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“She would, but she’s getting a bit too old for this,” the woman says in a hard British accent that’s very different to David’s. “So I told her that Id bring him instead.” A disarming smile is on her face, as she throws a judgmental glance toward Carrie.
“Hi, I'm Lucy Lloyd. David’s partner,” she announces herself, as if Carrie is supposed to know who she is.
“Ex-partner—” David interrupts but the woman just gives him an amused smile.
“I'm Carrie.” I shake her hand politely.
“And he is Harry,” David smiles, extending Harry’s little hand toward Carrie.
“Hello, Harry!” The boy shies away and hides in his father’s arms.
“A shy one, aren’t you? Wait till I make a man out of you,” David jostles playfully with him and the boy shrieks happily.
A bad feeling spreads through my body. This situation seems too much like the one with Max. Though David calls her his ex, to anyone watching, it seems like the three are a proper family. I feel massively out of place, and it doesn’t get any better during the lunch that follows. While it’s pleasant for the most part, with young Harry, now well fed, telling us stories from his school and of his journey to America. It’s his first time and he’s beyond excited to go to Disneyland.
“... And I want you to score two goals for me,” The boy lifts two of his fingers, as he wraps up his list of demands.
“Sure why not? That’s all you want?” David looks lovingly at him.
“And maybe one for me too?” Lucy winks.
“Sure, why not? You want something too?” David smiles at me but I just politely shake my head.
Once again, I’m the third wheel. David may have called this woman an ex, but she’s the mother of his child. And now she’ll be living in his house, with their son. The thought eats at me. I don’t need another heartbreak. I simply am not sure I can handle it. As I look at David happily playing with his child and Lucy looking lovingly at both the men in her life, I know I don’t belong here.
Neither do I belong in David’s life.
Chapter 97
After a sleepless night, tossing and turning in bed, the events of the day unfold in my head a hundred ti
mes. Sure, David may have called her an ex, but she didn’t behave like one. Even after hours of contemplation, I can’t come to a conclusion. What I know for certain is was that I can not be a part of a love triangle ever again. Max taught me a lesson and I’m not going to forget it anytime soon.
Once bitten, twice shy.
There aren’t any messages or calls from David but Shauna calls early in the morning, saying quite a few publications are interested in buying the article now that the Knights are in the Cup Final and that it’ll be a good payday for me. She also wants me to head to the Anaheim Knights training ground for the final practice session as I might get ideas from that experience to add on to the article.
My first thought is to say no, but a part of me wants to see David, to seek some answers from him. Unlike the situation with Max, I need clarity from David. Since I won’t go to his house anymore, it might be better to face him on neutral ground.
My quest for seeking clarity fades as I sit with David in the bleachers. He’s in a terrible mood and it’s getting worse by the minute. For once, he’s nervous.
“I can’t believe that they're already considering him for the MVP award,” he says, pointing to Javier’s picture in the newspaper he’s holding. “He’s not even played half a season. Such bloody politics in the sports nowadays, I hate it.” He shakes his head in disgust.
“But if you do well in the final, I'm sure your claim will be stronger than his.”
“Bollocks!” He swears. “The head coach won’t talk to me, he won’t even look at me. They haven’t restored my captain status and from what the coaching staff is hinting at, I might not even play in the final.”
I know how disappointed he must feel. He’s worked very hard to get fit for the final.
“Was it because of our picture in the—”
“No. I don’t think so.” He denies it but I have a feeling otherwise. By now, even I know Coach Miller as a no nonsense guy and he’s probably fed up of David’s inability to stay out of the gossip papers.
David runs his hands through his hair in frustration and sits silently, looking nowhere in particular till his attention is distracted by the footsteps of a child who comes running at full speed.
“Harry!” he shouts as his son jumps into his lap with a soccer ball in his hand.
“You get all you wanted?” David asks him and the little boy nods adorably.
