Page 81 of The Only Way Is Up

‘I’m really sorry, Dais,’ Christian said bleakly. ‘Obviously I’ve fired both of them. The Wimbledon job is off the table anyway, the BBC got cold feet after all the rumours.’

Daisy said nothing, her mind still buzzing with fury at Benny and Damien for trying to derail her career. She was even a little sorry that things hadn’t panned out the way Christian had hoped, but this interlude wouldn’t do him any harm in the long run. He was young, handsome and charismatic, and the rules were simply different for men.

‘I’m really sorry about last Saturday,’ he mumbled. ‘I really did come to ask you to marry me. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.’

‘I know.’ That Daisy believed. Christian really wasn’t that smart. ‘Did you manage to get a refund on the ring?’

‘Yeah. Tiffany were cool about it. I guess they’ve seen it all before.’

‘It was beautiful,’ lied Daisy, ‘but I’m not the right person to wear it.’

‘No,’ Christian agreed. ‘I get that now.’ He was so silent Daisy wondered if he’d hung up, then he said, ‘Look, I won’t bother you again, I promise. I’ve been thinking about taking some time out anyway, maybe going to coach a tennis season in Spain. I know loads of people who can hook me up with a job. I’ll take my parents, rent a villa or something. Carry on with my therapy.’

‘How have your mum and dad taken everything?’ She’d met them a couple of times and had rather liked them. Nice, ordinary people who were hugely proud of their son.

‘Oh, OK. I’m actually living with them at the moment. Best not to be alone until my head’s less fucked up.’

‘Do they know about your . . . issues?’

‘Yeah.’ He gave a wry laugh. ‘I don’t ever want to have to say the words “sex party” in front of my mum and dad again.’

Daisy laughed, trying to imagine how mortifying that conversation would be. Christian’s mother was on first name terms with Jesus, for a start.

‘They’ve done some reading and spoken to my therapist in Switzerland,’ Christian continued. ‘Mum seems to think that food can replace women in my life, and Dad and I watch classic Wimbledon men’s finals together, so we don’t have to talk.’

‘Sounds delightful.’

‘Hey, don’t knock it! Yesterday we watched Bjorg v. McEnroe 1980, today we’ve lined up Agassi v. Ivanisevic 1992.’

‘What’s tomorrow?’ This was the Christian she enjoyed. She unwrapped the towel from her head, raking her fingers through her damp hair as she listened.

‘Federer v. Nadal 2007.’

‘I’m glad you’re OK.’ She was surprised to find she meant it. ‘And I think you coaching in Spain is a great idea. Give me a call when you get back.’

‘I will.’

‘Christian – wait!’ she shouted before he could hang up. ‘Did Benny say how he was getting the information on me?’

‘Yeah. He said he had a source in your village.’

‘Did he say who it was?’ asked Daisy, sitting upright on the bed.

‘No, sorry.’

Daisy nodded, disappointed but not surprised. That would have been too easy. ‘OK. Take care of yourself, Christian.’

‘I will . . . You know where I am if you ever want a chat.’ He paused, before adding, ‘Or, you know, phone sex . . . Too soon?’

‘Waaay too soon, Christian.’

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Daisy was eating her breakfast when her mother knocked on the window, then immediately stuck her head in the back door without being invited. Evidently Stella was easing into the norms of village life quicker than Daisy was.

‘How was your walk on Saturday?’ asked Stella, not bothering with any pleasantries.

‘Hello, Mum, I’m fine, thanks for asking.’