“Definitely.”
“I couldn’t avoid some things forever, like swimming – and if she ever found out I’d quit swimming she’d be so angry at me. So, I got back in the water, for her really. And I started coaching again. To be honest I only started coaching again when I met you. She’d have been mad at me if I hadn't tried to help.” Matthew grabbed Sophie’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Electricity pulsed between them. “Thanks to you, I met someone who made me think getting in the water was still important.”
Sophie now knew why, despite having hotels to worry about, Matthew had set up his headquarters at the Highbury pool. It was for Rebecca.
“I’m mad at myself for trying to forget her. That’s why I wanted your wallet. I would have paid thousands of pounds for it because of all the memories the wallet brought back for me. I was so stupid trying to forget her, because now when I close my eyes I can’t really remember how her voice sounded or how tall she was. My memory’s fading, and I feel so stupid for trying to forget her when I should have been trying to hold onto the small part I had left.”
“You must miss her so much.”
“I do, I did. I thought she would be mad at me for living normally and being happy, but then I realised she’d want me to be happy.”
“Of course she would.”
“I try not to think about her, but I guess moving on will come in time. It wasn’t meant to be.”
“I'm sorry.” Sophie's mind was whirling. “It’s okay. You’ll be alright in time.”
“So, I’m in this strange position, single and out of the game for a long, long time. I’m not sure if I’m actually ready to dive back in yet. I don’t know.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“The heart’s complicated.”
“Miss Smart, I have a proposition for you.”
“The last time you had a proposition for me, you wanted my wallet. Then you offered me swimming lessons. I’m not sure if I want to hear it.”
“Come on. Take a risk on me. Trust me.”
Sophie blushed as he gazed at her intently. “Why don’t we go for a drink? Let's get you out of this office. Forget about things we can’t control. I need to dig myself out of self-pity. Besides, I think it's time for you to further develop your work-life balance, because quite frankly, there’s no one else here. Why should you be here? And after this chat, I feel like getting really drunk.”
She paused for a moment. Assessed him. He was a client after all. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Sure, it’ll be fun.” Her knees felt all wobbly, like they weren’t her own, and she wondered if he'd call friends to join them or whether it would just be the two of them.
Almost as if he'd read her mind, he spoke, “I have a few friends from the pool. They’re always up for a drink or two.”
Sophie didn't know whether to feel relieved or put out. They wouldn’t be going together, alone. “I could call my flat mate Carol and my best friend Mickey.”
With a grin and a gesture, Matthew indicated the way out of the office.
Chapter 10
Sophie stood next to a tanned lifeguard she’d seen at the Highbury Aquatic Centre. The lifeguard loomed over her. He looked like a triathlete – even in the midst of winter he wore a sleeveless shirt emphasizing his large biceps and angular back. Sophie clutched a glass of vodka and lime with soda, resisting the urge to run her hand over his muscles.
“It’s nice to go out midweek,” the lifeguard said. “Matthew mentioned your friends might be coming later on?” He seemed to ignore everyone else in the bar as he spoke to her. Was he chatting her up? Possibly, from the way he studied her, although he did ask about her friends.
Sophie blushed beneath his scrutiny. “Yeah, my flat mate and my best friend,” she replied. She sipped her drink, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Matthew, deep in conversation with the attractive female bartender, shoot her a look. Matthew had mentioned something about buying tequila shots but he was surely discussing more than just his order. Sophie smiled and focused on the lifeguard.
“Typical for Matthew, all the girls love him. He’s always surrounded by women. But you’re the only one who got him back into coaching.” The lifeguard chuckled. “What’s your name?” He stood extremely close to her.
“Sophie,” she answered. “Yours?”
“Josh.”
“So, do you like tequila shots, too?”
“Ha!” Josh threw his head back and laughed. “Do I ever?”
“Sophie,” a voice shrieked. She turned and Carol threw her arms around her neck. “Guess what?” she said, her face radiating joy and excitement.
