Wags To Riches (6 page)

I pick up my bag and go out to the car.  Adam looks really nice.  He’s wearing his navy jumper again, jeans and funky trainers.  Yum.

“Hi!” he says, giving me a dazzling smile.  “You look nice!” he adds as he opens the car door for me.

“Oh – it’s just something I threw on” I say airily.  Yes - after two days serious deliberation.  “I hope you like the film” I say as we both get in and set off.  “I know the cinema is nowhere as posh as where we went last week”.

Adam looks over at me and smiles.  “I’m sure it will be lovely Gail” he says reassuringly.

God I love it when he smiles at me like that, but it does mean I find it hard to breathe for the next few minutes.  “You say you went to the Lambley Inn with your parents?” I ask in what I hope is a normal sounding voice.  “Have you got any brothers and sisters as well?”

“No – I’m an only child” Adam replies.  “How about you?”

“Me too” I reply.

“My parents have always been really supportive of me” Adam goes on, “ever since I told them I wanted to be a footballer.  They come to as many matches as they can” he adds as we turn into the multi-storey car park.  “Have you ever been to a football match Gail?” he asks as we drive round looking for a space.

“Yes” I reply, thinking back to a relationship I’d had a long time ago, “I once went out with a guy who was a bit of a football nut and I went with him and his friend to a match.  Can’t remember which team he supported now, but it was a really rainy and windy night in February and I have never been so cold and so bored in my life!”  That particular relationship didn’t last long after that.  I don’t want him to think I’m not interested in football though.  “I did try and take an interest” I add hastily, “I mean I had the scarf on and everything!”

“Oh well, if you had the
scarf on
, that’s it then – you are definitely a fan!” Adam says laughing and I grin at him before spotting an empty parking space in the corner.

“What about that one there?” I suggest.

“No – too hidden” Adam says as he looks over to where I am pointing.  “I’ll try on the next level.  Anyway, carry on – you were saying?”

“Oh yes” I say, “Well, all I could think about was how bloody cold I was stood up on those concrete steps!  I lost all feeling in my feet after about ten minutes and there were these sheets of corrugated metal behind and over the top of us - presumably to make some kind of shelter, but the thing was, they were rattling so much in the wind you couldn’t hear yourself think!  I stood it for about twenty minutes and then I went for a cup of tea and a meat pie” I say and laugh.  And a bloody horrible meat pie it was as well.

“Nice!” Adam says.  “Well, our ground has had a massive refit so that has made things a lot better than that.  You’ll have to come to a game – it’s changed a lot since you last went”.

“That would be nice,” I reply, but I’m not sure.  I’m still mentally scarred by that last match I went to.
  My feet didn’t defrost properly until three days later either.  “What about that one?” I ask, pointing to another parking space.

Adam shakes his head.  “Too near the post” he explains, nodding towards the concrete post supporting the upper floor.

I shake my head and smile.  “I know, I can’t help it, I’m just a bit fussy about where I leave the car” Adam says.  He smiles at me and my stomach flips over.  I don’t mind.  I don’t mind at all if we are late for this film.  In fact, I don’t care if we don’t watch it at all and just drive round the multi storey car park all evening.

Eventually however, Adam finds a suitable space that meets all of his requirements.  We park up and set off across the car park and down the stairs.  As we walk through the door out on to the street, Adam takes hold of my hand and I have to stop myself from squealing with excitement.  God Gail – get a grip!  I take a deep breath and keep looking at him while we walk.  What is he doing with me?  Why is Adam Finchley going to the cinema with me of all people on a Saturday night?  I steal another look at him.  He’s
gorgeous
for goodness sake!  He could choose anybody!

“What?” Adam asks smiling.  Shit – I’ve been rumbled.

“Nothing” I mumble.

“What’s up Gail?” he asks gently.  “Why were you frowning just then?  Don’t you want to go to the cinema – have you changed your mind?”

