The Soccer Star's Forgotten Wife novel · Chapter 8 of 32

Chapter 8: The Help

A few people laughed.

Not many.

Enough.

"Sorry, everyone," Courtney said into the mic. "Family drama. Dex, honey, you should've told me you had staff issues."

She held the microphone out of my reach.

I didn't reach for it.

I opened my purse.

The letter was in there, folded in thirds, soft at the creases from a month of being read.

I unfolded it and held it up over my head.

Then I held out my other hand to the owner.

"Sir," I said. "Your microphone."

He looked at Courtney.

He looked at the letter.

He took the mic out of Courtney's hand and gave it to me.

Courtney's smile cracked down the middle.

"Five years ago," I said, "I was a referee in this league."

The room was so quiet I could hear my own breathing in the speakers.

"I was twenty-three. I was assessed for the top-flight panel in June. This letter came to our mailbox."

I turned it so the front tables could see the logo.

"It says pass."

Somebody near the stage said "Oh my God" under their breath.

"My husband opened it," I said. "He let me believe I'd failed, and he held me while I cried."

I didn't look at Dex.

I looked at the room.

"I quit that night."

The woman in pearls had both hands over her mouth now.

"Since then I've cooked every meal he's eaten in his own home. I ran his ice baths. I ran his recovery. I cut his match video at two in the morning."

I looked at the owner.

"Every referee in your league has a habit. Where he stands for a corner. Which way he turns when he's unsighted. How long he lets an advantage run. I clipped all of it, for five years, so your captain would know."

The owner's face had gone from red to a strange gray.

← Chapter 7 · All chapters · Chapter 9 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend