Page 156 of Trying Sophie

They fell silent and I tried to hold myself together.

You know when people jokingly say they threw up in their mouths a little bit? Yeah, that, except not so much a joke.

I gritted my teeth and forced air into my lungs in a series of deep, steady breaths that helped combat the roiling of my stomach. As adrenaline coursed through me, I recognized my fight or flight response kicking in. I didn’t think any woman overhearing the conversation I just had would fault me for leaving, but the part of my brain that wanted to stay and fight for my relationship reminded its other half this wasn’t new information. I’d always known Declan had been a first class slut before he’d met me. He’d also told me all about his sexual proclivities so nothing Maggie’s friend said came as a surprise.

The facts are irrefutable, I told myself. Declan had been with Maggie but his time with her had been short-lived and it’d happened well before we met. She was causing trouble because she wanted him back. The other irrefutable truth was the way in which her friend had described Declan was the exact opposite of how he’d been with me.

He’d taken me fast and hard too, but unlike Maggie it actually had been at my urging, was what I wanted. He’d also been gentle and tender and had kissed me long and slow until I thought I would melt. And despite what these girls said, Declan had no problem staring into my eyes as he made love to me. No, he held my gaze and whispered my name and kissed me like I was the only person in the world who mattered.

And yet despite all this, their words hit me hard. It was one thing for Maggie to insinuate that Declan had cheated on me; it was an entirely other to hear the specific details of their sexcapades. Confronted with the reality of those deeds, the knot in my stomach grew tighter and I wondered if I’d made a mistake coming here. Because I knew with a certainty Maggie wasn’t the only woman Declan had fucked who probably bragged to her friends about it. Had I been blind to what it would be like to be with him publicly? Were these the sort of whisperings and innuendo I’d be faced with every time we were out together? And if they were, could I handle it?

I wasn’t so sure because right now I wanted to turn around and smash Maggie’s plastic face to bits and then hurl up everything I’d eaten.

“You two should be ashamed of yourselves,” an older woman with bright red hair sitting to my right turned and hissed. “I don’t know why you even bother coming to the games since it’s not as if you actually pay attention to what’s happening on the field.”

As the woman turned back in her seat, her eyes caught mine and she smiled sympathetically. The gesture tripped me up because it looked almost as if she understood the debate I’d been having with myself.

“Fuck off Fiona,” Maggie muttered as she and her friend went back to whispering and giggling.

Turning to me, Fiona said, “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to hear that,” confirming I hadn’t imagined her piteous look. I didn’t know how, but she seemed to know who I was.

Extending her hand my direction, she said, “Hi, I’m Fiona. I run the season ticketing office. Don’t pay any attention to those girls. Maggie’s been hanging around the team for ages because she thinks she can trick one of the lads into marrying her.”

Maggie huffed behind us and her friend snickered.

Shaking her hand, I said, “I’m Sophie, but I think you already know that.”

“I do. I helped Declan with your ticket.”

“Thank you,” I answered and looked around and the stands. “These are great seats.”

“The best,” she agreed. “Everyone in this section has either been a season ticket holder for years or they’re somehow affiliated with the team.”

“I hope I didn’t take anyone’s spot,” I remarked, feeling guilty for the preferential treatment.

“Not at all. These seats belong to one of our sponsors but they had to bow out because of work travel. So here you and I sit instead.” She smiled and I got the impression she loved this particular perk of her job.

“Declan doesn’t ask for a lot of tickets, you know,” she continued. “His mom attends probably one match a season, and his sister shows up more and more frequently these days, but aside from them and an old family friend, he’s never asked me for extra tickets.”

“Cian?” I asked, assuming that’s who the friend was.

“Oh no, dear. Cian wouldn’t have to ask for a ticket. He can come and sit with the players anytime he wants but since his injury he hasn’t stepped foot back here.” She tutted and shook her head sadly. Brightening, she added, “Come to think of it, since you’re from Ballycurra, you probably know Colm, the family friend.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I might know him. He’s my grandpa.”

“Really? That’s very interesting.” Fiona scratched her cheek and opened her mouth to speak but then shut it. “I shouldn’t say anything; it’s not really any of my business, but Declan really loves your grandpa.”

“Oh, you don’t have to tell me. The feeling is entirely mutual. My grandpa thinks the world of Declan.”

“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. Declan’s …” She stopped and shifted her head side to side as if searching for the words.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to hold your tongue for my sake. I think these ladies have maligned him worse than anything you could ever say.” I hitched my finger over my shoulder, and when I turned to look, I was surprised to see they’d snuck out at some point in the last couple of minutes. I hoped they stayed gone; I’d had enough of Maggie to last me a lifetime.

“Oh, I would never malign Declan,” Fiona answered emphatically. “He’s got a reputation—and deservedly so—and he can be a rascal, but he’s also one of the nicest boys to come through this club in ages. Do you know, he remembers my birthday every year and always buys me my favorite perfume? I never told him what it is—my birthday or the perfume—but he figured both out. He tries to pretend it isn’t him who leaves the box on my desk, but I watched him set it there last year so he can pretend as much as he likes. I know better.”

I smiled, my heart swelling with pride and love. I wasn’t surprised in the least. The Declan I knew had a softer side to him, one he didn’t often show to the world. I’d bet good money very few people in these stands right now knew that when he wasn’t training or helping out his mom, he spent hours visiting sick kids in the hospital, walking dogs at the shelter, or venturing into communities that didn’t have a lot of resources to mentor young boys. Unfortunately, he’d also spent the last several years on a sort of sexual bender, which tended to tarnish one’s crown.

“Do you mind if I ask you something, Fiona?”

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