Extra Time

by Michelle Betham

  Brandon grinned, moving a couple of steps closer to her, reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Not at the moment, no. Is that an invitation?’

  ‘An invitation? You need an invite now? I thought we were past all that.’

  He leaned forward, kissing her gently, sliding an arm around her slim waist, pulling her against him. ‘Oh, I think we are, don’t you? It’s just that, I’m a nice guy. And I don’t want to sound too – pushy.’

  ‘You can be as pushy as you like,’ she breathed, looking up into his dark eyes. He had to be the most incredibly handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. Even sexier than Ryan Fisher, and that was saying something, because he could get her hot just by looking at her. Until he’d turned into the biggest bastard there was. He didn’t deserve her, but she’d still drop everything if he told her he wanted her back. She’d still go running. ‘And if you come back to my flat for lunch, you can push me until I cry out loud.’

  ‘Jesus, baby, what are you trying to do to me?’

  ‘I’m trying to convince you that a naked lunch is the best kind.’

  He grinned again. ‘I don’t need all that much convincing.’

  ‘You’re coming, then?’

  ‘Not yet,’ he whispered, moving his mouth close to hers until they were almost touching. ‘But I sure plan to. I’ll wait for you outside.’

  She smiled, hugging her files closer to her chest as she watched him walk down the corridor. He had a swagger to him that was gaining him one hell of a fan club amongst female football fans, and he was hers. For now. He was all hers. She’d made sure of that. She might not have Ryan Fisher anymore, but she had the next best thing.

  ‘Ms. Taylor… Is there something I can do for you?’ Jim asked, coming out of his office and standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, his expression cold.

  Ellen shivered. She hoped Brandon wouldn’t turn out to be like his father, although, in the looks department she wouldn’t complain. For an older man Jim Allen was still sexy as hell, in a George Clooney kind of way.

  ‘No. I’m sorry, Mr. Allen, I was just… I was just on my way over to the admin block.’

  ‘Well, I’m sure they’ll be wondering where you are.’

  She nodded, making her way down the corridor as fast as her four-inch heels would carry her.

  ‘Oh, and Ellen?’

  She stopped, turning round to face Jim.

  ‘You be careful with my boy. He’s very precious to me.’

  She waited until he was back inside his office before she continued her escape back into the main reception area. Of course she was going to be careful with Brandon. He was very precious to her, too. She didn’t hurt people. Unlike Ryan. She didn’t hurt people. And, when the time came, she was going to try very hard not to hurt Brandon.

  Jim closed the office door behind him and leaned back against it, closing his eyes and breathing in deep. Ever since news of Amber’s pregnancy had hit the headlines he’d slowly felt as though, as each day went by, he was losing more and more control. And it wasn’t a feeling he liked. It didn’t make him feel comfortable. But he was dealing with it. In his own way.

  The one thing it had done was bring him and Freddie Sullivan closer again. Their shared mistrust of Ryan Fisher had become the main topic of conversation between them over the past few days, and it had made Jim realise how much he’d missed his one-time best friend. Jim Allen didn’t have many friends, he didn’t like to get too close to people in case – well, he just didn’t. It wasn’t his style to let emotions take over. He’d let that happen with Amber and look at the outcome. So it was best to steer clear of all that now. Even if it wasn’t the easiest thing to do when Amber’s face was everywhere, stories of her and Ryan’s rumoured romance in every paper he picked up.

  Walking over to the sideboard, he poured himself a large whisky. It had only just gone midday but he needed it. He needed to get his head straight. His beautiful wife was having another man’s baby. That still cut through him like the sharpest of knives, slicing away at his heart in the cruellest of ways. It wasn’t something he was dealing with all that easily, even though the image he gave off to the public was one of a man completely in control and getting on with his life.

  But he knew that if this baby had been anyone else’s – if it had been Ronnie White’s – he could have dealt with that way better than he was dealing with this. But Amber was carrying Ryan Fisher’s baby. And that was a whole different ballgame.

  His phone ringing pulled him back from the brink of darker thoughts, and he walked over to his desk, sitting on the edge of it as he answered the call.

