The place was minimally decorated but comfortably furnished with chairs, a couch and a basic bedroom set that was simple and functional. Once upon a time, that was the kind of person Ward was too; simple and functional.

Things changed, though. People changed. He had definitely changed. There were times when he’d find himself looking in the mirror and wondering who in the hell the stranger looking back at him was. He wished things could be simple again – that he could be the guy he’d once been (minus the money problems obviously). That wasn’t how the world worked, though. No rewinding life back to where you’d been happiest. All you could do was look to the future and hope some was waiting for you there, too.

Today Hannah’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had on a sunshine-yellow blouse and jeans. Her white trainers were the kind anyone could buy in their local Walmart but for some reason, on her, they looked expensive. She had a way, he realized, of bringing out the best in everything around her.

Today he’d even arrived early for their meeting. It hadn’t been on purpose, though he couldn’t help but feel it was a better look than what he had offered her before – showing up late or drunk. He had even taken the time to shave.

While he was still having some trouble with his gait, at least he looked fresher and had benefited from a sober night’s sleep, determined to lay off the booze for a bit too.

Ward told himself he was doing all this to impress Hannah professionally, but looking at her now, sitting all cute and comfortable amid his stuff like she belonged there, his mind wandered to what it might be like to share life with a girl like her.

But just as quickly stopped himself. Now that was dangerous play.

She chuckled. ‘Actually the more I think about it, I see how I can make this work. I asked you to show me a side of yourself you’d be happy to share with the world, and that’s what this place is. You could have showcased some macho bachelor crib more fitting to a pro player, but that’s not what you did. Instead, you chose to meet me somewhere from your past – a place representing a time when life was simpler.’

He continued to be surprised at how goddamn perceptive she could be too.

Had he deliberately picked this place to meet, one that downplayed the image the world had of him? Had he gone out of his way to highlight, not to the stupid public but to her – that he was, deep down, just an ordinary guy?