Never Again

Part Fourteen

The game was great, exciting and end to end, it was the third from last game of the season and there was still everything to play for. Erin was ignoring the feelings of inadequacy she was getting from being in the presence of so many immaculate and glamorous women, there was not an out of place hair on anyone’s head, and that intimidated her. She couldn’t compete with them. Then the voice of reason would vocalise, remind her that Jack had asked her to come with him, and he’d been like a bitch on heat at their last couple of meetings. No Jack liked her, she knew that. She had to deal with her fragile self respect, Jack was not Max. He’d not lead her on and let her down. His intentions were clear. He wanted fun, and so did she.

At half time they had another drink, re-watching highlights of the first half; it was then that a pretty, petite blond thrust herself upon them. Throwing her arms around Jack, she grinned as he bent to kiss her cheek, then she turned to grin at Erin.

Erin ignored the little pang of jealousy that seeped into her consciousness at the greeting the two shared, but as she stared at the two faces both smiling at her, she realised there was a love between them, but a platonic love.

                “Erin, I warned you this might happen, this is Danielle Millward, you met her husband very briefly last weekend!”

Suddenly it made sense, this was Jack’s best friend’s wife, Erin grinned and extended a hand, “Hi! I’m Erin Bailey!”

The other woman’s hand was firm, “I am so pleased to meet you! I can’t remember the last time Jack introduced me to a female friend, “ she glanced at Jack, “and that says more about his usual bad taste in women than anything else.” Still grinning at the man who dwarfed her in height, she added, “about time Jack!”  Then linking her arm through Erin’s she turned them away from him, “let’s go somewhere where I can tell you all about him!”

Jack’s groan was comical, but he wasn’t threatened by Danni, she loved him like a brother, and she was right, the last few women he’d slept with more than once - he could hardly call it dating, were not the sort of women you introduced to your best friend’s wife. The brief image of Tina came to his mind, and he groaned, she was everything that he hated, but up until now that was all he’d gone for. Until now, he’d met women who wanted to be seen with him, not just him, but someone of his stature, they wanted to use him to leapfrog to fame, but weren’t interested in anything else. Unfortunately he’d rarely been pictured with any of them, so neither party had got what they wanted out of any union.

He glanced across at Erin giggling with Danni and felt a surge of heat to his groin. She was everything he wanted. Funny, animated, kind - she’d proved that in the way she’d taken him into her life over the last month, she was beautiful in a classic way, she was unadorned, no fake tan, hair extensions or inch thick make up. And she argued with him, was free with her opinions, she stimulated him in ways he’d never considered before. The whole package was smoking hot.

The team won, and they were still in the players’ lounge when the victorious team, all showered and changed turned up. Scott came straight over to fist bump his mate, then hug his wife.

                “You coming for a meal later? Danni’s mother is staying, so we’re heading to this quaint little Italian I know.”

Jack’s hand snaked around Erin’s waist, “would you rather go somewhere quiet?”
She liked that he appreciated eating out with his friends could be intimidating to her when they still barely knew each other, but she liked Danni, and Scott seemed like a great guy, so if anything the evening would be easier in their company.