Hotspur Girl

Part 12

The AA took too long to reach me. I wasn't in the most convenient place ever, so I couldn't exactly blame them. I was leaning against my ailing car, deciding whether or not it was time to try and talk to Heungmin yet. I decided it was not.

When the van with the yellow logo rolled up, it was such a relief. I told the mechanic what had happened and he opened the bonnet. I watched him look at each piece with precision before shaking his head and closing the lid. "Sorry, it's knackered. How old is it?"
"Almost as old as I am, to be honest."
He laughed. "Hey, don't you play for Tottenham?"
I felt myself glowing with pride. "Yeah, I do."
"That's cool. Not nearly enough women play footy."

He drove me to the scrap yard in the van, where they took the car from me and paid me for the metal. Not enough to get a new one, that was one thing. I had to go home in the van as well.
"This one," I said, pointing at my house.
"Oh, you've got another car. Good job, really."
"I don't," I said. I looked up to see that black Range Rover parked on the curb. As much as I hated it, I felt my heart flutter a little. He'd waited for me. I thanked the driver, got out and tapped on the car window to get Heungmin's attention. He was on the phone but looked up at me with this guilty look on his face. His phone slid out of his hand and through the gap next to the car seat. I smiled a little as he reached down to get it.

He got out of the car, holding a bouquet of pink roses. I couldn't help blushing a little: he'd done that for me. I decided I'd forgiven him, if I hadn't already. He put his arms around me and I could feel his hands shaking. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely audible. "I'm so, so sorry."
"It's okay," I said softly. "I get it."

He stroked my hair and I pressed my head into his shoulder. We stayed like that for a long time, not caring if people saw us. Nothing else mattered at that point.

"What happened to your car?"
"It broke down on some country road. They had to scrap it."
"Oh, that's awful." I loved his expression: one of genuine concern.
"Its time came ages ago. I had to crawl in through the boot because the doors broke."
He took my hand. "Come with me. I want to show you something."

🌙🌙🌙
"Close your eyes."
I laughed. "I'm scared."
"I'm not a psychopath."
"I'll have to take your word for it."
"Hold out your hands." We were standing outside his house and it was starting to get cold as evening came. I outstretched my hands in the general direction I thought he was in. He slowly placed something cold and hard into them. "Alright, now open them."
I cautiously open my eyes. In my hands were some car keys. "You didn't," I said.
"I did."
I didn't know how to respond so I just put my names around him and kissed him desperately. He put his hands on my face and disconnected our lips. "Don't you want to see it?"
"Yes!" I said. I felt like a child on Christmas day.

I followed him into the garage where all of his cars were. I pressed the button on the key to see the lights on a black Maserati flicker. I looked up at him and he nodded. I went to it, and ran my hand over it lovingly. Heungmin appeared beside me and put an arm round my waist. I kissed him again and opened the door. It didn't have the new car smell, true, but it was still magical.

I felt well cool driving it up to Lane for the season finale. It had been a brilliant season for us: FAWC runners-up, promotion into the Super League, and winning our final match against Durham with a clean sheet. Now, it was time for the mens' final match at home against Everton. From then on, it was only Madrid. Mental.

Heungmin wasn't actually allowed to play because of the suspension, so we got to sit together and judge the other team from the stands. I could feel eyes on us everywhere. People knew. Of course they did.

The actual match, in honesty, was a bit dull. It was a draw, but it kept us in the top four. What was amazing was the end of season lap. All the players brought their wives and children down onto the pitch. Lucas gave me his little son to hold, who clapped his chubby hands and sang "come on you spurs" in his little baby voice.