“No – it’s not that” I say hastily.  “I just wonder why you are here – I mean why aren’t you out with a model or – I don’t know-” I gesture wildly, “Some beautiful Italian woman with big dark eyes?  Why are you here with me – A Kings of Leon fan who’s obsessed with shoes?”  There I’ve said it now.  And now he’ll say ‘yes you’re right, I’m off now’ – I know he will.

“I like the Kings of Leon” Adam says lightly, then glancing at my face, stops walking and turns to face me.  “Gail, I’m here because I want to be and I think you’re
great
.  I don’t want to go out with a model or an Italian woman or an Italian model woman or anyone else for that matter”.  He steps closer to me.  “I want to go out with you” he says softly, looking into my eyes, “So enough of this crap.  Let’s go and watch the film okay?”

“Okay!” I reply and smile at him.  We walk along the street and it really doesn’t matter if the pavements are icy, because I’m floating on air anyway.

Oops – shit it does.

“You okay?” Adam asks as I’ve just slipped on a bit of ice. 

“I’m fine” I say, recovering quickly.  I need to pay more attention to the pavement.  I want to be in love – not traction.

“So what’s the film we are going to see Gail?” Adam asks as we cross the street.

“It’s a special showing of Amelié” I reply.  “It’s been out quite a while, but Alex says it’s really good.  It’s a French film with English subtitles”.

“Oh right – well you’ll have to whisper to me what they say” Adam replies grinning.

“Why?” I ask puzzled.

“Well – I’m a footballer so that means I’m thick and I can’t read!” Adam replies and I laugh guiltily, remembering what I thought of him originally and resolve never to tell him.

We arrive at the cinema and Adam goes up to the counter to purchase tickets.  He is served by a surly looking girl who doesn’t look away from the computer screen at all until she pushes the tickets under the glass and then does a double take at Adam.

I can hear music coming from behind the double doors at the top of the stairs.  “I think the trailers are still on” I say as we hurry up to them.

“Sorry we’re a bit late – it’s my fault for being choosy about the car parking space” Adam says as he opens the door for me.

“Don’t worry about it” I whisper as we go inside.

“Do we just sit anywhere?” Adam asks quietly.  The cinema is quite full, but the back two rows are empty.

“Yes” I whisper back.  “Come on – we’ll sit here” and we make my way down the back row and sit down in the middle.  “Is this alright?” I ask anxiously.

“Gail it’s fine” Adam replies enthusiastically in a low voice.  “I know I’ve already told you this, but you look really nice Gail.  I really like that skirt”.

“Do you want to borrow it?” I ask grinning at him.

“I might do next weekend” Adam jokes.  “Seriously though – it’s really nice”.

“Thanks” I reply, smoothing my skirt down quite unnecessarily.  Adam slips his arm casually round my shoulders as the opening credits start to roll and I smile to myself in the darkness.  I feel like a teenager again, although I now have a much nicer ride home than the smelly old bus I used to have to catch.  And it is nicer to be sat here next to Adam than Glen Smith who kept talking all the way through
Final Destination
, boring me to death.  I don’t know what was worse – the film or him.  I hope this film is good, otherwise I will be having words with Alex on Monday.  I hope she didn’t get it muddled up with another film and we’ve actually come to see a bleak drama set in the Siberian coal mines.

Adam turns towards me and runs his hand through my hair.  “Do you mind if I kiss you?” he whispers and before I can reply, his lips are on mine and his hand that isn’t resting on my shoulders runs lightly down my body, coming to a halt on my leg.

  Oh my God!

  We can’t go for it in here, much as I’d like to and reluctantly I move away.  “Don’t you think we should watch the film?” I whisper, kissing him lightly.

“Okay – if we must” Adam replies kissing me back before settling back into his chair.  He looks over at me and smiles before taking hold of my hand and squeezing it tightly.  Right now – I think I could sit through any film and still think it’s the best film I’ve ever seen.

So bring on the Siberian coal mines.

In the event, the film is brilliant and we spend a pleasant journey back to my house discussing our favourite bits of the film.  I have to say that one of mine was when Adam went to fetch us both a glass of wine and a box of popcorn to share.  All too soon we arrive back at my house and Adam switches off the engine.

