Page 81 of King of Hearts

“What do you want then?” I asked with more bitterness than she deserved. Flick had previously been my journalist of choice because she seemed nice enough, didn’t expect too much and wrote exactly what I said without garnishing. But I thought the same about someone else and was burnt. So, I was back to despising all of them, history be damned.

They were a bunch of self-serving manipulators, twisting the truth to suit their own agendas and prioritising ratings and profits over honest reporting and factual accuracy.

“I want you to read something for me actually.” Curiously, I looked up at her and noticed the envelope she was holding.

“What?” I snapped.

“Andy, you might be the captain of a very successful football team, not ugly and a pretty nice guy to interview when you aren’t growling, but you’re dumb as fuck.”

My eyes shot up to meet hers and she was shaking her head in what seemed to be regret.

“Flick, get to the point because I have about three minutes until I get my arse chewed out over everything I fucked up tonight and no patience left already.”

She dropped the envelope next to me and I glanced at it, masking my interest at what she would personally bring all the way here.

“I don’t know you very well, Andy, and I can’t say I know anything about what you’re going through or have gone through. And, truthfully, me being here is not entirely selfless, but shit –” She let out a large breath and clumsily sat next to me. “She deserves better than what she got. What we all gave her.” She shrugged, stretching her legs out in front of her and sliding the envelope over to me until it grazed my thigh. “It’s not my place to fill in all the gaps or even share this with you. But if she moved to Melbourne without you having the full story, I mean –”

“What?” I said, finally connecting the dots. “Arna’s leaving?” Saying her name hurt more than I would have expected and I hid my face to cover the wince.

“Boys – rooms now.” Coach bellowed and the players hugged whoever it was they were talking to, heading inside. While players would usually linger and take their time, his voice brokered no argument tonight.

Felicity nodded, a placatory smile on her face.

“Yeah. She was seconded to Melbourne after she quit and Darren was fired and – oh – oops, again not my place.”

“Gloss, move your arse!” Coach called and I slowly stood, avoiding eye contact with the few reporters left in the room, Felicity included. I gave her an absent wave, in thanks or dismissal – I wasn’t sure, and headed for the post-match boardroom.

“Andy,” Felicity called, “Whether you choose to read it or not, there’s so much that she hasn’t deserved and leaving her words there is included.” She looked down at the envelope, her brows raised before she left.

I looked at the letter sitting on the floor, its edges slightly crumpled from where it had been held. In the now empty room its presence was unassuming, yet there was an air of anticipation, the contents a secret itch I wanted to scratch but wasn’t sure I had the courage to do so. It waited patiently as I tittered on the edge of a decision which felt pivotal, despite my resolve to be done with this whole mess.

“Gloss, three seconds before I drop your arse to the reserves.” Groaning, I bent down and scooped the envelope off the floor before walking into the meeting.

Whether I chose to open it was an entirely different thing.

It was nearly Midnight by the time I finally walked in my front door and the verbal bashing we received from Coach only added to the misery. The extra twenty minutes the massage therapist spent on my back tonight didn’t even begin to alleviate the tension.

Heading straight for the kitchen I poured myself a whiskey and unlocked my phone. It had been buzzing the entire drive home and that meant either the boys were talking shit again or my parents were worried. I wasn’t sure which would be worse.

Cooper:Oi, Mopey Dick – what happened tonight? I thought it was only at the poker table when you played like shit.

Sebastian:I don’t want to agree with this dipshit but Coop is right. Tonight was tough to watch. You good, Andy?

Cooper:Of course he isn’t good. He is The King of Broken-Hearts.

Sebastian:Okay, you’re on your own now bro hahaha.

Jack:Wasn’t pretty, ey. Coach spent an hour telling us how shit we were. Only just got home.

Sebastian:Don’t be late tomorrow morning, Jack.

Cooper:Yeah, Jacky boy. Those bathrooms won’t clean themselves. Hope Nexus was pumping and there is a nice mess for him.

Andy:You guys spend too much time messaging. Coop, where’s the whiskey I ordered?

Sebastian:Going through it quickly, Ando. Reckon there are healthier ways to clear your head.

Jack:Yeah, like listen to your agent. Pup told me there is more to this whole thing and the article Arna wrote was never published.

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