Page 15 of Hotshot

“Sometimes I hate that.”

Ella glanced over. “But I’m sure there’s plenty to make up for it, isn’t there? It comes with the territory. You get very good at something, and people are drawn to you. They want to know how you got there and how you do it. It’s basically what my job is, too. Working out what makes you tick and helping you figure out how to harness your power fully.”

“You don’t have my number, either.” Sloane grinned over at Ella as she pulled out onto the main road.

“I wouldn’t give it to me. I’ll just send you annoying emojis at inappropriate times.”

“Eggplants?”

“Too obvious. I go down the dancing ladies and cats route.”

Sloane smiled. She was glad she’d bumped into Ella on their very first day. It had created a strange camaraderie between them which she wasn’t sure would have been there otherwise.

“Thanks for coming to watch today, too. Jess never really liked coming to watch local games with me. Especially men’s games. She was very women only, and she liked a certain type of stadium, even if it was empty. For someone who loves soccer so much, I never understood. We used to argue about it.”

Ella drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as she pulled up at a red signal. “Used to?”

Sloane felt her cheeks flush. She wanted to talk to someone, and Ella was right here. “I don’t think you’ll be surprised to know that things aren’t all great with us.”

“I got a feeling, seeing as you’re living with an ocean between you. But I didn’t want to assume, because plenty of people do it.”

“We’re not officially broken up because we’re engaged. If that hadn’t happened, it would have been easier to walk away.” Sloane paused. Should she share the whole story? She was already shin-deep. “Obviously, this is off the record?”

Ella nodded, keeping her eyes on the road. “Obviously.”

Sloane exhaled. “She cheated on me when we lived apart in the US. Three months after I proposed. I only found out a couple of months back, and I was ready to throw in the towel, but she wants to try again. But she cheated with a teammate. She says it was short-lived, but they’re still on the same team and in the same city. What I know is that she was sleeping with herandsleeping with me. That’s hard to come back from.” Understatement of the year.

“I can see that.” Ella licked her lips. “And I’m really sorry, too. I remember seeing your proposal, it was all over my socials. It was very romantic.”

Sloane snorted. “It was for me, but it clearly didn’t mean that much to her. We had a conversation this week, but she doesn’t want to talk big things over the phone. I tried to see her before I left, but she could never see me. Or didn’t want to.” Her skin itched just thinking about it. “I’m not sure where we’re at. Or maybe I am. But we’re still officially engaged, so I’m in limbo. I’d like a clean break, but it’s not so easy when you’ve loved a person as long as I’ve loved her.” Sloane’s throat went dry. This was far more than she’d shared in ages with anyone. And she hardly knew Ella.

She clamped her mouth shut. Perhaps she’d said too much already.

“Sounds like it’s a lot of what Jess wants, and not much of what you want.” Ella’s knuckles flexed as she gripped the wheel. “Speaking as your friend, and not your performance and lifestyle coach. Although this shit can really affect your performance.” Ella clicked her tongue. “But sorry, I probably shouldn’t be wading in.”

But maybe she should. It was nice to hear someone else’s opinion. Someone with a fresh perspective. Perhaps Ella was right, too. Jess was the one who’d messed up. Now she was the one hanging on. Sloane had got angry, then Jess had talked her around. Perhaps she should get angry again.

“How about you? Are you in a relationship?”

Ella laughed. “With myself, yes. With anybody else, no.”

“At least you’re happy.” Sloane wriggled in her seat as the truth of that statement hit her. She wasn’t happy. Hadn’t been for some time. She needed to take control with Jess. Do what she wanted to do with her life, just like Ella.

“I am happy, but my family aren’t. My aunt and uncle would like me to meet someone, but I think it’ll happen when it does. I don’t want to push it.” Ella glanced left and gripped the wheel tight again. “When it’s right, I’ll know. My family think I’m not romantic, but I am.” Her cheeks blushed fuscia pink. “Which is why I liked your proposal. I’m sorry it went sour.”

Sour. Sloane sat with the word for a minute. It was a good way to describe her year of being engaged. “It’s nice that your aunt’s invested, though.” Even though Ella’s mum was dead, she still had close family. More than Sloane.

“It is, although our ideas for my life clash sometimes. She thinks you can’t be happy on your own. But I have been. That’s not to say I wouldn’t like to meet someone, but it’s got to be someone right for me. I’m not going to settle for someone just because the clock is ticking to get married or have kids, or because society thinks I should.”

Sloane balled her fists. Ella was speaking her language.

“If I think about Jess, there were a few red flags which have surfaced since we parted. The sleeping with someone else was a huge one, but there were others I ignored, too.” Not considering moving with Sloane when she got the offer she couldn’t refuse in LA for one, even though the team were interested in signing her as well. Also, her love of one too many beers, and her habit of texting in the middle of the night while tipsy or drunk.

“Sometimes it takes distance to see these things. We’re all learning as we go. I’m sure you had good times, too.”

Sloane nodded. “We did.” Although they were getting less easy to remember. “When was your last relationship?” Was that too personal? She’d shared about her life, so Sloane hoped it was okay to go there.

Ella hesitated before she spoke. “Four years ago. We were together a year. Reba was a city financier, and our lives just weren’t on track. Money was an issue, as was her addiction to her work. Something had to give in the end, and it was us.” She shrugged. “Since then, there’s been nobody. Hence my aunt getting worried. My mum was a single parent, and I’m an only child. She also never had much luck with relationships, and my aunt worries it’s rubbed off on me. That I expect the worst. She doesn’t want me to turn into a loner. I think that’s family code for weirdo.”

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