“What?” Sophie leaned forward.
“I’m in a new dance company. And, I'm the understudy for the principal dancer in Swan Lake!” Carol jigged on the spot. “The show is on through Christmas and for three months after the New Year. I'm going to be the most diligent understudy ever – so much so that they'll wish they’d picked me for the Swan Queen. I have a huge future, they’re even touring next year, all the way round Europe.”
Sophie whooped for joy. “Congratulations!” she grabbed her friend’s hands, jumping up and down with her on the spot. “This calls for a massive celebration. Let me get some champagne!”
“Congratulations,” Josh interjected, his gaze scanning Carol’s slim physique. “Sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
She extended her hand. “Call me Carol.” She winked at him conspiratorially. “Who are you handsome?”
“I’m Josh.” He held Carol’s hand, shaking it for longer than was necessary. “I’m a lifeguard at the pool where Sophie has lessons.”
“Are you the swimming instructor?” Carol asked sweetly.
Josh’s focus had shifted, of course. Sophie felt envy ripple through her but shrugged it off. How could she have forgotten… men and their short attention spans, they’d cheat as soon as they were bored.
Matthew raced over, setting down a tray of tequila shots studded with lemon wedges. “Carol or Mickey?” He examined Carol with interest.
“Matthew this is Carol. She's my wonderful flat mate, the one I was telling you about. Guess what? She just got into a new dance company and is dancing in Swan Lake.”
Carol beamed. “I was a little worried when I couldn't get work but this fantastic dance company heard I was on the market. I got in as the lead's understudy so I still might get my chance at stardom. Phew!”
“You should also try out for the camera,” Josh said. “You’d be pretty good.”
Carol was pretty and slim. She would look marvellous on camera, Sophie thought. She decided to try to convince Carol to audition for advertising campaigns; Clarks held loads of auditions for all sorts of clients.
“I love the stage. I just love to perform in any capacity though,” Carol sighed dramatically. “Anyway, if you’d like to, come and see me in Swan Lake. The understudy dances in the ensemble, a minor role for regular performances. Please, won't you, Soph?”
“Of course,” Sophie smiled. “I'd love to.”
Carol eyed Josh and Matthew pointedly. “What about you two?”
“Um... Okay.” Matthew nodded.
“Okay Sophie,” Carol directed. “I’m trusting you to make sure he sees the performance. It’s amazing how men back out of things.”
“I won’t back out.” Matthew looked slightly offended. “I’ll even take Sophie to see your show. Give me all the details.”
“Good, good,” Carol insisted. “I’ll hound Sophie until she buys you both tickets.”
Josh interjected. “I’d love to see more of you.”
Carol smiled. “Now you,” she said, a manicured nail landing softly on Josh’s chest, “are welcome to see more of me.” She looked around the bar. “So where’s Mickey? I'm sure she'll definitely come to my show. You guys can all go as a group.”
“I just got a text from her, something about an emergency at the coffee shop – she can’t make it tonight,” Sophie said. “But she’ll come to see you perform. I’m p
ositive.”
Carol turned to Matthew. “So you’re Mr. Swimming Coach.”
“Is that what she calls me?” Matthew enquired curiously. “People also call me Matthew.” He turned to face Sophie and she suddenly felt embarrassed under his gaze.
“It’s true. You are my swimming coach.” Sophie grinned. “At home, I call you the ‘taskmaster’.”
“I see.”
“Well, Matthew, you must be truly amazing if you’ve got her out of work and finally having fun. I never get a chance to see her out any night,” Carol said.
“She doesn’t go out?” Matthew shot Sophie a grin. “I'll bet she chains herself to her laptop.”
“If she was an environmentalist, she’d be out tree hugging and camped in front of bull dozers. That’s how passionate she is about her job,” Carol drawled. “The way she goes on and on about her different campaigns at home….”
Josh was surly. “She needs to get a life. No one likes their job that much.”
“I do,” Sophie said, lifting her chin.
