Page 145 of Power Play
“SHE’S OUT OF HIS LEAGUE (BUT HE’S A TRIER)”
Ollie’s flashes up.
“HE’S A MUFFIN. A REGRET-FLAVOURED ONE.”
The crowd bursts into laughter.
I glance at Sophie,she smiles. Just the corner of her mouth, as if she’s trying to hide it. But it’s there. That spark. That crack in the ice.
The boys loop again. Jacko lifts a new sign.
“WE SCREENED HIM. HE’S NOT TOTALLY USELESS.”
Ollie wobbles past with.
“PLEASE GIVE OUR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT GOLDEN RETRIEVER ANOTHER CHANCE”
It even has a wonky doodle of my face wearing a halo and devil horns.
Even I laugh, shoulders shaking with nerves and affection.
I lift the mic again. “Okay, okay. I know this is chaos. But stay with me.”
The crowd’s still chuckling, but the mood’s warmer now. More human.
“This is about Sophie.”
There’s a collectiveoohfrom the fans. It honestly sounds like we’re onEastEnders.
I holdher gaze.
“There’ve been stories. Headlines. Photos that looked damning. I get it. I do. But the truth is I didn’t cheat on you. That photo? That was someone else making a move. I froze. I didn’t shut it down fast enough. And then I let the silence speak for me.”
I glance down, swallow.
“I thought I was protecting you by disappearing. Giving you room. But I realise now I was just making it easier for you to believe the worst about me.”
Ollie and Jacko do one final pass behind me. Jacko’s holding a sign that just says.
“HE’S A MESS. BUT HE’SYOURMESS (IF YOU’LL HAVE HIM).”
And Ollie’s finale.
“SOPHIE, DON’T MAKE US ADOPT HIM.”
Laughter breaks out again, a wave of it. And this time when I look at her,Sophie’s properly laughing, not just smirking or pretending not to care. Her hand’s half-covering her mouth, but she’s shaking her head with that familiar gleam in her eye that says,God, he’s ridiculous. But he’s mine.
I press forward.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness tonight. That has to be earned. Slowly. Properly. I know that. But I’m standing here, in front of everyone, to say I love you. I’ve never stopped. And I never will.”
I take a step back from the mic.
“And if you ever want to talk, just talk, I’ll be here. No pressure. No performance. Just me.”
Ollie, bless him, holds up one last sign.
“HE CLEANED HIS FLAT. VOLUNTARILY.”
