Chapter 23

Friday finally arrived. Eddie's interview was at two o'clock. He glanced at his watch. It had only gone ten. He had never been so nervous in all his life. Scott and Tyler had spent most of the week taking it in turns to come up with potential interview questions.

Scott had told him it was all anyone could talk about across the whole office and into the warehouse. That hadn't done much for calming his nerves.

Now, as he sat at a desk, Kat hadn't taken her eyes off him. He was fully aware her future also rested on this afternoon almost as much as his did. She'd been reminding him every five minutes for weeks.

"Will you stop?"

"What?" Kat asked, mock innocently.

"You're staring at me again."

"Pardon me for trying to fill you with my positive vibes."

"Okay, firstly I don't want to be filled by your anything," Eddie fired back. "And secondly, you're doing the exact opposite. You're making me panic."

"Sorry."

They sat in silence for a second. Eddie had read the email in front of him about fifty times. Nothing was going in. He hated interviews for jobs he didn't even care about. This one had far more attached to it.

His phone rang. It was reception.

"Hi, Charlotte. What can I do for you?"

"You have a visitor."

Eddie frowned. He purposefully hadn't made any appointments for that morning. He knew he would be fit for nothing.

"Really? I've nothing scheduled."

"She's insisting."

She?

"I'll be right there."

He got up and walked across the vast office space. Brad was in his usual desk-for-one by the window. He looked up when he saw Eddie walking by.

"Nervous?" he asked.

"Nah. You?"

"I've got the lead. As if."

Eddie wouldn't be drawn into an argument. Instead, he smiled sweetly at Brad and carried on his way.

When he got to reception, Charlotte pointed toward the seats in the corner for waiting guests. To Eddie's amazement, there sat Crystal.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as he walked over.

She walked into his arms and hugged him tightly. The emotion rose up in him and threatened to spill out. It wasn't only Billy he was missing. He'd grown attached to this young lady.

"Come on," he said. "Take a seat."

They commandeered one of the sofas. Crystal seemed upset.

"Now," Eddie continued. "What's this all about?"

"I've come to say goodbye. I'm heading up to Manchester this weekend and I didn't want to leave without seeing you."

"Hey," Eddie said. "That's amazing. Why the sad face?"

Crystal's eyes welled up with tears. "Billy is saying if I get on the team, he's going to move up there."

The idea that Billy would be moving so far away hit him hard. For a second, he had no idea what to say.

Yet the expression on Crystal's face suggested she had about as much enthusiasm for this as Eddie.

"I get the impression you're not too happy with that?"

Crystal sighed. "It's not that. I love Billy and am grateful for everything he's done for me. It's just, I'm nearly sixteen. In two years, I'll be an adult."

It was becoming clear.

"And you'll be making your decisions."

"Exactly. I want to go to Manchester on my own. They have families for us to stay with. It's not like I'd be in a flat or anything."

Eddie didn't feel all that qualified to be having this conversation. Still, she had chosen him and he couldn't very well send her away.

"I think you should be honest with him," he said.

"You mean tell him I don't want him to come with me? It'll hurt him."

"It's not like that and you know it," Eddie replied. "Say what you just said to me. Being dishonest only ends up ruining things. Look at me and your brother. I really thought it might be going somewhere. Then I screwed it up."

Crystal nodded. "I'm sorry that you're not together anymore. I liked it when you were."

"Me too. How is he?"

"A bit lost, to be honest," Crystal said. "He's done a deal with my arsehole of a dad but the shop's going. I know he's got some work with those architects. I don't know what else he'll do."

Eddie frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He put everything on hold for me. He's lost touch with most of his friends."

In the time they'd spent together, Billy had never mentioned a social group. Eddie couldn't imagine going through anything without Scott and now Tyler by his side.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Eddie said. "Maybe this is his chance to find a whole new group of people."

Crystal stared hard at him. "You don't think I'm being ungrateful?"

"Darling, of course not. Billy doesn't expect anything from you. He raised you because he loves you."

"I thought he loved you too."

"I think he might have done," Eddie replied. "It was me that ruined everything. Don't do the same thing."

She got up and hugged him again.

"Shall I say hello from you?" she asked, hopefully.

He shook his head. "Probably best not. He's made his feelings perfectly clear. Now you go and conquer the world. I'll be watching."

She smiled and walked over to the lift. It appeared almost immediately. As she stepped in, she looked back. Eddie waved as cheerfully as humanly possible.

By the time the lift door closed, he was sobbing.

"Use my loo. Get it all out," Charlotte said, unlocking the door behind her. "No one need know."

"Thanks," he sobbed.

He dashed into the little bathroom for Charlotte's or rather whoever was on reception's personal use. It meant the phones were left unattended for the least amount of time.

Eddie stared at his reflection in the tiny mirror. Nothing in his life was secure. Eddie hated this feeling of helplessness. He succumbed to the tears that had sat, lodged in his chest, all morning.

James sat across the meeting room table from Eddie. They'd worked well together for years and Eddie genuinely respected James. Although he wished he had never had the idea of pitting him and Brad against each other.

He couldn't really blame him for what happened. It had been Eddie's choice not to offer Billy the cheaper deal.

"Why did you lose the Webster brothers' deal?"

Eddie shrugged. "They got cold feet. It happens."

"Bullshit," James replied. "Now tell me the real reason."

Oh great, he's reading my mind now.

"Fine," Eddie said. "The gossip is true. I did get involved with Billy, one of the brothers. When he found out that I had let him fall for twenty percent when we normally take fifteen or even ten, he spat his dummy out."

James frowned. "You had a signed contract."

