Borrowed • Jesse Lingard

twenty three.

The next morning I'm awake and dressed early. Whatever this surprise is I want to know now and considering no one gave anything away I have no idea what to prepare for. After a lot of begging and extra shifts I've been given the weekend off work to be able to spend time with my brother and his wife. Realising no one else is awake yet I decide to head out to a local bakery for fresh pastries and coffee. Maybe this will convince Chris or Sam to give something away. As I arrive back to my apartment everyone is awake.

"Where've you been?" Chris asks from his spot in front of the TV where he's watching Peppa Pig with Leo. Remembering all of the time's Anoushka begged to watch it I realise it just makes me miss her more. Maybe if I go back to Manchester for the weekend I'd be able to see her.

"I just went out for breakfast. I've been up a while and to be honest I don't have a lot of food in" I say knowing my cupboards are bare.

"Yeah I noticed. Don't say you're starving yourself"

"As if! I normally eat out or at the airport when I'm working so it doesn't make sense to buy a lot of food" I say realising my kitchen is barely used other than for the fridge.

"That's okay as long as you're eating"

"I'm eating Chris" I say before handing out the coffees. This is when I'm at my happiest. Being surrounded by my family the only person missing is my mum but she couldn't make it this time.

"Oh my god that bracelet is incredible!" Sam says looking at my wrist "is it a Louis?"

"Yeah it is" I say smiling as I look at the bangle from Neymar "it's so pretty isn't it?"

"It's unreal babe! So was it a gift from lover boy?" Sam asks with a wink.

"Yeah he wanted to buy me something but I wouldn't choose anything so he picked this" I say giving Sam a brief story of how I ended up with a diamond covered bangle. "He told me to take his card and pick anything but I couldn't do that then he told me he only said that because he knew I wouldn't. Apparently he could tell I'm not friends with him for his money"

"Montana I think you're more than friends hun"

"This was before anything happened with us like that"

"Seriously? I need a friend like Neymar! That's got to have been upwards of £20,000" Sam says and I see the shock on Chris' face.

"Honestly Sam I didn't ask" I know looking at the bangle that it was expensive however it's not my place to ask how much it was when it was bought as a gift.

"Lets be honest though he's Neymar so he'll earn more in a day than what it cost anyway" Chris says with a shrug.

"Chris it's not about the money and I think you know me well enough to know money would be the last thing I care about"

"I know but when you work it out it's probably like a normal salaried person spending £30. Do I think it's excessive? Yes but it came from a good place"

"Can we forget about how much it cost? I want to know what my surprise is" I say trying to change the subject. I don't want to talk about how much money Neymar earns or spends.

"Well it should be arriving in about ten minutes if you want to go and wait outside" Chris says and it confuses me even more.

"Okay let's go" I say before pushing my feet into my shoes. I'm like a child I can't wait to find out what the surprise is. Making my way downstairs I sit outside of the café next door while Sam gets us another coffee. Yes we just had one but I need something to distract me.

"It's here" Chris says and I feel myself getting frustrated.

"Do you just like confusing me?" I bite. I hate surprises but I hate when they're dragged out like this.