  ‘Jim Allen?’ He sipped his whisky and listened as the voice on the other end spoke. ‘And you’re sure about that?’ He took another sip of whisky, a smile slowly starting to creep across his face as he listened. ‘Okay. Thanks. I’ll be in touch.’

  Placing the receiver back down on his desk, he finished his whisky, clutching the empty glass tight in his fist, that smile still there. Because his day had suddenly just got a whole lot better…

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  ‘It’s rumours, Ronnie. That’s all.’

  ‘You sure?’ Ronnie asked, pulling into a car parking space at Tynebridge.

  ‘Of course I’m sure. I haven’t seen Ryan since we were in Tenerife, and that was weeks ago, so how could we possibly have had a chance to “rekindle our relationship” as the press are so nicely putting it?’

  ‘There’s such a thing as the telephone now, you know. And the internet. Have you heard of email, or Skype?’

  ‘Yeah, you’re funny,’ Amber said dryly, climbing out of the car and slamming the door shut behind her. ‘There’s nothing going on, okay?’

  ‘You’ve spoken to him though, surely. To let him know about the scans.’

  Amber nodded, walking alongside Ronnie as they climbed the steps up to the main entrance, the sound of a match-day crowd already filling the air. ‘I’ve emailed him photos. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be as much a part of all this as he possibly can, even if he is thousands of miles away.’

  ‘And are you doing all of this because you think it’s what you should be doing? Or is it because you want him to be a part of it all?’

  ‘He’s the father, Ronnie.’

  ‘That’s not answering my question.’

  ‘You’re digging for information, and I don’t have any to give you. I’m only doing what anyone else would do under the same circumstances.’

  ‘I doubt anyone’s circumstances are anything like yours, kiddo.’

  ‘You’re not helping, do you know that?’

  ‘Sorry.’ Ronnie grinned, kissing her quickly on the cheek as they stepped inside the huge and airy entrance to Tynebridge. ‘I’m off to ring the guys back in the studio, see what’s happening back at base.’

  They were there to report on the televised game between Newcastle Red Star and Langdon Rovers, or rather, Ronnie was. Amber was having a weekend off for hospital appointments, and to come home and see her dad. Their relationship was slowly getting back to some sort of normality, and Amber was glad of that, because she needed Freddie. He was the only real family she had, and she missed her dad, more than anybody, since she’d started to spend more time down in London.

  ‘Amber!’

  Amber swung round to see Debbie standing there waving wildly at her, her new hair extensions immaculate, her make-up perfect, and her heels just as high as they had been pre-pregnancy.

  ‘You look amazing!’ Amber smiled, walking over to her friend, enveloping her in a huge hug.

  ‘I should do,’ Debbie said, flicking her hair back over her shoulder. ‘All this cost me a small fortune. Gary thinks it was well worth all the money, though.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I have to agree with him,’ Amber laughed. ‘You really do look incredible. But where’s Jodi?’

  ‘My mum’s got her. She just adores her new granddaughter, even if the idea of being called Nana isn’t one
she’s particularly happy with. She still thinks she’s far too young to be a grandma, but one day she’ll wake up and realise you can only keep knocking years off your age for so long. People are already starting to question the fact it would appear she had me when she was nine.’

  Amber smiled again, absentmindedly placing a hand on her slightly swollen stomach. At four months pregnant she had the tiniest hint of a baby bump, and she was growing to love it. In fact, she couldn’t wait for it to grow bigger so she could finally start to believe this was really happening.

  Debbie looked down at Amber’s tummy, not missing the tiny bump just visible beneath Amber’s hand as it pressed lightly against her dress. ‘Oh, hello, baby! Finally starting to make an appearance I see.’

  ‘Just.’ Amber smiled, something she couldn’t really seem to stop doing lately – smiling. Despite everything she was still feeling. Despite the nights she still cried herself to sleep, and those quiet hours when she had far too much time to think. Those hours when she’d still allow herself to briefly imagine what all this would have been like if the baby had been Jim’s. But she really was trying to do that less and less. For the good of the baby. She really was trying to move forward, even if being around Jim still hurt with a pain she sometimes found unable to bear.

