Page 123 of Playing the Game

“What will be next?” Jonas asked. “Pregnancy? Harder substances? Dangerous boyfriends? We know where this goes.”

Erik turned. To Jonas’ astonishment his eyes were full. He had never seen this man cry.

“I will talk to Tuva,” he said. “I am not promising anything but if Anna behaves herself between now and the summer, maybe we could talk again.”

That wasn’t good enough. Jonas approached him.

“Don’t try to fob me off like I’m one of your clients,” Jonas said. “Tuva wouldn’t do anything to go against your word.”

“I cannot make a decision like this without her.”

“For once in your life do the right thing.”

Without waiting, he strode out of the office. This time he did slam the door. People outside all craned their necks to see what was going on. Jonas didn’t care. That would only be the beginning.

He got into the lift and pressed the button. When the doors closed, he leant against the wall and focused on his breathing.

Secrets and lies seemed to be overtaking his life and he’d had enough.

Fuck his father and his stepmother. And fuck Adam Williams. Things were going to change.

Jonas would tell Adam they were over as soon as they got back to Brockton. At least they’d have a chance to salvage a working relationship before things got completely out of hand.

Now he’d made that decision, he felt better. Anna and football were his focus from now on.

Whatever Adam was hiding, it didn’t matter. He could go and fuck himself.

TWENTY-THREE

ADAM

It was a crisp October morning. The grass still had a faint suggestion of frost. Adam went over to the buggy. He had wrapped Olive up snugly, which had sent her fast asleep.

A smile crept onto his face.

“A round of golf takes a bloody long time when you have to keep checking on her before every shot,” Ewen grumbled.

“I’m a simple working dad desperate for a trip round the green with his chum,” Adam replied, returning to his place. “And introducing my first born to the concept of making a ball do what you want it to.”

Ewen grinned at him “You’ve got it bad, my friend.”

“Guilty.”

He lined up his shot.

“I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Are you trying to break my focus?”

Ewen snorted. “Me? Never.”

Adam swung his club. The ball soared into the air and landed nicely on the putting green.

“Jammy bastard.”

“Can I help it if I want to impress my daughter?”

“Because she looks blown away.”