Page 56 of The One That Got Away

‘What?’

‘He told me he’d been laid off from his job and that Mum was sick so it was up to me to take care of the family. He warned me that if I messed up and didn’t give the game a 100 per cent focus, the family would be homeless and we wouldn’t be able to get the treatment Mum needed.’

‘I didn’t know your mum was ill. Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘She didn’t want anyone to know. She was too proud. Same with Dad. So I had to do what he said. Although you won’t believe me, I was just as cut up about our break-up as you. But I felt like I didn’t have a choice. The irony is, after we broke up, I started playing worse. And the worse I played, the more desperate I became. Which was why that shitty tackle happened. And just like that, my career was over. I went from hero to failurein less than a year. I lost everything. My career, my dreams and you.’

Shit.

I sat there, speechless.

I had no idea. I thought he just abandoned me. Like my dad did, all those years ago.

‘I didn’t realise.’

‘I know.’ Max scrubbed a hand over his chin. ‘How could you?’

‘But when you came back to London, I tried to see you.’

‘I know. But I was in a dark place. I didn’t speak to anyone. Not even Colton. I blocked everyone out. I realise now that I was in a deep state of depression. I was grieving. And I couldn’t see you. You were a reminder of how I’d messed everything up. So I locked myself away.’

‘And you moved away.’

‘We had no choice. My parents weren’t working. We had no money so the bank repossessed the house. We had to move into my grandma’s, which was a nightmare. It took a while before we were back on our feet. Mum was making homemade soaps and skincare products which started to do well. Then she got sick again. And this time, she didn’t recover.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

His mum was never my biggest fan, but she usually tried to make an effort to smile or say hello. Which was more than Max’s dad ever did.

‘Thanks.’ He swallowed hard. ‘Anyway, people kept asking to buy her products, even when she passed. I saw how she made them and knew the ingredients she used, so I decided to try and do something with them. I never made my dream happen properly, but I thought if I could make Mum’s products take off, all the shit I’d been through wouldn’t be for nothing.That’s why I started the business. And I’ve been focused on that ever since.’

Wow and double wow.

I felt like all of the air had been knocked from my lungs.

‘I… shit.’ I sat up straighter. ‘Sorry. Just trying to take this all in.’

‘I know it’s a lot. Especially so early in the morning. But at least now you know.’

‘Yeah.’

‘I thought about calling you to explain so many times, but the more time passed, the more difficult it got. I should’ve fought harder for us. But at the time it felt like there was no way out. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me, but I needed you to know the truth. I’m gonna go now. Give you time to digest everything.’

Max got up. His eyes were red, but I couldn’t be sure if it was because he was tired or upset.

As the room door closed, I sat there frozen.

For years I’d wanted an explanation.

But now I’d got one, I had no idea what to do with it.

25

MAX

I slept through breakfast and the morning briefing. I was exhausted. Not just from my terrible sleep on Stella’s bedroom floor, but mentally.

The relief that flooded my body when I left Stella’s room was intense. I’d carried that burden and guilt for years. So to finally give her the full story felt like a thousand bricks had been lifted from my shoulders.

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