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“What girl?”
“City. Blonde. Mouthy.”
Carly didn’t look at her. “You’ve just described half the squad. But I assume you mean Lauren.”
“That’s the one. The keeper you used to have a massive crush on.”
“I was eighteen. Everyone’s a massive crush at that age.”
“She never deserved you,” Beth said, as if a worn platitude could fix the past. “Great player. Waste of space off the pitch.”
“Oh, so you were paying attention?”
“Of course I paid attention. But if I’d stepped in more, it would’ve made things worse.” Beth said it the way she always did: like a conclusion she’d reached a long time ago and revisited more often than she let on.
“I’m not holding a grudge against you,” Carly said, keeping her voice steady. “So let’s drop it.”
Beth raised a hand. “Fine. Just don’t pretend it didn’t matter.”
“I’m not pretending. I don’t want to unpack it over a pint with strangers.” Carly looked back at the dim goalposts and forced her jaw to relax. “Tonight was supposed to be about switching off, not reliving my teenage humiliation.”
Even if that was what her body was doing. A familiar knot had balled in the pit of her stomach, and she couldn’t make her face remember how to smile.
“Maybe we should just go,” she said, grimacing as cigarette smoke drifted over from a lone smoker. “We’ve seen Jenna. There’s work to do tomorrow.”
“We haven’t even finished our drinks. They’re still inside.”
“Easily solved.”
Carly walked back through the door as quickly as she’d exited. She grabbed her glass and downed the remaining two-thirds of her gin and tonic in one go.
Beth followed. “Evidently, I should be more specific next time I suggest we have a drink together.”
“Evidently, you should.”
This had been a mistake, but Carly was in control. She didn’t need to stay just to prove a point, to Beth or anyone else. She would keep up her friendship with Jenna, she would dutifully watch a match, but she was no longer the teenager sitting on the outside, hoping someone would invite her in.
The army had shown her what she was capable of. It had proven everyone wrong. And it had given her the discipline to know when a battle wasn’t worth fighting.
She wouldn’t let Lauren draw her into another one.
5
Lauren
Lauren groaned and dropped her head into her hands so she couldn’t see the black ball roll into the corner pocket. Playing pool should have taken her mind off being a loser, but she’d forgotten one key detail: Paige was a shark. Even heavily pregnant, she’d wiped the floor with everyone.
“I thought you were good with balls,” Paige said, blowing on the end of her cue.
“I catch balls, punch them, smother them. I don’t pot them. Totally different skill set.”
“Whatever. You lost. And I think it’s time for bed.”
“It’s still early.”
“I’m tired. Blame the baby.” Paige leaned her cue against the wall and nodded towards Jenna, who was waving at them with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Besides, looks like the real game’s about to start. I think she still wants your help.”
Lauren mouthed one sec to Jenna, buying time. With Paige finally moved out and the baby due, she wasn’t sure when they’d next see each other like this.
