Zee had joined them again. “My man Rico was a master at keeping the media fed and focused. The No Cover-Ups policy worked well too. Once our blokes knew the team wasn’t in that business, they showed their arses less. Then it was all fiancées and wives and kids and fashion houses and charities. The man’s PR is ruthless.” Being Pablo Silva’s son and growing up an open secret, meant Rico had navigating his way around public opinion in his blood. That’s why disappearing in plain sight in high school had been so easy for him. A handful of people was all you needed to really see you. The rest was an illusion you managed. But that made the people you let see you everything.

As Rico introduced Zee to Ashna and Yash, Ashna pointed to the couch and they sat. He wished she’d stop doing that, but he’d been standing for hours and the stiff throbbing in his leg was back. She tried to pretend she didn’t see the relief on his face and shook Zee’s hand.

Naturally Yash was a fan and rattled off Zee’s stats in all his big matches.

“I hope you also follow American football, mate, because this soccer thing isn’t going to get you elected,” Rico said.

Yash responded with “Niners forever, baby.”

“Do you follow football, I mean soccer?” Zee asked Ashna.

“Don’t have much time for it, unfortunately.”

“My old woman doesn’t watch either,” Zee said dreamily. For the first time that day Ashna smiled, her flat-out smile, the one that crinkled her nose. “Tanya finds sports in general barbaric.”

“But not sportsmen, thankfully?” Ashna said, a hint of playfulness escaping into her voice.

“Zee just got married. He’s supposed to be on his honeymoon, but instead he’s here,” Rico said.

That seemed to shake her. “Everyone should have a friend like you.”

“Well, this slug’s not a bad mate either. Tanya and I wouldn’t even be together after all these years if it weren’t for him.”

Ashna didn’t look at Rico, but he knew she wanted to. “Sounds like you and your wife have been together a long time,” she said with the kind of genuine interest that would set her apart in an ocean of people.

“Since we were eighteen. You know how we men are. If we imprint on you young, you’ve got us forever. To do with us as you please.”

She smiled at Zee so sweetly that Rico braced himself for what was coming. “Or you men want us to believe that, so we can never let you go and you can use our dependence to do as you please.”

Zee looked delighted. “Are you saying men are more manipulative in relationships than women? That would go against the popular opinion, now wouldn’t it?”