Page 53 of Dominate
“Yes, Coach, but I’m fine.”
“Are you fine enough to play at top-level in a month? I’ll be organising a secret friendly match during the camp, and I need everyone playing at the top of their game.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be ready,” I reply, my tone firm.
“Ghastly what happened to you and that woman you had with you, son. I’m very sorry to hear of it.”
My jaw tightens. “Thank you.”
“All right then, my assistant will send you the details. Talk soon.”
“Bye,” I reply, still in shock as the phone hangs up.
“Who was that?” Sloan asks, her eyes finally focusing again.
“That was the manager of the England team asking me and my brothers to train with him next month at a camp.”
“Is that good?” Sloan asks, her brow furrowing curiously. “Is it like a try-out?”
“Of sorts. And, yeah, it’s good.”
“Huh,” Sloan replies, then shakes her head. “What a day.”
I chuckle softly and pull her under my arm to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “What a year.”
Sloan remains quiet for several minutes before looking up at me and asking, “Does it bother you that I know nothing about soccer?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No, but it does bother me that you don’t call it football. What the bloody hell do I have to do to get you to change that?”
She smiles a naughty, shy smile. “I can think of a few things.”
MY HANDS CLENCH TIGHTLY AROUNDthe wheel as I drive out to the Lake District to pick up Sophia. Normally, the anticipation of Sophia running into my arms and being reunited is the best. But this Sunday, my belly is full of anxiety as I ponder what I’m going to say to Margaret and Callum about Gareth. And I have to say something.
After everything Gareth said on the car ride to my house, I can no longer fool myself into thinking what we have is casual.
Gareth Harris doesn’t do casual.
Looking back, I’m not sure he ever did.
The rest of the week, Gareth and I spoke about how we will handle our relationship for the next few months. For now, we’re going to keep it out of the public eye. At least until the World Cup is over. The attention the Harris family will get if all four brothers are selected to play on the team will be quite intense, so keeping us quiet is best for all involved.
I drive into the large Coleridge Estate, pulling around the fountain to park. Margaret’s dog, Rex, comes bounding up from behind the house with my beautiful Sophia hot on his heels.
“Mummy!” she squeals and sprints straight to me, her brown hair tied back into a neat low ponytail like it always is when she spends the weekend with Margaret.
“My Sopapilla!” I squeal back, slamming the car door and dropping down into a squat with my arms wide open.
Sophia barrels into me at full speed and knocks me off balance, toppling me backwards onto the rough gravel. Rex pounces over to us, nosing his wet snout in between our faces as Sophia giggles and tightens her grip around my neck.
“Ouch, Soph! When did you get so strong?” I ask, giggling back and struggling to sit up with her all over me.
“I’m almost eight, that’s why!” she exclaims gleefully, then finally releases my neck enough so I can sit up.
“Look at us! We’re a mess!” I retort, wiping off the dust that’s all over my jeans.
She kneels in front of me and smiles.
“You look like you’ve grown!” I state excitedly and squeeze her black jacket around her neck a bit.