  ‘Do you know the sex yet?’ Debbie asked, wide-eyed and hopeful.

  Amber looked down at her hand on her tummy, the smile still there on her face.

  ‘Amber? Come on, chick! Do you know what you’re having?’

  Amber looked up, nodding. And then her smile grew even wider as she realised she had to tell someone, even if she had been trying to hang on until this evening, when she was going to call Ryan to tell him the news. But she was too excited to keep it all to herself.

  ‘Well?’ Debbie persisted, gripping Amber’s hand tight.

  ‘It’s a boy,’ Amber whispered, shushing Debbie immediately as she looked set to screech out loud. ‘And don’t tell anyone else, do you promise me? I was trying to let Ryan be the first to know, I haven’t even told Ronnie yet. But I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.’

  ‘A little Ryan Fisher…’ Debbie grinned, linking her arm through Amber’s as they headed off to the Players’ Lounge. ‘Do you think he’ll be happy? That it’s a boy?’

  ‘I think we both just want a healthy baby, Debs. But, yeah. I think he’ll be over the moon that he’s getting a son.’

  ‘And you’re still feeling okay? No problems?’

  ‘Dr. Lowry is keeping me under very strict observation, Debbie, believe me. I hate to use the term “older mum”, but, like it or not, that’s exactly what I am, and given the problems I’ve had in the past, well… he just wants to keep an eye on me.’

  ‘And so he should. I told you he was an angel, didn’t I?’

  Amber smiled, squeezing her friend’s arm as they both grabbed bottles of water from the bar. ‘I’m just grateful you’ve been through it all before,’ Amber sighed, leaning back against the wall as she looked around the room, trying to see if she could spot her dad anywhere. ‘I’d be terrified otherwise.’

  ‘It’s easy.’ Debbie grinned, running her fingers through her platinum blonde hair.

  ‘Not sure that’s how I remember you describing it when I saw you straight after Jodi’s arrival,’ Amber said, giving her friend a sideways smile. ‘Oh, look, there’s my dad. I’d better go say hello. See you later.’

  ‘Yeah, see you, hon. Tell Freddie I said hi!’

  Amber pushed her way through the growing crowd of people gathered in the Players’ Lounge before finally reaching her father.

  ‘Hey, kiddo.’ Freddie Sullivan smiled at his daughter, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her in for a hug. ‘You look well. You been to see Dr. Lowry today?’

  Amber nodded, kissing her father’s cheek. ‘This morning.’

  ‘And? Is everything all right with my grandchild?’

  ‘He’s fine…’ She stopped talking, wincing slightly as she realised what she’d just said.

  Freddie’s smile turned into a grin and Amber knew she might as well just tell him, too. It was pointless trying to hide it now. ‘I’m getting a grandson?’

  ‘You’re getting a grandson. But don’t go shouting about it, okay? I’ve only told Debbie, and I shouldn’t even have told her, not before I told Ryan. It doesn’t seem fair that he isn’t the first to know the sex of his own child.’

  Freddie just gave a derisory snort. ‘Well, you know my feelings on Ryan Fisher. Still, if this baby inherits just half of his errant father’s talent, he could be one very special little boy. It’s what else he inherits from him that concerns me.’

  ‘I really wish you’d give him a chance, Dad. I honestly believe he’s changed from what he used to be. He’s curbed that playboy image, tried so hard to put all that shit behind him, and since he heard about the baby… It could be just what he needs, you know? This kind of responsibility. This chance to prove he really has grown up.’

  ‘If you’re so sure of him, why aren’t you willing to give him another chance? Not that I’m condoning you doing that, in fact, I’d really rather you didn’t. But you seem so certain he’s changed…’

  Amber’s focus was suddenly distracted by the door opening and Jim appearing, which was strange in itself. Most managers, and especially Jim, very rarely showed their faces in the Players’ Lounge before a game. But just the sight of him was enough to make her heart race and her stomach sink, all at the same time. Her handsome soon-to-be-ex-husband.

  ‘Are you two okay?’ Freddie asked, squeezing his daughter’s waist.

  ‘We’re on speaking terms, if that’s what you mean. But only in passing. We’ve got to try and keep a professional relationship going, to some extent, given our jobs. But I think you talk to him more than I do these days. And how ironic is that, huh?’

