Page 115 of Playing to Win

But it wasn’t the pizza guy.

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“Hi” was all Andrew could find the breath to say before Colin stepped out of the flat and into his arms.

Andrew kissed him hungrily, backing him up against the door, which had swung shut behind him. He needed to taste Colin’s hope and happiness while it lasted.

“I cannae believe you’re here,” Colin said, squeezing Andrew so hard he thought his ribs would crack. “Did you tell me you were staying in London ’til Sunday so I’d be surprised?”

“No. I just couldn’t stay away.” He let go, then took both of Colin’s hands, squeezing his eyes shut tight for courage. “Whatever happens, I want to be with you. Whatever happens, I need you to know I—”

The door swung open behind Colin, making him stumble back. Liam caught him.

“Pal, you look pure knackered,” the center-back told Andrew. “Out all day suppressing the vote? Telling poor people the polling station’s closed, so please to put their ballot in this plastic sack and you’ll see it gets counted?”

Normally Liam’s words would have riled Andrew. But knowing what was to happen tonight, he just felt sad.

“Give it a rest, Liam,” Colin said. “Mind, we’ve got to be magnanimous in victory.” He turned to Andrew. “I’ve proposed a major nationwide event tomorrow—Have a No Voter for Tea. Think it’ll catch on?”

Andrew forced a calm smile. “Are youservingtea to No voters, or are you eating them for tea?”

Colin laughed again, his voice pitching high with giddiness. “How’d you escape your captors?” he asked, pulling Andrew away from Liam and toward the kitchen. “Does your family know you’re here?”

“Only my brother-in-law.” Jeremy had thrown a fit when Andrew had decided to board a train for Glasgow instead of Edinburgh, but in the end, he admitted it was Andrew’s decision to make, and he promised another meeting with Party leaders at a quieter time. “He swore not to tell as long as I promised to stay off the streets. I’m only permitted to be here and my own flat tonight.”

“Noooo, you need partying in George Square later!” Colin started dancing, hands in the air. “Gonnae become Adam Smith and raise the roof with us!”

Andrew laughed, since it was either that or cry. “Are you drunk?”

“Naw, just happy.” He slid an arm around Andrew’s waist. “Now you’re here, life is complete.”

Andrew’s heart cracked in two at the thought of that radiant smile vanishing. “May we have a minute alone? I really need to tell—”

“Oi!” John shouted, his voice thundering over all the others. “Something’s happening.” He turned up the volume on the television, which was tuned to BBC’sNewsnight.

“What is it?” Colin let go of Andrew and pushed through the crowd. Andrew hung back, knowing it couldn’t be good. Here beside the stereo speaker, he couldn’t hear the news over the dance music.

Katie frowned and nudged Andrew. “There’s been another YouGov poll, taken today. What’s the point of releasing it now?”

“To give wanks on TV something to blether about,” Liam said.

“Yeah, maybe.” She started peeling off pieces of her beer-bottle label. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Me too,” Andrew said.

Katie gave him an odd look, then turned back to the TV. “Wow, it’s the president of the polling company.” A moment later, her jaw slowly dropped, and she put her hand to her mouth. “Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh motherfucking shit…no.”

Finally someone turned off the music, and Andrew could hear the television, where a man was saying, “I can’t see No losing this now. At the risk of looking a complete prat in a few hours’ time, I would say it’s a 99% chance of a No victory.”

Andrew shoved his way between Liam and Robert to find Colin standing frozen in the middle of the room, staring at the television with wide, wet eyes. He looked like a child who’d just seen his dog run over.

On the TV, a bold red-white-and-blue graphic predicted a 54-46% win for No. Just as Jeremy had said.

“I’m so sorry, love,” he told Colin, who didn’t respond or even blink. Andrew slid an arm around him. “It’s all right.”

Colin jerked away, giving him a look that paralyzed. “It’s as good as over, and they’ve not counted a single vote cast today. How, in any universe, could that be all right?”

“This is pish,” Liam said. “Everyone knows polls get it wrong.” He looked around at his stunned teammates. “Right?”

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