Page 106 of Play On

“Well, it would help conceal him. Because who would expect Noah Darby to be running around with a wig on?”

Noah pulls down on the brim of his baseball cap. “I’m going to be optimistic that nobody would expect to see me at a pub in Dorset, so if someone thinks I look familiar, they’ll just think I’m a bloke who looks like that Darby guy.”

Nicholas grins. “That Darby guy. I might have to call you that.”

“So what’s good here?” Noah asks.

“Ooh, there’s a quite a few good things,” I say. “I love the burger.”

“The chicken tikka masala is my favourite,” Nicholas says.

“I can vouch for the salmon,” Amelia adds.

“I’m torn. I’d love the burger and chips, but I probably should have the salmon,” Noah says.

I study him as he looks over the menu. I’m once again reminded of how his job never really ends. Whether it’s the public wanting his attention or having to work out to keep up his fitness levels, down to choosing what to eat at a pub. He’snot playing right now, but the tentacles of being a professional footballer are still entwined with everything that happens to him even when he’s not on the pitch.

“It’s really good, and I’m picky,” Amelia assures him.

“Trust her, she is,” Nicholas teases.

She pretends to glare at him, but then he leans over and drops a kiss on the bridge of her nose. “I’m joking,” he says.

Amelia laughs. “Not really, but I accept that.”

A waitress appears at our table. “Good evening, I’m Carrie, and I’ll be your waitress this evening. What can I get you to drink?”

Nicholas orders a pint, Amelia orders a glass of rosé, and I ask for a Pimm’s. Noah, being our driver, opts for a Diet Coke.

“I can drive tomorrow so you can drink,” I tell him.

He smiles at me. “It’s not necessary. I’m not that bothered about missing a beer.”

My brain does a sudden trip down my dating history at St. Andrews, when so many of the guys I went out with lived for hitting the pubs and hard drinking. Yet with Noah, it’s of no consequence to him.

It’s another thing I like about him.

Carrie returns with our drinks, and we place our order for dinner. Nicholas adds some starters to the table, like halloumi fries and salt-and-pepper squid, and seeing as I’m starving, I’m grateful he did so.

As soon as Carrie leaves, he shifts his attention to me and Noah. “I’m glad you guys could come out with us tonight.”

“Me too,” I say, smiling at Nicholas.

“How did you and Amelia meet?” Noah asks, taking a sip of his Diet Coke.

Nicholas grins. “Oh, we used to hate each other.”

A surprised expression passes over his face. “Really?”

“Oh yes, we were crazy about each other, had a stupid misunderstanding for years, then got together recently,” Amelia explains breezily. “Except I don’t think we ever really hated each other.”

“No,” Nicholas agrees. “We didn’t.”

“Well, at least you had some kind of interest. Violet had zero interest when she first met me at Wisteria House,” Noah teases.

Happiness fills me. He is easily joining in the conversation, and I would never know he was reserved or quiet from the way he is speaking right now.

Nicholas grins. “But it all worked out.”

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