Rebecca (Roy's POV) – Fits after Chapter 9: Dinner
"Where ya' goin'?" Jamie asked, looking up from his breakfast, they'd only had a short training session this morning and Roy had gone straight upstairs to shower when they got home. Now, Roy was walking through the kitchen, grabbing an apple and his keys.
"Early morning meeting with Rebecca."
Jamie frowned. "I'm not ready yet."
"I know, can you get a ride or uber or something and I'll drive us home?"
Jamie frowned and Roy knew he wanted to ask more; Roy nodded and ducked out before Jamie could put his words together.
Roy drove into work planning what he was going to say, making his way through the quiet hallways until he made it to Rebecca's office.
She looked up at him and titled her head. "Come in, Roy, what can I do for you?"
Roy closed the door on his way in and sat down in front of Rebecca. He nodded at Higgins who was sitting on the couch.
"I have feelings for Jamie and want to tell him."
"I see," Rebecca said.
"But I'm the Manager of the team."
"Yes," Rebecca said.
"And he's the best fucking player on the team and by the end of the season I can make him the best fucking player in the England."
"I believe you," Rebecca continued in the exact same tone.
"And I want to protect him from any hint of the possibility of favouritism."
"This is what you look like when you get out of your fucking way?" Rebecca said, after staring at him for a beat, her lips curling.
"Yes," Roy grunted out.
"And does Jamie reciprocate your feelings?" Higgins asked.
"I don't know, my sister seems to think he does. I told her I was going to quit so I could tell him."
"That could work," Rebecca said, pondering him.
Roy grunted in question.
"If you resigned and made your feelings known then there can't be any implication of inappropriateness and if you're both comfortable afterwards, regardless of the outcome, then you can come back after talking to HR and Nate and Beard. Then we could look at our options, we could loan him-"
"Fuck, no," Roy said, standing up. "If anyone's leaving it's me, I'm not going to let this impact on his career."
"We don't want to lose either of you," Rebecca said. "Leslie?"
"I think Jamie's talent speaks for itself. I can see no way that anyone could look at his position on the team as being a result of anything but his own work, however there are some things we can do to mitigate any internal issues and so long as there is transparency, I believe we can support you both in this new stage of your relationship."
"What the fuck does that mean?" Roy asked.
"We would need to put some protections in place for Jamie including a safe avenue of resolving any issues he may have with coaching staff."
"Yes," Roy agreed.
"And we might need to look at your early morning training with Jamie," Higgins said with a grimace. "In case anyone on the team looks at it as favouritism."
"The other shits can come along if they can work out how to get up at 4am."
"I will word that a little different but that would work," Higgins said.
"We would also need a strategy for when…or if, the two of you decide to go public with your relationship," Rebecca said.
"That's up to fucking Jamie."
"We hope that it will be when you both make a decision to go public; however, we know that there may be a chance someone will try to take advantage of your position."
"Fuckers."
"Fuckers," Rebecca agreed.
"If we put all of that in place," Roy asked. "Anything else?"
"There is nothing in either of your contracts that prohibits a coach and a player from dating," Rebecca said, "and I know you can both keep yourself from allowing your relationship to impact on your work life and vice versa. I can't see any reason you can't make your feelings known."
Leslie made a squeaking noise and then shook his head.
"Leslie?" Rebecca asked.
Leslie made the noise again.
"Leslie?" Rebecca said again.
"I'm just so happy for you both," Higgins said. "Excuse me."
Higgins left, closing the door behind him. When the door closed, they heard him make the noise again, louder.
Rebecca smiled at him. "Congratulations, Roy, I hope you get what you're looking for with Jamie but regardless I'm proud that you're able to go out and try and find some actual happiness for yourself."
"Thank you for the arse-kicking."
Rebecca sat back and looked at him.
"I should get to training."
"Yes."
"I'll drop off my resignation before I head home."
"And you'll collect it tomorrow morning."
"I will, thanks," Roy turned and started for the door.
"Roy," Rebecca stopped him, just before he stepped out of the door. He turned and looked at her.
"If I stopped you, it would be hypocritical; Sam and I dated for a while and well things have started up again, so if you're willing to watch out for Sam I'm willing to watch out for Jamie."
Roy nodded. Rebecca and Sam, it wasn't something he would have guessed but there was something about it that actually made sense in his head.
"Deal," Roy said.
Rebecca nodded. "Good luck."
"Thanks, Boss," Roy said, turning and leaving.
TBC...
