DELICATE
TWENTY TWO, A BOX OF SNOOKERS.

" IS THAT BABY BOSS I SEE ?" are the words that divert my attention from my phone where a particular Mancunian footballer is texting me from the Manchester City bus which he snuck on with nobody realising he hadn't spent the night in the hotel.

Changing the meeting place of our lunch to the local pub — I lied and said it was easier to meet at the pub as I was going to already be in the area, when in actuality it was just so I could spend another hour and twenty three minutes with Jamie Tartt in bed, and the shower...( doing things that will not be disclosed to anyone).

I close the screen and smile as I place the phone back into the comfort and security of my bag "Ted, hi!" I say, stepping into the hug that he offers — he feels safe, and whatever worries that flutter in me that I'm not even consciously thinking of float away.

Pulling me away, his hands still sit on my upper forearms " haven't seen you since Liverpool, you been ok?" he asks, not like he's doing it to be polite and actually because he cares as I nod.

And my eyes flicker from the sound of heels clicking against the floor " she's just been a busy little bee haven't you sweet?" my mums voice makes me smile as I also nod in reply.

" very much so." I say, fighting the smile I feel the constant buzzing of my phone, knowing exactly who it is, " rushed off of my little feet."

Ted holds the door for us as we walk inside the pub, a place I don't I've set foot in in months. The people who I can only assume are the regulars by the afc Richmond regalia that they don look at me as if I've grown another head. In their defence, it isn't everyday you see a regular vogue front cover model in your local.

" ay, you see the milk sisters anywhere?" Ted asks and after scanning the room once over I shake my head " want me to skim the backroom?" Ted hits his punch line and I'm amused unlike my mum who seems extremely on edge.

" don't make me regret this." she tells Ted.

He nods " oh, don't worry imma be an udder gentleman." I can't stop the smile from curving on my lips as I bow my head trying to conceal my clear amusement from my mum.

" ay, I wonder if they've ever seen the film.." he pauses momentarily " Bridget Jones' dairy."

Laughter that I hope is silent leaves my lips as Ted continues with his milk-related comedy routine "sorry, that's not my breastmilk pun."

Mum's posture straightens as she turns to Ted "oh my god, this was a horrible idea." she states before pointing to the door " seriously please go home."

I turn to beg my mum to let Ted stay, but I think at the same time we notice Rupert. Who I haven't seen since the infamous gala - he looks as smug as ever and makes me feel like regurgitating my breakfast this morning.

" there they are!" he states, mine and my mums face remain cold as ice. The woman who I remember hanging off my father's arm at the end of the gala,  mainly because she's only five years older than me approaching us beside him. I've heard of their relationship in the papers, although I sincerely hoped she had made a run for it.

"Rupert, what are you doing here?" mum eventually asks as Ted pivots to stand beside us.

" We came to celebrate." he says,

" did you get your free pensioners buss pass ?" my question is answered through a stern gaze from my father before he goes back to ignoring me.

An introduction between mum and Rupert's latest victim that is mainly there name being repeated that even confuses me.

" and that's Hollie." he soon gestures to me, not even having the guts to call me his daughter.

She smiles at us, " it's nice to see you again." and she seems genuine about it which makes it even harder to dislike her.

Rupert gestures to Ted who seems as happy as ever and unaware to the tension growing thicker the longer we spend here. "And, this is Ted." to which Ted replies with a simple 'howdy.'

" Join us for a drink," Rupert invites and notice as May, the owner of the pub for decades now walks over with a bottle of champagne " here you go Rupert, anything else?"

" A couple more glasses for our friends here." I hate him, I  really really hate him " thank you May, you are as delicious as ever from your west end to your Marble Arch."

her head tilts " keep your Big Ben in your pants." she replies.

And as amusing I would have found that joke usually, I want to go. I don't like being with him or around him. I just want to go.

After the laughter dies down, mum speaks " thank you for your invitation, but we're actually here to meet with the Milk sisters."

" oh they won't be coming now." he informs us, not even looking up as he pours champagne into the glasses.

" oh no, did they expire." Ted's inability to read the room evident as Rupert looks up with furrowed brows " what?"

He looms up at us " so, I know I'm not allowed an ownership stake in the club but um.." that's never good " they were nice enough to share their minority share to Becks here."

She leans into him, " I always thought I'd pay off my student loans before I purchased a football club." she tries to joke with the two stone faces of me and my mum.

" Obviously, she needed a little financial aid from yours truly but uh.." he states " but once we're married what's hers will be mine and what's mine, well that'll stay mine."

My ears go fuzzy, my hearing strays as those words come out of his mouth as I can tell they do with my mum as well. " You're engaged?" is what I zone back in on.

Beck's lifts her finger to show the ring, its beautiful what a waste is was being brought by Rupert. They clink glasses and he kisses the top of her head. I feel sick.

What proceeds it Rupert stating that all drinks are on him , to which I down half a bottle of the most expensive Prosecco that they have wallowing in my problems much like my mum who sits beside me.

" To Rupert!" one of the lads call, to which they all cheer. Rupert smug with all the affection as he smiles as everyone with the exception of three treat him as if he's some god.

He stands up, and I roll my eyes " friends, Richmond's countrymen..our clubs nightmare is over now I'm back."

" thank god." one pipes up, I turn my head to watch him " cause Ted Lasso sucks...no offence Ted."

The American wears a gracious smile " all good Baz, you Jeremy and Paul have been refreshingly  candid about y'alls feelings."

Becks, my soon to be stepmother (don't, I will be sick) steps up to the darts board " I'm trying again, no help." she tells Rupert, as he turns his head.