"It wasn't signed."

"By us or them?"

He might as well go down in a blaze of glory. If this was the pressure having a high-flying career brought, Eddie would be scanning the job adverts for something far removed from selling dildos.

"Both," Eddie replied, unconvincingly.

James sat in his chair and studied Eddie. "Seems odd that he would take his ball and go home. No matter what had gone on between you."

Eddie shifted in his seat. "They're selling the shop. Seems as though there's been a change of heart in the family."

"Is that right?"

"Yep."

He had always been proud that he wasn't a liar. Now it seemed Eddie's life consisted of half-truths and outright fibs.

"I'm relieved you told me," James said. "Because a little bird has already done so."

Bloody Barry. He might have warned me.

"Don't look like that," James continued.

"Like what?"

"As though you're heading straight out of here in search of poor Barry."

Eddie folded his arms. "Some things should be confidential."

"I can tell you he was doing it in your best interests."

"So that's it, is it?"

"I guess the only thing left is to answer any questions you have for me," James said.

Eddie desperately wanted to get out of the room. He was hot and in dire need of alcohol in any shape or form.

"My only question is when we find out?"

"Monday," James said, closing the lid on his laptop. "I need the weekend to mull it all over."

Eddie stood. "No matter what you decide, it's been great to work for you and Pleasure Seekers."

James also got up. "You'll still have your job here."

Eddie glanced out of the window. Brad was holding court to a couple of his cronies just outside.

They're only after the gossip, you mug.

"This is make or break for me," Eddie said. "I won't work for that little twat."

"No pressure on me then."

"I'm sure he said the same thing."

A glint appeared in James' eye. "I would never tell."

Eddie shook James' hand and forced a smile onto his face. It might appear that everything was disappearing before his very eyes. He certainly wouldn't let Brad know it.

Once out of the meeting room, he took a sharp left to avoid Brad and his merry men. Unfortunately, he walked right into Barry.

"Careful," Barry said.

Eddie glanced back and saw Brad watching him with interest. To his horror, tears welled in his eyes. Twice in one day was fucking embarrassing.

Barry must have realised.

"Eddie. I need you to come to the cyclist changing rooms, please," he said loudly. "Those shirts have arrived for our away games and I'd like your opinion."

Grateful for this intervention, Eddie allowed himself to be led towards the service lift at the other side of the office. Charlotte flatly refused to let any deliveries come through her reception. Luckily, the architects had installed a second lift.

Once inside, Eddie let out half a sob and half a hiccup.

Barry was watching him with concern.

"I'm okay," Eddie replied, getting himself together. "Thanks for that. Oh, and thank you for putting in a word for me. James let it slip."

Barry reddened. "I hope you don't think I was gossiping or anything. Between you and me, I think James is wrong for how he's gone about this. Everyone knows that job should be yours."

"Apparently not. I fucked up the sales competition and now I've screwed the interview up. Whether I think you're gossiping or not is the least of my concerns. For the record, though, I know exactly why you spoke to James and I'm very grateful. Thank you."

"You're more than welcome. What are you going to do now?"

"I guess I'll be writing a letter of resignation this weekend."

"No!" Barry exclaimed. "We can't lose you."

Eddie shook his head. "I'm not that good a footballer."

"Do you think that's all I care about?"

Barry had gone a worrying shade of red. Eddie instantly regretted his words.

"I'm sorry, Barry. Of course not. That's a very sweet thing to say. I don't see how I have any choice. If Mr Dickhead gets the job, I'm out of here."

"You wouldn't be on your own. Kat told me she'd leave too."

It would be a slight victory if Brad got the position and instantly lost most of his team. Yet, Eddie would still be out of a job. The lure of foreign climes was still very tempting. Even if it was for a year or two.

The lift got to the ground floor.

"Do you really have football shirts for me to see?" Eddie asked.

"Of course not," Barry replied. "I figured you needed a bit of space. Come on."

Barry led him through to the changing rooms that staff who cycled to work used. Mercifully there was no one there.

Eddie sat down on one of the benches and put his head in his hands. Barry sat next to him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Barry ventured. "I presume he hasn't been in touch?"

Eddie sat up. "Ignored every call and message I've sent."

Barry frowned. "And you're going to give up?"

"You sound like Scott. I haven't much choice, have I? I lied to him. Of course, he found out and wants nothing to do with me. I told you I wasn't good enough for him."

The changing rooms smelt of sweaty socks and cheap shower gel. Eddie had never been down there before. He would rather cut his dreads off than cycle to work. It was easy to spot those who did. They wandered around the office in shockingly creased clothes.

"Well I think you're being too hasty," Barry said. "I'm surprised that you would give in so easily."

The hypocrisy bristled Eddie a little.

"That's rich coming from you."

Poor Barry looked taken aback. Once again, Eddie regretted his words. At this rate he would have to take a vow of silence. He didn't, however, regret addressing this with Barry.

"What do you mean?"

"You told me you were in love once and you screwed it all up," Eddie replied. "Why didn't you try again?"

Barry let the words settle. "You have a valid point. I panicked and convinced myself I'd be better off on my own. Turns out I got that horribly wrong."

"A wise man once told me to never give up on love. Seems he won't take his own advice."

Barry sighed. "That's a fair cop, I suppose. No, that ship has sailed a long time ago. She wouldn't be interested now."

"Has she moved on with someone else?"

Barry frowned. "I don't think so."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I couldn't. Not after all these years. She wouldn't want to hear from me."

Eddie stared him dead in the eye. "Amanda would love to hear from you about something other than the price of hand sanitizer."