Final Score (19 page)

‘We’re leaving straight after the match today,’ she said, smiling as she watched Rico pull at Freddie’s hair, gurgling away to himself, completely unaware of the complications going on all around him. ‘Because this is Jim’s last game in charge of Newcastle Red Star, we kind of want to get away as soon as possible. Avoid all the media interest. And once we get to Vegas, we’ll be getting married as soon as we possibly can, and almost immediately after that we come back home – to London – so Jim can prepare for his first match in charge of Endleigh United on Sunday. It’s happening, Dad. This is real. So, yes, I’m sure.’

‘And this is the way you really want to get married? In secret? Again?’

‘At least I’ve told
you
this time.’

‘That’s something, I suppose. And you really don’t think any media will get hold of what’s happening? All eyes are on Jim at the minute, you know that.’

‘There’s no secret we’re taking a few days away before he starts back at Endleigh. We just haven’t mentioned where.’

Freddie moved Rico from his shoulder and nestled him in the crook of his arm. ‘Well, you know I’ve still got my reservations about Jim. About the kind of man he is.’

‘He’s changed, Dad. Believe me, he’s changed.’

‘And if he hadn’t? Would you still be with him?’

Amber looked down again, watching her fingers as they fiddled with the strap of her watch. Of course she’d still be with him. She’d have fought tooth and nail to get him back, she had no doubt in her mind about that. As much as she’d tried to believe she could love anyone else, she was only ever going to be in love with Jim Allen. End of story.

‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ Freddie sighed. ‘Amber, sweetheart…’

‘No, Dad. No more lectures, okay? I know what I’m doing and don’t you dare raise that eyebrow again, do you hear me? Get to know him again, Dad, please. I know things are gradually getting better between the two of you, but, you used to be such good friends…’

‘He slept with my teenage daughter.’

‘And she’s thirty-nine now. The age difference isn’t even an issue any more, so, can we just try and get back to normal?’

Freddie kissed his grandson’s tiny forehead, and Amber watched as Rico slowly closed his eyes, snuggling into his granddad.

‘Yeah, well, if he doesn’t look after you this time…’

‘He will. I promise you, Dad, he will….’

Freddie just looked at her, picking up Rico’s baby bag. ‘I’m taking this one up to the box. You watching the game with me or are you down with Jim?’

Amber wasn’t covering Jim’s final match with Newcastle Red Star. Ronnie was doing the honours for Cloud Sports that afternoon. She was now officially on holiday for a few days.

‘I’m watching the match from the dugout. But if you need me I’ll have my phone with me.’

‘We’ll be fine, won’t we, kiddo?’ Freddie smiled at a now-sleeping Rico, and Amber felt her heart ache at the thought of leaving her baby behind, even if it was only for the shortest time. Throughout the entire Christmas period she’d been splitting her time between the north-east and her work in London, but she’d had Rico with her constantly, which had been hard, but she’d wanted to know she could do it. She didn’t want a nanny, she was adamant about that now. She wanted to bring her baby up herself. But she also wanted to work, and Cloud Sports had been incredibly helpful in making sure she could do that. She was lucky. Very, very lucky.

Amber stood up, leaning over to kiss her son’s warm cheek, smiling at his bunched-up fists and his slightly open mouth and his cuter-than-cute Newcastle Red Star t-shirt.

‘You okay?’ Freddie asked, looking right into his daughter’s eyes, his voice softer now. Because no matter what he thought about the decisions Amber might be making, he only wanted her to be happy.

‘I’m fine.’ She smiled, folding her arms against her. ‘Go on. Go get settled.’

She watched him leave, although it took him a while to get out of the Players’ Lounge because everyone wanted to take a look at her beautiful baby boy, and who could blame them? He was utterly gorgeous. Amber had a feeling he was going to take after his daddy in that department.

‘I hope you’re not having an Elvis wedding.’

Amber swung around and smiled at Debbie, one of the few people who knew where she and Jim were going straight after this match, and what they were doing once they got there.

‘No. But I
am
making him dress up as a cowboy, and I thought I’d do the whole Wild West prostitute thing.’

Debbie just looked at her, her false eyelashes blinking furiously as she tried to work out whether Amber was being serious or not.

‘I’ve got a gorgeous little dress and heels and Jim’s going to wear suit pants and a shirt. Nobody’s getting dressed up in anything.’

