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“Did I hear you say that Hector is learning Arabic?” she demanded.

Kiri drew back with a smirk. “Yep. You two are like that weird couple inLove Actually.”

Zahra’s lips turned up into a radiant smile as her cheeks flushed pink. Jamie was sold on learning Irish now. If she could put that expression on Tessa’s face, she could die happy.

“God, they’re sweet enough to rot your teeth,” Tessa whispered to Jamie as Zahra floated back to her seat like a Disney princess after meeting her prince in the woods. “I wonder if they’re soulmates too.”

Jamie met her gaze. “They seemed to have a connection right away. Maybe they are.”

“I still think we have them beat,” Tessa teased.

She reached for Jamie’s hand. On instinct, Jamie drew it back, flinching away from Tessa’s touch. She instantly regretted it. Somuch for putting the Disney princess look on Tessa’s face. Her smile faltered, a wound behind her eyes as she put her hand back in her lap. Jamie wanted to reach over and grab it. She wanted that more than anything. But they were in public and there was a potential for photographs.

“Sorry,” she murmured. “But. . . not here. It’s too open.”

“Oh, aye, I understand,” Tessa replied, but her curt tone suggested otherwise. “Sorry for trying. I should have known better.”

Jamie slumped in her chair. Somehow, Tessa managed to make her feel about four inches tall with only a handful of words.

“Tessa, I want to, but you know I can’t. I don’t know when there might be cameras on us.”

“Got it,” Tessa replied shortly.

“I’m sorry.”

“Aye, so you are.”

“Tessa.”

Tessa heaved a sigh and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I know what I signed up for, and I promised you patience. That wasn’t holding up my end of the bargain, was it?”

The knot in Jamie’s chest came loose at Tessa’s words. She smiled. She understood the initial reaction, but she was glad Tessa was easing off. “It’s alright.”

“How’s the therapy going, by the way? Are you making progress?”

“Yeah, I am. I called my agent yesterday and told her that if she continued to report things back to my father that I’d find another agent. She must have listened. We’ve started talking about extending my Stanmore contract, and he hasn’t called me once about it.”

“Is that why you’ve been watching your phone like a wee hawk?”

“It is. It’s been nearly twenty-four hours. If he knew, he’d definitely have called by now. So you see? Progress.”

“Aye, I see, love,” Tessa said with a soft smile. “I’m proud of you.”

Something swelled inside Jamie’s heart at the words. Suddenly, she was the one desperate to take Tessa’s hand and squeeze it. She held herself back, though. The time would come when they would unashamedly clasp hands at matches and in bars and on the street. But there was still some work to be done.

Lila had suggested sharing what happened with Theo with Tessa, but Jamie wasn’t sure it was right. She wanted Tessa to know everything about her. To understand the reservations about her father. But she didn’t want Tessa to pity her. Or to feel manipulated into excusing Jamie’s behavior. She only ever wanted Tessa’s true feelings about things, even if they hurt in the moment. She knew that one day, she would tell Tessa, but for now, she only wanted to enjoy having found each other again.

Chapter 20

Tessa stuffed her Christmas jumper into her suitcase. It was already overflowing with clothes and presents for her family, but the jumper was a gift from her father, and she wore it every year for their Christmas dinner. Jamie reclined on the bed beside the suitcase. It should have been impossible for someone to be that hot in joggers and a t-shirt, but Jamie pulled it off. Tessa swallowed as she looked at her girlfriend.

“Are you sure you can’t come to Derry?” she asked. “Even for a few days?”

“I’m sorry, Tessa, but I’ve got a match on Boxing Day,” Jamie replied with a sigh. “I can’t miss anything more now that I’m back.”

“They’re hardly giving you any minutes,” Tessa argued.

“Because they want me to take it easy. I need to make use of those fewer minutes so I don’t lose my place as a starter. God, I’d never hear the end of it.”