Page 56 of Blindsided By You

The large zero hanging under the ‘Visitors’ side of the scoreboard is a sweet sight—but not as sweet as spotting Jenna in the clubrooms when I step out of the showers.

There’s a smallish gathering in the bar area, pretty much all locals, as most Ardnish fans didn’t make the trip for what was a low-stakes pre-season game. Like a compass finding true north, my eyes swing straight to Jenna, seated at a table with two other women, glasses of wine in front of them.

One’s Lexie Morgan, in my class at school, and married to burly Troy, our loosehead prop. I don’t know the other woman; she’s a little younger, with immaculate makeup.

Lexie’s the first to spot me, waving me over. I do a quick scan for Coach. He’s in the far corner, back to me, gesturing wildly as he talks to the reporter. I’ve got the group as cover—safety in numbers.

Jenna’s mouth curves up in the sort of smile I’d like to think is only for me. It always seems a bit brighter, her eyes a bit more sparkly when she looks at me. I know there’s not another person in the world who causes me such an immediate rush of happiness when I see them. Only her, and it always triggers a sharp ache inside that if I wasn’t only twenty-eight, I might think was a heart attack.

It is really. Just a different kind of heart attack; the pain is my desperate need to be with her, even if it is in a crowded bar. I’ll take anything of her I can get. For now, I’ll share her with others, and later perhaps she’ll follow me home.

“Geordie,” Lexie gushes. She hasn’t changed a bit, still the same loud bubbly girl I remember, which I suppose balances out Troy, who’s known to be a bit of a quiet, grumpy bastard. “We were just talking about you.”

“You were?” I say, casting a suspicious eye at Jenna, who rolls her eyes and laughs, and they all look at each other like they’ve got some conspiracy going on.

“Yes, we need you,” Lexie squawks. “For the pub quiz team. Tuesday nights at The Railway. Casey and Joey moved on down to Ballenaig for his work, so we’re two down and it starts again week after next. Jenna’s going to join us and we need another guy, along with all that stuff you guys know about.” She giggles. “Come on Geordie, please? It’ll be fun.”

I smile, but inside I’m gripped by panic. Joining a pub quiz team is one of the last things in the world I’d choose to do. The only thing worse would be appearing onTheChasewhere you have to answer the questions on your own, and your stupidity is filmed for the world to watch on television. Even in a team, I have this fear of being the dumb one. The guy who never has a clever answer, the one who has the least to offer.

But then I latch onto what she’s said. Jenna’s going to be in the team, and that changes everything. I can either join the team and have her, and the rest of them, witness me making a complete arse of myself, or sit at home every Tuesday like a right mug while she’s down the pub with random blokes sniffing about. What if they fill my spot with some other guy and she takes a shine to him? Especially if he’s got all the answers; someone more in her league in the brains department.

Anyway, I’d be crazy to turn down time with her. Wherever Jenna goes, I go, even if it’s something taking me miles out of my comfort zone—like a fucking pub quiz.

“Ah, yeah, I suppose so,” I say, trying not to let my lack of enthusiasm show. Lexie might take back the offer if she thinks I’m going to put a dampener on their ‘fun’. Although Troy’s never struck me as a fun guy, so maybe I’m safe.

“Here, sit with us, and I’ll tell you allabout it.”

“Can I grab a drink first?” This situation calls for alcohol, whether Coach says it’s allowed or not.

I return a few minutes later with a whisky—beer won’t cut it—pull out a chair and slide in under the tiny bar table, my knees knocking against its chipped formica surface. They may have a flash new coach, but the Cluanie club rooms are still pretty basic.

“OK,” Lexie says, “so there are six in a team. It doesn’t have to be equal numbers of guys and girls, but we’ve found there’s a real advantage if you mix it up a bit. The guys always know the sports stuff. I’m great on TV programmes and movies. Daisy here is our music expert—although we have to remind her not every answer is a Taylor Swift song.” She elbows the other woman playfully, while Daisy puts on a displeased pout. “Oh, sorry, have you met Daisy? She’s Calvin’s girlfriend.”

I haven’t before now, but I know young Calvin. A good lad. Plays opposite Brodie out on the right wing.

“No, I haven’t. Nice try your man scored today,” I say, and a smile of pride lights up Daisy’s face, the candy pink lips and perfectly arched brows making her look like a doll.

“Yeah, I’m so thrilled for him. His first year in the team, first game—”

“My ears are still ringing from all her screaming.” Lexie gives a theatrical eye roll and sends a mock scowl Daisy’s way.

Jenna’s watching the exchange with an amused smile, and I give her one of those ‘What the hell have you got me into?’ looks. She smirks back at me, not showing any inclination to rescue me from Lexie’s attention.

I get the full rundown on the quiz night: the ten rounds, the points system, and the other teams. Apparently the biggestcompetition comes from ‘The Irn Bru Crew’—who don’t drink any alcohol even though they spend two hours in a pub every Tuesday evening, so that might explain their advantage—and ‘Whisky Business’, a group of pissheads who somehow regularly win despite their over-indulgence in the local brew.

“And what’s our team name?” I ask, realising as I speak I’ve called it ‘our’ team, so I must be joining. God help me.

“Quizzing In The Deep.” The name means nothing to me. I look at Jenna.

“Lexie’s an Adele fan,” she says. Still means nothing to me, but I nod like it does.

“So you’re in?” Lexie asks. “Please say yes. Jenna told us how you’re so smart, you know, from living in all those different countries. Apart from Jenna, the rest of us have hardly been further than Edinburgh. But you, you’ve done it all.”

I’m hit with a quiet flush of pride, knowing Jenna’s been talking me up to them. Without realising it, she constantly feeds my ego when we’re alone together, talking to me as an equal—not her, the educated one, and me, the battler—but it’s the first time I’ve felt this new confidence in front of others. For her to suggest I’m a guy who’s got something worthwhile to offer in the knowledge stakes, even if it’s just for some small-town pub quiz team, makes me feel like I deserve a place onUniversity Challenge.

“I’m in.”

“That’s amazing.” Lexie bounces from her chair, flinging her hands around my neck and splashing a kiss on my cheek. “Let me get us another round to celebrate.” She scoops up her empty glass and reaches for Jenna’s while eyeing my almost empty tumbler.

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