‘It was love at first sight.’
Ash makes a retching sound.
‘Who’s omitting the truth now?’ I growl.
‘I’d heard rumours about her so-called “pattern of dating elite athletes back-to-back”, but I didn’t want to believe them.’
‘He knew!’ I counter. ‘He slid intomyDMs – I was going to go for Joe Burrow. That should’ve been a red flag. He outright admitted he wanted to go to the next level in his career on our first date.’
‘So it’s not documented?’ Ash asks.
‘Not that bit…’
‘The next season started in September, and it didn’t go well. We didn’t even reach the playoffs. Not only do I find myself going home early, but single too.
‘I loved that woman with everything I had. I was so broken, I couldn’t sleep. And suddenly she’s pictured going to Formula 1 races “with brands”,’he makes jabbing quotemarks with his fingers.‘I was all,she wouldn’t, but then I hear she’s dating Formula 1 driver Tom Webber. I’m devastated, right? Like, I can’t even look at another chick, and she’s got someone new. Another elite athlete. So it got me thinking.’
‘Wow, that must’ve hurt,’ Ash comments, doodling.
‘The timeline’s strange,’he continues.‘Like, she dumped her swimmer ex Dom Johnson after the Olympics in August, and starts seeing me the next February. Then dumps me in the September, and starts dating Tom in the spring. Can you see a pattern here?’
‘IMPLICATION WITHOUT ASSERTION!’ Ash shrieks, and a plate crashes to the floor around the corner.
‘Well done Logan,’ Minnie huffs, ‘you’ve worked it out three years after everyone else.’
Logan raises his phone and swipes through screenshots.‘I’ll post these on my IG later so you can see them in more detail, but they’re basically messages from Jules saying why she doesn’t want to stay at mine, why she won’t kiss me. Like, we were together for eight months; I expect more than a little peck every time we’re in front of a camera, am I right?’
I cringe, hoping to God Tom isn’t watching.
‘Defamation!’ Ash declares triumphantly, and scribbles on her pad. ‘This would’ve been a fun legal drinking game.’
‘Things like “I don’t really do feelings”, “we need to keep this light”…’
‘All this proves is she didn’t like you, bro.’ Minnie crossly sips her drink.
I want to scream. ‘If this was coming from Tom, I’d totally get it. But Logan wanted our arrangementtoo. I didn’t mis-sell him anything. It was a business agreement. I shouldn’t be punishedfor his feelings growing. If he didn’t like it, there was nothing to stop him leaving.’
‘…Messages about brand deals and meetings. I was a pawn in her plan. She’d only come to my games where she had a brand attached. She would only buddy up with the WAGs who would benefit her. We wouldn’t go on a date unless it was in some public place – even for mygrandma’s birthday.’
I bury my face in my jumper.
Minnie exhales roughly. ‘Low blow.’
‘I had that Hyrox competition in Madrid with your mum,’ I say, my voice distant through the fabric.
‘Don’t you dare explain yourself,’ Ash commands. ‘He’s a defaming madman with a terrible beard and hopefully a sloppy lawyer.’
My face emerges. ‘He’s not wrong, though.’
‘She wanted a project, but I only wanted her,’he continues, the picture of self-pity.‘I just wish I’d known what I was a part of.’
She wanted a project, but I only wanted her.
Honestly.
‘She preaches independence, but who do you think funds her lavish lifestyle?’
‘LIES!’ Minnie, Ash and I roar in unison.