Debbie put a hand to her chest and let out a heavy sigh of relief. ‘Thank Christ for that! I know you say Jim’s loosened up slightly since you guys got back together but even
I
doubted he’d loosened up
that
much.’

Amber threw her friend a sideways smile as she leaned back against the wall.

‘I’m still annoyed, though.’

‘And why’s that?’ Amber asked, quickly checking her watch. She wanted a few minutes alone with Jim before kick-off. And there wasn’t long left.

‘This is the second time you’re marrying this man and both times you’ve given me nothing I can put in my column.’

‘No, and you’d better not sneak anything in there whilst I’m away, either. I want this to stay as much a secret as possible. Until we get back, anyway. Then you can put anything you like in your column.’ She threw Debbie another smile. ‘Within reason, obviously. I mean, I’m sure nobody wants to know about the wild, Vegas sex I plan to have with my new husband once I’m over there.’

‘Too much information, missy. And, actually, you’d be surprised how many people
would
want to know about that. Can I have a photo?’

‘What? Of Jim and I having wild, Vegas sex?’

‘Jesus… no! Although, on second thoughts, that
would
sell copies, and my editor would love me… You’re not being serious, are you?’

Amber just raised an eyebrow.

Debbie stuck her tongue out. ‘I don’t know why I’m friends with you sometimes.’

Amber smiled again. ‘You love me really.’

‘I’ll love you more if I can be the first to have a wedding photo.’

‘You can be the first to have a wedding photo, yes. I promise. Although I wouldn’t be expecting anything fantastic. We’re going to a wedding chapel in Las Vegas at some ridiculous time of the night so Christ knows who’ll be taking the pictures.’

Debbie smiled a huge smile, mouthing
‘thank you’
as she fluffed up her baby-blonde hair with her perfectly manicured fingers. ‘I still don’t understand why you don’t want the whole big celebrity thing. There are magazines out there that would pay a fortune to feature your wedding.’

‘I’ve never wanted that, Debbie. You know I haven’t.’

‘I loved all that fuss when Gary and I got married,’ she sighed. ‘It was an amazing day… Anyway, how’s Ryan taking it?’

‘How’s Ryan taking what?’

‘You and Jim, getting married in Vegas.’

‘Jesus, Debbie, he doesn’t know. And I don’t
want
him to know. You haven’t told Gary, have you?’

‘No, babe, of course I haven’t. I just assumed you’d have told Ryan.’

‘Why? He doesn’t need to know. Not before the event, anyway. Once we’re back home I know it won’t stay a secret for long, but, I just want some time with Jim, on our own, before the media circus starts up all over again. You know, I can remember a time when nobody gave a crap about anything I did. And now suddenly every move I make is attracting attention.’

‘Someone will know where you’re going. That’s the way it works, chick.’

‘Yes, thanks for that, Debbie.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, babe, I didn’t mean… You work in the media, Amber. You should know that you marrying Jim in a secret Vegas wedding will probably be old news by the time you land back at Heathrow.’

‘You’re making me feel so much better, do you know that?’

‘Yeah… my mouth does run away with me, I’ll admit. Gary’s always telling me so.’

Amber couldn’t help smiling. ‘Well, that’s why I love you.’

Debbie moved to give Amber a hug, enveloping her in a mist of expensive perfume and hairspray. ‘And I love you, too. Even if you do have the most complicated life I’ve ever witnessed.’

‘It’s what I do best,’ Amber sighed, pulling away from Debbie. ‘Anyway, I’d better go. Will I see you before we leave for the airport?’

‘Of course you will. Amber?’

She swung back around to face Debbie. ‘Yeah?’

‘Just… don’t let him hurt you again, okay?’

Amber smiled, absentmindedly twisting her engagement ring round and round her finger. ‘We’re gonna be okay this time, Debbie. I know we are.’

*

Jim leaned forward, resting his forehead in the palm of his hand as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line, waiting a beat or two before he spoke himself. ‘Tomorrow at the earliest, okay? At least wait until I’ve landed in Vegas. And one word about why I’m over there and… okay… Yeah, I trust you… Thanks. I owe you one.’ He put the phone down and sat back in his chair, interlocking his hands behind his head, letting out a heavy sigh.

