Page 47 of Couple Goals

‘I bet you amputated several of its legs with that.’

Adriana gingerly opens her locker back up, and, her heart pounding wildly, she opens the message from Jacob not even attempting to play it cool.

Adriana, you have made it very clear that nothing is, ever was, or ever will happen between us. It was always going to be limited to one night, even when we didn’t know each other, and that is why, as we discussed, it does not seem necessary for anyone else to know. I assure you that it will not impact your job in any way, positive or negative. I would appreciate it if you could stop bringing it up as I don’t enjoy being reminded of the situation.

Adriana reads it three times, her throat tightening up.

She had tried her best to reach out, and to smooth things over, and he clearly doesn’t careat all.It’s humiliating. It’s patronising. It’s… devastating.

It’s an unfamiliar feeling rising up inside her but she feels on the verge of tears. The possibility of anything happening with Jacob is slipping – if it hasn’t completely slipped already – through her fingers.

‘Stop bringing it up’, he says. He may as well be telling her never to speak to him again.

She knows he isn’t going to be at the grounds today, an email from Kevin this morning happened to mention that Jacob Astor was going to be at sponsorship meetings in London next week so he’s likely travelling down ready for those. Her chest feels sore. She rubs her sternum, thinking she maybe pulled a muscle or something. But no, it’s only when she thinks about Jacob, and him not being there, that it aches. What is this? Does she…misshim?

But that would be crazy. She hardly knows him, and what shedoesknow of him, is that he decidedly doesn’t like her. She isn’t meant tomissa man. Not a man who was meant to be a one-night stand and who has been very standoffish with her ever since.

‘Hey,’ says a quiet voice behind her. ‘You alright?’

Adriana turns round to find Kira, studying her.

‘Yeah, yeah, hundred per cent,’ Adriana lies, faking a quick smile.

Kira doesn’t look convinced, but also seems to know, whether out of not caring or out of consideration that Adriana doesn’t want to talk about it, so doesn’t push it.

‘Just- just tired from yesterday, probably,’ says Adriana, performing a self-deprecating eye roll. ‘Maeve’s probably going to remind me I should be more professional and eat better. Again.’

Kira just watches her, and Adriana feels like she can tell Adriana’s lying, but leaves it. Kira seems to hesitate for a moment, then takes a breath and is back to her usual confident self. ‘Well, that’s a shame, ‘cos I was gonna suggest we go out sometime. Next week, maybe. Between matches.’

Adriana perks up. She turns to face Kira properly, and tilts her head, her curls bouncing hopefully. ‘Tell me more.’

Kira grins that wolfish smile, knowing her arrow has hit its target.

‘I haven’t seen much of Manchester’s night life since moving here. You seem like someone who knows which places are decent.’

Adriana swells with pride. It’s great to be seen, to be appreciated, for one’s special skills.

‘There’s a night called like, Joust?’ Kira ventures. ‘At–’

‘At The Basement! Yes!’

Adriana is impressed, it took her years of going out with her edgier friends to find out about Joust. Adriana is usually down for a night out, but right now? With the painful churning from Jacob’s message, and Maeve’s distance, and all the chaos going on in the team? It’sperfect. It’s necessary. It’s life-changing.

‘I amso down,’ Adriana grins. ‘I already know what I’ll wear. We can do pre-drinks at mine, and then anyone who wants to can comeoutout with us afterwards.’

‘Sick,’ says Kira. ‘Something to look forward to.’

But then Kira looks away from Adriana, coughs, a flicker of hesitation.

‘I get if people don’t really go out much on the team. It wouldn’t have to be a wild one. But I guess I just thought, it’d be cool to try to, you know, hang out with everyone when there isn’t a football between us… Do you think there’s anyone else on the team who would wanna come too?’

Adriana realises what’s happening here. Kira doesn’t have the same fearlessness socially as she does on the pitch. She’s come to Adriana as the expert in such matters.

‘Oh,absolutely,’ Adriana tells her. ‘Everyonethinksthey don’t like going out, but then always has the best time. They just need a leader to follow! Leave it to me. We’re going to geteveryonethere, whether we need to bribe or kidnap them first.’

Without waiting another second, she calls out loudly to the gym.

‘Everyone! Tigresses social at Joust! After next weekend’s match! Be there or be sad to have missed it forever!’

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