" Right so, if she hits the board I want it to sound like we've just won the FA cup." and when she does hit the board ( barely) the pub erupts with the exception of the Welton women. Ted notices our faces and leans in " you guys wanna leave?"

Mum shakes her head, " don't want to give him the satisfaction."

He saunters over " so girls, it's time to be friends again especially since Becks and I are going to be sitting with you every week in that owner's box." watching how we'll react, because he knows he hurts us and I think he likes that.

Becks shakes her head " I'm not going every week."

" well I am." Rupert retorts "and um, every week when they shove a camera in my face and ask me how I think you're doing, I will tell them." 

" it'll be relentless." my grasp tightens around the stem of the glass, surprising myself when it doesn't splinter into the skin of my hand. I place the other one atop my mums as I watch as Ted stands up and begins to follow Rupert.

" So Rupert, y'all take your darts over here pretty seriously." he asks " this and uh..whats that billiard game you do that sounds like a brand of cookies?"

Rupert's face is confused for a second " snooker?"

Ted points " That's it! Boy I'd love to curl up on the couch under a weighted blanket, watching you've got mail and devouring an entire box of snookers." It brings a smile to my lips.

He throws a dart, I find myself grinning when it hits the bullseye. " are you a darts man ted?" Rupert asks as the brunette shakes his head " more of a corn hole man myself." he states.

" how about a game?" Rupert suggest " I mean, maybe wager say ten thousand pounds?"

There's a collective 'ooh' through the pub " well as my doctor told me when I got addicted to Fedichini Alfredo-" he says " that's a little too rich for my blood."

" how about if you win, I'll let you pick the starting line ups for the last two games of the season," he suggests, immediately peaking Rupert's interests "but if I win, you can't go anywhere near the owners box as long as Rebecca is in charge."

" Ted," mum calls him over.

" what the hell are you doing?" she asks as Ted smiles " well I believe some folks call it white knighting but I'm  just following my gut here."

A flurry of worry from mum is met by Ted's optimism as he reaproaches Rupert and the dart board " what you think?"

" you're on." he says " double in, double out."

Ted grins " whatever you say Rupey-Doops, just let me know if I'm winning or losing alright?"

I loom over his shoulder as Rupert toys with a box of specialist darts, " oh I forgot I had these on me."

Ted lingers his eyes down to his hands " oh wait a second, I forgot I'm left handed."

Throwing a dart which as it seamlessly hits the bullseye, makes my make an 'o' shape as I giddily cheer on the coach from my seat at the at the bar.

AFTER A RIVITING GAME OF A SPORT that I mainly relied on the sounds of other people in the pub to piece together what was going on, it looked more and more likely that I was going to be in the company of daddy dearest every match from this day forward.

" shall I be giving you the lineup card now Ted?" Rupert asks " I shall be putting Obisanya back on defence, where be belongs." he gets closer and closer as if trying to intimidate Ted.

" that's exactly what I said, didn't I?" one of the people sat behind me announces, " nah, its not all Ted's fault." Rupert proclaims.

" my ex wife's the one who brought the hill billy to our shores." he makes direct eye contact with us, " I know she's been a bit randy, but I never thought she'd fuck over an entire team."

I drop my feet to floor, ready to stand and defend my mum. Although her hand clenches mine and when I look at her she shakes her head. And as much as I hate my father, I love my mum even more. So I stop and sit back on my seat.

" hey!" Ted says, turning around " better manners when I'm holding the dart please."

After a look at the board, Ted turns to May " May, what do I need to win?" he asks as she exhales.

"two triple twenties and a bullseye." she informs him as people begin to chuckle at his remaining optimism.

" you know Rupert," he turns back around " guys have underestimated me my entire life and for years I never understood why, use to really bother me."

" but then one day I was driving my little boy to School and I saw this quote by Walt Whitman painted on the wall there ," he tells him "be curious, not judgmental. And I like that."

He throws the dart, and I don't know exactly what it lands on but it must be good as I hear a cheer from the crowd that's formed around them, I lean into mum " that's good right?"

" So I get back into my car, I'm driving to work and all of a sudden it hits me," he continues with his anecdote " all them fellas who use to bully me, not a single one of them were curious you know that thought they had everything all figured out so they judged everything and they judged everyone."

" and I realised that their underestimating me, who I was had nothing to do with it." he chuckles to himself " cause if they were curious, they would ask questions you know?"

" questions like..have you played a lot of darts ted."

Another dart thrown, more cheers as I reach for my mums arm.

" which I would have answered, yes sir every Sunday afternoon at a sports bar with my father from age ten til I was sixteen when he passed away."

There's a momentary silence, all waiting in anticipation as he concludes with " barbecue sauce." throwing another dart, and everyone cheers including me who is enthusiastically clapping my hands as I stand up gleefully smiling at the American.

I ignore Rupert's attempts of being polite as he makes a quick exit out of the pub. " holy shit that felt good!" mum grins only a little bit wider than me. Running to wrap my arms around Ted as the surprise of my hug makes him stand up a little straighter. It makes my heart warm when he wraps an arm around me too, filling a small void that has been empty inside of me since I was a child. When I pull away, I smile at him and mouth ' thank you.'

" there's only one thing left to do," he says and I notice a flickering in my mums expression as she looks at him, he leans in whispering as she pulls back " do I have to?"

and after a second she begins to hit the bar "drinks are on me!' she proclaims earning new cheers and the ringing of the bar bell.

And I'm happy, and like it'll all be alright. At least that's how it feels now.

AUTHORS NOTE
kinda hate this chapter ngl
vote & comment if you enjoyed!!