Page 4 of Couple Goals

I should be there in 5 though!!! So sorry!!!

She doesn’t know why she bothers to maintain the ruse, really, especially as the drinks had started as a celebration for her teammate’s birthday. But it’s the principle of the thing. Maeve hadn’t come out with them last night – she barely drinks, even when they’re between seasons, and clubs aren’t her thing. Despite Maeve sometimes suggesting her friend could take training more seriously, Adriana is used to playing hungover now, and convinced she’s just as good as when she’s following Coach’s schedule to the letter.

But this morning, no one replies to her message, not even with a laughing emoji. Not even a knowing hungover emoji from Elisa and the others.

A twinge of hangxiety starts to kick in. Adriana hadn’t meant to make it such a big night last night – she must have got unexpectedly caught up in Jacob, and that addictive swooping in her stomach when they look at each other. And, Adriana tries to justify to herself, she wouldn’t drink if she thought it genuinely affected her ability to play well or, obviously, if the team had a match. But it’s pre-season! And the weather is gloriously sunny! And she had been feeling so cute in her dress and a particularly handsome man wanted to buy her negronis! I mean, what’s a girl to do?

Adriana opens up her private chat with Maeve – in her constantly busy WhatsApp, her chat with Maeve is the only contact she has pinned to the top.

Assuming you’re there already, is everything ok??? Did something happen?? Also, babe, I will owe you 4ever, but I neeeed to borrow your spare kit today PLEASE????

Waiting for you on the corner.

Maeve texts back almost immediately, much to Adriana’s relief.

Adriana leans back in her seat grinning to herself, thanking any and all Gods yet again for her best friend who always comes to her rescue. And so, now, for five whole minutes, she can just chat to her taxi driver – one of her favourite pastimes – telling himallabout her date last night.

The memories have all returned to her now, like leaving Jacob’s flat has somehow released them for her. They’d had cocktails across three of Adriana’s favourite bars where he was very generous insisting on paying for all their cocktails. They’d talked about everything and nothing – early on they’d decided not to talk about work, jokingly saying that they didn’t want to have the old date chat where you feel like it isn’t a weekend at all – concentrating more on Adriana recommending places in Manchester to him, as he mentioned he’d only just moved there, that very week in fact.

‘I must say, I’m finding Manchester to beverywelcoming so far,’ he’d smiled, before smoothly leaning in to kiss her. Then they’d walked along the water under glowing streetlamps, and got indecently hot and heavy on a public bench, until he’d hastily called them a taxi back to his place, where it turned out he’s just as generous with his tongue.

‘So all in all,’ Adriana smiles, ‘a very, very good evening. So why am I feeling a bit… sad about it?’

Mohammed, the name of the taxi driver she’s quickly befriended, catches her eye in the mirror.

‘Because you liked him? Because you had a nice time and you want to do it again?’

‘Oh sure, I want to do it again, and I’m sure I will – with someone else.’ She sighs. ‘I could do it againtonightif I really wanted to. And okay, sure, he was particularly goodlooking, and interesting, and yes,particularlygood in bed. But… ooh, we’re here! Thank yousomuch, Mohammed,’ she says, tipping him and quickly leaving a five-star review. ‘You literally saved my life.’

‘Just give the man another chance!’ Mohammed calls after her.

Adriana laughs and wishes him a good day, closing the door behind her. She teeters on her heels and pulls the dress barely over her thighs, and when she looks up, she sees an unimpressed Maeve waiting for her.

Maeve looks immaculately put-together and clear-headed as ever, her blonde hair in her high ponytail, her pale face free from make-up. She’s holding out a gym bag of Adriana’s spare kit, and a homemade breakfast smoothie in Adriana’s keep-cup. Adriana got them matching tiger-print ones for Christmas last year, a gesture of thanks to this one of Maeve’s consistent acts of service (and selfishly encouraging her to keep to it). She can always be relied on to bail her out.

‘Oh my actual God,’ Adriana sighs, almost fainting into Maeve’s arms, kissing her cheeks repeatedly. ‘You are literally an angel on earth and I love you so very much.’

‘Get off me,’ Maeve mutters, putting the bag between them. ‘You reek of alcohol and I don’t want Coach to think I was the one being irresponsible last night.’

‘I somehow think that’s unlikely, babe. Also wow, your hair looks good today, did you use a different gel or something? No flyways atall, how do you do it?’ Adriana tries, desperate to get back in her friend’s good books.

Maeve rolls her eyes, but the tips of her ears are a little pink – a sure sign that Maeve’s secretly pleased with the compliment. Unabashed, Adriana puts on her training top and leggings, before slipping on her trainers. She will run to the changing rooms to speed-change properly – it’s one of her great talents and something she’s had a lot of practice of lately.

Adriana puts one hand on her heart and with her other gestures with her pinky.

‘I one hundred per cent pinky promise that I will never ever drink before training ever again.’

Maeve just sighs and puts her arm around her best friend, steering her to the changing room. ‘I would be more likely to believe you if you hadn’t already said that three times in as many weeks.’

‘Have I really been out so much lately?’

Adriana pauses for a moment, her eyes settling guiltily in the middle distance, questioning her life choices. Then she grins. ‘God, I love my life.’

Five minutes later, Adriana bounds into the locker room, having masterfully changed to cover up last night’s antics.

‘Goooood morning!’ she sings.

She is met with a resounding, tense silence.

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