Once Upon a Player

by Christina Phillips

  “Hey, Dad.” This is so embarrassing. Who else has their parents ring them when they’re out on a non-date?

  “I’m not Pete, then?”

  “Nope.”

  “Everything’s good?”

  “Perfect.”

  “All right, then. See you later, princess.”

  “Okay.”

  I drop my phone back into my bag, and Lucas catches my gaze. “Problem?”

  Bugger, I’d hoped he hadn’t heard that conversation. “No, just my dad.”

  To my relief, he doesn’t ask why Dad called, although I think it’s obvious, going by my responses. Why wasn’t I more inventive with my answers?

  “Have some champagne, Harry, it’s your birthday,” Alice is saying. “I’ll drive home.”

  “What d’you want, Violet?” Lucas asks.

  I want to drink champagne and spend the night with you.

  What the hell? Where did that come from? Thank God I didn’t say it out loud.

  My face feels like a furnace, and Lucas is waiting for my answer. Seriously, Violet, get a grip.

  “If you’re getting champagne, I’d love a small glass. But that’ll be my lot for the night. Driving later.” Definitely not spending the night with Lucas Carter. Even though I want to.

  Just. Stop.

  “Remember the last time we had champagne?” Harry grins at Alice, who gazes at him as though he’s the only guy in the world. Lucas leans toward me and bumps my shoulder.

  “Ignore them. They’re like this all the time.”

  There’s no way a casual bump on the shoulder should send my nerve ends tingling and my stomach into freefall or render me speechless as I bask in the endless blue of his eyes. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t immediately pull back, either, but lingers, so close that his warm breath caresses my cheek.

  Although I’ve seen Lucas several times over the last couple of weeks, we’ve hardly ever touched. In fact, I think the only time we did was the day we met. It’s like an unspoken rule between us, in case of spontaneous combustion.

  We’re going to kiss. My heart pounds, my mouth dries, and my body instinctively sways toward him. Don’t melt all over the chair.

  “Hey, birthday boys,” says a feminine voice, and Lucas straightens so fast it’s like our near-miss moment never happened at all. I hitch in a ragged breath and don’t know where to look.

  I hope Harry and Alice didn’t see anything.

  A kiss is one thing, but a non-kiss is a little mortifying.

  “Hey, Mac.”

  I turn to greet the new arrivals. Lucas is hugging a tall, dark-haired girl wearing frayed shorts and a multi-colored, loose cardigan that comes to her knees, who must be his sister, Mac. A couple of guys saunter over to Harry, and there are high fives all around.

  The three of them greet Alice, and then all turn their attention to me as though I’m a new exhibit in a bug museum.

  “Violet,” Lucas says to me, ignoring the open speculation on his sister’s face, “this is my little sister, Mackenzie, and our best mates, Will and Caleb.”

  The two guys make typical guy-like noises before sitting at either end of the table, while Mackenzie offers me a beaming smile. “Hey, Violet. Nice to meet you. Where’d you meet my brother?”

  “Mac.” There’s a warning note in Lucas’s voice, and she flaps her hand at him.

  “Fine, keep your secrets. Where’s the food, then? I’m starving.”

  Chapter Nine

  Lucas

  Where the hell am I going with Violet?

  It’s almost eleven, and we moved inside the pub about an hour ago when the temperature dropped and Violet shivered. We didn’t get a table, but we carved out a spot beside the fireplace. I kept my back to the room, and so far, no one’s recognized me. Or, if they have, they’ve kept their distance.

  Nice change from my usual nights out, where the press invariably finds me, and I’m constantly on show. The way it’ll be tomorrow night at Hydra.

  It’s hard not to keep glancing at Violet, but it’s even harder not holding her hand, the way Harry does with Alice.

  “Lucas tells me you’re at university,” Violet says to Mac.

  “Yeah.” For some reason, my sister’s smile slides off her face. It’s nothing to do with Violet. They’ve got on well all night.

  “Art, isn’t it?”

  Art? Where did she get that idea from?