“Thanks for a good time again Gail” he says.  “Oh – I almost forgot.  I’ve got you a present”.

“A present?” I say delightedly.  “What for me?”

“No it’s another Gail I’m thinking of” Adam says, rolling his eyes.  “It’s in the boot – I’ll just get it for you”.  He gets out of the car and returns a few seconds later.

“I hope you like it” he says, handing me a thick paper bag.  My eyes widen as I see the word ‘Chanel’ printed on it.  Oh my golly goodness!  I open the bag and pull out a beautiful black handbag made of the softest leather imaginable, with two intertwined letter C’s on the front.  Wow!

“Oh my God Adam!  It’s lovely, thank you!” I say, absolutely thrilled to bits. I fling my arms round his neck and give him a massive kiss on the cheek.

“I’m glad you like it,” Adam said, looking surprised and pleased at my reaction.  “I did feel a bit of an idiot buying it though.  I kept telling the woman in the shop that it wasn’t for me.  I don’t think she believed me!”

I laugh and open the bag to look inside.  “Adam it’s gorgeous!  Thank you very much!” I say.  My very own posh bag!  And it’s not a fake off the market!  It’s real!

****

“New bag?” Brenda asks as I walk back to my desk after my tea break on Monday.  Brenda works in Accounts.  I find her quite ditsy and annoying to be honest and try to avoid her wherever possible, but today I’m feeling nice and decide to stop by her desk to talk to her.

“Yes, its nice isn’t it?” I say and take the bag off my shoulder so Brenda could have a closer look at it.  Brenda holds it in her hands and then puts it over her shoulder.

“Oooh – isn’t it lovely!  Don’t you think it suits me better?” she asks jokingly before giving it back to me.  I don’t think so love.

One of the other girls in the office comes over to have a look.  “Wow that’s nice!” she says.  “Did you win some money on the lottery or something?”

“No it was a present” I say and beat a hasty retreat before they can ask any more awkward questions.  I go back to my desk and stow the bag safely underneath it.  It took me ages to clear all the stuff out of my old bag – Christ almighty, I had no idea I had been carrying round that many bus tickets and fluffy fruit pastilles.  On the up side though I did find twelve pence I didn’t know I had, but I won’t let my new found riches change my life.

Work today is nowhere as busy as last week thank goodness.  I take a couple of calls and then the phones go quiet.  Mark who works in sales and sits opposite me and Alex is reading a magazine, it’s that quiet.  Then the door opens and Brenda comes in.  “Just come to make a coffee!” she announces to the room at large, like we all needed to know that.  “Oooh - what are you reading Mark?” she asks as she makes her way to the kitchen.

“Oh, it’s just this article about the footballer Adam Finchley and what he does to keep fit” Mark replies casually and my heart starts pounding as Alex looks up from her keyboard at me.  Oh God.  Just try and act normal Gail, I think to myself.  I’ve got to have a look at this article.  I try to keep my voice as calm as possible as I stand up and call across to Mark.  “Can I borrow your magazine when you’ve finished Mark?”

“Yeah sure, I’m just going out for a cigarette anyway” he replies, getting up and passing me the magazine.  “Thought you weren’t into football?” he queries smiling.

“Well, I’m not either, but I wouldn’t kick Adam Finchley out of bed – he’s gorgeous!” Brenda calls from the kitchen, before I can answer.  Oh.  My.  God!  That’s my bloke you’re talking about Brenda!  Despite my best efforts, I blush and look at Alex horror struck.  She’s no help at all - she just buries her face in her hands, trying not to laugh.

“I’m just interested” I mumble and hide behind the magazine.  The article is all about Adam and his training for a tournament that is taking place between various league teams and international teams.  Accompanying the article are several photographs of him training with his team, smiling and laughing and another of him in jeans and tight T-shirt leaning against a wall with his hands in his pockets, looking in my opinion bloody gorgeous.  The caption underneath the photograph reads:

‘Adam’s good looks have made him a hit with the ladies (not that we’re jealous at all)