Page 3

CHAPTER 3

“ H ere she is, the woman of the hour! We get two Woods for the price of one this morning.” Ash’s hairdresser, Monique, crushed her in a bear hug because that was what Monique did. “Your mum is already in getting her hair washed.”

Monique had been cutting and colouring Ash’s hair ever since she turned 16. When Ash was a child, her hair had been the colour of golden sunshine. Now, it needed a little help getting to the same level. Luckily, Monique had the magic touch.

The salon buzzed with Thursday-afternoon energy: hairdryers, gossip, and the rhythmic snip of scissors punctuating every third word. The usual chatter dipped when Ash walked in, curious eyes flicking towards her. She was still getting used to her relatively new-found fame. She’d always been a footballer, but until last year, she could walk around with no cameras in her face. She trained, played, saw her friends and family, no drama.

However, since England won the Euros, and the Women’s Super League was now live on Sky Sports every week, it had all changed. People knew who her parents were. Who her nan was. Where she lived. It was hugely unnerving at times. But Ash wasn’t one to complain. Fame came with upsides, too.

In the past year, her pay had doubled, she’d been given a car, and she had lucrative sponsorship deals with premium brands. These days, VIP passes to Grand Prixes, concerts and plush hotels fell into her lap, and they didn’t cost her a penny. It was a far cry from all those nights spent as a teenager training on cold, muddy pitches.

“What was she like?” Monique asked, running her fingers through Ash’s golden strands as she sat in the chair in front of her. “The princess. Everyone’s dying to know after I told them I styled your hair to go to the Palace. I’d have preferred Prince Michael, obviously, but you got to meet the future Queen.”

She had, hadn’t she? But even though that was true, meeting Princess Victoria hadn’t felt starry. Yes, she’d been formal, but also familiar. As if Ash might go for a coffee or a glass of wine with her afterwards. Which was the weirdest thing.

“She was...” Then Ash stopped. What had the princess been? Beautiful, but that was obvious. Beguiling. Shy, but also confident. “She was very... professional,” Ash said carefully, watching Monique’s reflection in the mirror. “It was a formal ceremony, you know? Quick chat, pin the medal, move on.”

“Professional?” Monique’s frown told Ash what she thought of that answer. “You promised to not stop spilling the tea now you’re famous, but all I get is ‘professional’?”

Ash had promised that, but she hadn’t meant it. She hadn’t changed, but the things she could divulge had.

Ash grinned. “What do you want me to say? That we’re best mates now? That she invited me round for cocktails? That she told me all about how the rumours were indeed true, and that she and Dexter Matthews are now engaged?”

"That’s exactly what I want to hear!" Monique rolled her eyes like it was obvious. “Then you could recommend your favourite hairdresser to her, and she could come and get her hair done here, and my bookings would be through the roof.”

Ash glanced around the packed salon. “You look like you’re doing okay to me.”

Monique put her hands on Ash’s shoulders and looked at her in the mirror. “That’s true.”

“And I’ll still put a link on my socials for you when you make me look irresistible.”

“You’re an absolute doll!” Monique kissed the top of her head. “Did Victoria seem happy? I want her to be happy, even though I don’t know her. But we’ve all watched her grow up, haven’t we? We want the best for her. Dexter seems to care about her, at least. It doesn’t seem like it’s one of those forced royal relationships.”

Ash had always thought the same, until she met the princess and her gaydar had screeched loud in her ear. Maybe Victoria was bi? Queer? Plenty of Ash’s teammates who were in relationships with men identified as such. The same could equally be true of royalty.

“She seemed happy. And nearly engaged, if the papers are to be believed.” Ash’s arched eyebrow told Monique they absolutely were not.

“I had a lady in here yesterday who’d already bought a Victoria and Dexter mug and tea towel. The merchandise people jump on this sort of thing as soon as the news breaks, don’t they?” She held up strands of Ash’s hair.

“Usual cut and colour?”

Ash nodded. She hadn’t had time before the Palace to get it done properly.

“Any occasion?”

“She’s going to Marbella.” Her mum walked up beside Monique, a towel wrapped around her head. Debra Woods was wearing her favourite colour: hot pink. She was a walking fluorescent marker, ensuring nobody had a dull day around her. “There’s a whole gang of them going, and she won’t take me with her.” Her mum pouted. “Tell her she’s being mean and she should invite me, Monique.”

“I love you, Mum, but we’ve been over this. You go on holiday with Dad, I go with my friends.” Ash got up, grasped her mum’s shoulders and kissed her cheek.

Her mum laughed. “But in here,” she tapped the side of her towel. “I’m still in my 20s. I can still party like a young person.”

“Which is doubly the reason why you’re not coming.”

Ash’s parents, in particular her mum, had been instrumental in her success. She wouldn’t be the person she was or be anywhere near the Lionesses team without all the support and driving to games her parents had committed to from a young age.

“Spoilsport.” Her mum gave her a wink, then wandered off to her stylist at the other end of the salon.

Monique waited for Debra to sit down before she turned back to Ash. “You might have to bring her back a nice present. A straw donkey or something.” She stepped back. “Shall we get you to the basin and get your hair washed, ready for my magic?”

Ash followed Monique down the salon, ignoring the head twists from a couple of the younger clientele.

Monique took the opportunity to bump Ash’s shoulder. “I’m really proud of everything you achieve. You’re such a great example of hard work and being kind. I just hope the world knows that. I didn’t like the abuse you got the last time you played for England.”

Ash shrugged. It was all part of being a professional footballer, particularly now that everyone had an opinion on the women’s game. But she couldn’t deny it stung. Mistakes were a part of the game, and she’d learn from hers. But making them in front of 60,000 people (plus a TV audience) brought its own pressure. But Ash could handle it. She had to. Even though she wanted to scream that it was only to be expected after months out of the game with a serious knee injury.

However, she bet it was nothing compared to what Princess Victoria had to handle on a daily basis.

Monique pointed into the kitchen. “Coffee?”

Ash nodded. “Yes, please.”

Monique grabbed the full pot on the side, along with a clean mug. It was only when she offered it to Ash, she saw what it said on it: Princess of Fucking Everything!

“Next time you see Princess Victoria, you should take her one of these. It might make her smile.”

Ash rolled her eyes, ignoring the way her stomach flipped at the memory of the princess’s blue eyes meeting hers. That moment when she got her medal, when the world seemed to pause around them.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a next time. I’m just some footballer from St Albans. And she’s the heir to the throne.”

“Some footballer?” Monique scoffed, ushering Ash over to the white basins. “You scored the winning penalty in the European Cup final. You brought football home. I don’t think people are going to forget that in a hurry.” She put a small towel around Ash’s neck before she sat, tucking it in when the top of her back hit the basin. “She’d be lucky to meet you again. When do you go away?”

“Tomorrow. Thought I’d treat myself to a proper cut before my ten days of hedonism.”

“You always look gorgeous anyway.”

Ash tipped her head back, then closed her eyes as the water hit her head. Was there anything more soothing than someone else washing your hair? She always looked forward to the head massage she got right after her shampoo and condition, too.

“Such gorgeous skin, and hair. You’re going to make some woman very happy one day, mark my words.”

Ash was glad Monique had faith.