Page 18 of The Penalty

I glanced at him. Strong silent type, this one.

“You and Adam should come over Sunday. We’ll celebrate.”

I smiled at Rebecca. “I won’t be here but thank you.”

“Where are you off to now?” my dad finally spoke.

“New York.”

He looked at me with wistful sadness. It’s always brief but I never miss it. “What’s in the States? More endorsement opportunities?”

Rebecca cleared her throat, shooting him a smug look. “No, James. It’s a girl.”

Oh for fuck’s sake.

“The one I showed you from his social media,” she continued. “The pretty American.”

“Oh right,” his voice went up an octave. “Didn’t know it was this serious.”

The way they both looked at me made me slightly uncomfortable. Like I’d done something sneaky. I’m a grown man. Why do I feel like a teenager who’s been caught watching porn with his dick in his hand? And since when did my father ever take an interest in anything about my life?

“Nice to know I’m being stalked online by my parents,” I quipped, running a finger over my eyelid. “I should block you.”

“You will not.” Rebecca sounded offended. “You haven’t said anything about her. Not that you ever say anything about the girls you’ve dated. Did you meet her when you played in New York last month?”

“No.”

“How did you meet?”

My eye twitched. By chance. “The usual way.”

“On one of those dating apps where you swipe them, what is it, right? Left?”

“Don’t really think it’s smart for me to be on any of those.” I softened a bit when she smiled at me. “I met her at Black Rose. She was here on holiday.”

Mostly true.

“What’s her name?”

“Victoria,” I answered quietly.

“Lovely,” my stepmom grinned. “We’d like to meet her the next time she visits. You never bring any girlfriends around anymore.”

“It’s not like I’ve had very many. Just a date or two here and there.”

Rebecca eyed me with that knowing gaze only mothers have. Even if she didn’t give birth to me, she could still sniff out when I was being vague. My reputation didn’t shield itself from my family. They heard the rumors, saw the articles online. At one point in my career, I’d been linked with a different celebrity or model every week.

Speculation was one thing. I’d always respond to the rumors with a cheeky one-liner. Little did the media know what a cruel irony it was to be surrounded by adoration and desire only to feel completely alone. But that was how I’d wanted it.

“Well, you’re rather public about her with the photos. It’s refreshing to see you post something that isn’t football.”

Three pictures. I’d posted three pictures of Victoria while we were together in New York and my stepmom was acting like it’s a royal decree of marriage.

I blanched.

There’s that word again.

Focus.

---