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“So why the hurry? You’ve got that welcome event at the gym tonight, haven’t you?”
“Nope.”
“I was sure you said—”
“I did, and it is tonight, but I’m not going.”
“But I thought the new owners wanted to meet you.”
“The invitation was for staff. I just rent the back room.”
Paige drummed her fingers on her mug. “Well, if you ask me, it sounds like an ideal opportunity to network.”
“I didn’t ask you. It’s all under control. I’m meeting them on Monday and pitching a cross-promo idea they can’t refuse.”
“So long as you’re not sabotaging.”
Lauren’s stomach dropped. She threw her trainers next to the table and rifled through the pots on the windowsill until she found her GPS watch, pretending to concentrate so Paige wouldn’t see the wobble.
“I’m not sabotaging. Monday is only two days away. I’ve got an appointment and everything.”
“You skipped the last networking thing too.”
“Because it was at Jenna’s barbershop.”
“And?”
“And I love how supportive she’s been, but no one deserves that much enthusiasm before eight in the morning.”
Paige snorted, though her expression stayed sharp. “I’m proud of you. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
Lauren knew what Paige was really asking. Have you called your ex? Have you been smoking weed? Will I get my rent money?
“You’re doing great,” Paige added.
“Yeah, I know. Rein it in; I don’t need another pep talk. I told you, only healthy, grown-up decisions from now on. Promise.” Lauren flashed a scout’s salute, then switched her shoes. “It’s been lovely to see you. Hope you’ll pop in again sometime and let me know how the squatter situation’s going.”
“I’m not squatting,” Paige hissed, glancing at the open doorway. “I just haven’t figured out how to live somewhere else yet.”
Before Lauren could ask, Paige straightened and shot her a look that told her to leave it.
Becky appeared with the packing tape in one hand and a battered lamp under her arm. “Whose is this?”
“Yours,” Paige and Lauren said together.
“It’s not much use to anyone since you broke the bulb.”
“Definitely yours now,” Lauren said, and squeezed past Becky into the hall. “Your tea’s on the side. Let yourselves out.”
She started her watch and jogged down the drive, trying to ignore the black clouds gathering overhead. At the end of the street, she looked left, then right. On a whim, she turned towards the ring road, giving herself miles of continuous cycle track to pound.
There was no match tomorrow—they’d already bombed out of the league cup—so heavy legs didn’t matter. Right now, with Paige’s doubt niggling at the back of her brain, Lauren had something to prove.
Willpower. Discipline. Self-control.
Sport had always reminded her she possessed all three. Football used to be enough, but these days she needed a stronger hit than Wednesday training and Sunday matches. One that wasn’t found in a pint glass. According to Jenna, long-distance running was the answer.
