Page 63 of Endurance
By the time the cab drops us in front of Welly’s Pub, I’m in marginally better spirits than I was before. Welly’s is a standard English pub. I’ve been here before because they do a good fish and chips. It has the standard dim lighting, worn carpet, and red, distressed leather booths. It also usually has good music playing and the staff is decent. It’s a well-known Harris hangout but, considering Booker will be the only one in attendance, I think I can handle it.
We waltz in, completely unnoticed and I think it’s God’s way of easing me into this whole charade. I know the Harrises have kept Tanner and my fake dating scheme quiet, but I can’t help but wonder if everyone here knows who I am and what the bloody hell a guy like Tanner is doing with a girl like me.
All of my old insecurities are back, and they are fucking ugly and in need of a stiff drink.
My eyes do a cursory scan for Tanner and come up empty, so I can finally exhale. All I see are footballers, wannabe WAGs, and maybe a few actual WAGs.
“Let’s sit at the bar and grab a drink first,” Indie croons, waving to one of the players who’s in the middle of a conversation with another player.
“Hiya, Doc,” another guy says from down the bar.
“Hello, James!” Indie beams and then looks at the guy next to him. “Hey, Tau, how’s the knee?”
“Better,” he replies. “I’m icing it, don’t worry.”
“Good,” she approves.
I shake my head as we drop down onto two stools and order our drinks.
“God, no wonder Camden is a jealous sod,” I murmur.
Indie frowns and takes a sip of her white wine as soon as the bartender sets it down in front of us. “Why do you say that?”
“You’re a fantasy for these guys. An untouchable carrot with your big doe eyes, your red, luscious hair, and genius, fuck-me-sideways brain. You know half of them wank off to you, right?”
“Stop!” Indie bellows with a horrified look behind her cheetah-print specs.
I laugh. “It’s true. I guarantee it.” I glance over at a guy who’s watching us. “He does.” Another guy right beside him looks at us. “He does, too.” Two more guys eye us as they walk in. “You know those two jackals are jerking their meat and picturing their sexy team doctor.”
“I’m going to murder you,” Indie grinds through clenched teeth. “Drink your wine and shut up.”
My shoulders shake with silent laughter as I take a sip and look around the pub. When my eyes land on someone, I stop mid-drink and lower my glass.
Tanner comes walking around the corner from where the loos are and has a girl on his arm. She’s nattering away to him as if he’s the best thing since sliced bread. Her blonde hair, inches of exposed cleavage, and fake nails scream Harris Ho.
I could kill her with one hand.
The weight of a thousand footballers begins pressing down on my shoulders. I spin on my chair and look at the wall of liquor bottles behind the bar. “Can we get a couple of shots here?” I bark none too kindly.
Indie looks at me with a frown. “Shots?”
“Yeah, tequila please,” I add when the bartender waits for me to clarify.
“Maybe we should switch to Tequila Sunrises instead. Those are easier to pace ourselves with.”
“I’m not feeling very sunny right now, darling.” I jerk my head over in Tanner’s direction while taking another gulp of my wine.
Indie’s eyes follow the trail and I know instantly when she sees him.
“Oh no—” Her voice is deep and halts mid-sentence as her eyes zero in more closely. “Oh no, no, no. That just won’t do.”
She moves to get up from her stool, but I grab her arm, yanking her down next to me. “He didn’t know I was coming.”
“I don’t bloody care!” she hisses. “And since when do you stay silent?”
“Since now.” I grab the shot from the bartender and knock it back in one swig. I hand Indie hers and gesture for two more.
Indie shoots hers, refusing to tear her eyes off of Tanner, who’s now surrounded by more girls and a few teammates.
