Page 25 of Keeping the Single Dad
Irritation rippled the length of my spine. Fuck you, Mel. Some of us like running around kicking a ball. Better than being the most uptight, boring human being alive.
She wiped down the counter that I’d already cleaned and shot me a thoughtful look. “Is Alex McAllister playing tonight?”
My skin felt too hot and tight. “I don’t know. I should think so. He’s signed now, hasn’t he?”
A smile lit Dad’s gaunt face. “You mean Alex Mac? The Alex Mac who played for Rangers? What’s he doing down here?”
Mel planted a tea on the table in front of Dad. “He’s signed for Calverdale.”
Dad beamed. “Good for him. He’s a great guy.”
Mel fiddled with the buttons of her smart blouse and smoothed her skirt. “I could invite him round. Maybe the two of you could catch up about the old days?” Mel examined a chipped mug in her hands with studied disinterest. “What was he like back when you played together?”
My ears pricked at Mel’s odd tone.
“A great goalie. Good team spirit. Always reliable.”
Mel nodded. “He’s…nice. He was asking me a lot of questions…” A pink flush stained Mel’s cheeks, and she fiddled with the thin chain around her neck. “Anyway, I’ll see if he wants to come over for a catch up.”
Was Mel blushing? She was usually so poised and controlled. I hadn’t seen her cry, or show any emotion since Mum’s funeral and even then she’d hidden away when I’d tried to hug her. My stomach dropped. What questions? Alex wasn’t interested in her, was he????
I pulled Dad up out of the chair by his elbow. “For God’s sake, Dad. Go and get dressed. We’re going to miss kickoff.’
He shot me a wry smile and shrugged me off.
Mel watched him leave the room, then flashed me a look of barely concealed irritation. She kept her voice low. “Did you sort out the problem with the journalist?”
I waited until Dad’s footsteps pounded on the landing above us before I replied. “I gave her a story about Sean Wallace.”
The story had appeased Karen for now. She said she’d tear up the stuff about Dad, but how could I trust her?
Silence swirled around us. I waited to see if Mel would congratulate me or offer any encouragement, but she stared back at me.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking of taking Dad to a football match. There will be booze everywhere. All that temptation...”
“It’ll be fine. We’re in the VIP stand. It’s just friends and family of the team. He needs something to lift his spirits.”
She pressed her lips flat, unconvinced.
I couldn’t help but ask the question that gnawed my gut. “Why were you so bothered about Alex McAllister?”
A wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows. “Bothered?”
“You want to invite him round here?”
She smoothed her sleek ponytail. “For Dad. It will give him a lift to see an old teammate.”
“Right. For Dad.”
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Dating a coworker? How unprofessional. That’s not on brand for you.”
She snorted incredulously. “I’m not dating anyone.”
?“But you like him?”
“What business is it of yours?” She studied my face for a beat too long then shook her head in feigned surprise. “Him? I should have known. You’ve got your eye on him, I take it.” Her frown deepened. “He’s almost twice your age.”