There was a chorus of laugher. Carol chuckled at Sophie's discomfort. “I agree with you, Josh, she needs to get a life.”
“Let’s all help with that.” Matthew winked pointedly at Sophie. “Let’s insist that tonight Sophie gets a life.”
“I’m here. Right in front of you all.” Sophie lifted her chin indignantly. “I wouldn’t say I’d do tree hugging.”
“If you were a vet, you’d be sleeping in the cages with the animals. You’d probably even have cats sleeping on your cardigans,” Carol teased. Although, Sophie thought, Carol could hardly talk from the look of her long feline fingernails.
“There’s nothing wrong with liking your job. You love dancing,” Sophie pointed out.
“I also live a bit. Matthew, let’s take bets. I bet she won’t stay out long. Work you see… too important.” Carol arched an eyebrow and Sophie could have hit her.
“I’m still here,” Sophie said flatly.
“She gets terribly cranky sometimes. All that work.” Carol shook her head knowingly.
Josh hadn’t taken his eyes off Carol. “Let’s start up those tequila shots.”
“Up for the challenge, Soph?” Matthew raised a lemon slice to Sophie. “How long will you stay out on a Thursday night to have fun?”
“I have fun and I do stay out. And I like a challenge.” Sophie raised her shot glass as a signal that she wouldn’t back down. This could get dangerous, two handsome men at the bar with tequila shots to start and a bottle of champagne on the way.
Matthew lifted a shot of tequila in acknowledgement. “You’re on.” He tipped the drink down and Sophie followed suit, pouring the amber liquid into her mouth. The tequila tasted ghastly and instantly warmed her from the inside.
“I have a nickname for you too,” Matthew said. “If I’m Mr. Swimming Coach, well, you’re Miss Fun-Time.”
“Miss Fun-Time?” Sophie half smiled. “You make me sound like a Thai hooker.”
Matthew shrugged. “How would I know what Miss Fun-Time gets up to in her spare time?”
“She’s not having fun with you,” Josh joined in.
“Tequila time, Sophie? Rinse and repeat,” Matthew said, pulling the tray of shots closer.
Sophie had no choice but to participate. She was surprised to find it felt good to let go.
***
After the pub closed, the four decided the night was still young. The guys bought two more bottles of champagne and the girls invited them to their flat. Even though it was November, they went outside to stand in the overgrown garden, wearing coats, mainly because Carol smoked. The outdoor table was soon filled with champagne flutes and empty bottles. Carol filled an entire ashtray with cigarette butts.
Carol played the Spice Girls and Michael Bublé. Every now and then one of the neighbours yelled over the back fence, telling them to be quiet.
“I always wanted to be a Spice Girl when I was young,” Sophie pretended to whisper to Carol.
“What a great Spice Girl you would have been,” Carol said. “I’d be Sporty Spice because I’m a dancer. Baby Spice with her blonde hair just doesn’t fit me.”
“I’d be Posh Spice and if Mickey was here, with all her red hair, she’d have to be Ginger Spice.”
“Can we stop all this talk about the Spice Girls?” Josh laughed.
“Not manly enough? Let’s do something else. I know, we’ll have a piggy back race,” Matthew said. “Sophie, you’re in my team.”
“You’ll probably drop me.”
“You’ll just have to trust that I won’t. Besides, I think we already successfully work together.”
He had a point. With all their bobbing at the pool, they looked like synchronised swimmers. Sophie leapt from her seat, springing onto Matthew’s back. Her legs wrapped round his slim waist. She ran her hands over his muscular back, appreciating his square shoulders.
Carol was suddenly clutching Josh, legs around his waist, grappling to find her balance.
“They’re going to win. She’s so light and thin,” Sophie whispered in Matthew's ear.
“I’ve got a plan.” His voice was low.
She leaned closer toward his neck. “What is it?”
“Let’s just have fun.”
“Fun and not winning?”
He nodded. “It’s not always about the winning, it’s the journey.”
