Page 13 of Playing the Game

“Hey. Don’t let Javier hear you say that.”

Adam shook his head. “I don’t mean it really. He’s riled me.”

“No Skipper points for Jonas then?”

He burst out laughing. “Bugger off. A hundred big ones. Bollocks.”

“I bet he’d have taken half of that.”

“He’dbetter be fucking lightning on that pitch,” Adam said.

Steven nudged him. “Come on then. Get it going.”

Adam jogged over to the team.

“Right. No pissing around. Ten against ten. Ewen, you lead one, I’m leading the other. I want you and Tito together. Udo and Jonas with me. The rest of you go to which team you like.”

Adam didn’t believe in rigidly picking sides. He found it demotivating and pointless. Things got far more interesting when they had random mixes.

“Two alphas in one side?” Tito said.

“One alpha,” Ewen replied. “Me.”

Oh for fuck’s sake.

Adam noticed Jerzy had joined their team.

“Jerzy is the boss then. You two play nice.”

Both glared. Adam didn’t care. Sometimes as captain he had to lay down the law. He never shied away from those situations. No matter who they involved.

He walked to his squad. Noah had joined them.

“Looking forward to playing with you,” Adam said as he passed him.

Noah beamed. “You too, Skipper.”

“Wait,” Javier said, walking onto the pitch. “I have some news before you burn off all that testosterone.”

Adam glanced at Udo with concern.

“As we’re all aware, the press will be watching our every move,” he said. “This season is going to be a ride. We will only make it if we’re a team. Of old and new members.”

Adam took in the faces of the squad. They were listening intently to Javier. A rush of pride ran through him. Then his eye rested on Jonas.

As he listened intently, he chewed his bottom lip. A strand of his dark hair was falling over his forehead.

He’s fucking gorgeous. And probably knows it too.

“To allow us to gel that much better, we’re introducing a buddy system for the new guys.”

Adam snapped to attention.

“A what?”

“Three of the old guard are buddying our friends here. “

This sounded horrible. He hoped to God that being the captain gave him an exemption.