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Carly set down her glass, the clink sharp against the wood. “Maybe you don’t need me after all.”

“Yes, we do!” Jenna planted herself between them, physically blocking any escape route. “Who said we don’t need you?”

Lauren didn’t look keen.

“I’m just saying you’ve got a keeper willing to cover for everyone else’s mistakes,” Carly said lightly. “That takes a lot of energy. Most keepers would be screaming their heads off at that defence.”

“I was screaming,” Lauren muttered, still staring at her trainers. “Didn’t do much good.”

“You got the draw. And the point.”

“It was a team effort.”

Jenna cut in with a loud, “Exactly.”

Carly watched Lauren for a second longer. Her shoulders were hunched inwards, as if she didn’t want anyone to see her. It was convincing. Fifteen years ago, Lauren would have been halfway through her second pint by now, mocking the opposition striker for missing a sitter and taking full credit for grinding out a result.

Today, she took credit for nothing. Not even what she deserved.

“We really need you,” Jenna continued, apparently determined to ignore the subtext. “I know you’re busy, but you wouldn’t have to commit every week.”

Carly held up a hand. She didn’t need the rest of the pitch.

“I told you, I’m too busy. The new gym is in a state. Until it’s in better shape, I can’t commit to anything else.”

“But that’s exactly why you need to play. You’ve got a club full of potential customers here. And with our cross-promo ideas, you’ll turn that place around in no time.”

Our cross-promo ideas.

Carly paused as the penny dropped. She let out a short laugh. “Figures.”

“What does?”

Carly stopped short of saying she should have known Lauren hadn’t come up with it alone. “Just that you get into everything.”

“It’s not just me,” Jenna said. “Lauren’s best friend Paige offered to film the videos if you say yes. It’s a team effort. We all help each other out.”

Carly looked at Lauren again.

She stood a little taller now, but she had the trapped look of a child being corralled by overenthusiastic parents, and for one dangerous second, Carly almost felt sorry for her.

“We will have to see,” Carly said.

She wouldn’t be pushed. If she agreed, it would be on her own terms.

Beth entered the bar then, phone pressed to her ear, expression thunderous. It was the excuse Carly needed.

“Excuse me,” she said. “I need to see what that’s about.”

Before Jenna could object, Carly weaved through the players towards the end of the bar. Beth leaned against the wood, knuckles pale around a credit card, and ordered a double gin without looking up.

“Entitled bitch,” Beth said, with no preamble.

“The family reunion went well, then?” Carly pulled out a stool and turned her back on the rest of the room. “What did Samantha want?”

“To remind me how much is riding on the success of the new gym. And how kind it was of you to give me a job.” Beth slapped the card onto the bar. “As if I’m a charity case.”

Carly winced. “Ouch. I’m sorry. You know she’s wrong, though. I didn’t hire you out of kindness. I hired you because you’ll get the job done.”