Never Again - 7

Chapter 7

 

Erin was tempted to post the jacket back to him, care of his club. It was the easiest thing, but also the most predictable and she hated the thought of that. So she hung it on the antique hat stand in her small hallway and pondered what to do. She was busy in work, busier than busy, so she was putting in late finishes, and was almost relieved that Barney wasn’t there to give her big guilt making glances when she walked into the room. He was recuperating well at her parents, and she planned to visit the coming weekend.

On Tuesday Jack’s team were playing, it was live on TV, and she always had a full satellite subscription, most nights she watched football, darts, cricket, even speedway. She loved all and every sport, and tonight she indulged in the guilty pleasure of watching his team play a London club. As usual with the Premiership, the game was fast, physical and quite exciting; in fact Jack scored the winner, a great striker’s goal. The whole stadium erupted, and he was happy and confident as he strolled off the pitch.

Once she’d caught up with the news, she made for bed, happy to read a few chapters of the thriller that had engrossed her over the last few days. As she was about to reach for the lamp, her phone bleeped.

Reaching for it, she couldn’t contain the smile that Jack’s name on the display sparked.

                “Loads of energy, wishing there was some crazy women up for dancing tonight.”

Grinning she tapped a rapid response, “Sorry, no can do on a school night, tucked up in bed I’m afraid.”

                “There are certain things that women should never tell men, the fact that they are in bed is definitely one of them. Cold shower time!”

Smiling she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

The rest of the week was busy for Jack, he had several promo events, his sponsors paid well, but on times demanded more than their pound of flesh. This month was one of those times, but it was the closing part of the season, and it was usual. Scott had booked a round of golf on Thursday, and then there was the monthly poker game Friday, the following morning saw them all travel to London for Sunday’s game.

He hated hotels, well work related ones anyway, he tossed and turned. It didn’t help that he shared with Lewis, one of the youngsters, their manager liked to mix people up, in theory the older squad members should calm and advise the youngsters, though that wasn’t always the case. As he lay in bed, Lewis snoring beside him, he text Erin, he couldn’t resist.

Erin had enjoyed the greatest of her mother’s culinary creations; she made lasagne like no other. She’d sat at the kitchen table after comforting Barney who was looking surprisingly not bothered by being away from her, as her mother had dressed salad and produced crispy garlic bread. Then her brother Peter and his wife Yvonne had arrived with Amelia and Liam in tow. A quiet meal had become a riotous evening, ending with a game of monopoly, her father and her brother were THE most competitive and it had almost ended awkwardly.  But as usual her mother called it a draw, and everything was packed away. The kids at ten and eight were up way past their bedtime, and after a round of hugs and kisses, the extended family left.

Match of the Day came on, she’d always watched it, for years, but her father was hard work. There was still a lot of resentment that came with his career being cut short through injury.

                “He’d have lasted ten minutes in my day!” He scorned a youngster scoring his first Premiership goal, and another gave “an example of the lack of discipline in today’s game.”

Rolling her eyes, she was relieved he didn’t know that she’d met Jack Reilly, he’d hate him, he was everything the modern day footballer represented to her bitter father. Instead of worrying, she helped her mother finish the wine they’d opened during dinner. It was then that her phone beeped.

It seemed that the only texts she received these days were from Jack, and this was no exception.

                “Holed up in a hotel with a snoring teammate. Bored doesn’t cover it. Tell me your day was better.”

She smiled, and then started her reply, “In the country, with Barney. Home cooked food, wine and Match of the Day...doesn’t get better does it?”

When she glanced up, the satisfaction that Jack Reilly repeatedly looked to her for comfort, for companionship evident on her face, she saw her mother watching her. Intently. Erin felt the blush sweep up her face, the last thing she needed was her parents finding out about this, her friendship with Jack could be misconstrued, and that is all it was, a friendship. It couldn’t be anything more.

The phone beeped, and she glanced down, “Wish I was there rather than here. Miss the country. Hug Barney for me?” despite her mother’s careful watch, she couldn’t hide the smile that the comment brought.

                “Barney’s FAR too happy here; don’t think he loves me anymore! But he’ll appreciate the hug.”

                “I’m sure that’s not true. How can anyone be better than you?”

Such flattery, she wasn’t going to fall for it, but she could bask in it for a while. Heading to the kitchen to get a drink, she couldn’t get jack out of her mind. She quickly replied, “I’m not the type to be sweet talked, but nice try Reilly! Good luck for tomorrow, I’ll stick the game on when I get back!”

As she pressed send, she heard her mother clear her throat behind her, “something, or rather someone is definitely making you hot under the collar!”

Erin turned slowly, “it’s not what you think Mum, just a new friend.”

                “Male friend?” Her mother perched on the table and watched her daughter. When she shrugged like a petulant teen, her mother smiled, “you will find love again Erin, and it’ll be with someone who deserves you, someone who loves you as you should be. Honestly.”

