Page 118 of If We Meet Again

“I just hope I doit justice.”

“I have read all your articles. It willbe amazing.”

“All of them?” Ashley raised her eyebrows; the surprisewas obvious.

“Yes, whyso shocked?”

“Idon’t know.”

“Do you think I could get away with not reading them when my gram tells me every single time and then asks me for my thoughts the week after? It feels like a test.”

“Is that the only reason then? You’re basically coerced into it?” Ashley chuckled.

“Between me and you, I would read themregardless.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, I know you watch my games. So, it’s the least I can do.”

“I only watch them for that pretty blonde woman on your team. What’s she called again?”

Megan smirked behind her glass. “Oh, I see. Speaking of women, where is your fiancée?”

“She’s chatting with Emily and Jason.” Ashley looked around. All three of them turned their heads rapidly.

“It seems we are being watched,”Megan said.

“Looks that way doesn’t it.” Ashley was now well aware of the eyes burning a hole in the side of her head. She wondered what her friends would make of the encounter.Did it seem flirtatious?She was wary of her body language and not being too inviting, but they continued to hold each other’s gaze for a second too long.

“What about you anyway? How does it feel to be a champion?”Ashley said.

“It’s everything I thought it would be. Magical at first, life-changing, but it’s fleeting, and as soon as the moment passes you want to feel it again. The motivation within me is ten times stronger than it was before. I have had a taste of the glory now and it makes me want more. It’s an addiction, probably similar to your writing.”

“I can understand that. It was great to see, your game was insane. You must have had the scouts lining up at the door?”

“I had a few options, but they fell through. It’s been a nightmare few months trying to figure out mynext move.”

“Will you be stayingin England?”

Megan hesitated. “No, I thought that was the case at one point as they offered me a crazy deal to stay.”

“But?”

“But eventually the offer I wanted came through.”

“Is that why you only flew in yesterday? Nancy said you might not make it atone stage.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but I had to tie up a few looseends first.”

“So?”

“What?” Megan laughed.

“Are you going to keep me in suspense? Where are you taking your talents to next? France? Germany?California?”

“It’s a little closer to homethan that.”

“Oh, I thought you weren’t stayingin England?”