When Fools Rush In

Chapter 6 - Losing Control

The weekend passed by in a blur. The hen party continued for two nights solid and involved hangovers, gossip and tears. Lucy monitored the match from her phone - with Man City beating Chelsea and no incidents or dramas she could breathe a sigh of relief that she wasn't going to get any work issues her colleagues couldn't handle back at the office. After her steamy Friday night experience in the cocktail bar bathroom, she had continued to message Jack intermittently, at pains to play it cool. She woke several times a night, thinking about him, thinking about the twenty four hours they'd had. It felt like longer. She would reach out to the other side of the hotel bed, wishing he were there.

On Sunday she said goodbye to her friends as she left the hotel. Tara put her hand on Lucy's arm as she began to wheel her suitcase out of the lobby towards the car park.

"Lucy," said Tara, looking forlorn, "is everything OK with you? You've seemed a bit distant all weekend. Is it work?"

Lucy was taken aback - she hadn't modified her behaviour or noticed herself behaving any differently.

"Sure - yes - I'm absolutely fine," she replied reassuringly. "Yes work's busy but it's just the nature of my job, it's always been like that."

"You were looking at your phone loads, like more than usual."

"Just keeping tabs on my work emails, that's all! Plus we won away so the pressure is off," smiled Lucy, trying to lighten the conversation.

"Just as long as it's not too much - I've seen you burn out before," Tara warned. "Anyway I'll be back in Manchester next weekend once I've spent a week with the bloody in-laws so we must have our proper catch up soon!"

Lucy waved Tara goodbye, keen to get back to her car. Keen to get back to Jack.

***

Monday morning was frantic. She had lined up several interviews with Pep ahead of their Champions League match the following day, which mercifully, was taking place at the Etihad. This was followed by an informal media lunch at The Ivy - Lucy's way of schmoozing a selection of national print journalists and the Manchester Evening News with a slap up three-course lunch and some snippets of team news for the press. She had barely had time to go to the office and sort the rest of her work out, but what she did know is that the week before she had booked in an interview with Jack for a local commercial radio journalist who had been hassling her for content since she had arrived in the job. The interview was taking place the following morning as Jack's last gig before prepping for the Champions League game.

She messaged Jack.

Lucy - still OK for the interview with Mark Tanner tomorrow morning?

Jack - Yeah course, who is he again?

Lucy - local radio guy, no one big, nothing much to worry about, just keep it top line

Jack - top line?

Lucy - Yes just stick to the big things, talk about how you've always wanted to play in the Champions League, how much you love KDB etc

Jack - haha OK

Several minutes later:

Jack - what are you doing after the game tomorrow?

Lucy - straight home to bed, I'll be knackered as it's a late finish, and so will you!

Jack - can I come with you?

Lucy sent a winking emoji

Lucy - what do you think? Anyway don't be late in the morning, 9am sharp!

Jack - I won't be late for you

Lucy found herself in a fluster as she left the restaurant, distracting herself with work emails on her phone. She hadn't seen Jack since she'd dropped him off on Friday morning and thoughts were racing through her head - what was going to happen next? What was this? Clearly more than a 24 hour stand? But he was a fuckboy right? Just after sex? He'd split up with his girlfriend - she wasn't at the flat anymore, but were they still in touch? Did she actually come to visit? Lucy, what are you actually thinking you fool? It will never end well, will it?