Page 76 of King of Hearts
“Andy, you’ve always preferred being on your own. It was why your mother and I found it so easy when you were drafted to the Hearts and moved to the city. We’d been prepared for that very day since you were a child. You walked, ran and kicked a footy quicker than any kid your age. You were always determined to be the best and to do that with no help from anyone around you. And you’re the best player in the league, not just because you’re my son, but because of your determination.” Dad paused to drink the straight liquor and my lips twitched as he coughed with the resulting burn. “But, regardless of whether you want to admit it, you were lonely.”
I scoffed half-heartedly but didn’t say anything. After being with Arna, where I found excitement and happiness somewhere other than the football field, I didn’t have any argument in me, because he was right.
“Your mother holds a lot of resentment towards the industry too, son, but I say the same to her, there are always a few bad apples. It doesn’t mean they are all out to get you. You need to let that bitterness go or it will suffocate you. I know you hold guilt, Andy. But what happened wasn’t your fault. The only people who should hold that blame are those scumbags who trespassed.” He paused thoughtfully before adding. “I’m not here to lecture you though.”
“Feels like you are.” I lamented and even I realised how pathetic I sounded.
“She made you happy. Above all else, son, you can’t argue with that, and I think when you love someone you at least give them the chance to explain.”
I stood up straight, my eyes shooting to his which were the same deep brown as my own.
“What do you mean love?” I weakly protested reaching for the bottle to refill my glass.
Dad’s laugh echoed around the balcony and I scowled causing him to continue louder. He patted me on the shoulder in the most patronising manner before he took a retreating step.
“Shit, you have more issues than I thought,” He joshed. “You know where your mother and I are and you are welcome at any time. It probably feels like I’m far too old to be giving advice but if I know anything, it’s that sometimes it’s easier to make a decision when you stop and listen. Don’t tell your mother, but she is often right.” He smiled affectionately, probably thinking of all the times that it meant he was wrong. “Oh, and unblock her number, Andy, you can’t avoid everything forever.”
Long after Dad left and the apartment was silent other than the heavy noise of frustration and fucking overthinking, I pondered the last week and how easy Dad made it sound. My parents lived entirely different lives though. Sure, they had also experienced the questionable ethics of the paparazzi once before but he didn’t know anything about Arna and I or what it was like to be inundated every single day by bloodthirsty journalists who only cared about ratings and their pockets.
I didn’t need to speak to her, I read her words so frequently I almost knew the article verbatim and it wasn’t changing anything.
The woman Ilovedwas not who I thought she was.
End of story.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Arna
If the incessant buzzing could kindly piss off, I would vow to be a better person from here on out, no questions asked. Honestly, God, you have my word.
There isno way it could be time to wake up already.I thought as I allowed sleep to take me once again.
For all that is holy I am going to kill Paul.
What even is that noise - a blender? For crying out loud.
I needed to get up and make it stop.Make - it - st –
Silence descended once again.
Argh, thank goodness. The divine trinity was listening.
The endless beeping of my alarm jolted me awake and I raised my eye mask to groggily switch it off. Thus far, my head hadn’t succumbed to a full migraine which made it a little easier to sit up. I already knew four hours was not enough to fully erase the fatigue though and if I didn’t curl in a ball and nap under my desk today, Urban Pulse was going to get far more than they deserved.
Slowly, I pushed the blankets off and stood, noticing for the first time in a while it wasn’t sunny, but rather overcast and dreary.
Ha – fitting.
Stretching out my stiff neck from the hours I spent hunched over my keyboard last night, I chose some clothes and jumped in the shower. Andy would already be at the club so I also needed to haul it into work because the article had no doubt dropped at 6:30 am as planned and I was antsy to see how everyone was responding.
I did know after the overtime I put in, that article should have been the final nail in the coffin to me securing the senior editor position. What I delivered to Darren’s inbox in the early hours of this morning was not only the best piece of writing I had ever submitted, in my two articles to date, but provided an unbiased, well-balanced piece of journalism. It gave the facts while allowing readers the opportunity to self-reflect on their own behaviours and misgivings. Above all else, I hoped Andy appreciated it in the light in which it was written - with minimal insight into his personal life and his reputation in mind – but with care for him and the team.
I smiled to myself as I grabbed my things and headed out the door, happy for the hoodie I had chosen given the crisp mid-morning air. Connecting my earbuds I turned on my feel-good playlist and beelined for the cafe.
I noted four missed calls from Andy at around 7:00 am, when I was still dead to the world. Once I had my coffee in hand, I tried to call him back to no avail, but seeing as there weren’t any SOS messages or emails, I didn’t panic. He was likely training, or being tortured by the coach so I would try check-in again once I got to work.
My first indication that something was amiss was the silence which descended the office as I entered. I mean, this wasn’t uncommon since news of my relationship first spread, however, the avoidance of eye contact was new and a sense of foreboding began to tingle in my stomach.
