liquid and a selection of greasy sausage rolls were set out on the table. Deciding not to risk a bout of food poisoning, Ellie declined to join the queue of supporters who were helping themselves to large platefuls as they trickled past in the direction of the bar and any radiator that was pumping out a modicum of heat.
‘Yoohoo,’ yelled Harriet suddenly, making Ellie spill her wine and she looked up to see Jeff and Logan bearing down on them.
Smiling widely, Harriet moved up to make room for Logan. ‘Come and sit here, next to me,’ she cooed in delight.
‘Er, I'll just get a drink, do you want anything?’
His gaze rested on Ellie and she tried to recall all the advice Fliss had sent her. Use his name, it makes a connection ‘Hello Logan.’ Talk about his interests, it promotes intimacy ‘You did well today.’ Ask questions to show you are intrigued by them. ‘Er, did you enjoy it?’
Harriet was staring at her, and Ellie wondered it had sounded too formal. She would have to practise.
‘It was okay.’
‘Have you thought about quizzing?’ asked Harriet.
‘Quizzing?’
‘Yes, it's a lot warmer.’
A bemused Logan shook his head. ‘I hadn't …’
‘It could be fun!’ beamed Harriet. ‘Think about it.’
‘Right, okay. So, any drinks?’
Shaking their heads, Ellie and Harriet waited patiently for them to return, nursing their own lukewarm wine. Both men sat on stools on the opposite side of the table and Ellie saw Harriet’s lips thin a little as Logan failed to take advantage of the empty seat by her side.
Jeff was grinning across the table at Ellie who was studiously avoiding his eyes and for a moment there was a pained silence.
‘So, you do this every week?’ asked Harriet, her lips still blue under her pale pink lipstick.
Logan nodded. ‘Pretty much.’
‘I see.’
‘Have you ever won a match?’ asked Ellie with interest. After all, there had to be some incentive to spending every Saturday rolling around in a cold wet field.
Logan screwed up his face and Jeff looked nonplussed.
‘Well… I'm pretty sure we won a match last season. In fact, we might have won two.’
‘But then our goalie left,’ said Jeff. ‘Got a new job in Bradford. Someone told me he didn't really want the job, he just couldn't face playing football for us anymore.’
‘But you still play, every week?’ Ellie asked Logan.
‘Yep. I know we’re rubbish.’ He looked down at his pint. ‘We may be bad footballers but we’re a team at the end of the day and we have to stick together.’
Ellie stared at him, admiring his steely resolve as he shrugged his shoulders and took a deep drink of his lager.
And afterwards?’ asked Harriet, slightly less impressed by Logan’s loyalty.
‘After?’
‘Yes, after. Do you all go out? Dancing, clubbing, for a meal?’
Ellie looked around at the thin crowd of supporters. The majority of the company team were gathered around the buffet, obviously treating it as a free meal for the day. A few had jumped straight in their cars, probably preferring a warm shower at home. The small group of men sitting at the table next to them were slowly working their way down their drinks and Ellie hadn't heard them exchange a single word so far. None looked to be the sort to have a quick change of clothes in the car ready to go on a rave.
‘We just go home,’ advised Logan. ‘We play our match, eat some sandwiches and then go home.’
Harriet’s face fell. She had been hoping for more. ‘So this is it?’
Jeff and Logan both looked at her. ‘Er, yes. This is us playing football.’
‘And you haven’t thought about quizzing?’
Logan looked baffled. ‘I’m not sure …’
‘Ellie has been to watch the quiz team you know. And the chess team, she’s very supportive in general.’
Avoiding the three pairs of eyes now staring at her, Ellie took a sip of wine and tried to look nonchalant.
‘I didn’t even know we had a quiz team,’ said Jeff, scratching his chin thoughtfully. ‘When do they do their stuff then Ellie?’
‘Oh, er, I don't think they’re doing any, er, quizzing right now. Does anyone want any more to eat? Logan, would you like another sausage roll?’
‘No thanks. Why aren’t they quizzing?’
‘I think … I don't think … I’m not sure. Harriet, would you like some quiche?’
‘Who is in the team?’ chipped in Jeff. ‘I could ask them. I quite like a good quiz.’
‘I can’t remember any names.’
‘Which department do they work in?’
‘Do you know, I'm not sure. Would you like a sandwich