“What’s your name?” The dark-haired girl stands back as James leads us all out onto the field.
“I’m Zara. And you’re Victoria?”
She nods at me. “I’m not a big football fan.”
I bend down on her level, sticking my hand out to her. “Want to know a secret? I’m not a big football fan either.”
“You’re not?” She grins. “I like music more.”
“I do too.” Victoria chats my ear off as we follow everyone out onto the pitch. “I love the piano. But I’d love to learn the cello. And the flute. Lizzo plays the flute.”
“Maybe you could be the next Lizzo.”
“No way!” George’s excited voice carries through the quiet stadium. “The players are here?”
“Prince James, this is too much.” Mrs. Smythson is almost in tears as James gives them a big smile. The players jog over, crowding around George. A few of the trainers and coaches are with them.
“Do you want to meet them while we’re here?”
For not liking football, Victoria seems a little starstruck. I walk her over, and the players swarm around her too. Stepping back, I let the family have their moment.
Looking around to find James, he’s talking with one of the coaches. One of the female coaches. Jealousy flares up deep inside me. I shouldn’t let it bother me. The connection between James and me is real. At least I thought it was real. It’s been real for me.
And when she touches his arm? James gives her his thousand-watt smile. My stomach falls to my feet. It doesn’t mean anything. Even though it’s been a weird week for the two of us, I know what we feel for each other.
James is always affable with everyone he meets, but for the first time, his past slams into our present. Into our future. Is this what it is going to be like? Women flirting and throwing themselves at him everywhere we go? There’s no way I can compete with the likes of these women.
“What do you say? Want to be our special guest tonight?” George’s loud shriek pulls me out of my morose thoughts. James catches my glance and gives me a wink. Instead of settling me, it just puts me more at odds with my emotions. Here is this incredible man, doing this amazing thing for this family after meeting them at the hospital. And all I can think about is how that woman was flirting with James. And he wasn’t doing anything to stop it.
“Can we, Mum?” George turns eager eyes to his parents.
“Of course we can, darling.” She rubs his shoulder, and the team cheers for him.
“Alright, how about a tour of the locker rooms?” George starts wheeling himself out of the centre of the huddle and follows a few players, chatting their ears off about plays. It’s nice to see both of these siblings are passionate.
“Well, I’d say that went very well.” James comes over to me, throwing his arm over my shoulder. The woman he was talking to gives him the side-eye, but he doesn’t pay her any mind. Maybe it’s all in my head. But James has always been called the Playboy Prince, and it’s hard to shake that image. Women throw themselves at him, and maybe it’s something I need to get used to. But if this has any chance at working, I need to accept that and move on.
“You’re great with kids.” I wrap my arm around his hips as we bring up the rear of the group. “James. This is what you should do for your patronage.”
We’re in the middle of the pitch when James stops, looking around him. “Bringing kids I meet in hospital to their favourite football club?”
“No, you wanker. Kids and sports. This is for one kid. Think of how many amazing things you could do for more children.”
The wheels are turning. “You really think this could work?”
I grab his hands, giving them a firm squeeze. “You’re so good with kids. And you have access to places that most people would only dream about. Why not combine the two?”
“Would you be there to help?” James pouts his lips at me. “I don’t know if I could do it without you.”
His tone is vulnerable. It quiets my doubts about him. “James, everyone was enraptured by you today. You have so much power to do good in this world.”
James wraps his arms around me, settling his head in the crook of my neck. A heavy breath leaves his lips. “You’re the first person to ever have so much confidence in me.”
Shock slams into me. “There’s no way that’s true.”
“Do you know what it’s like to be the spare? The bar was set so low for me, that eventually there was no bar.”
“So you just started doing whatever you wanted.”