“Okay,” Sophie agreed. “Let’s do this for fun then.”
On the count of three, they raced the length of the garden, sidestepping weeds and bushes. Matthew steamed ahead for two strides, carrying Sophie as if she were light as a feather. Then the inevitable happened, and he stumbled on some bricks, falling onto a bush. As they tumbled to the ground Sophie laughed until her stomach hurt.
“Victory!” Josh cried as he reached the far end of the garden, before carrying Carol all the way back to the door.
“You okay?” Matthew asked.
“Grand,” Sophie said, touching her knee, feeling a bruise. “You?”
“Perfect,” he stood up, grabbing her hand.
As Matthew pulled Sophie up, she glanced back at the flat. Carol and Josh had disappeared inside, looking for warmth and a heater.
Matthew still held onto her hand, and desire took over. Sophie shook herself.
This was Matthew, her client. She shouldn’t mix business and pleasure. Besides, he’d told her not long ago about his ex-girlfriend. Sophie knew she wasn't ready to get involved with anyone yet, not after Derek, so how could he be?
“So,” she said, feeling her body stiffen a little, all men were the same weren’t they? Sophie extracted herself, removing her hands from his by brushing down her coat. “It’s kind of cold isn’t it? Want to go inside?”
“Yeah.” He said turning away immediately, taking a few empty bottles from the garden table. “Do you still want to go and see Carol’s show with me? I mean, I don’t want to break a promise but I don’t want to make you do something you don’t want to do.”
“Like the swimming?” she said as they walked into the kitchen. Sophie placed the glass bottles in the trash.
“You’ll grow to love the swimming,” he replied. “So how about it? Should we go, or should we give it a miss?”
She noticed Carol and Josh, making out intensely on the couch. The girlfriend code was to give them space, and she found herself alone in the kitchen with Matthew.
“Sure, we should totally go to the ballet. Um…you know I just recently broke up with Derek.”
“It’s just the ballet.” He shrugged. “Anyway Carol was saying it would be a group thing with your friend, Mickey, going too. There’s no pressure. It’s just a night out with a group of people to support Carol.”
“We should go. I’ll talk to Mickey. But the reason I brought up Derek is because you see, half my stuff is still at his place.”
He nodded a few times as if deep in thought. “I think you need to go and get your things.” His eyes locked with hers.
/> It felt like thousands of tiny shivers ran through her body. “I think you’re right,” she said, pulling her eyes away from his.
“Do you need some help?” He thrust his hands in his pockets. “I mean, I’ve got a car and can help and all that. You can’t move on with your life while your stuff is still at his place.”
Sophie nodded. She had an idea. “I know. I’m going to ring him and arrange it for this weekend. Saturday. I’m going to pick everything up on Saturday. There’s no time like the present.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. I’m going to call him and arrange it all.”
Matthew’s face looked suddenly stricken. “You don’t mean now. Sophie? It’s late. It’s not a good idea.”
Sophie felt confident, with alcohol whirling through her body. “No, I’m going to ring him.”
“You’ve had quite a few drinks. Trust me. You’ll regret it.” He looked intensely at her.
“No, this is perfect.”
“You could always send a text if you feel like you must. A text is not so in-your-face as a 2 a.m. wake-up call.”
“I’m doing it.”
“I want you to ask Carol first. Ask Josh, even ask Mickey, but it’s not a good idea to drink and dial.”
“Don’t you want to help me?” She glanced quickly at him. “I thought you'd to be on my side.”
“Trust me when I tell you this: It’s not a good idea. And you can trust me to help you, but I think you’ll feel much better in the morning. Even though you’ll probably be all hung over and stuff. Sleep on it, okay,” he urged.
“Okay, but just so I know, you're free this Saturday, the day after tomorrow which is Friday? Is that correct?”
He nodded his head vigorously. “Yes, tomorrow is Friday and I’m free on Saturday.”
Skinny Dipping (Skinny Sagas) Page 12