Page 164 of Playing By Ear

“Was he a dick to you?”

“He was perfectly nice today.” Perry shifted his glass on the polished oak table. “Nine years ago, he was perfectly awful.”

“Sorry?”

“That match-fixing scandal? It was him.”

Jamie gasped. “The one who tried to bribe you? What a snake!”

“Please don’t tell anyone. I don’t want trouble.”

“Still, that’s got to make you nervous, being in the same house.”

“More angry than nervous. I’ll manage.”

This was mostly true. Perry would manage, for Jamie’s sake, but if Stuart stepped even an inch out of line, nothing would stop an overdue reckoning.

Chapter 31

Katie

Checking in to see how my buddy’s doing

That’s you btw

Jamie

I’m ok

Katie

No really

Jamie

Rubbish then

Katie

That’s better

Not better that you’re rubbish, better you’re being honest

Jamie

Enough of that. How’s the team?

Katie

I guess you saw we’re not getting promoted this season Missed it by a baw hair as you Scots say

Jamie

There’s still the Cup

Katie

Feeling strangely serene about Saturday’s semifinal