Flirting with success

Chapter 32

On January 1st my transfer to Arsenal was being made official. All the paperwork was ready to go and I was called in to do my medical. I passed with flying colours and went straight to do some media duties. I was a bit worried about the reception I would receive from the supporters because I've gone from one big team to another. My relationship with Jill was unsuccessfully hidden from the public and this might fuel the rumours even further.

Jill didn't mind being open about our relationship but I preferred to keep my life private. I wasn't ready to be an ambassador because I'd not fully discovered myself yet so i didn't feel worthy to be a role model. There is no shortage of openly gay players in our league for young girls to look up to. Magda Erikkson Chelsea's captain went viral after sharing a kiss with her girlfriend Pernille Harder. Since then she's become the perfect role model and has dealt with the responsibility well. I wasn't ready to have this pressure on my shoulders.

Despite a few reservations on my first day I got stuck right in to training. Unlike my introduction at city this one went off without a hitch. My relationship with Jill means that I already knew or at least knew of most of the players. The first person to come up to me was Lia Walti. She wasted no time and completely avoided small talk. Getting straight to the point she brought up the living situation. She pretty much begged us to move into her apartment.

I thought the original plan was for her to move in with us. After discussing the issue Lia explained that she couldn't afford to wait for Viv and Lisa to find a house and then move out. I asked her why the rush to which she responded, "you aren't the only new player joining Arsenal, another new girl is joining and I don't want to live alone with a stranger" This made sense, I wonder who the new girl was and why Lia didn't want to live alone with her. I told her I would talk to Jill but I wasn't sure what she would think.

I went hard for the session. I was guilty of not taking the step up seriously when I moved to city. I was a gifted a second opportunity and I didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Looking at the the calibre of attacking players in the Arsenal set up I wasn't sure where I was going to fit in. This means that I'm going to have to work super hard to get a spot. One thing I knew would be weird is playing along side Jill.

For a professional football couple we've hardly ever kicked a ball around together. The way she conducts herself in training surprised me. Outside of football she is so chaotic and always up for a laugh. Whenever we are together she doesn't leave my side. But at football we can't act like we normally would. We have to be strictly professional and leave our relationship at home. This felt so strange but we aren't the only ones. There is multiple couples within the Arsenal team who have to do the same thing.

As soon as we left the building and got into the car normality was resumed. Jill started paying more attention to me and being her usual soppy self. Lisa drove us home, it wasn't a long journey but Jill and I still sat in the back snuggled up together like we were going on a road trip. I knew that I had to bring up Lia's proposition with Jill tonight. I was slightly nervous because I don't know what Jill will say. On the one hand I think she would appreciate the change but at the same time I don't know if she's ready to leave Viv just yet.

Both Jill's and I are hopeless cooks so it was down to Viv to cook dinner. Lisa kept her company in the kitchen whilst me and Jill chilled on the sofa in the lounge. I eventually built up the confidence to bring it up.

"So I was talking to Lia earlier and she said something really interesting"

"What do you mean?" She responded

"How would you feel about moving to her apartment instead of waiting for Lisa and Viv to move out and then Lia move in?" I asked

"I don't know " she said. Her reason wasn't what I was expecting "do you think our room will be bigger"

"You're such a child. Is that all you care about" I laughed at her

"Pretty much to be honest. Viv is leaving anyways so what's the point of staying here when we can move into a nicer apartment"

In all fairness this made sense. "So you'd be up for going and having a look?" I asked

"Tell me when and I'll be there" she said with the cutest grin "should we tell those two" she asked pointing towards the kitchen.

"Tell us what?" Lisa said appearing from the hall into the lounge.

"Oh nothing don't worry" Jill said. She was a terrible liar. I knew Lisa would probe us until we gave in so I decided to come straight out with it. "We are thinking about moving in with Lia sooner rather than later"

"Have you told Viv?" Lisa asked

"No not yet" i responded

"Maybe leave that to me I don't know how she would take it" Lisa said

"She can't be hurt, she's the one leaving me" Jill said with a lot of emotion. I knew she cared more than she was letting on.

"I know, I'll handle it" said Lisa