Page 52 of Polo Fever
*IMAGE*
Ash
Really?
A third time?!
Sam
As your friend, I support your choices
But I think you should consider doing some important research that will benefit us both
Ash
What research?
Sam
Find out if that is a pair of socks down there
‘What have you done to Mateo?’ Jules asks bluntly a few days later as we shuffle forwards in the queue at Clara’s Cocina Café in Guards Polo Club.
‘Nothing! What do you mean?’
‘The whole week, he’s been so tense and brooding, and he can’t keep his eyes off you. Everyone’s talking about it. Did you guys shag and then you binned him or something?’
‘No!God,’ I hiss, checking around us to make sure no one’s listening.
At this time in the morning at Guards, the queue is mostly made up of grooms from other teams and the security stewards who are pulling up in their golf carts to get their coffee before they zip off again, inaudible information blasting from their walkie talkies every now and then. I made friends with one of them, Alvin, the morning of the first round because he hashis gorgeous German Shepherd who drives round with him in the front passenger seat of the golf buggy. It was too cute for me not to go over and ask if I could take a picture.
‘Maybe Mateo is annoyed because he knows DQ made it through to the Queen’s Cup semi-finals, too, so Basilio will be around here somewhere,’ I continue, flustered.
‘No, that’s not it. They see each other all the time and openly hate on each other. No, there’s something bothering Mateo.’ She sighs impatiently. ‘Whatever’s going on with him, it’s made him play like a fiend this tournament. I’ve never seen him so fired up.’
We reach the front of the queue and order the coffees before sitting down on the bench at the nearest table while we wait for them. Jules replies to a message on her phone while I try not to think about Mateo and that world-altering kiss. Things between us have been tense and confusing ever since. Neither of us said anything the next morning, acting on edge around each other in front of the other grooms, and then when we found ourselves alone in the yard, he’d asked if we could talk about it.
‘I want to make sure you’re okay,’ he said in a low, urgent voice, his eyes filled with concern. ‘Ash, if I did something wrong, if I crossed a line, I’m so sorry. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or unhappy.’
‘You did nothing wrong. It was… it was wonderful.’
His brow furrowed as he stepped closer to me. ‘Then why can’t we—’
‘Mateo, please,’ I said, moving away from him, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from giving into temptation and melting into him if we stayed too close.
‘I don’t understand,’ he’d mumbled.
Glancing around the yard to make sure no one else could overhear, I said, ‘Polo is a small community. As soon as you got this out your system, I’d be left as the idiot again. I’m sorry Mateo, but I won’t take that risk.’
He flinched. ‘Is that what you think this is? Me getting something out my system?’
‘Isn’t it?’ I challenged. ‘Nothing matters but polo. Everything else is distraction.’
Mateo stared at me, anguished but unable to deny it.
We hadn’t spoken since then about anything but the job, and as much as I ache to be near him all the time, I know it’s best this way. It will be awkward for a little bit, but then with time, we’ll both move on and we can be colleagues and friends.
Not that he’s listened to me regarding work, though – during the first match of the tournament, I reminded him that Serafina was here in his selection of ponies, but he told me he’d be sticking with Violet for the final chukka. I tried not to let his dismissal of both me and her put me in a bad mood, which is actually easy to avoid when you’re experiencing the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club.