A knock at the door almost made him jump. Was he really that on edge? ‘Who is it?’

He knew it wasn’t Amber. She didn’t bother knocking any more.

‘It’s Ryan. Can I have a word?’

Jim sat up, clasping his hands together on the desk in front of him. ‘Come in.’

Ryan closed the door behind him, leaning back against the wall, not even bothering to walk any further into the room. ‘It’s the first day of the transfer window, and until this match is over I’m assuming you’re still my boss.’

Jim stood up and walked around the front of his desk, leaning back against it. ‘Shouldn’t you be outside warming up?’ He checked his watch before folding his arms against him. ‘It’s getting close to kick-off, and yes, you’re right, until that final whistle blows I’m still your boss. So, what do you want?’

‘I’m putting in that transfer request.’

‘And I’m rejecting it.’

Ryan shrugged, a slight smile on his face as he stared out his soon-to-be-ex boss. ‘Fair enough.’

Jim narrowed his eyes as he returned Ryan’s stare. ‘I think you should get back outside instead of wasting time in here.’

Ryan laughed quietly, digging his hands deeper into his pockets. ‘You’ll hurt her again, I know you will. It’s what you do. You hurt her, the way she’s hurt me, so I know how exactly how she feels every time you fuck up her life…’

‘I’d stop there if I were you.’

‘I’m not scared of you any more – Jim. I’m not worried that you’re gonna drop me from the team or cut my wages or anything else you’ve ever threatened to do because you just couldn’t handle me being around. Those days are over. You have no hold over me now. None. Just know that you’ll never be rid of me. Amber and me, we have a baby. We have Rico. I have a bond with her that you’ll never have…’

‘Get out,’ Jim said quietly, a slow anger beginning to bubble up inside him.

‘Just saying.’ Ryan smirked, something he knew would aggravate Jim even more, but he didn’t care. Like he’d said, Jim Allen had no hold over him any more; he held no power over his life. He just wanted him to be aware of what
he
had that Jim didn’t. That was all. ‘I’ll see you out there, then, Boss.’

Jim watched him leave, grinding his teeth as the door shut behind him, that anger that had been building showing no sign of subsiding just yet.

He stood up, banging his fist down hard on the desk, rattling everything that stood on it with the force of the thud.

‘Everything okay?’

He turned quickly to see Amber standing in the doorway, her fingers looped into the belt of her skinny jeans, a confused expression on her pretty face.

‘Everything’s fine, honey. It’s just fine.’

‘Really?’ She frowned, and Jim held out his hand, smiling at her.

‘It’s just a bit of an emotional day, baby, that’s all.’

She took his hand, allowing him to pull her into his arms. ‘You regretting any of this?’ she asked, running her fingers gently over his rough chin, her eyes following their every move.

‘No, Amber, I’m not regretting any of this.’

‘What was Ryan doing in here just now?’

‘Saying goodbye.’

‘Is that all?’

He closed his eyes for a second, resting his forehead against hers as he took her hand, squeezing it tight. ‘It’s a new start, Amber.’

‘You keep saying that, Jim, but if the old life is just gonna keep following us…’

‘There’s no guarantee any London club will want him.’

She looked at him, her expression telling him that she wasn’t stupid.

He sighed, throwing his head back, his hand still holding tightly onto hers. ‘Baby, I have recommended to the Newcastle Red Star board that they do their utmost to keep Ryan Fisher here, and not just because I’d rather he didn’t make the move down south. I care about this club, Amber. I’ve been a player here, I’ve managed it, and a little piece of my heart will always
be
here. I want this club to do well, and since Ryan Fisher arrived… they need him. This club needs him, and they know that. They won’t let him go anywhere without a fight.’

‘And what if he just decides to stop playing? He wouldn’t be the first player to act like a spoilt child just because they couldn’t get their own way.’

‘Amber, baby, we are getting married tomorrow. Tomorrow.
That’s
what I want to be focusing on now, not Ryan Fisher. In less than two hours he ceases to be my problem…’

‘Professionally. He ceases to be your problem professionally.’

‘He ceases to be
our
problem, Amber. So let’s just concentrate on us, okay? And whatever he decides to do, we’ll handle it. Together.’

She smiled, and he wished with all his heart that he could promise her it would be easy. So it was just as well she didn’t listen to his promises.

‘Together,’ she whispered.