  ‘Hey, come on. Who said life was going to be an easy ride?’

  Amber looked at her dad, so happy they were finally getting back on track. ‘It still hurts, Dad. I know you never really approved of my relationship with Jim, but… I don’t think anyone will ever understand how I really feel about him. Not even me.’

  Freddie gently kissed her forehead, pulling her in for another hug. ‘I know, sweetheart. But you’ve just got to try and move on. Easier said than done, I know, but you’ve got that little one to think of now, so maybe you should concentrate on doing what’s best for him. Okay? And you know I’ll always be here for you.’ He kissed her forehead again, hugging her tighter. ‘Always.’

  Amber smiled, snuggling into her dad, placing a hand on her stomach again as a slight commotion over by the door to the lounge struck up. She looked over, craning her neck to see what was going on, finally catching a glimpse of just what was causing all the fuss. Or that should be, who was causing all the fuss.

  ‘What’s he doing back?’ Freddie asked, his grip on his daughter’s waist tightening slightly.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Amber said quietly, confusion now joining the mixture of emotions that were slowly gathering inside her head.

  ‘Well, he’s with Jim, so…’ Freddie stopped talking and looked at Amber, but her eyes were fixed firmly on the group of people at the door. ‘You didn’t know he’d be here?’

  She shook her head. ‘As far as I was aware he wasn’t due back for another month or so. Maybe he’s just over for a visit.’ But Amber didn’t think that was really the case. There were far too many people with him, too much attention and fuss being generated for this to be just a quick trip home.

  ‘I’ll go have a word with Jim. Find out what’s happening. You gonna be okay?’

  She smiled at her father. ‘I’m thirty-eight, Dad.’

  ‘You’ll always be my little girl, Amber, and right now you need looking after. Why you and Ronnie couldn’t…’

  ‘Go and speak to Jim, Dad. Go on.’

  She watched him head over to the group gathered by the doorway before finally catching sight of Max. If any
one knew what was going on he would, because he’d probably orchestrated it.

  ‘You all right, kiddo?’ Max smiled, walking over to her and leaning in to kiss her cheek.

  ‘I’m fine. And I’m pregnant, not ill. What’s he doing back here? Because the fact he seems to have an entourage with him tells me this isn’t just a flying visit.’

  ‘No. It isn’t. Hasn’t Jim told you?’

  ‘Told me what? And in case you hadn’t realised, me and my husband aren’t exactly close at the minute.’

  ‘Ryan’s back.’

  ‘Back? Back, where?’

  ‘Back at Newcastle Red Star. He was only on a rolling monthly contract, Amber, remember?’

  ‘Yeah, but that contract was still supposed to run until the end of the season, wasn’t it?’

  Max shrugged. ‘Technically, yes.’

  ‘Technically?’ Amber frowned.

  ‘Circumstances have changed, Amber.’ Max looked briefly down at Amber’s stomach. ‘Ryan wanted to come home a little earlier than planned, for reasons I’m sure you can understand, and that contract meant it was easier for that to happen. You know how these things work.’

  Amber looked back over to where the gathering crowd had thinned out slightly. But she couldn’t see Ryan anywhere.

  Max followed her gaze. ‘Jim’s called an emergency pre-match press conference to explain everything. Speaking of which, I’d better get in there.’

  ‘Max…’

  ‘I’ll talk to you later, kiddo.’

  Amber stood there, rooted to the spot, trying to let the brief details of what Max had told her sink in. Didn’t anyone think she’d had a right to know about this before now?

  Pushing her way out of the lounge, she headed straight to Jim’s office opposite the home team dressing room, barging in without even attempting to knock. He was still talking to Freddie, both of them turning round sharply to see just who it was who’d decided to make such an uninvited entrance.

  ‘It was nice of you to tell me, Jim.’

  ‘I was assuming Ryan would have had the decency to do that,’ Jim replied, leaning back against his desk, his hands in his pockets. Freddie walked over to Amber, reaching out to touch her arm but she shook him off, too angry to respond to him any other way. Even though none of this was his fault.