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It must have been the adrenaline.
“Leah, did Radleigh McCoy just wink at you?” Josh laughed. “I thought you said you hated each other?”
“We do. He’s just trying to bother me.”
“Looks like it worked.”
“Shut up. I need to get to work, but have fun. I’ll meet you outside afterwards.”
Before my brother could tease me any further, I ran back to my seat and flicked my brain into work mode.
It was a miracle. There wasn’t a single injury and the game was one of the most intense of the season. Westberg secured a 4-3 victory in the final minutes, with McCoy scoring the winning goal. I knew Jamie would be ecstatic because he’d got to see his favourite team win, and when we finally got out of the stadium, he proved me right. Even Josh had caught the buzz.
“That was amazing,” Josh said. “I haven’t been to a football game in years but that made me want to go out and buy a season ticket!”
“I saw Radleigh McCoy!” Jamie squealed. “He is the best footballer in the whole wide world!”
“Blasphemy,” I said. “An insult to football legends worldwide.”
“Blasphemy?” Jamie asked, looking up at me curiously. “What does that mean?”
“It means Auntie Leah has a crush on Radleigh McCoy and won't admit it!”
Jamie’s gaze flicked between me and his father, utter confusion on his face and I said, “Point one, that is not an accurate explanation of the word blasphemy, and point two, your father is deluded.”
“Stop using long words!” Jamie whined, and Josh laughed.
“It's not funny,” I told him. “Next you'll be telling him McCoy's going to be his uncle.”
“Oh, don't tell me it hasn't crossed your mind!”
While Jamie was in what can only be described as a trance of overexcited bliss, I dragged Josh closer to me.
“Will you stop that!” I snapped. “This isn't funny, okay? Sure, there is something between McCoy and me but it's not what you think. You have no idea what I’ve been through because of him so before you start telling everyone I fancy him, check your facts!”
I hadn't meant to explode, but with the constant battle of not knowing what I felt for McCoy from one minute to the next, I didn’t want to dissect the situation, and certainly not with my brother.
“Leah, come on,” Josh said. “I was only messing around.”
“Well, don't. I don't have a sense of humour where McCoy is concerned.”
Josh stopped me. “What did he do to you?”
“It doesn't matter.”
“Tell me,” Josh insisted. “What did he do?”
“We just don't get on. He spends his days trying to anger me, and I spend mine plotting ways to kill him. That's just the way things are.”
The three of us took a cab back to the hotel, with Jamie still chattering enthusiastically the whole way. He didn't stop until we reached the hotel lobby. I peered into the bar quickly to see if Freya and Will were in there. They weren't.
“Come on then, soldier,” Josh said, placing his hands on Jamie's shoulders. “Time for bed.”
“Daddy, I'm not tired!”
“It's very late, Jamie. If you don't go to bed now, you'll be tired out tomorrow.”
“No I won't, I promise!” he wailed. “Daddy pleeeeeeease?”
