his eyes and very slowly shook his head.
‘I remember every word you said to me. I remember every line you fed me and every touch and kiss that meant nothing to you. I remember it all! I wish Jason Simpson hadn’t pulled whatever ligament he’s pulled, then you wouldn’t be here in his place!’ Emma continued.
‘You didn’t let me explain,’ Guy said.
His voice was soft and he gently took hold of her arm, guiding her away from the groups of people mingling.
‘I don’t care now! I’m older and wiser and I know how the world works. I was stupid and too young to know better. I don’t want to remember what a fool I was. I don’t want to remember the things I told you and the things we did together. I trusted you, I stupidly believed what you said, believed in us and you were… you were just playing games!’ Emma carried on.
She drank the whole glass of red wine in one gulp and slammed it down on the wooden railings.
‘I tried to find you’ Guy began. ‘I spoke to your father, I searched the entire campsite.’
‘You had sex with that cow Tasha,’ Emma hissed.
‘It was not like that,’ Guy replied.
‘Didn’t you hear me? I don’t care anymore!’
‘Then why do you shout?’
That was a good question. A very good question. She was seventeen then, she was twenty-five now. She was yelling at her first boyfriend who was also eight years older. She sounded unhinged. She sounded like she’d probably sounded back then. Immature.
‘We should have dinner,’ Guy suggested, taking a sip of his wine but still observing her intently.
‘We’ve just had dinner!’
‘I meant alone… to talk,’ Guy replied.
‘There’s nothing to talk about! You’re eight years too late!’ Emma blasted. She couldn’t control the anger. It was bubbling away in her gut, a mix of all her confused feeling now being expelled from her mouth.
‘What about Dominic?’ Guy stated, his eyes meeting hers.
‘Ah! Here you are! Finally got served. They’ve got a bit of a rush on what with it being freebies. Ally’s jumped behind the bar. It’s all hands on deck,’ Chris said, joining them. He sounded like a jovial Santa. It was completely inappropriate.
‘We should go soon. We don’t want to impose on Dad too much,’ Emma said. Her cheeks were infused with colour and she tried to mask the bitterness in her voice.
‘Christ, Em it’s barely past ten! I’m sure he wasn’t expecting us back this early,’ Chris said. He gave a snort of amusement.
‘I’m not feeling very well,’ Emma responded. She held her bag to her stomach and dropped her eyes to the floor.
‘Shall I get you a glass of water? Is that red wine you’ve had? You know red wine doesn’t agree with you,’ Chris said. He shook his head and rolled his eyes.
‘No, don’t go. I’m fine, just the humidity I expect,’ Emma replied, clutching at the sleeve of Chris’ nylon jacket.
‘I must go and speak with Jerome from Ultra Leisure. It was nice to meet you both, excuse me,’ Guy said, backing away from them.
‘Hang on, mate! Before you go… what time for the coaching session tomorrow? Dom is going to go nuts when we tell him,’ Chris said.
‘Nine-thirty. Registration and then we start with simple techniques and ball skills,’ Guy replied. He looked to Emma.
‘Brilliant! Cheers!’ Chris said, waving his glass in the air in appreciation.
Emma watched Guy’s every step. His expensive suit, the way he moved. She would know him anywhere, just from his gait. She had watched him so often back then, at first from a distance and then up close. It was if he was permanently etched on her brain. All those years dwelling on what he’d done had done nothing to destroy the feelings she had for him. She hated it.
‘Dom’s going to be made up about doing football skills with someone from Finnerham United, you know,’ Chris said, swigging from his pint and spilling some on his tie.
‘Can you take him tomorrow then? I thought you were working,’ Emma remarked.
‘I am, but you haven’t got anything planned, have you? You’ll only have to drop him off and pick him up. Guy isn’t going to expect you to join in,’ Chris said. He laughed.
She nodded and smiled feebly. Even a five-minute drop off was going to be five minutes too much.
*
He sat in his car, his fist in his mouth, his heart breaking. He needed to know if he had a son. Tomorrow he was going to see