Page 113 of Match Point

‘That’s it! He punched that other fella over you.’

‘Not exactly, but I was there.’

‘And you had that kiss in the rain.’ He beams at me in the rear-view mirror. ‘Great picture, that.’ His face falls. ‘So how come you’re not at the final watching him play, then?’

‘We… we had an argument.’

‘Oh. Sorry to hear that.’ He quirks a brow. ‘You were being stubborn were you, after your fight? Saying you wouldn’t go watch him today?’

I look down at my hands in my lap. ‘He said he didn’t want me there and I believed him. But I think we were both wrong.’

He chuckles. ‘Have I been there. Sometimes the missus speaks in riddles – she says one thing, but really she wants me to do the opposite. I’ve learnt over the years that the words don’t really mean much; it’s the actions that count, isn’t it.’

I nod.

‘So you racing to be there for him now, that will count for a lot,’ he adds.

‘I hope so,’ I say, my heart hammering. ‘I’m going to put up a fight anyway.’

‘That’s the spirit.’ He smiles warmly. ‘Let’s hope he starts thinking that way on the court, too. He’s letting the other guy walk all over him. Maybe seeing you will help give him that oomph he needs. By the looks of this weather, they’re going to need to close the roof soon. The rain is light but it will make conditions slippery.’

‘You don’t think it’s going to stop and clear up?’

‘It’s forecast to continue for the rest of the afternoon. Typical! We’ve had quite good weather for Wimbledon this year, but it had to rain on finals day.’

Something suddenly occurs to me that makes me sit bolt upright, my stomach flipping. ‘I don’t have any money!’

He pulls his eyebrows together. ‘What’s that, love?’

‘My phone died, which has my cards on it, and because of my argument with Kieran, I stormed out of our flat without my wallet! I don’t have any cash to pay you! When we get there, if you just wait, I’ll ask my friend who’s meeting me if she has her cards on her.’

‘You know what, it’s on the house,’ he says, turning the running meter off.

‘What? No! I owe you for the journey!’

‘You’ve made my day. I get to tell everyone I was the cabbie who raced you here to declare your love to Kieran O’Sullivan…’ He pauses. ‘That is what you’re planning on doing, right?’

A warmth swells in my belly and my heart feels so full it rises into my throat, making it hard to breathe. ‘Yes,’ I breathe, unable to stop a smile. ‘That’s the plan.’

‘And I get to be a part of that story. It’s like a bloody movie!’ He chuckles. ‘It’s an honour to be your driver today, miss.’

‘Thank you so much,’ I gush, pressing my hand to my chest.

As we reach the main gate and he indicates to pull over, he winds down the window when I jump out and shut the door, thanking him profusely.

‘Go get ’im!’ he calls out as I impatiently wait for passing cars before I can cross the road, my hair becoming damp and scraggly from the rain.

There’s no queue – there’s no play on outdoor courts today and anyone who wanted to watch the final on Murray Mound is already in, huddled under umbrellas – and so I race towards the gate, spotting Iris already there, chatting to one of the security women, holding her umbrella over both of them.

‘There she is!’ Iris cries, waving me over.

‘Iris, I don’t have any money!’ I announce breathlessly as I reach them.

‘Peculiar thing to shout out on arrival,’ she comments, sharing a look with the other woman. ‘Flora, this is Selma. Selma, this is my friend who I told you about, who apparently doesn’t have any money and likes to tell people about it.’

‘I don’t have my cards or cash on me, so I can’t buy a ground pass,’ I explain.

‘Yeah, I couldn’t get you a press pass either at the last minute without accreditation,’ Iris says with a sly smile, ‘but I’ve had a word with Selma here and I think we’re good.’

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