  Mac gives a weird little laugh. “No, I’m studying medicine.”

  “Oh.” Violet sounds amazed. “Sorry. He said you were a great artist, so I just assumed.”

  Mac gives me an evil grin. “A great artist, huh?”

  “You’re not bad,” I concede. She’s bloody good, as it happens, but it’s only a hobby. She’s set to follow our mum’s path into medical research.

  “We’re off,” Harry announces, his arm wrapped around Alice’s shoulders.

  “See you tomorrow?” Will downs the last of his beer.

  “In your dreams,” Harry says, which is such an unlike-Harry thing to say that I snort into my lemonade.

  “Man, if you were in my dreams it’d be a fucking nightmare,” my best friend responds, which makes even Caleb laugh.

  As my brother and Alice leave the pub, I lean closer to Violet and try not to let her elusive scent of roses dive straight to my dick. That’s already a lost battle. I’ve been at half-mast for most of the night.

  “Are you ready to go?” Not that I want the night to end, but there’s still an hour’s drive back home, and, sod it, I might ask if she wants to come up for a coffee.

  “Sure.”

  I turn to my sister, who’s standing between Will and Caleb. “Hey, Mac. You need a lift home?”

  “I drove. I’m thinking I might need to take these two boys home. Look at the state of them.”

  “I’ve got my own car,” Caleb growls.

  “I’m getting a taxi.” Will pulls out his phone, and I laugh at their fragile egos that can’t cope with being called boys.

  Outside the pub, Violet shivers, and it takes a massive amount of willpower not to wrap my arm around her and share some body heat.

  Down, boy.

  “That was fun,” she says as we reach the car.

  “Good. Glad you enjoyed it.” I open the passenger door, and she gets inside with a smile of thanks. I straighten, take a deep breath, and walk around the car. Don’t rush it. If I ask her in tonight and she’s not ready to take this friendship to the next level, it might put her off altogether.

  Jesus, Carter. What the fuck has Violet done to me? I’ve never been this indecisive when it comes to girls, not even when I was fourteen.

  First time for everything.

  It’s gone midnight by the time we arrive home, and Violet pulls out her keys before glancing at her car.

  “Well, see you soon, maybe?” She opens her door but doesn’t get in straight away.

  Asking her into my penthouse at midnight might be pushing things, but I have another ace up my sleeve.

  “Are you free tomorrow night? We’re going to Hydra. Be great if you could come.”

  Her face lights up as though she doesn’t have any problem being seen with me in a place as public as a top nightclub. Then she groans. “Tomorrow night? I’d love to, but I can’t. I’m working.”

  “No problem.” Shit.

  “The thing is, I swapped my shift from tonight to tomorrow, so I can’t really let Katie down at the last minute.”

  “It’s okay. Another time.”

  She bites her lip, which is way too distracting, before pulling a small square envelope out of her bag. “Happy birthday.”

  I grin, can’t help myself. She got me a card. “Hey, thanks.”

  I take it from her, but before I can open it she flaps her fingers at me. “No, wait until I’ve gone. I mean, um, well. Whatever. It’s up to you, but no problem if you don’t want to.”

  “Was I meant to understand any of that?”

  Her shoulders relax. �
��No. Definitely not. Except the bit about not opening it until I’ve gone.”

  Now I’m intrigued. “Okay.” And screw going at a snail’s pace. “I’ll call you next week.”

  She doesn’t answer, but her smile makes me want to cross all the lines and make her mine.

  Cold shower for you tonight, mate.

  As soon as Violet’s taillights disappear around the corner, I rip open the envelope. Inside isn’t a card, but a single sheet of parchment, and I pull it out. In purple ink—no, wait, in violet ink—she’s written a message in copperplate.

  Happy Birthday!

  You’re invited to a Picnic in the Park

  Date & Time to be Mutually Agreed

  RSVP

  Violet

  On Saturday night, Mac and Will arrive together, ten minutes before some of the lads are due to pick us up in the limo. No surprise that Caleb backed out. He’s as bad as Harry when it comes to socializing.