Erin looked at her mother, “I’m never going to get involved again Mum, not after Max.” Once their marriage had ended, everyone had had an opinion on Max, everyone knew he was bad, everyone had seen it coming, but no one had ever mentioned it to her. She couldn’t cope with humiliation on that scale again. It was more than she could deal with.

Her mother took her hand, “you will my love, you’re too beautiful a person, inside and out, to be alone, and you’re generous with your emotions, any man would be lucky to have you. And when the time is right you’ll see that. But don’t let Max ruin things twice, ok?”

Erin nodded, then glanced down at the phone that bleeped once more. “If I score it’s for you! Just remember that!”

Wow, how did you respond to that one?

HonHon

He headed straight to her home, he’d always had her address, could’ve visited at any point, but in his pit of despair he wanted...no he needed to speak to her. She was the only oasis he could imagine in this desert. He knew she could flip, but he hoped she wouldn’t.

As he’d abandoned the taxi a few streets away, he finished the journey on foot. And it was then it started to rain. Not a light drizzle, but sheets of cold water drenching everything, including him.

Rapping at the door, he was immensely relieved when he saw a shadow move behind it. As the door opened, he tried to smile. She was looking amazing, her hair wet, pulled up into a top knot, a loose t-shirt swamped her frame, and the joggers she wore looked soft and well worn.

                “Reilly!” She breathed, she really was surprised. “Come in you’re soaked!”

He glanced down at the tracksuit he wore; it was almost stuck to him. Closing the door behind him she gestured in to the lounge. Then looked at him, his right eye was bruised, there was dried blood on his cheek, he was gaunt, his face haunted, and she only wished she could help.

                “I haven’t got anything that’ll fit you...ahh, hold on!” In the bedroom was a pair of pyjamas she’d bought for her brother’s birthday the following months, pulling the cotton trousers and t-shirt from the packet, she glanced at them, they’d just have to do.

                “Get these on before you freeze, I’ll dry yours.”

She pointed to a door to the left of the room, “that’s the bathroom, have a shower if you want. I’ll heat the rest of the chilli by the time you’re done, ok?”

Jack smiled appreciatively, it was SO long since someone had looked after him, he’d left home at fifteen and never really had any support in that way since.  He dwarfed the shower cubicle, but the water was hot, all the toiletries were overly feminine, but he managed to find an ‘active’ shower gel that smelt neutral. He let the hot water pound his body, then his tender face. He’d seen red today, that temper he tried so hard to contain had burst out. He shook his head, he had to work on it, this couldn’t keep happening.

Erin had warmed the chilli she’d taken out of the freezer earlier, and boiled some rice. She also turned on the kettle for tea, even if he didn’t need it, she did.  The game earlier had been a good one, until seventy five minutes. Jumping for a cross his height meaning he reached it with ease, was always an aerial threat, the elbow of one of the defenders had whipped out and caught him flush in the face. He’d fallen to the ground; the commentators said he was dazed. The offender was sent off, and he was substituted, he could hardly see straight, but as he walked off the pitch, he’d lashed out at the defender knocking him over. The rest was a media field day.

She felt sorry for Jack, his day was ended by that dangerous act, but the referee had punished the other man, nothing else needed to be done. But that was Jack, or rather Jack’s reputation. Hearing a sound behind her, she turned to see him standing rather forlorn in the lounge.

                “You ok?”

He nodded, until now he hadn’t spoken a word since arriving, “I’m sorry.”

                “Sorry?” She walked towards him, “you don’t need to apologise to me.”

                “I’ve landed on your doorstep...”

She took his hands, “sometimes you just need to stop being the big man.” Opening her arms, she pulled him close, and with a sigh of relief, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. He hadn’t cried since he was a child, but as this deliciously scented woman comforted him, that was his almost automatic desire.  Shaking himself mentally, he savoured the moment for what it was, comfort, understanding, and someone caring for him for the first time in years.

Lifting his head he smiled at her, “thank you.”

Grinning, trying her best to fight the desire for him that hug had fired, she led him to the sofa, “sit, have some food, I’m just trying to dry your kit.”

He tucked into the tray of food she’d left out for him, home cooking the exact remedy for the desperate ache inside him.

Erin busied herself draping his clothes over the radiators in the small flat, then washing the dishes from her earlier meal. It was late, a dark wintry evening, but the fact that Jack needed her in a non sexual way was a bright light in her world.

“Have this tea; I’ll just sort out these dishes. Ok?”

“I should help...”

She shook her head, “don’t be daft, I’ll be ten minutes.”

When she walked back into the lounge, he was fast asleep, his head fallen to one side, his body slumped with fatigue. Smiling to herself, she lifted his legs onto the sofa and was rewarded with him sliding on to his side. Covering him with a duvet, she dug out some work files and moved to the small dining table to finish off a presentation that she was giving the following day to some sport coaches.