Rice, Rice, baby

Chapter 12

"Oh, Alex, hey" I say after bumping into him. "I wasn't expecting to see you at work today. Don't you have the other shift anymore?"

"I do, yeah. But they asked me if I could cover for you while you were sick, and now the whole schedule is a mess."

Oh, yes. Because I've been sick with the most horrible cold known to human history mixed with the worst stomach bug ever. My mother constantly told me that I was just overreacting, but I felt so poorly I thought they would have to take me to the hospital and that that would be the end. That I would leave this world without trying the rice. Because that hasn't happened either.

When we moved from St. George's to Tottenham training centre, Declan didn't come with us. The doctors checked his hamstring again and decided it was best if he went back home to rest since he would not be fit enough to play the next game, which meant that we didn't see each other again.

Then while he was out for the next couple of games with Arsenal, and like happened last time he was injured, he basically ignored me. Kennedy told me that it probably was because he loves football so much that when he can't play, he doesn't feel like the best company and just wants to be on his own, that James had done it too. But that annoying voice inside my head kept telling me that I had done something and he was ignoring me on purpose.

After that I got sick, was in bed for like two weeks, and now here we are. It's been a month since the last time I saw Declan, and the most we've done has been send each other a couple of texts asking how we are and if we've recovered.

"Then are we working together again?" I ask Alex.

"Until they fix things, it looks like it, yes" he sighs. Great. He still hates me.

"Liv, this just arrived for you" one of our coworkers says.

"Oh, thank you" I say, taking the small bouquet of red roses she was carrying.

"Sorry for being so mia, I will make it up to you. Are you free Saturday night? DR" Alex says.

"What..." Oh, shit. He's reading the card that came with the flowers. "That's personal!" I say, snatching it from his hands.

"It fell from the bouquet and when I picked it up I couldn't help but read it" he shrugs.

"Yes, of course. You couldn't help it" I reply, rolling my eyes.

"Is DR who I think it is or are you dating Daniel Ricciardo now?" he chuckles.

"What?"

"Liv, are you still seeing Rice despite basically everyone telling you it is a mistake?"

"We are just friends, Alex."

"Now friends send each other red roses?" he laughs.

"Whatever."

"He's a football player, Liv. He is bound to break your heart."

"You don't know him."

"And you do? C'mon. The moment he meets another girl he finds hot he will move on and forget about you. Or the moment he manages to get between your legs. Has he done it already?"

"Fuck you, Alex" I say, slapping his face as hard as I can and walking away, taking deep breaths to stop me from crying. Stupid twat.

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Are you free Saturday night? That's what Declan's note said. And what did I think it meant? That we were going out for dinner or something like that, that we were going to have that date. But he had other plans, because he was playing on Saturday night.