  As soon as they’re through the door, Mac makes a big show of looking around the hall.

  “Is she here, then?”

  No need to ask who she’s talking about. “No. Violet had to work tonight.”

  Mac gives Will a sideways smirk, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Wow. You did invite her, then.”

  “Got a problem with that?” I know she doesn’t.

  “Hell, no. It’s about time you introduced us to your girlfriends.”

  “Where’d you meet her? You’ve never mentioned her name.”

  I shoot Will a mocking glance. “I don’t tell you the names of every girl I know.”

  “Trust me, I don’t want to know. But you’ve never been out with a girl like Violet before. You didn’t talk football once.”

  Mac makes a disgusted sound. “You don’t really talk football with all the girls you go out with, do you?”

  “They love it,” Will says. “It’s like foreplay.”

  “Nice,” Mac says, giving him a filthy look. What’s up with them, anyway? They used to be great mates, but for the last couple of years, it’s like they can’t stand each other. She levels her gaze at me. “I hope you’ve got a better bedroom technique than discussing the never-ending controversy of the offside rule.”

  “Will’s a dick. It’s not the football they like, it’s the lifestyle.” At least, that’s been my experience. Except for Violet, and despite what my sister and my big-mouth of a brother might imagine, we’re not even dating.

  I phoned her this morning, and we’re doing the picnic in the park on Wednesday, but does that make it a date?

  At least it’s turned Wednesday into something I’m looking forward to now, instead of dreading because that’s the day United flies to Hong Kong for the preseason tour.

  “Is it serious between you?” Mac says, clearly not satisfied by my explanations.

  “I told you last night. We’re just mates.” My phone goes, and it’s a text from Jax telling me they’ve arrived.

  “Yes, but you’re mates with Yolanda, and I’ve never seen you ogle her the way you did Violet last night.”

  I forget about Jax. “I don’t ogle.” I can’t believe my sister even said that. “I’m not a fucking sleaze.”

  “Hit a raw nerve there.” Will grins at Mac, who blinks at him as though she has no idea what he’s talking about.

  “You coming, or what?” I march to the front door, not entirely sure why I’m so pissed off with Mac. We’re always joking with each other, but there’s nothing funny if Violet thinks I was ogling her.

  As we reach the lift, Will slaps me on the shoulder. “Take no notice of Mac. She’s winding you up. You weren’t ogling Violet last night. You just drooled a bit, that’s all.”

  …

  Violet

  Ever since Lucas rang yesterday morning to accept my picnic invitation, I’ve hardly been able to think of anything else. At least he didn’t think it was the stupidest thing ever. I already have ideas on what to fill the hamper with. Although, should I go with alcohol or soft drinks?

  Please don’t let it rain. I peer out of my bedroom window at the cloudless sky, but that doesn’t mean anything. There’re still three days to go until P-Day.

  “Violet.” Mum pokes her head around my door. “Are you sure you can’t come with us next Friday?”

  They’re all going to Cornwall to stay with Dad’s parents next weekend, to celebrate Dad’s parents’ wedding anniversary. It’s not a special one, so I don’t feel bad about missing it, although I suppose forty-eight years together is a milestone.

  “I can’t let Katie down. She’s short-staffed next week, and I’m rostered on to work all day Friday.”

  “Okay, I just wanted to double check before I call them. You know how much they love seeing you.”

  They’ve always been lovely to me, and I’ve called them Nan and Pops since Mum and Dad got together when I was three, but it wasn’t until Sam was a toddler that it first hit me I was the only one there who wasn’t a real Henderson. Officially, my name’s Dobbes, but I’ve gone by Henderson since my first day at school, when I refused to answer to anything else.

  I must get around to legally changing it.

  “I’ll go with you next time.” Mum and Dad visit them several times a year, and they have this adorable cottage five-minutes’ walk from the beach, and three elderly pugs with farting problems. I enjoy visiting; it’s a nice mini break.

