Page 31 of Playing the Field
I have to be careful not to focus on him too much in the videos I take of the session too, for Cassie to review later. But I’ll admit I do zoom in on his face a couple of times while the camera is off. He’s more attractive than ever when he’s absorbed in the sport he loves probably more than anything else in the world.
It’s Phoebs who first notices I’m not the only one pointing a lens in his direction. She nods her head towards the entrance gate. ‘Have you seen what’s going on back there?’
I turn to see a couple of photographers tracking Ben’s movements with their cameras. It was always a possibility, I suppose, once the news was out that he’s here. I hand Phoebs my phone. ‘Here, carry on filming the players, would you? I’m just going to alert Dad, Cassie and Ben.’
Cassie tells the team to grab a quick drink break when she sees me beckoning them over.
‘You have more experience of this than any of us, so how do you want to play it?’ I ask Ben.
‘Just let them get on with it. When they see I’m genuinely here to help and that there’s no big story behind it, they’ll lose interest and go away. I’m not about to engage with them, but I wouldn’t try to prevent them from filming either. In my experience, the harder you try to stop them, the greater lengths they’ll go to, to find another way.’
Dad nods. ‘Lily, why don’t you and I head over there and just answer any questions they might have about Crawford. Hopefully that will be enough to keep them happy. Ben, you and Cassie can crack on with the session.’
‘On it,’ she replies.
And the photographers do, thankfully, seem happy when Dad greets them warmly and agrees to answer a few questions, telling them he’s delighted to know Crawford will be making the headlines again, while flashing his most disarming smile. I think the homemade biscuits he offers them go some way to ensuring we keep them onside.
He politely declines to bring Ben over to join us and even manages to sound quite protective of him. ‘Ben is busy with the team and won’t be making a statement today. But what I can tell you is that he’s a local lad who just wants to give back to the place where he’s from. We’re aware of his past but what we see before us is a young man who’s made mistakes and is trying his best to redeem himself.’
Satisfied with this soundbite they eventually leave us to it, which is a huge relief to me. Their renewed interest in Ben could have made it hard for me to meet him in secret, if they’d decided to start following him around. But I guess they know from when the fan incident first happened that they’re unlikely to get him to talk about it.
When we wrap up the session, Phoebs gets straight in with Craig for more of a chat, while Cassie, Dad and I work our way round thanking the other players. It takes longer now we’re getting to know each other better. There’s more familiarity so there’s more to talk about.
Eventually I find myself in front of Ben and I’m amazed no one can tell how attracted I am to him. He winks when he says he’ll see me again soon and I can’t help but smile knowing just how soon it will be.
Phoebs confesses, once we’re in her car, that she’s swapped numbers with Craig now. ‘But he more or less told me he doesn’t want a girlfriend while he’s focusing on the team.’
‘Well it’s good for me to know he’s taking Crawford so seriously, but I’m guessing that isn’t what you wanted to hear?’
‘Oh no, I told him that’s just fine with me. I’m perfectly happy with no-strings sex while I’ve still got exams to do. And after that, there’ll be a job to find, so it’s not like I haven’t got my own stuff to deal with.’
‘So did you arrange a hook-up?’
‘Not yet, but I’m pretty sure we’re building up to it. I can be patient. Up to a point, that is.’
She lets out a low whistle when we pull up outside Ben’s house. ‘I think I might have changed my mind. I do want to come and see inside.’
‘I’ll send you some photos,’ I promise her, laughing. ‘I’ve got little enough time with him this evening as it is.’
She pulls away as I walk up the driveway, and when Ben opens the door, inviting food smells waft out from the kitchen.
‘I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry so I’ve started making a Thai curry,’ he explains, after a quick– much quicker than I was expecting– peck on the cheek.
Doubt creeps back in as I follow him into the kitchen. I can’t help wondering, when he turns his attention straight back to the pans on the stove, if he’s making himself busy to avoid kissing me properly or even talking about what happened the other night. I know it’s ridiculous when not so long ago I was worried he just wanted to sleep with me– now I’m worried he doesn’t!
As the TV’s on in the background we end up discussing things we’ve watched recently while he’s busy cooking. He never putsTop Goalson because it feels too much like work, but he says he could imagine getting sucked intoDying Daysafter I’ve described it to him.
Then the conversation drifts back to Crawford United and I mention Phoebs’ newfound interest in Craig. ‘I’m hoping she doesn’t distract him too much,’ I admit. ‘Especially once we start playing matches.’
‘I actually think I’m more focused when I’m in a relationship,’ Ben tells me. ‘On the rare occasions when I’ve had someone I care about watching me play, I’ve been even more determined to win.’
‘And there I was thinking you were just out to impressallthe ladies.’
I’m laughing when I say it, but he turns round and frowns. ‘Is that what you think of me?’
His creased forehead makes me hesitate. ‘Well yes, if I believe what I read in the papers.’
‘I thought we’d talked about the nonsense that gets printed about me.’
