Chapter Text
The balcony of the hotel is nice - two soft lawn chairs propped up facing a sweeping view of London, bright flowers in pots along the edge, and fake grass underfoot - but it's too cold to be out here. Way too cold. Millie wonders about going inside again, and then reminds herself it's her own fault she's shivering and huddles further into her hoodie. When Mary asked if she could possibly go out while she called her parents, Millie was quick to agree, almost falling over herself to get to the balcony door. It was a combination of her own embarrassment and the soft, almost shy smile on Mary's face that pushed her outside before she could do anything stupid.
And, more importantly, before she could grab her coat.
There's a knock on the glass behind her and Millie turns to see the goalkeeper waving at her, clearly done with her call, and she practically kicks her chair over as she hurries back into the warmth of the room. Mary chuckles.
"Cold?"
"It's like February out there." Millie leans against the radiator. "How are your parents?"
"Okay, yeah. My cousin's having an engagement party next month."
"That's nice. You going?"
"If I can get time off. It's right in the middle of the season." Mary hesitates. "I almost hope I can't, though, 'cause I did something a bit stupid. My dad asked if I had a date because he wants to finalise numbers and ... I said yes."
Millie frowns. "Why? You aren't dating anyone, are you?"
"No, but, I dunno, they want me to be, and I guess I'm getting bored of being asked all the time. And my cousin's fiancee-to-be has so many annoying friends and I just know they'll try to set me up with someone."
Millie hums, shifting to sit on the end of her bed now she's warmed up a bit. "Whatcha gonna do?"
"I'm not entirely sure yet." Mary mirrors her, tucking her legs up and hugging her knees. "I guess I'll have to find a date."
"I'll go," Millie blurts. "If - if you want. I'm free at the same times as you next month and it's easier. You can find someone, though."
Mary blinks slowly, considering, and then shakes her head, laughing.
"What?"
"You don't actually mean that, do you?"
"Why not?" The defender bristles. "We've known each other for over ten years now, we've played together for almost as long, and we're good friends. There's not much more plausible of a lie than that."
"But ... you're straight, aren't you?"
No.
She shrugs. "They don't have to know that."
Something flickers across Mary's face and then she sighs, flopping backwards to stare up at the ceiling. Her hand plays with the edge of the duvet. It's a nervous tic that Millie's been picking up on for years.
"You don't have to," she continues. "But I really don't mind. We don't have to tell anybody else."
"You won't know anyone there."
"And they won't know me, save for the fact that I'm your friend and teammate. And now your girlfriend," Millie adds. "It'll be fun!"
"You're sure you don't mind?"
"I'm sure."
Mary smiles. "Thank you," she breathes. "Alex's friends are all dicks."
It's not until after dinner that night, when Mary is filming a TikTok with Ella and Millie is watching them with confusion, that she realises that Mary didn't even protest that she was straight.
She doesn't have a problem with the goalkeeper being not-straight. Football is one of the most accepting professions, and almost all of her close friends are gay. Mary doesn't often talk about her personal life - they're not close to that degree, even though she's one of Millie's oldest friends and they're close in all other aspects. She hadn't even trifled with the idea when, really, it makes sense.
Millie isn't out to many people either. Rachel, because when has she ever hidden anything from Rachel? Some of her family. Some of her teams. She's not afraid of anybody knowing, but she doesn't see why she has to tell people. If they find out, they find out, but it's not important to her that they do.
When it comes to Mary, it's different. Something about having secret feelings for your roommate and also being her friend and also thinking she's as straight as she thinks you are makes coming out just a tad difficult. It's safer for Mary to think she's straight, safer for her to never consider the possibility of Millie's feelings towards her, safer for her to go obliviously until Millie gets over this pointless crush and they go back to normal.
Whatever normal is, after two years like this.
That night, Mary sends her the link to the place where the party's being held. It's in Scotland.
mearps: we're going to need a hotel, do you have any preferences?
mearps: and there's a dress code apparently
mearps: black tie dinner
"We could have this conversation out loud, y'know," Millie says, turning to face her in their single beds that are about a foot apart. Mary shrugs.
"I thought you were asleep," she admits softly. "Didn't want to wake you."
"It's only 10:30."
"You've been training loads this camp, though. You need your rest."
"I don't have a hotel preference," she says, choosing to ignore the statement. "What are you wearing? We should colour-match."
"Oh, you're taking this seriously." Mary grins. "I've got this blue jumpsuit, that'll be it probably."
"Okay. I can work with blue."
"You're not allowed to turn up in Chelsea kit, by the way. All of my family are United supporters."