  Even if I wasn’t working, I wouldn’t be able to go. Although my course is very flexible, I like to give myself deadlines just to keep on track, and I’m currently running behind.

  Guess I know what I’ll be doing all day today.

  Katie comes round on Tuesday evening, and we’re at the far end of the garden sitting on a pair of weatherworn plastic toadstools in the remnants of the fairy glade Dad made for me when I was four. The reason we’re sitting out here is so there’s no chance of being overheard, as I don’t want to explain to Mum that just because I’m taking Lucas on a picnic, doesn’t mean I’m about to lose my head over him.

  Because I already have.

  “You’re going to feed him pork pies?” The disbelief drips from each word, and I’m a little annoyed she leaped on the only food that I’m not planning on making from scratch.

  “Yes, but they’re from Fortnum’s.”

  “But they’re pork pies. They don’t have any aphrodisiac qualities at all.”

  “I don’t plan on jumping his bones in the middle of Golders Hill, Katie.”

  “Don’t you?”

  Although I’m still mad at her for basically laughing at part of my planned menu, I concede her point. She knows me too well. “It’s crossed my mind. But I’m not sure if he’s still interested. He’s never tried anything on since I told him about Geoff, but sometimes…” My voice trails away as I remember the non-kiss. I’m convinced if his sister and friends hadn’t arrived at that exact second, we would’ve kissed, but suppose that’s all in my mind?

  I’m not supposed to be falling for him.

  Just because I’ve been obsessing about the other night, doesn’t mean I’ve any intention of falling for him. A girl can fantasize about a hot hookup, can’t she?

  I don’t do hookups.

  Maybe I should.

  Am I seriously thinking about having a summer fling with Lucas Carter?

  Yes. Yes, I am.

  He’s a player, even if he is the nicest guy I’ve ever met. At least this time I’m going in with my eyes wide open, and don’t expect a happily ever after forever, the way I did with Geoff. I don’t even expect exclusive, and that’s a huge step forward.

  Casual sex, here I come. Does it count as casual if I only intend doing it with Lucas?

  I can’t believe I’m even thinking this.

  Katie gives me a calculating look. “I need to meet him. I won’t get all distracted by his celebrity status, and if he’s bullshitting you, I’ll know.”

  “He’s not bullshitting me. And you might not care about him being a footballer, but you’re
pretty keen on his cologne adverts.”

  “I’d have to be dead not to care about them.”

  I sigh. “Wouldn’t it sound weird if I asked him out one night to meet my friends?”

  Katie groans. “You don’t do that. You just let me know where you’ll be one night, and I’ll casually turn up to check him out for you.”

  “Yes, but we don’t go out like that.” A terrible thought slams into me. “You’re not thinking of crashing the picnic, are you?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll leave and your pork pies in peace. I’m working Wednesday, anyway.”

  I let out a relieved breath. Watch out, fling. Here I come.

  Chapter Ten

  Violet

  I clearly didn’t think this through.

  I heave the massive wicker picnic hamper that Mum’s had for about ten years out of the car, and by the time I arrive at the park, I’m already limp with the heat. Not quite the impression I’d been planning. I didn’t want it to rain today, but it’s so humid, and I wipe my hair back from my damp face as I make my way across the expanse of grass, in the general direction of the duck pond.

  Even though it’s almost midday, the park isn’t too crowded, mainly because the kids haven’t broken up from school yet. I collapse in the shade of an ancient tree and text Lucas directions.

  I’m near the humpback bridge

  He replies within about five seconds.

  Be right there!

  Before I unload the hamper, I check my reflection in my makeup mirror. My cheeks are flushed, and not in a good way, and patting them with tissues doesn’t exactly help. It’s hardly the sexy look I want to present when all I can think about is taking things with Lucas to the next level.

  I’m not even sure how to ask him. With Geoff it was different. He kept the pressure up right from the first time we dated, although it was a few months until things just kind of escalated one night.

  Too late to worry about it now. I can always practice my rusty seduction technique on him another time, when I’m not wilting.

  At least my mascara hasn’t melted and given me the raccoon look.