the way I mean to go on.
ChapterThree
AMY
The wind courses through the black and white chequered flag of the finishing line causing it to flip and flicker thirty metres ahead, taunting me. So close, but still so far. A quick glance to my left confirms my suspicions – number thirteen is close on my tail. This is my first triathlon this year. My thighs burn and my calves are crippled with cramp, but I’m determined to be the first woman back, or die trying.