"Not sure if I should come anymore, then," she jokes. "By the way, have you thought of some kind of story? Like, how we got together? Or at least how long we've been dating. I want to be prepared."
"What do you want, a book?"
Millie raises her eyebrows. "It's funny until we get caught out and you end up having to break up with me in front of all of your relatives and then go home with one of 'Alex's dick friends'."
Mary laughs, but it's a weak sound, and her smile is swiftly turning into a frown. She glances down at her phone and back up again, meeting Millie's gaze with clouded eyes.
"What's wrong?" Millie leans up on one elbow. "I was joking."
"I know. I just realised how serious this is. Like, we're going to have to keep pretending to date after the party. And we have to convince people." She looks up. "And, shit, I haven't dated for years, everyone's going to think it's because I was dating you and that means we've been dating for ages and they're going to ask about engagement and when our party will be and -"
"Mary." She cuts her ramble off and reaches across to take her friend's hand. "It's okay. We'll think of something that explains everything. And I'll be there with you. I'll protect you. It'll be fine."
"You think so?"
"I promise."
It's probably a stupid promise, because there's no way they can come up with a convincing enough cover story when Millie knows hardly anything about Mary's family or her childhood or what she's like in relationships, but it's she can't find it in her to care when she sees the relief that washes over her friend's face. Mary squeezes her hand.
"Thanks, Mills."
"Any time."
After training the next evening, Mary catches her by the elbow.
"My dad texted me earlier. My brother's having this leaving do because he's retiring - my dad, that is - and now I've got a girlfriend he wants me to come and, well, I thought maybe we could practise?" She chews her lip. "Obviously it's fine if you don't want to, but I thought it might be good for you to meet my closer family before the party."
"Yeah, sounds good," Millie agrees. "When is it?"
"Thursday evening, so it's after camp ends. Do you have training?"
"It finishes at five on Thursdays."
"Perfect; the thing's at seven."
***
brighty: I'm outside.
mearps: omw
If you'd asked Mary if she wanted to go out tonight, she'd probably honestly have told you no. She's still exhausted from WWC qualifiers, and the league starts on Sunday with a game against Reading, which won't be hard, but it won't be easy either.
But it's her dad's leaving do, and she wants to be there, and she wants to spend the evening with her friend-turned-faux-girlfriend, and have fun.
Millie grins at her from behind the steering wheel. "You look nice."
"Thanks." She's just thrown on some jeans and the first fancy top she could find, a black blouse with little red flowers. "So do you."
Millie is sporting jeans too, but has opted for a simple blue button-down and trainers instead of the heeled ankle boots Mary dug out of her closet earlier. She imagines them walking into the bar hand-in-hand, or maybe with Millie's arm around her waist, imagines the looks her family will sneak at them.
"You okay?" Millie says softly, pulling into the carpark. "You know we don't have to do this."
She shakes her head. "I want to. I have to."
"You don't have to do anything."
"It was my mistake." Mary chuckles. "I made my own bed, and now I'll lie in it. C'mon."
They walk side-by-side but apart until they reach the porch, light and music spilling out, and then Millie reaches for her hand, lacing their fingers together with a casual easiness.
"Have you done this before?" She jokes. Millie laughs and it makes her feel a little lighter.
Inside, they're immediately bombed by her parents and brother, who fuss over her and Millie, exclaiming how cute they are and firing off questions so fast that Mary can only understand half of them. How long? How? Who? When? How did they keep it secret so long? When are they getting married?
"It's only been a few months since we properly labelled it," Millie replies, since Mary looks panicked, "but we've liked each other for a while. She asked me out."
"Our Mary's not usually that bold!" Her dad grins, and she blushes. Millie wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her into her side.
"I think she's perfect," she says quietly.
As the night goes on, Mary starts to wonder if Millie really has done this before. She navigates the party with ease, making friends with Mary's friends as easily as blinking, reeling off their prepared cover story, and always reaching for her hand or her arm, pressing a few low kisses to her cheek every now and then.
It's nice. It's been a while since she last dated. She starts to lean into it, has a couple of drinks, dances with old school friends, catches up with her brother, and keeps steadily returning to Millie's side.
They get out at quarter to one, far too late and far too tipsy for professional athletes about to start their season, laughing at a joke that really wasn't funny.
"I think we did well, huh?" Millie says, leaning against the hood of her car with her arms folded. "Everyone seemed to buy it."
"Yeah. Thank you." Mary smiles at her earnestly.
"No problem! It was fun."
"Just wait until you meet my gran. She'll be all over you."
Millie laughs and pulls her into a hug, the same friendly hug they share multiple times a day, dropping another kiss to the top of her head as she moves away.
"I'll see you soon."