Weekend Goal

Chapter 23: Someone to Listen

Winning our first match after revamping the club felt like a sweet victory. I only wished Rose was
here with the team to celebrate and see the fruit of her labor.

Our open house last Friday was successful and more than enough members signed up to enjoy the exclusive benefits. Rose delivered the membership cards as promised right before the event was about to begin and left for the airport, but not before handing me the captain armband. I looked at the piece of stretchy fabric in my hand, feeling honored and confused at the same time. No other words were exchanged but seeing how Cooper watched her leave while sporting a blank face left me wondering what happened between those two.

Now after the game, the club house is full with members and their guests enjoying drinks and snacks. Cooper congratulated us with mild enthusiasm on a good game in the dressing room and I haven't seen him around since.

"Here you go, captain," Lachlan says while handing me a drink and my phone which I had forgotten in my car.

"Ad interim. We all know that band should have been on Rose's arm, not mine," I say and take a sip of my drink. My parched throat from screaming during the past 90 minutes thanks me.

"The role looked great on you and the team won! And look at this place! The board won't give it away."

"We can only hope. Cooper didn't seem pleased today about anything."

"I saw him a moment ago outside when I went to get your phone. He was just staring at the screen of the phone in his hand and looked as if he just got bad news."

"Let's hope it's not someone from the board taking an early decision." I sigh.

I decide to put Cooper out of my head and enjoy the rest of my time at the club until it's time to go home. Life with Lachlan since we declared our love has fallen into a comfortable rhythm. He has dinner ready when I come home from work and doesn't mind the endless rants. He tells me
about his restoration projects and how he's thinking of using his apartment as a studio for
private clients, which makes sense since we spend the majority of our time at my place.

My phone beeps on the kitchen counter while I enjoy a cup of coffee and I see a notification with
a message from Rose.

Can we meet at the club for a bite? I could use someone to listen.

I answer that I can meet her after work and get my bag to head out. Under it I find Lachlan's  phone. I get mine out of my purse and call him at his work.

"Heritage Heal, Lachlan speaking."

"Hey, it's me. Just to let you know that you left your phone here. Do you want me to bring it to your apartment after work? I'm meeting Rose at the club and it's on my way. She wants to talk to someone."

"No worries. Leave it there. I'll pick it during my lunch break. Thank you!"

I wish him a good day before ending the call and place the phone back on the table. The screen activates with a message... from Willow.

I'll see you tonight at your place. Don't tell anyone about this.

Why the fuck is Willow messaging Lachlan? When did they exchange contact details?

My hands shake while I get my phone out of my bag. Anger, betrayal, every negative feeling runs through me. I warned him to be mindful of who he mixes with but never I imagined it would be that backstabbing bitch. Why is she coming to her place? And what for?

Nothing in our exchanges lately has made me suspicious of him, but I know well enough that he's an excellent actor when it comes to hiding that he was using drugs. We lived in Amsterdam, it was acceptable and legal to smoke weed, but he kept the hard stuff secret.