Page 146 of Play On

I’m so happy when I’m in Surrey with Noah. We’re creating our own little life there with Mila. I’ve even decorated his living room and it actually has furniture now! Noah and I went furniture shopping, and he was involved in the whole process of decorating, which made it fun.

It also made the roomours.

The sound of heels clicking against the hardwood floor causes both of us to turn around. It’s the gallery director, Winter.

“Are you ready, Violet? The VIP guests are already beginning to queue outside,” she says, smiling brightly at me.

My stomach flips upside down with excitement and nerves. “Yes. The waitstaff are ready with starters, the bartenders are ready, and I—”

“Violet,” she says, chuckling, “I know you’re ready on the professional front. I wanted to know how you’re feeling about your first exhibition.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling my cheeks grow warm. “I’m nervous, if you can’t tell.”

“Don’t be. The collection you’ve put together is fantastic and from the RSVPs you’ve received, you know it’s going to be a full house. Take time to enjoy it, okay?”

I nod. “I will.”

Then she turns and walks away.

I turn to Noah and exhale again.

“You know you have a full team here to support you,” he reminds me.

I grin at him. “The entire Saucy Shorts squad is coming tonight.”

Noah blushes. “Stop.”

I giggle. “You keep telling me that and I would think you would have realised by now that I’m never stopping with it.”

“I can always hold out hope.”

“Never.”

We both laugh softly at that.

But it’s true. The entire Saucy Shorts squad, as I’ve named them since the Australia trip, are coming tonight for my show. Nicholas and Amelia. Aimee. Camden and Bella. Our found family are here for me, and I feel so lucky to have them.

Sarah, of course, will be here with her well-connected friends. She and I have formed quite a lovely bond, and I have lunch or dinner with her once a month to talk about art and charity events. I enjoy her company, and she enjoys mine. Sarah told me once that she sees now that Amelia is much happier “mucking about” in the country fixing leaks and tending to peacocks, and she’s accepted that Amelia has to follow her own path—which has made both of them happier as a result.

My parents have come up for the opening, which means a lot to me after everything that has happened. They didn’t support my projects at Wintersmith Hall, but they have supported my career in London, and I appreciate that.

Whilst I’m being supported tonight, Noah has been equally supported this season on the pitch, too.

I still get chills when I remember how the entire Saucy Shorts squad came to Noah’s first game of the season at Hawkes Park. He confessed to me that his contract gives him a box at the stadium, but he’d never used it because he had nobody who would come see him play. I told him to get that box ready because there was going to be people in it for every home game.

I kept my promise.

But even better? Noah surprised me by having a mural painted on one of the walls in the box. There’s a painting of him, sliding into the grass and making the V for me with his hand. If that weren’t enough, he also had a field with butterflies painted into the picture.

I cried when I saw it.

And vowed I would always be in that box to watch him play.

The squad has shown up for him in big ways. Aimee makes every game, and Nicholas and Amelia make quite a few as well. Even Amelia’s mum has shown up, which surprised both of us. Her brother Harry has been here, and that’s always a good time because he’s so funny. Bella always comes down from Camden’s box—he finally claimed his this season, too—and we have fun cheering on our boys together.

Stonebridge United is off to another strong start this season, sitting second in the table behind Oakleaf Palace. Noah mentioned that he expects Declan Hawkes to make some big moves when the transfer window opens in January. Most notably, for a hotshot American goalie who is playing for Milan.

Hmm. Maybe the new goalie could be a potential date for Aimee. I’ll need to ask Noah once he gets to know him. Harvey still has a girlfriend, and I’ve met her. The impression I got from her was that she really wasn’t supportive of Harvey. It was at a charity event for the team, and she stayed on her phonethe entire time. It’s the same when I’ve been in the WAGS suite, which I always make a point to spend some time in during matches. She doesn’t interact with other WAGS, and I’ve overheard her bitching on the phone about being at “another game” and she was “so bored.” She said it in front of us and didn’t care that we heard it.

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