‘Better?’ Matteo asked.
‘Much,’ Abby said, though she was now incredibly embarrassed at what she had told him.
‘So, where do you want to go now?’ Matteo asked.
‘Go?’ It was the last thing she’d expected him to ask her but Matteo squatted down in front of her and looked right at her when, embarrassed by her revelations, she could barely now look at him.
‘We’re still celebrating your win.’ Matteo was insistent. He looked briefly over to the team, who were all on their phones and buoyantly posing for the cameras and Kedah was with them. ‘I’m guessing that you don’t want to go out with that lot...’
‘No.’
‘But you won,’ Matteo said. ‘And you have every day since that bastard did what he did, and do you know what? You deserve to celebrate.’
‘I do.’
‘So, go and congratulate Pedro. Tell him it’s covered tonight, whatever he wants.’
‘Er, I don’t know if you know what you’re agreeing to.’
‘You’re talking to me.’ Matteo smiled. ‘I know what a wild night is. Seriously, with the bet I put on I’m even more loaded than usual. I’ll get Kedah to go along with them. He runs wild but he’s a good sort. He’ll keep an eye.’
Matteo didn’t, Abby thought, look at her like she had two heads; he just chatted away as if she hadn’t just told him her darkest shame. ‘You’re sure?’ she checked.
‘Of course,’ Matteo said. ‘Kedah will cover it and then I’ll see him right.’
He went to the vending machine again and bought a cola for himself and another water for her, and then Abby did what she properly wanted to do but hadn’t had a chance to until now!
‘Pedro!’ She went over and gave him a hug.
‘How good was that?’ Pedro grinned. ‘Hunter’s spewing.’
‘I know that he is. You were amazing, Pedro. I couldn’t believe it when you took him. I still don’t know how you did that.’
‘I’ll tell you in detail over dinner tonight,’ Pedro said.
‘Actually, I can’t make dinner. I’m going to go out and chat up our sponsor,’ Abby said. She saw a little flare of relief in her crew that she wasn’t coming out with him, though they did their best to hide it.
‘Oh, come on, Abby,’ Pedro insisted but she shook her head.
Yes, they all got on, but it was a very male world and she saw the tiny smiles as they realised that they wouldn’t have to behave as they always did around her.
And that thought brought a lump to her throat.
But these were nice tears that she was holding back.
They all did behave around her; she already knew that but she fully realised it then.
Abby’s team really were amazing.
‘Go and have the best night,’ Abby told them. ‘It’s all covered, whatever you want. Kedah will pick up the tab and Matteo will cover it.’
Pedro frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes! Now go and have a brilliant night!’ Abby said. ‘God knows you deserve it but,’ she warned, ‘remember that we’ve got an official breakfast tomorrow.’
‘Tell Matteo,’ Pedro said, ‘that I’ll take him out in the car next time.’
‘I shall.’ She gave Pedro another hug and then she turned and went back to Matteo.